From the lush parks and storied cafes of Bengaluru to the vine-laced hills around Nashik and the Maratha-era landmarks of Pune, this 6-day route weaves nature, history, and cuisine. It’s a classic South-to-West India loop: easy onward connections, memorable meals, and a taste of contemporary India.

Founded amid ancient trade routes and powered today by tech and education, these cities still hold to tradition—filter coffee queues in Bengaluru, temple bells along the Godavari in Nashik, and fort silhouettes at sunset in Pune. Expect contrasting flavors: crisp Chenin at a vineyard, fiery misal-pav for breakfast, delicate Mangalorean seafood for dinner.

Practical notes: October–March is the most comfortable window; monsoon (June–September) paints the ghats emerald but roads can slow. Dress modestly for temples (shoulders/knees covered), carry cash-free options (UPI is ubiquitous), and prebook vineyard tastings on weekends. Morning intercity departures keep your days full.

Bengaluru

Bengaluru—India’s Garden City and tech hub—pairs century-old parks and markets with a wave of new cafes and microbreweries. Beneath the canopy of rain trees, you’ll find Victorian-era boulevards, Kannada bookshops, and a food scene that ranges from old-school dosa counters to coastal kitchens.

• Top sights: Lalbagh Botanical Garden’s 19th-century glasshouse, Cubbon Park, Bengaluru Palace, KR (City) Market’s dawn flower auctions, Vidhana Soudha’s granite grandeur.
• Eat & drink: Dosa at Vidyarthi Bhavan, filter coffee at Brahmin’s Coffee Bar, coastal fare at Karavalli, Andhra thali at Nagarjuna, street eats on VV Puram Food Street, craft beers at Byg Brewski and live jazz at Windmills Craftworks.
• Stay zones: Central (MG Road/Church Street) for museums and food; Indiranagar/Koramangala for nightlife and cafes; Whitefield for quiet and space.

Where to stay (search and compare): Hotels.com – Bengaluru | VRBO – Bengaluru

How to arrive: Fly into BLR (Kempegowda). Typical domestic fares are ~$40–$120 one-way from major Indian hubs. Search flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Trains to KSR Bengaluru run from across India—check timings on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrive Bengaluru, parks and palaces

Afternoon: Land at BLR and check in. Start at Cubbon Park for a leg-stretch under rain trees, then walk to Vidhana Soudha for photos of the iconic granite legislature. Head to the Tudor-style Bengaluru Palace for ornate interiors and royal memorabilia.

Evening: Dinner at Karavalli for coastal classics (meen pollichathu, crab in pepper masala) or opt for a fiery Andhra thali at Nagarjuna (think gongura mutton, ghee rice). Cap the night with a craft pint at Byg Brewski (Sarjapur) or live jazz and a hefeweizen at Windmills Craftworks (Whitefield). Dessert idea: Corner House’s Death by Chocolate—an old Bengaluru ritual.

Day 2: Markets, museums, and legendary dosas

Morning: Rise early for KR Market’s flower auction—jasmine garlands and marigold mounds in a riot of color. Breakfast at Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (idli-vada with coconut chutney; piping hot filter coffee) or CTR/Shri Sagar for a butter-laced benne dosa. If you’re a garden lover, detour to Lalbagh’s lake and glasshouse.

Afternoon: Dive into science and nostalgia at the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum; then stroll to the National Gallery of Modern Art for 20th-century Indian art. Lunch at Vidyarthi Bhavan (crisp masala dosas on tin plates) or Truffles for burgers if you need a break from dosa duty. Shop for cottons and juttis at Commercial Street.

Evening: Head to Basavanagudi’s VV Puram Food Street: try thatte idli, ghee podi dosa, holige (sweet flatbread), and pav bhaji. Prefer sit-down? The Permit Room riffs on regional eats with creative cocktails. Nightcap along Church Street at a specialty coffee bar or neighborhood pub.

Bonus inspiration (future add-on): If Silk Road landscapes intrigue you, bookmark this day trip from Urumqi for a later Asia adventure:
Heaven Lake Day Tour from Urumqi (Viator)

Nashik

Set on the banks of the Godavari, Nashik blends sacred sites with sunlit vineyards. It’s one of India’s oldest spiritual centers and the country’s wine capital, where basalt hills and breezy evenings make for easy tasting days.

• Top sights: Sula, York, and Soma vineyards; Ramkund ghats; Pandavleni Caves (2000-year-old rock-cut Buddhist caves); nearby Trimbakeshwar Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
• Eat & drink: Misal-pav at Sadhana (chulha-cooked and smoky), thali at Panchavati Gaurav, vineyard-side dining at Rasa by Sula or York’s Cellar Door Kitchen.
• Stay zones: Vineyard resorts for sunsets and bike rides; city center for temple access and markets.

Where to stay (search and compare): Hotels.com – Nashik | VRBO – Nashik

Getting here from Bengaluru (morning departure): Fastest is to fly BLR→Mumbai (~1h35m; ~$40–$110) then drive to Nashik (3.5–4.5 hours by car; ~$60–$90 for a one-way car). Search flights on Trip.com Flights. Limited direct BLR→Nashik (ISK) services pop up seasonally; check schedules. An overnight train to Nashik Road (20–24 hours, ~$8–$25 in AC classes) is the budget choice—see Trip.com Trains.

