73% Indian Travellers plan to take more weekend trips

Long weekend in January 2019

2019 starts with its long weekends in the third week of the month January 12-13-14 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday) and here is the guide on all the experiences in and around Bengaluru that one can explore.

Where to go?

Bandipur

Set up as a tiger reserve in the year 1974, Bandipur National Park is outstanding for its amazing natural beauty. Loaded with an extensive variety of wonderful natural life and large numbers of teak and sandalwood trees, this is the main Biosphere Reserve of the nation and in addition the site decided for the Project Tiger. Situated in Nilgiris the whole region is honored with an extraordinary scenic beauty. The wildlife is home to a number elephants, hornbills, deers, pythons, sloth bears, panthers etc.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 221 kms
• Activities to do: Nature Trails, Tribal visits, Bird watching, Wildlife safaris, Hiking, Trekking
• Where to stay: The Windflower Jungle Resort & Spa, Bandipur is located within Bandipur National Park, and provides free pick and drop services from Bandipur Police check post. This accommodation is a 5 star Nature Resort, which comes with an outdoor swimming pool, barbeque lounge, and a spa - a complete package for your self-pampering holiday. You can also request the tour desk to arrange visits to nearby tribal villages and the nature reserve. This resort is connected to Ooty City Center (60 kms), and Mysore Railway Station (140 kms).

Long weekends in March 2019

March has pretty good news for travellers with March 2-4 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday) and March 21-24 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) being long weekends for the month (While March 22^nd is a working day, you can play your cards right and sneak in a leave request at the earliest)

Where to go?

Yercaud

Located in the Eastern Ghats, Yercaud is a very scenic hill station with lush green forests, vast coffee plantations and some really unique flora and fauna. One can trek to the Killiyur Falls, or just relax and go boating in the Emerald lake surrounded by picturesque mountain peaks. If you are someone who enjoys flower sighting you can visit the Botanical garden and the National Orchidarium (ranked the third largest of all the orchidariums in India), that house many unique and endangered species. The famous Kurinji flower known for its peculiar characteristic to bloom only once in twelve years grows in abundance here

• Distance from Bengaluru: 228 kms
• Activities to do: Sightseeing, Trekking, Boating
• Where to stay: GReat Trails yercaud by GRT Hotels is a resort nestled in nature and greenery. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings. This resort is 2 km from the beautiful Yercaud Lake, 5 km from Lady’s Seat and within 8 km from the Pagoda Point and the Shevaroyan Temple.

Dandeli

This is one of the closest and most offbeat weekend getaways from Bangalore. Untapped, and far from the madding crowd, Dandeli is the haven for an adventure seeker. Water sports in River Kali are the highlights of this place and are a must do. For the wildlife admirer, there is the night safari and bird watching on the banks of Kali, frequented by pied kingfishers, egrets, and other birds. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the magnificent Syntheri Rock, a 300 feet granite marvel. Naturally carved out caves in this rock are now inhabited by a wide variety of pigeons. Hives of bees hanging along river Kali are also a work of beauty. Shiroli Peak, Dandelappa Temple, Kavala Caves, Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, and Kulgi Nature Camp are some other tourist attractions that are a must see.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 466 kms
• Activities to do: Mountain Biking, Trekking, Cycling, Kayaking, Long River Rafting, Canoeing
• Where to stay: Jungle Nest - Dandeli is situated in the evergreen forest of Dandeli. This property is very accommodating to your pets and also provides an amazing camping experience with outdoor tents.

Long weekends in April 2019

Beat the city heat by booking yourself a quick getaway on these long weekends - April 13-14-15-16-17 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) {Put in a planned leave request for 15th and 16th and you will have a very long weekend} and April 19-20-21 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

Where to go?

