India is a land of diversity from its vibrant cultures and landscapes to its languages, food, and endless experiences. Its home to countless scenic routes and places that are quaint , pristine and charming. No matter how much one explores, there’s always something new to discover. For all the beauty and charm we’ve encountered across the southern states of India, we realised we hadn’t seen much of Karnataka over the years, and that felt like an adventure waiting to happen.

Having seen pockets in Tamil Nadu , Kerala , now Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where we live, the one that remained on our list to explore more has been Karnataka. So when we moved to Hyderabad in early 2021, we were excited and looking forward to explore and experience more parts of southern India specially Karnataka. Though Bengaluru is the ideal city where you are best placed to explore and drive to these places , just in case you are flying from elsewhere.

A few years ago we explored Hampi ,and in January this year we did Lepakshi & Gandikota but if you haven’t been to these places recommend adding them to your trip as they fall on the same route. If you live in Hyderabad or Bengaluru then obviously all these make for great long weekend trips.

On this trip we covered the beautiful towns of Mysore, Coorg, Kabini, and the renowned Bandipur National Park before embarking back to Hyderabad via Bengaluru. This road trip offered us a blend of urban history, an escape into lush coffee plantations and serene wildlife sanctuaries.

To our surprise all places except Mysuru had barely any visitors in Monsoon inspite of being a long weekend so it was probably an off season time to visit. Nevertheless we loved having places to ourselves , clear blue skies playing peek-a-boo with rolling monsoon clouds and pleasant monsoon breeze for company.

Stop 1 – Hyderabad to Lepakshi/Bengaluru

Leave home early to hit NH 44 that leads to Bengaluru and roughly takes 8 hrs if you leave during the wee morning hours.

If you haven’t been to Lepakshi highly recommend stopping overnight here instead of Bengaluru. Lepakshi is a historic village in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh and is home to the famous Lepakshi Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, that was built during the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. The temple showcases exquisite Vijayanagara style architecture with intricate carvings, expansive murals, and the iconic hanging pillar.

The sandstone temple complex rivals some of the best ruins that we have witnessed across the globe, right from Angkor Wat in Combodia to Eyptian temples and Roman ruins in Italy.

Since we had already been here before we drove further and our first stop was the buzzing IT capital Bengaluru. We checked into a Marriot property late evening , grabbed some dinner and slept early. If you have never been to the garden city before then spend some time here exploring its famous gardens and sampling Idli & Dosas at the iconic breakfast joints.

Stop 2 : Bengaluru to Mysuru – The City of Palaces

We woke up early morning, skipped the regular hotel breakfast to head to an iconic bengaluru breakfast joint called “Vidyarthi Bhavan” for our Idli/Dosa fix first thing in morning. After a satiated tummy & soul it was time to hit the road again and drive on the fantastic NH 275 towards our next stop ‘ Mysuru ‘. This highway was a complete breeze to drive on.

Our first proper stop on this road trip – Mysore, the City of Palaces, a place brimming with royal splendour and historic allure. Renowned for its cultural richness and heritage, Mysore exudes an old-world charm that is truly captivating. The palace was packed with people being a Sunday which was expected. We decided to hire a professional guide who was knowledgeable and could show us the intricate details and history about this beautiful palace.

After the palace tour , we were eager to try a local delicacy that originated here and is famously named after the city itself — Mysore Pak. Most online sources pointed us towards Guru Sweet Mart , considered as the most authentic and iconic spot for this sweet in Mysore. Our view though very high on sugar and rich on Ghee, we quite liked the different varieties and flavours they had and so even got a few boxes packed.

Next we headed to try the famous Mysore Mylari Dosa at an iconic joint Hotel Vinayaka Mylari, which we think is an absolute must try for every Dosa lover, the fluffiest of Dosa (rice pancakes) with a hearty dollop of white home churned butter and a onion masala filling inside yup not your regular potatoes.

If you would rather enjoy non vegetarian food just off the highway close to Mysuru is the famous Pujari Fishland for authentic Mangalorean cuisine.

Key Attractions in Mysore:

• Mysore Palace: A stunning example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, the Mysore Palace is a must-visit. The intricacy of the design, the grandeur of the rooms, and the royal artefacts take you back to a time when the Wadiyar dynasty ruled the city.
• Chamundi Hill Temple: Perched on a hill, this ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari offers panoramic views of Mysore.
• St. Philomena’s Church: One of the largest churches in India, this neo-gothic architectural wonder is as peaceful as it is awe-inspiring.

Stop 3 : Mysuru to Coorg – The Scotland of India

After exploring Mysuru & breaking for lunch it was time to continue towards our next destination Coorg, also known as Kodagu, a hill station surrounded by lush coffee plantations, misty hills, and fragrant shola forests. Coorg is a haven for nature lovers, trekkers, and coffee enthusiasts alike. Even with a few blood sucking leeches crawling over me in the monsoon season, Coorg was absolutely fantastic during the offbeat rainy season with fewer crowds.

We hadn’t been to Coorg until now or for that matter even a coffee plantation before. Though I have been to tea plantations numerous times in the past having close knit family work in tea estates , I had even been to spice plantations in Kerala but a nature lover and a Coffee enthusiast like me hadn’t yet stepped foot on India’s premier Coffee producing regions and it was about time we changed that.

