7 Picturesque Hill Stations Near Bangalore That Are A Must-Visit!

-Mansi Senghar

If you are a native of Bengaluru or if you love watching stand-ups, then you might be aware of the fact that Bengaluru’s traffic can be quite a pain, most of the time. However, the silicon valley of India is also famous for its pleasant weather all year round. But to get a real breather all of us head over to the mountains and to your surprise, Bengaluru is quite a host itself. While the North has been explored and trashed, not many of us know about the beautiful mountain getaways from Bengaluru that are just a drive away from the city of gardens.

So if the mountains are calling you, we say, you grab your comfiest cardigan and head to one of these serene hills near Bangalore and refresh yourself with the beautiful sight of billowing trees and cascading waterfalls!

Savandurga - A trip to the largest monolith in Asia

If you are up for some thrill, Savandurga might be the perfect getaway location for you. Located at a distance of 60 km west of Bengaluru, Savandurga is among the largest monoliths in the world. Savandurga has two hills, Billigudda (white hill) and Karigudda (black hill. These hills stations around Bangalore are often chosen by tourists for trekking, rock climbing and camping.

But if you aren’t a trekking enthusiast, you can also look forward to visiting an ancient temple and having a little picnic while overlooking a blissful lotus pond. Bird watching is another fun activity you can look up to when planning your trip to Asia’s largest Monolith.

Ramanagara - A fun trip for the Movie Buffs

If you have watched ‘Sholey’, then this Bangalore hill station will look somewhat familiar to you at a glance. The famous film starring Amitabh Bachhan and Dharmendra was shot here, on these hills, which is now a famous trekking spot. Mekedatu is a 5 km trek amidst nature. The roaring sound of water from the Cauvery river breaks the quietude along with the chirping birds. The picturesque setup makes Ramanagara the perfect place to visit on a 1-day trip close to the city.

Chikmagalur - An aromatic trip to the Coffee Land

Chikmagalur was given as a dowry to the King’s youngest and that is how it gained its name. The literal translation of Chikmagalur is ‘Land of the younger daughter’. Covered with emerald green patches of tea and coffee plantations, Chikmagalur is an entrancing hill station that has caught the attention of tourists with its scenic beauty. Apart from the unpaid aroma therapy, Chikmagalur is also very famous for the cascading water flowing through the rocky terrains of this area. Some of the most famous waterfalls are Jhari Waterfalls, Hanuman Gundi Waterfalls, Shankar Falls, and Kadambi Falls. If you are a birder then you could also take time out to spring by Kudremukh National Park, which houses bird species like the great pied hornbill and Malabar whistling thrush.

Yelagiri - A trip to the hamlets

Yelagiri is a beautiful underrated hill station located in the Vellore district that is a melting pot for adventure activities including trekking, boating, zip-lining, and rock climbing. The hill station is a cluster of fourteen hamlets, with Athanavur as its main and capital town. The spectacular city of Yelagiri is sure to blow your mind with its beautiful lush green valleys, orchards and rose gardens. One of the most amazing and mind-boggling places is the man-made Punganur Lake in the region which attracts many tourists and visitors every year.

Wayanad - A trip into the wild

Wayand is a lesser known but undoubtedly the most beautiful hill station in God’s own country. Popularly known as the spice garden of the India , Wayanad has vast orchards of caradamoms, black cumin and more that fills up the whole place with an aroma you can’t get over. With the dense plantations, comes the rich fauna found at the place. If you have grown up watching channels like discovery and nat geo then you must visit the Wildlife Sanctuary here. For those of you who love to trek, you can trek to the highest peak in Wayanad, i.e Chembra Peak and watch the sun set paint the clear sky of Wayanad into a blissful tangerine. The Malabar duck roast and fish moilee is a must try in Wayanad.

PS - If you are a history buff, Wayanad has a treasure trove, the Eddakal Caves, from the Neolithic age. You can easily find petroglyphs- prehistoric rock carvings used as a communication tool.

Coorg - A trip to India’s very own Scotland

Tucked away in the slopes of Western Ghats, Coorg is a scintillating hill stations that lives up to its hype. Home to Abbey, Mallali, and Iruppu falls, Coorg looks jaw-dropping, rather straight out of a postcard.The coffee plantations and the colonial architecture makes up for the most enriching trip if you are looking for a beautiful getaway destination to rejuvenate. This ravishing beauty is also a much acclaimed hill station for the thrill seekers. One can go trekking and white water rafting during their stay in Coorg. This gem of a location is also famous for its elephant camps, where the tourists can stop while they drive to Coorg and have a playful and fun change with the elephants.

Kodaikanal - A trip to romance capital of South India

Rounding of the list with Kodaikonal, the very famous honeymoon destination in the South. Popularly known as the princess of Hill Stations, Kodaikonal never fails to mesmerise the tourists with its meandering rivers, dense jungles, undulating hill slopes, cascading waterfalls, and verdure valleys. Owing to its natural beauty, this hill station leaves the visitors spoilt for choice.

Apart from the jaw-dropping views, one can partake in various activities during their trip to Kodaikonal. From boating in pristine lakes to trekking in the hilly terrains, to offering prayers at the popular temples, Kodaikonal has various offerings for the tourists. Some of the major attractions in Kodaikonal are manmade Kodai lake, Coaker’s Walk, Guna Cave, Shenbanganur Museum and Dolphin’s nose.

These were some of the hills in Bangalore stations that deserve your attention. If you are from Bengaluru you can easily plan these trips that are just a few hours away but if you are heading from the north, we suggest you book the hotels in Bengaluru ahead of time to avoid any inconvenience. And if you are someone who’s a workaholic and looks forward to keeping in touch with their work, you should check out Bloom Hotels in Bengaluru that facilitates high speed WiFi and iMAC Stations for workaholics like you!