We all wait for the weekends, only so that we can go for a long drive and forget about the chaos of the city! But you know what? You don’t really need a weekend to explore a few places around you and also, you get a break.
How? Ok! So get up and get ready early, like really early! 5 a.m., take the car out or just rent one and “Zzoooommm!!“. Drive to any of these places. They’re all around an hour or two away from the city and because of the timing, the traffic won’t be bad as such. Enjoy the sunrise and drive back to the city, back to work by 10:30 a.m. These early morning destinations from Bengaluru are quite the beginning you would want for a day.
Dams, hills, places of cultural importance. There are brilliant options & here are a few:
1. Kanva Dam
Kanva Dam in Ramanagara is about 8 kms off the Bangalore-Mysore Highway and around 70kms from Bangalore. This small dam is built for irrigation purposes and is surrounded by lush greenery and chirping birds.
Sit by the water body and click lovely pictures. There is Purushottama Theertha Cave temple around 3 kms ahead and the famous rocks of Ramangara is where Sholey was shot. *Kitne aadmi the*
Carry enough food and water and enjoy the morning close to nature.
Also Read: Bengaluru’s Iconic Koshy’s Is Where You Get The Best Breakfast
2. Turahalli Forest Viewpoint Off Kanakapura Road
Also known as Karishma Hills, Turahalli forest view point is a tiny rocky area off Kanakapura road. Around 13 kms away from the Banashankari area, it overlooks the Nice Road.
This forest patch can be easily spotted in google maps. The viewpoint is about a walk of 1 km from the parking area and has a small temple and rocks. You can sit by there and look at the city or just go there in the evening as well to witness the majestic sun set behind the city.
Also Read: The 8 Best Places For Street Food In Bengaluru
3. The Secret Lake At Thattekere
One huge lake, a tiny temple of Mahadeeshwara, some watch towers and lots of birds.
Thattekere lake is about 60 Kms from Bengaluru, towards south beyond the Bannerghetta National Park. This is a very less explored location. One can spot a number of birds like Kites, Storks, Kingfishers etc.
The lake looks beautiful as the sun rises above it, so if possible get there before sunrise. Don’t forget to carry some food and water as there are no facilities for such around.
4. Hebbal Lake
Get up early and head to this little paradise within city limits. Situated near the Hebbal flyover is the Hebbal Lake where you can click perfect sunrise pictures for that instagram feed of yours (*winks*). But giving you a heads up there, that only a small portion of the lake is open for the public.
Take a brilliant view of this lake from the top of Hebbal Flyover or bring along a frisbee to play. Bird watchers! You will love this place because of a large number of trees housing a lot of pretty birds.
Also Read: Have Some Heritage Breakfast In The 74-Year Old ‘Vidyarthi Bhavan’ In Bengaluru
5. Big Banyan Tree
Big Banyan Tree is a 4 century old Banyan tree covering a an area of about 3 acres. It is around 30 kms from Bengaluru city centre, off Mysore road. While on Mysore road, right turn near Rajarajeshswari Engineering College (Kumbalgod Junction), from here it is one straight road all the way till Big Banyan Tree. Hang by the trees aerial roots and enjoy life like Tarzan!
Manchanabele dam and Savandurga are also nearby, so you could go there as well.
6. Manchanabele Dam
Manchanabele Dam on the river Arkavati is a little further from the Big Banyan Tree and is again an irrigation dam. Drive towards Chandrappa circle from the Big Banyan Tree to reach here. The nearby hills just make the view of the dam wonderful.
A lot of Bengaluru based adventure clubs organise camping and watersports here.
Also Read: 5 Things You Can Do To Make Your Weekend Fun In Bengaluru
7. Nandi Hills
One of the most popular hangouts, Nandi hills is located at about 60 kms from the city. It opens for the public at around 6 a.m. in the morning and weekdays are the best time to be here as there will be lesser crowd than usual.
With a temple and few gardens, it’d quite a nice place to be at. There is Tippu’s drop which is also known as the suicide point from where the view if breath-taking. Now in ruins is a guest house complex with a beautiful pond is in the entrance of hill, it is said that it was Tipu Sultan’s Summer guest house.
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