A Romantic 7‑Day Road Trip from Bangalore: Mysore Palaces, Coorg Coffee Hills, and Bengaluru’s Culture
Think of this one-week escape as the sweetest slice of Karnataka: a royal chapter in Mysuru, green pages of coffee-scented Coorg, and lively, leafy Bengaluru bookending your days with art, markets, and fantastic food. In late March, inland Karnataka stays pleasant in the mornings and evenings (Bengaluru ~20–31°C, Mysuru ~22–33°C), while Coorg’s hills are cooler (18–26°C)—perfect for an easy self-drive.
Historically, this triangle connects the Wodeyars of Mysore, Tipu Sultan’s riverside capital Srirangapatna, and Kodagu’s warrior-planters who cultivated coffee since the 19th century. Today it’s a tapestry of UNESCO-worthy temples, spice-laced kitchens, Tibetan monasteries near Kushalnagar, and national parks where elephants stride at dusk.
Why this route now? Weather and reachability. Expressways shorten Bangalore–Mysore to ~3.5–4 hours; Mysore–Coorg is ~3–3.5 hours of lush countryside. Drives are scenic, roads are good, and afternoons invite lazy siestas or spa time. Carry FASTag/cash for tolls, hats for midday sun, and insect repellent for the hills. Coffee-tasting, palace-lit evenings, and slow dinners make it a relaxed, romantic March getaway.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
India’s garden city hums with tech energy and old-world markets. Stroll Cubbon Park’s rain trees, watch flowers arrive at dawn in KR Market, and trace the city’s layered history from Tipu’s 18th-century fort to British-era bungalows to today’s creative cafés and microbreweries.
- Top sights: Lalbagh Botanical Garden (glasshouse and rare flora), Cubbon Park, KR Market (spice and flower maze), Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Church Street bookshops and cafés.
- Food vibes: Filter coffee and dosas in the morning; Andhra-style thalis and coastal seafood at lunch; inventive South Indian plates and craft beer in the evening.
Stay: Browse central stays near MG Road/Church Street or leafy Indiranagar for easy dining and nightlife: Hotels in Bengaluru or apartment-style options on VRBO Bengaluru.
Getting in (if flying in): Book India domestic or international flights via Trip.com Flights. Airport to city is ~45–90 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.
Mysuru (Mysore)
Once one of the subcontinent’s most elegant kingdoms, Mysuru still dazzles. The Indo-Saracenic Mysore Palace glows at night, sandalwood wafts from age-old workshops, and Devaraja Market stacks mounds of kumkum, jasmine, and jaggery.
- Top sights: Mysore Palace, Devaraja Market, Chamundi Hill and Nandi, Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery, Brindavan Gardens (evening illumination), nearby Srirangapatna (Tipu Sultan-era island capital) and Somnathpur’s exquisitely carved Hoysala temple.
- Local eats: Soft benne dosas at Vinayaka Mylari, hearty Andhra meals at Hotel RRR, and leisurely dinners in heritage hotels.
Stay: Consider heritage hotels near the palace or tranquil garden-side stays: Hotels in Mysuru or cozy homes on VRBO Mysuru.
Travel from Bengaluru: Drive ~150 km (3.5–4 hours) via NH275, or take a 2–3 hour train (approx ₹100–600) via Trip.com Trains.
Coorg (Kodagu/Madikeri)
Coorg is coffee country: rolling plantations, orange and pepper vines, gurgling streams, and mornings wrapped in birdsong. Base yourself around Madikeri for waterfalls and sunset points, or near Kushalnagar for monastery visits and river experiences.
- Top sights: Abbey Falls, Raja’s Seat sunset, Mandalpatti viewpoints, coffee estate walks/tastings, Dubare Elephant camp (early), Bylakuppe’s Namdroling Golden Temple (Tibetan enclave).
- Flavors: Kodava dishes like pandi curry (pork with kachampuli), bamboo shoot prep, and fresh-roasted estate coffee.
Stay: Plantation retreats or Madikeri town boutiques: Hotels in Coorg (Madikeri) or cottages on VRBO Coorg.
Travel from Mysuru: Drive ~115–130 km (3–3.5 hours) via Hunsur–Kushalnagar; it’s scenic and well-signed.
Day 1: Arrive in Bengaluru (easy afternoon and a delicious night)
Afternoon: Check in and shake off the day with a shaded wander through Cubbon Park, then duck into the Government Museum or stroll to MG Road’s Church Street for bookshops and cafés.
Evening: Dinner at Karavalli for coastal Southwest Indian classics—meen puli munchi, Alleppey fish curry, and appams—or try The Bier Library in Koramangala for wood-fired pizzas and craft ales beside water features.
Day 2: Old markets, gardens, and Bengaluru heritage (with an expert-led option)
Morning: Start early at Lalbagh Botanical Garden (glasshouse and lake at golden hour). Grab idli-vada and filter coffee at MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Rooms) nearby. Then visit Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace and KR Market’s flower lanes.
Afternoon: Bangalore Palace’s Tudor turrets and then a slow coffee at Matteo Coffea on Church Street. Lunch at Nagarjuna (Andhra meals, gongura pachadi and biryani) or Airlines Hotel for an alfresco dosa nostalgia fix.
