Mysore is the city of palaces and gardens, fountains and hills of Western ghats. What intrigues a visitor coming to Mysore is its unique setting atop a plateau. With the kind of unique positioning and sights that Mysore is blessed with, it is very easy to get lost in its charms. But for how long can a local see and do the same things in the same vicinity? 

Now, when long distance travels and oversees trips may not be as feasible as they once used to be, every upcoming weekend looks like a silent wizard beckoning you into some magical land of wanderlust. So here’s our scroll of names, places and beautiful getaways around Mysore that will help you celebrate idle weekends.

131 km from Mysore, the green lush town of Wayanad is all about misty peaks, elephant-filled jungles, caves and eternal flowing waterfalls. Some caves here are prehistoric, with engravings that go back centuries. You can enjoy exploring these caves that go by the name of Edakkal Caves, take a trip across Valley of Clouds, hike up the Chembra Peak and check out Ambukuthi. Picnic on the base of Soochipura Waterfalls and bathe elephants in their camps. Both are quite therapeutic. Wayanad is the kind of weekend holiday that completely refreshes and rejuvenates you.

The world’s largest monolith stone statue is engraved in this town. It goes by the name of Gommateshvara and is the symbol of this place. Hike up the Vindhyagiri Hill to visit this Jain deity that is also called Bahubali. It is a Jain pilgrimage and registers high footfalls through all seasons. Other temples to visit in Shravanabelagola are Parshwanatha Basadi, Akkana Basadi, Shantinatha Basadi, Chandraprabha Basadi and Kattlae Basadi. You should also visit Chandragiri, Indragiri and Bhattaraka Math when here. Shravanabelagola is 99 km from Mysore, best visited in winter.

Locally known as Kodagu, Coorg is one of the most beautiful hill stations around Mysore. You could write ballads and ballads about its beauty and yet not have written enough, such is the gift of nature to this town. Lush evergreen hillocks, meadows ripe with coffee plantations and spices, waterfalls that remind you of Scotland and elephant camps where these mammoth creatures become your friends. Book yourself into a treehouse or homestay for the most unique experience and spend your weekend visiting Dubare elephant camp, Mandalpatti View Point, Abbey Falls, Raja’s Seat and Brahmagiri Peak. 107 km away from Mysore, Coorg is perfect for late summer, winter and spring.

Roughly 60 km from Mysore lies the town of Ramanagaram. The moment you enter Ramanagaram you will be bombarded with memories from a certain movie — memories of a certain villain dacoit walking across rocks with a belt in hand and asking ‘kitne aadmi the.’ Immortalised in Bollywood for being the location for Sholay, today Ramanagaram is also highly coveted by tourists for its history, temples, landscapes and sericulture. Visit the Channapatna, Mekedaatu, Kharkhaane Bande, Janapada Loka and Rameswara temple.

A small town in Hassan, Karnataka, Belur is known for its temples and golf course. Located 127 km from Mysore, you will find yourself lost in the 1000 year history of Hoysalas and Cholas. The perfect weekend getaway for educational trips with your kids or with your nerd friends, Belur is celebrated by the Vaishnav sects all over the world for its temples. Literature lovers; the samadhi of Raghavanka, the 13th century poet, also rests here. Other places to visit around are Chennakesava temple, Soumyanayaki, Kappe Chennigaraya, Andal, Pushkarni and of course, the Belur Golf Course.

Very close, in fact, only 22 km from Mysore, is the historic city of Srirangapatna. An egg-shaped island in the middle of Kaveri River, Srirangapatna is the resting place of two great leaders — Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. There are temples and palaces, jungle resorts and waterfalls; all that makes your weekend fun. Do visit the Balmuri Falls, Kalyani Siddhi Vinayaka temple, Gumbaz, Dariya Daulat Bagh, Lal Mahal Palace and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.

Belur’s twin in all respects, Halebidu is 154 km from Mysore and best visited for a winter weekend. It has a rich heritage steeped in history, especially around the Hoysaleswara Temple which was built back in 1121 CE by Vishnuvardhana. It is still unfinished. Other places to visit in the town are Kedareswara and Shantaleswara temples, Basadi Halli, Yagachi Dam and Archaeological Museum.

59 km from Mysore is Kabini, a collection of beautiful jungle resorts. There are streams criss-crossing and boat rides awaiting you here, the thick currents of Kabini river pushing winds and elephants bathing in their coolness. Safaris are great here, as are hikes and walks. Visit the Nagarhole National Park, chill by Kabini Dam, enjoy the local flora and fauna and don’t forget to check out Banasura Sagar Dam. Monsoons and winters are amazing to enjoy the greenery here.

Madikeri is a hill station of spices. With thickets and plantations of black peppers, cardamom and honey combs, Madikeri is fragranced through and through. It is located only 19 km from Mysore and best visited in winter and early summer. Due to its colonial heritage, there is a very cute vintage charm to the town. Visit Kotebetta, Omkareshwara Temple, Raja Seat, Madikeri Fort, St. Mark’s Church and Kote Abbey.

Who wouldn’t know Ooty? The queen of southern hill stations! It is perfect for a long summer or winter weekend from Mysore, located as it is 179 km from the city. With its emerald roll of hills, dense forests, Nilgiri Hills and tea estates, Ooty is breathtaking. Places to visit are many here, but some not-to-miss are Pykara Lake, Avalanche Lake, Doddabetta Peak, St. Stephens Church, Glenmorgan Tea Estate, Government Rose Gardens and Toda. Shop for aromatic and medicinal oils, Nilgiri teas, chocolates, shawls and wooden effigies.

Nilgiri’s second largest hill station, Coonoor is perfect for a summer weekend. It is cool, green, clean and quiet — all the things that Mysore is not during summer. The British developed this town and hence it still bears a decided rustic colonial charm; from bungalows to gardens to streets and cafes. Even the cafe menus here are a throwback to teas and cakes and all that European fare. When in Coonoor, do not miss shopping for teas, handmade soaps, fresh fruit from orchards and eucalyptus products. Places you must check out here include Sim’s Park, Dolphin’s Nose, Catherine Falls, Highfield Tea Factory, St. George’s Church, Rallia Dam and Hidden Valley. Coonoor is 145 km away from Mysore.