From what I had read and learnt Coorg sounded like an overly touristy and crowded weekend destination, like North Goa but after we knew we were to move out of Hyderabad soon I made it a point to discover a few spots in Karnataka via this little road trip crowded or not. In the middle of the monsoon season with a long weekend at our disposal we decided to embark on this journey and to our utter surprise none of the places were crowded at all except the Mysuru Palace and the rains only added more character to these places.

In Coorg, we choose to stay at the newly opened Marriot Resort and Spa which is nestled amid lush coffee plantations. We absolutely loved our experience there. Beautiful spacious rooms, a lovely balcony , lush surroundings , an infinity pool overlooking the valley, helpful staff and great food. There was nothing that I would change about it. Just wish could give their spa a try on this trip too.

There are places in an around Coorg that one could explore but we were keen on a more relaxed stay at this beautiful property. But we did enjoy our nature walks around the Coffee plantations with their in-house naturalist , A Coffee tasting session and the high tea in the evening overlooking the Valley below.

We did go out in the afternoon to view the Abbey Falls that were spectacular under the spell of monsoon showers and drove to Raja’s Seat for some sunset views over the western ghats.

Attractions in Coorg:

• Abbey Falls: A beautiful waterfall nestled amidst coffee plantations, Abbey Falls is a perfect spot for nature walks and photography.
• Dubare Elephant Camp: This camp offers visitors a chance to interact with elephants, bathe them, and even feed them.
• Raja’s Seat: A scenic spot offering a panoramic view of the surrounding valleys and hills, making it an ideal place for a relaxed evening.
• Coffee Plantations: Coorg is famous for its coffee, and taking a tour of a coffee estate can be both educational and refreshing. You can even sample the freshly brewed coffee.

Stop 4 : Kabini – A Tranquil Retreat on the Banks of the River

From Coorg, we were headed to Kabini next, a serene village nestled on the banks of the Kabini River that forms a part of the Nagarhole National Park. This is an excellent spot if you want to experience wildlife up close in a peaceful environment. Visiting Kabini has actually been long on my list to try my luck at witnessing it’s most famous resident – A black leopard called SAYA.

On this trip we were not so lucky to spot the majestic animal and would definitely love to return here some other time in the dry season when sightings are more common. However the forest itself was an absolute delight this time of the year being so lush and revealing a hundred shades of green under the monsoon spell.

Nagarahole Forest Safari are conducted by the Forest Department twice daily, at 6 AM and 3 PM from two different locations – Nanchhi Gate (Kutta) and Veeranahosalli Gate. Its best to book your slots in advance on the website specially during the high season. We reached around afternoon and opted for the 3 PM safari that took us deep into this majestic forest.

Attractions in Kabini:

• Kabini Wildlife Safari: The highlight of any trip to Kabini is the safari experience. The region is home to tigers, elephants, leopards, and numerous other species of flora and fauna.
• Nagarhole National Park: Explore the national park on a jeep safari, which takes you deep into the wilderness. With its dense forests and picturesque riverfronts, the park is a haven for birdwatchers and wildlife photographers.
• Kabini River Cruise: Enjoy a morning boat ride along the river, where you may spot crocodiles, otters, and various species of birds. A boat ride over the tranquil river to view birds is quite an experience.

Stop 4 : Kabini to Bandipur National Park – A Wilderness Retreat

Our final stop on this road trip was Bandipur National Park for yet another Safari (can never tire of them can I), Bandipur is a sprawling reserve that’s part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and known for its rich biodiversity and second largest Tiger population in India.

The sanctuary is host to the largest herd of Asiatic elephants in the world and innumerable species of birds, flora, and fauna including large predators, reptiles, gaurs, deer, bears, and smaller animals.

Biogeographically, Bandipur Tiger Reserve lies in one of the richest biodiversity areas of our country representing “5 B Western Ghats Mountains Biogeography Zone” (Rodgers & Panwar, 1988), surrounded by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the South, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in the South West & on the North West Side the Kabini Reservoir separates the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. 

This park offers an immersive experience into the wild, featuring the towering Nilgiri Range, diverse flora, and beautiful flowing streams in its topography. I have been to over a dozen National parks in India and wouldn’t shy from saying this one is among the best out there so if you are a nature lover add this to your trip.

Bandipur also supports a wide range of timber trees including teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian-laurel, Indian Kino tree, giant clumping bamboo to name a few.

If you have more time on hand, also recommend extending your trip to Ooty in Tamil Nadu or exploring the charming town of Coonoor. The road from here to Ooty and Coonoor is so scenic and captivating that even though I’ve been to Ooty before, I was a little sad to turn around and head home.

Like most good things come to end so had this trip, we had to return and join work thats pays the bill , so it was time to bid goodbye to Bandipur. We headed back to Bengaluru in the evening post our Safari with an overnight stay in the city and finally drove back to Hyderabad early next morning to complete our journey.

Karnataka has many more beautiful sights and nature aplenty to explore. From stunning architecture & heritage to its mesmerising Western Ghats, beautiful coastline dotted with quaint beaches to wild nature reserves. Its absolutely one of best states in the country for road trip adventures.

We had already been to a few places before like Hampi so they are not a part of this trip but if it’s your first time and you have more time to explore consider adding these – Hampi, Badami , Jog Falls, Gokarna, Chikmagalur all offer respite from the madness of the city and make for great weekend trips.

The memories of these idyllic scenic drives, wildlife sightings, and pristine monsoon landscapes will stay with us forever. The taste of those crispy hot dosas will linger on for years, until the next time we visit this beautiful state.