Dussehra long weekend getaways around Bengaluru

Makalidurga is around 60 km from Bengaluru and is a great escape for those who love the outdoors. It is majorly a trekking destination, with the trek starting from a railway station! A moderately difficult trek, it is for those keen on an offbeat active holiday around Bengaluru.

Head to Mysuru to experience a Dussehra celebration like never before. The wonderful city sees 10-day celebrations, starting from the first day of Navratri. This is when the Mysore Palace gets decked in millions of light bulbs, making for an unforgettable sight. There are processions, with elephants and the royals out and about, that are an essential experience as well.

A quick, pleasant drive of around 1.5 hours from Bengaluru will take you to the famous Nandi Hills. Since it's one of the most popular weekend getaways near Bengaluru, we suggest that you reach here early in the morning, and with a warm jacket on you! The place gets chillingly cold and is a fun getaway that you can easily explore in just a day.

Ooty is around 270 km away from Bengaluru. You can head here for the Dussehra long weekend for some respite in the hills from the city's infamous traffic snarls. A typical quaint hill escape, Ooty's old-school world charm is difficult to resist.

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This town near Bengaluru is famous as the shooting location for the blockbuster, Sholay. This is where Indian cinema's all-time masterpiece was shot. It's just 50 km from Bengaluru and is famous as the Silk Town of Karnataka. This is also where the famous Mysore Silk has its origins.

Savandurga is around 69 km from Bengaluru and is a great offbeat escape from the city. It is the largest monolith hill in Asia, and is a huge hit with trekkers. It is also frequented by pilgrims, who visit the revered Savandi Veerabhadreshwara Swamy and Narasimha Swamy temples.

Skandagiri is a very popular mountain fortress near Bengaluru and is also famous by the name of Kalavara Durga. It is around 70 km from Bengaluru and is a sight to behold. If you are into architecture, this is where you should head to in the coming weekend.

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For fans of history and architecture, we also recommend a trip to Hampi, Badami, Pattadakkal and Bijapur from Bengaluru over a weekend.