Day 3: Travel to Nashik, vineyard sunset

Morning: Depart Bengaluru on an early flight to Mumbai; meet a prebooked car for the scenic Western Ghats drive to Nashik. Grab a roadside stop for cutting chai and bhajiya as the hills open up.

Afternoon: Check in and refuel with misal-pav at Sadhana—fiery tarri gravy, softened by dahi if you like. Head to Sula Vineyards for a tour and tasting; learn how basaltic soils shape their Chenin and sparkling wines.

Evening: Golden hour at the Sula amphitheater or York Winery’s lawns with a glass of Shiraz. Dinner options: Rasa by Sula for regional Indian plates with wine pairings, or York’s Cellar Door Kitchen for wood-fired mains and small plates.

Day 4: Temples, caves, and a second tasting

Morning: Start early at Trimbakeshwar Temple (carry a shawl; leave phones/cameras if required by current rules), or hike the steps to Pandavleni Caves for carvings and a sweeping city view. Breakfast after at a local udipi (ghee roast dosa, strong filter coffee) or Ambika for a gentler misal.

Afternoon: Walk Ramkund and the Panchavati lanes—temples, brass-ware stalls, and snack counters. If you’re a history buff, the Coin Museum offers a compact look at Indian minting through the ages. Late lunch at Panchavati Gaurav (Rajasthani–Gujarati thali with rotating vegetables, kadhi, and sweets).

Evening: Drive to Soma Vine Village for a quieter tasting and sundowner views across the lake. Dinner at their Beyond restaurant for kebabs and North Indian mains, or head back to town for multi-cuisine at Curry Leaves.

Pune

Pune, the “Oxford of the East,” ran the Maratha empire and today hums with students, cafes, breweries, and leafy neighborhoods. Its historic cores—Shaniwar Wada and the old peths—sit beside creative kitchens in Koregaon Park.

• Top sights: Shaniwar Wada fort, Aga Khan Palace (Gandhi exhibits), Pataleshwar Cave Temple, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Parvati Hill, Osho Teerth Garden.
• Eat & drink: Vaishali and Wadeshwar for South Indian staples; Vohuman Café for Parsi-style breakfast; Bedekar or Katakirr for misal-pav; Malaka Spice for Southeast Asian; Effingut and Great State Aleworks for local brews; Kayani Bakery for Shrewsbury biscuits.
• Stay zones: Koregaon Park for dining/nightlife; Camp and MG Road for heritage and shopping; Shivajinagar/FC Road for student energy.

Where to stay (search and compare): Hotels.com – Pune | VRBO – Pune

Getting here from Nashik (morning departure): Road is most flexible: 210 km via NH60 (5–6 hours; private car ~$80–$120). Trains take ~6–7 hours (AC chair/2A ~$6–$12)—check Trip.com Trains. Buses are ~7–8 hours ($8–$15).

Day 5: Travel to Pune, forts and food streets

Morning: Depart Nashik by car at 8:00 am to reach Pune around 1:00 pm; break en route for poha and chai at a highway dhaba. If you prefer rail, look for mid-morning departures and bring snacks.

Afternoon: Check in, then head to Shaniwar Wada for the Peshwa-era stronghold and its geometric gardens. Lunch at Shabree (Maharashtrian thali—pithla bhakri, bharli vangi, solkadhi), or at Vaishali on FC Road for paper dosas and filter coffee.

Evening: Stroll the Osho Teerth Garden’s bamboo groves at dusk. Dinner in Koregaon Park: Malaka Spice for farm-to-table Southeast Asian or Savya Rasa for a deep-dive South Indian regional spread. Drinks at Effingut (try a mango wheat or Hefeweizen) or Great State Aleworks’ taproom.

Day 6: Sunrise hill, heritage, and fly back to Bengaluru

Morning: Climb Parvati Hill for sunrise views across the city; visit the hilltop temples if open. Classic breakfast at Vohuman Café—bun maska, akuri (spiced scrambled eggs), and Irani chai—or Goodluck Café on Fergusson College Road for keema and chai. Stop by Pataleshwar Cave Temple for 8th‑century rock-cut tranquility.

Afternoon: Quick pickup of Shrewsbury biscuits at Kayani or bakarwadi at Chitale Bandhu, then head to the airport. Pune→Bengaluru flights take ~1h30m and usually cost ~$35–$90—compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. If you’re connecting onward from Bengaluru later tonight, aim for an early afternoon departure.

Logistics at a glance (times and budget)

• Bengaluru→Nashik: BLR→BOM flight 1h35m ($40–$110) + 3.5–4.5h drive ($60–$90). Direct BLR→ISK occasionally available; verify schedules on Trip.com.
• Nashik→Pune: 5–6h by road ($80–$120 car), 6–7h by train ($6–$12) via Trip.com Trains.
• Pune→Bengaluru: 1h30m flight ($35–$90) or 12–15h overnight train/bus (budget $10–$25).

Wrap this loop with one more South Indian meal in Bengaluru if time allows—or keep the memories of vineyard sunsets, fort gates, and the scent of filter coffee. It’s a compact India itinerary that balances slow moments with vivid city energy.