10 Bike Ride Destinations From Bangalore Under 250 Kilometres

The ride to BR Hills is a three-hour one, and it'll have you ride through forest roads, and it's as scenic as it can get. The hills are green all through the year (summers can look like the hills got a massive hair fall), and it's a popular trekking spot as well amongst Bangaloreans. Most riders prefer the dead end of summer and the monsoon season to ride. Summers can get a bit hectic, but it also means that you can come across wildlife. The course to the BR hills via Kanakpura and Kollegala is a favourite among the pros. Don’t forget to try the Thatte Idli (a plate-shaped idli) en-route to Bidadi.

Best Time To Visit: All year

Distance from Bangalore: 171 kilometres

Ride Time: 3.5 Hours 

If you are planning on riding to Chitradurga, we recommend you take a pit stop at one of Karnataka’s gems — the Marikanive dam. It's one of the oldest dams in the state, and the highway to here is filled with windmills on either side. If you are heading via Tumkur, then get your coffee fix at Sira and cross Hiryur to get to the dam. The water stretches to the green hills. 

Best Time To Visit: All year

Distance from Bangalore: 181 kilometres

Ride Time: 3.5 Hours 

Bheemeshwari is great for a quick bike ride from Bangalore as it's just about 100 kilometres from the city. Located on the river banks of the Kaveri, you can have a weekend staycation here, as there are plenty of lodges to stay in. If you are doing a day trip, then be sure to get your adrenaline rush with some water sports such as river rafting. There are also nearby trekking trails that you can explore. 

Best Time To Visit: Monsoons

Distance from Bangalore: 101 kilometres

Ride Time: 2.5 Hours 

Just about a quick ride away, this is the perfect destination for a morning visit. Grab some breakfast on Mysore Road before reaching Manchinbele Dam. You can set up camp by the River Arkavathi, and if you want to do some off-roading, there's a route that the locals know about.

Best Time To Visit: All year

Distance from Bangalore: 41 kilometres

Ride Time: 1.2 Hours

This picturesque hill station near Bangalore, situated well inside Tamil Nadu, is the perfect weekend getaway. It offers tranquillity, scenery, and biodiversity. The ideal trek is to the highest point of the region, on the 4,338 ft tall Swamimalai hill. We highly recommend parasailing here — for the unbelievable views, of course! Gather your biking gear and head towards Krishnagiri on NH7 and get onto NH46 towards Chennai. Plenty of signboards will point you toward the roads that ascend the hill. Just after some narrow road riding and about 14 hairpin bends later, you should be at Yelagiri. Trust us, this destination is just as thrilling as the journey.

Best Time To Visit: Monsoons and post-monsoons

Distance from Bangalore: 163 kilometres

Ride Time: 3.5 hours

Kabini (named after the river that flows through it) is a treasure chest for wildlife enthusiasts and a dream destination for any road-trip lover in Bangalore. Give it a visit between November and January for the best weather and wildlife sighting (leopards, elephants, and tigers, if you’re lucky). If you’d rather rejuvenate at a jungle lodge or luxury resort, you’re welcome at any time of the year. The rubber-burning route offers plenty of restaurants, petrol bunks, and ATMs for pit stops. Get to Mysore through the near-perfect NICE road and get into Kabini via Antharasanthe. Ah, what a ride! Smooth roads and luxuriant greenery are a great combination.

Best Time To Visit: Monsoons and post-monsoons

Distance from Bangalore: 215 kilometres

Ride Time: 5.5 hours

En route to Mangalore lies this quaint, seldom-explored hill station. Sakleshpur, with its luxuriant coffee plantations, magnificent mountains, and unprecedented scenic beauty, is one destination no biker should miss. The ride should take just about four hours to cover early in the morning. Good news for us, the highway to Mangalore has been developed incredibly in the past few years. Expect long, smooth stretches initially, but mud roads and potholes towards the end. The best part about Sakleshpur is that you can find your little paradise with some exploration. You can trek around and find streams and waterfalls, or you can check out Bisle Ghat and Manjarabad Fort. Tranquillity and picturesque perfection are what you’ll get here.

Best Time To Visit: Monsoons 

Distance from Bangalore: 225 kilometres

Ride Time: 4.5 hours

Mekedatu (literally translates to ‘goat’s crossing’) and its stunning design is the result of the Cauvery cutting through massive granite rocks over thousands of years. Get to Sangama from Kanakpura, cross the river through a coracle ride, and then head to Mekedatu by bus or a 12-15 kilometres trek. Make a stop at Kanakpura’s Chunchi Falls as well. The ride doesn’t take a lot of time and is mostly on smooth roads amidst Kanakpura’s untouched greenery. Make it a day trip with a bunch of your best buds, and you won’t be disappointed.

Best Time To Visit: Monsoons, but also all year round

Distance from Bangalore: 100 kilometres

Ride Time: 2 hours

This little hamlet is perfect for a quick day trip. Apart from the ride itself, which is mostly on the airport road and onward, this one can be quite fun and action-packed. There's a temple — the Lakshmivenkataramanaswamy temple, constructed during the Chola dynasty, which history and architecture buffs will enjoy. Then the Narasimhaswamy Temple, a cave temple, for which Gudibande is named, and then there's the fort itself. Hike up for beautiful views of the surrounding areas before picnicking beside the Amani Byrasagara Lake. You can even check out the Surasadmagiri Hill when there.

Best Time To Visit: All year round

Distance from Bangalore: 100 kilometres

Ride Time: 2 Hours