Evening: Explore modern Bengaluru’s dining: The Permit Room for inventive South Indian small plates and cocktails, or Byg Brewski (Hennur or Sarjapur) for a sprawling date-night setting.
Guided options (highly recommended): Join a curated city tour to cover more ground comfortably:
Discover Bangalore Through the Ages — Guided Tour with Lunch (Viator)
Or dive deep into the historic “Pété” quarters with a specialist walking tour:
Tipu Palace + Koté Vishnu + Fort + KR Market + Jain Temple = Bengaluru Pété Walk (Viator)
Day 3: Drive to Mysuru, palatial afternoons, and market colors
Morning: Depart Bengaluru after an early breakfast; it’s ~3.5–4 hours via NH275. Coffee stop at a highway Kamat/coffee house if needed. If you prefer rail, Bengaluru–Mysuru trains take 2–3 hours—search schedules on Trip.com Trains.
Afternoon: Check in, then tour Mysore Palace—peacock archways, stained glass, and ornate durbar halls. Break for lunch at Hotel RRR (banana-leaf meals, pepper chicken, biryani) or The Old House (thin-crust pizza, fresh salads, and a good cappuccino).
Evening: Browse Devaraja Market (incense, oils, flowers). Head to Brindavan Gardens for sunset and the evening fountain show (confirm timings locally). Dinner at Tiger Trail (Royal Orchid Metropole) for kebabs and North Indian mains under trees.
Day 4: Srirangapatna and Somnathpur—history and Hoysala art
Morning: Drive 25–30 minutes to Srirangapatna. Visit Dariya Daulat Bagh (Tipu’s summer retreat with mural-lined teak interiors), the Gumbaz mausoleum, and the storied fort ramparts on the Kaveri’s banks. Stop for fresh cane juice along the way.
Afternoon: Continue 60–90 minutes to Somnathpur’s Keshava Temple for some of the most intricate Hoysala stonework in India—celestial dancers and epics etched into soapstone. Return to Mysuru by late afternoon.
Evening: Dinner at Oyster Bay (garden setting; tandoor and coastal plates) or Parklane Hotel for a casual multi-cuisine spread and live music on some nights.
Prefer a seamless guided day (highly recommended for depth and logistics)?
Best of Mysore, UNESCO Somnathpur Temple & Srirangapatna Day Tour (Viator)
Alternative:
Mysore & Srirangapatna Day Tour from Bengaluru with Guide & Lunch (Viator)
Day 5: Mysuru to Coorg via Kushalnagar—monasteries and coffee
Morning: Depart after breakfast; it’s ~3–3.5 hours to Madikeri. En route, stop at Bylakuppe’s Namdroling Golden Temple—massive gold Buddhas and vibrant Tibetan thangka murals. Coffee and cake at Big Cup Cafe in Kushalnagar.
Afternoon: Check in to your plantation stay or Madikeri hotel. Take a guided estate walk: learn how Arabica and Robusta are grown, sniff black pepper vines and cardamom, and sample freshly roasted beans.
Evening: Sunset at Raja’s Seat overlooking layered hills. Dinner at Coorg Cuisine (order pandi curry, akki rotti, and noolputtu) or Raintree for Kodava specials under a tiled-roof courtyard.
Day 6: Waterfalls, viewpoints, and slow Coorg living
Morning: Early at Abbey Falls to beat the heat and crowds, then consider a jeep up to Mandalpatti for sweeping valley views. Late breakfast back in town—try bean-to-cup pours at ZEST or another specialty café if your stay doesn’t already spoil you.
Afternoon: Leisurely lunch at The Falls (if your resort has it) or back to Big Cup Cafe for sandwiches and Coorg-style pepper chicken bites. If you’re keen on wildlife, plan Dubare Elephant Camp for the first light session (book locally; mid-day is hot).
Evening: Spa time or a bonfire at your estate. Dinner at a homestay with Kodava recipes if available; otherwise, repeat favorites—pandi curry deserves an encore, paired with local honey-drizzled desserts.
Day 7: Lazy Coorg morning, return to Bengaluru and depart
Morning: Sleep in, then a final coffee under silver oaks. Depart around late morning; it’s ~5.5–6.5 hours back to Bengaluru depending on traffic.
Afternoon: If you’re catching a flight or train, aim for mid-to-late afternoon. Check options on Trip.com Flights or Trip.com Trains. If you’re staying in the city, celebrate with one last filter coffee and a plate of ghee-soaked dosa at Brahmin’s Coffee Bar or CTR (time permitting).
Evening: Optional farewell dinner back in Bengaluru if you’re not traveling today—try South Canara seafood (kori rotti, ghee roast) or a modern Indian tasting menu to toast the week.
Accommodation quick links (search and compare):
Notes for March: Start early to enjoy cool mornings; plan indoor museums or long lunches during peak midday heat; carry sunscreen and a light shawl or jacket for Coorg evenings. Roads are good; watch for speed cameras and occasional fog on hill stretches at dawn.
In a week, you’ll have traced royal courts, temple friezes, coffee blossoms, and urban creativity—an itinerary that’s as much about romance and slow time together as it is about Karnataka’s layered stories. With short, scenic drives and great weather windows, this March road trip from Bangalore stays effortless and memorable.