Coorg (Kodagu)

Beautiful waterfalls, stretches of greens and misty mountain tops make Coorg (Kodagu) an exotic and one of the most popular hill stations in the country. Enjoy rowing in the backwaters, go cycling around the property or visit the coffee plantations while you are holidaying in Coorg. And if you looking for something sacred and religious ensure you visit The Golden Temple and The Namdroling Monastery (In Bylakuppe) to fill your soul with all the purity you can ask for. Another must see is the ‘firefly-safari’ in Coorg. Every April small pockets in the Western Ghats witness a rare spectacle of nature - the synchronous flashing of fireflies. By mid-April, the entire valley twinkles in unison and feels like nature’s own discotheque.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 265 kms
• Activities to do: Sightseeing, Trekking
• Where to stay: Surrounded by greenery The Birchwood Retreat is at a distance of 107 kms from Kannur International Airport. Enjoy the blissful views of Coorg in the outdoor swimming pool that this retreat has to offer as you switch off from your busy city life.

Chikmagalur

Nestled in the foothills of the Mullayanagiri range, Chikmagalur is an awesome summer retreat owing to its cool climate all year round. This district is also home to several waterfalls, including Manikyadhara, Kallathigiri, Kadambi and Sirimane falls. The district is the coffee hub of Karnataka, given the numerous coffee plantations found here. You can take a walk in the coffee plantations, letting the bitter-sweet aroma relax your senses, or you can even trek to the Mullayanagiri peak, the highest peak in Karnataka, for an absolutely spectacular view of the setting sun. Sringeri, Kalasa, Belavedi, and Amrithapura are few of the many pilgrim centres in Chikmagaular. Also a must see are the The Hebbe Falls famous for their scenic beauty and the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Kudremukh National Park renowned for its biodiversity.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 244 kms
• Activities to do: Sightseeing, Coffee tasting, Wildlife safaris, Temple visits
• Where to stay: The Serai Chikmagular is a four star accommodation situated at a coffee plantation. This property has a variety of villas, incorporating comfy and spacious rooms. Among other facilities the accommodation includes a gym and a spa. The Odyssey restaurant serves multi-cuisine meals to engage the foodies.

Long weekends in August 2019

August 10, 11, 12 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday), and August 15, 16, 17, 18 (Thursday, Friday {see what we did there?}, Saturday, Sunday)

The month should definitely have travel on the cards considering the good lineup of long holidays. Here is an offbeat destination that you can visit.

Where to go?

Sakleshpur

This festive period celebrate togetherness with your family in the hills. Located in the Western Ghats mountain range, Sakleshpur is surrounded by slopes covered in tea, coffee and spice plantations. The place is also home to endangered animals including tigers, elephants and deer. Places to visit include the Bisle Reserve Forest - a biodiversity hotspot, Manjarabad Fort - built by Tipu Sultan, Kukke Subramanya Temple - which stands tall for 600 years and counting, and Raxidi Estate - where you can witness how different spices are cultivated on a plantation.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 221 kms
• Activities to do: Trekking, Sightseeing, Camping
• Where to stay: Munch on some delicious barbeque with a mountain view at Coffee Bean Villa homestay. Sakleshpur city is 9 km from the property.

Kabini

If you’re looking forward for a weekend getaway then Kabini is the place to be especially for all the wildlife and nature enthusiasts. The two main attractions of the place are the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary and Kabini Dam. There is also the Nagarhole National Park which is just a km away from the Kabini. Elephant training camps, wildlife safari, boat ride in the backwaters and a visit to the old temple in the island are a few must do activities while in Kabini. While in Kabini don't miss the night trail with naturalists to discover the fascinating nocturnal world of bugs and insects where you can spot fascinating species the ornamental tree trunk spider, two-tailed spider jumping spider etc in minutes.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 212 kms
• Activities to do: Nature Trail, Jungle Safaris, Boating
• Where to stay: Evolve Back Kabini which has an overarching view of the Kabini river, gives you the option to choose between staying at their hotel or at their stand-alone bungalows with private pools and spas. This listing can help you arrange for vehicle/boat safaris and night trails on request.

