If you are looking for a quick road trip and a cute little picnic with your fam, we recommend heading to Hogenakkal Falls. Dubbed the Niagara Falls of South India, due to its resemblance to the iconic falls, Hogenakkal Falls is located south of Bangalore, over at Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu. It's touted to be one of the oldest waterfalls in South Asia, and the sight of the water rushing down and crashing onto the series of rocks below is majestic. During the monsoons, the waterfalls are in full range and there's a lot you can do here.
Fun fact, the name Hogenakkal means smoky rocks in Kannada and it's because of how there's mist that comes from the water that crashes into the rocks below. From taking a dip in the waters below to coracle rides, you'll find tourists and locals alike spending their time in the cool waters. You will also find certain sections are dedicated bathing sections with locals and tourists taking a full-fledged bath under the flowing water and even getting oil massages. You can find plenty of spots to spread the picnic mat and make it a day by the waterfalls. Plus, since this is a tourist destination, you will find lots of small eateries selling freshwater seafood dishes.
There are government-regulated coracle rides that charge between INR 500 and INR 1,500 for the distance and duration. Coracle rides are between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours.
Distance from Bangalore: 125 kilometres of 3.5 hours on road
Best time to visit: During Monsoons and late Summer
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM
