Offbeat getaways around Bengaluru for Holi

It is spring again and time for Holi, one of the biggest Indian festivals. If you are in Bengaluru and are looking for an offbeat escape for Holi, we have picked some of the most beautiful, interesting getaways around the city.

Bylakuppe is around 220 km from Bengaluru, and is an interesting as well as offbeat getaway. It is home to the world's second largest Tibetan settlement and you can visit some beautiful Buddhist monasteries and universities here. The place is also famous as the Little Tibet.

This Holi, you can head off to Kabini and get closer to nature with a wild trip to the famous Kabini forest reserve. You can choose to stay in a camp as well as a luxe jungle lodge here, and go on forest safaris. With some luck, you can spot tigers, leopards, sloth bears, a variety of deers, Indian bison and more here.

Gandikota lies in the state of Andhra Pradesh and lies at about 280 km from Bengaluru. It is also one of the prettiest roads trips from Bengaluru and is great for a serene Holi escape. When here, you must explore the Gandikota Fort, which sits on the side of River Penna. It is one of the most secured forts in India, its sides guarded by deep valleys, hills and massive boulders. One of the pretties place around Bengaluru, our word!

Savandurga is hardly 70 km away from Bengaluru and is one of the quickest, offbeat getaways around the city. The hill, Savandurga, rises to 1226 m from the sea level and is one of the largest monolith hills in Asia, and is a sight to behold. The place also has some beautiful temples if you are keen to explore.

Read more: Savandurga: What’s so special about this rock?

While Gokarna is not as offbeat as the other places in our list, there's no beating its charm. While it is also a pilgrimage destination, the place is a great getaway for a beach vacation too. There are a number of good beaches here, set with great cafes and eateries.

Nandi Hills is one of the most loved getaways around Bengaluru and rightly so. At about 60 km away, it is a great escape if you are missing cold weather but are too far from the hill stations of North India. The landscape here is beautiful and you can easily spend a day or more here.