Long weekend in September 2019

August 31; September 1, 2 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday), and September 7, 8, 9, 10 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday)

With two long weekends in September, get planning right away! One sneak leave on September 9, and you have enough days for a long leisure break by the beach.

Where to go?

Agumbe

Agumbe is beautiful hill town in Karnataka that has rich biodiversity and breathtaking scenery. Surrounded by Western Ghats the place offers magnificent waterfalls and some wonderful sunset views that are ideal for photographers and nature lovers. A laid-back ambience lets you completely relax, and rejuvenate, away from the hectic schedule of your daily life. To its south is the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary that is home to Tigers, Leopards and Cobras.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 356 kms
• Activities to do: Nature Trails
• Where to stay: Since Agumbe is a remote destination, hotels/properties are at a minimum distance of 20 kms. The closest homestay is Sri Vana Durga Service Apartment, which is one of the best rated properties in Sringeri. It is suitable for a group of 6-8 people.

Hampi

Hampi has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, due to the prevalent ruins of the once capital of the Vijaynagar Empire. The place has close to 500 historical artefacts. The ruins of the Virupaksha temple, a shrine to a patron of the empire is a popular tourist attraction. For those backpacking to Hampi, it is advisable to rent a vehicle, as this open museum has over a 100 locations to visit. Some of the notable ones include, Hampi Bazaar, Elephant Stables, Zenana Enclosure and the Lotus Palace.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 345 kms
• Activities to do: Sightseeing, Shopping for local handicrafts
• Where to stay: Heritage Resort Hampi is at a 7 kms distance from Virupakshha Temple and Achutaraya Temple. After a long day of gallivanting across Hampi, you can destress at the resort which also has a wellness spa or just sip on your favourite drink while lazing in the swimming pool.

Long weekend in October 2019

October 2019 brings Diwali and a whole lot of holidays with it starting from October 26th till the 29th (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday). A good look at the long weekend calendar for the year reveals that you can have some grand celebration this time, with a mini-vacation!

Where to go?

Wayanad

Translated as the “Land of Paddy Fields”, Wayanad is a picturesque place nestled comfortably in the Western Ghats in Kerala. The region is said to be inhabited for almost 3000 years, and you can also find various indigenous tribes upon your exploration of the place. Heavily forested and rich in flora and fauna, Wayanad is perfect for undertaking trekking and other adventure activities. The treks in this region take you through surreal landscapes and evergreen tropical forests, making the entire experience one of its kind. Some of the great places to visit in Wayanad are Thirunelli Temple, Wayanad Adventure Camp, Karlad Lake, Papanashini, Neelimala View Point, Korome Mosque.

• Distance from Bengaluru: 264 kms
• Activities to do: Camping, Trekking, Cycling Adventure activities
• Where to stay: Vythiri Resort is an exquisite jungle getaway situated beneath an enormous canopy of a lush tropical rainforest. Journey into nature's wonderland - in the company of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, flowering plants and butterflies that inhabit the dense Vythiri rainforest.

Long weekend in December 2019

December 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)

The extra-long weekend in December makes up for the lack of weekends in November, and there is no reason to miss a trip in the happiest month of the year.

Where to go?

Maravanthe

Sometimes you have to travel a little extra to catch hold of the most spectacular scenic sites. Maravanthe is a serene village with a beautiful beach enveloped by calm surroundings. Fondly known as the virgin beach, this white sand beach is considered to be one the most picturesque and beautiful beaches in Karnataka. The beach offers several activities like snorkeling, scuba diving and cruising as well. While in Maravanthe do not forget to binge on local delicacies prepared using authentic recipes as you enjoy the memorable sunset

• Distance from Bengaluru: 433 kms
• Activities to do: Beach, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving
• Where to stay: UVA Merdian Bay Resort & Spa is a beautiful four star resort situated in Kundapur, closest to Mangalore international airport. The resort has a private beach area along with a tennis court for all the sport enthusiasts. The resort provides a bike hire facility, since the area is also popular for cycling.