Some trips are about the destination. However, in this case, the journey itself mattered most. My two friends and I drove around Karnataka for six days, following a single playlist without a fixed itinerary. We stopped wherever the view was great, or the cutlet stall appealed to us. I had many great moments linked to plastic chairs, metal plates, and hot filter coffee on this trip.
Why a road trip suits Karnataka so well
Visiting Karnataka allowed me to see a variety of sights. Many temples, fortresses, hills, rivers, and coffee plantations are nearby. The road is usually good, and food stalls are never too far away.
Starting from Bengaluru before sunrise
Bengaluru was the starting point for our six-day road trip across Karnataka. I booked business class flights to Bengaluru to make my journey more comfortable before the long drive ahead. The spacious seating and extra legroom helped me relax during the flight. I also appreciated the attentive onboard service, which made the journey more pleasant. After arriving in Bengaluru, I met my two friends, and we set off at five in the morning to beat the traffic. The roads were quiet, the air was cool, and our playlist was ready for the journey ahead.
Channapatna and Karnataka’s colourful wooden toys
Channapatna is a small town nicknamed Karnataka’s toy town. The local craftsmen use wood to make bright-coloured toys instead of plastic, using processes such as lacquering. We stopped at a roadside workshop located by the highway. A craftsperson demonstrated how he made a spinning top from a piece of wood in a few minutes. I bought a little wooden bird, which I still have on my desk.
Srirangapatna and a quiet morning by the Kaveri
Srirangapatna is located on the island of the Kaveri River. It offers a lot of insights into Mysore’s history. The Ranganathaswamy Temple is the most important building located there. We came there before everyone else to avoid the crowd. The temple’s stone corridors were quiet and cool. As we were enjoying the environment, we decided to stay there for half an hour.
Breakfast at a roadside stall near Mysuru
Good food often hides at simple stops. Just before Mysuru, we found a small roadside eatery with a long queue of locals. We ordered thatte idli, a flat, soft idli, with coconut chutney and hot sambar. Everything was vegetarian and freshly made. The cook poured a spoon of ghee on the side. It was the best breakfast of the entire trip.
Shravanabelagola and the climb to the Gommateshwara statue
Shravanabelagola is an important Jain pilgrimage site in Hassan district. A tall stone statue of Gommateshwara stands on a hilltop, about 57 feet high. Visitors climb nearly 600 steps to reach it. We walked barefoot, as is the custom. The steps felt long, but the view from the top was wide and peaceful.
Belur and Halebidu, where stone becomes poetry
Belur and Halebidu are twin towns with Hoysala temples. The Chennakeshava Temple in Belur and the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu are covered with fine carvings. Every pillar tells a story. I stood in front of one wall for around ten minutes, counting small figures. A local guide explained how sculptors worked for generations. The detail still amazes me.
Roadside dosas and the joy of simple plates
At midday, we stopped at a small food joint. Here, the owner prepared wonderful benne dosa, a crunchy dosa created using white butter. Additionally, we had coconut chutney and buttermilk. After many hours of driving, the food felt comforting.
Chikmagalur and the hills of Mullayanagiri
This particular place is a coffee town surrounded by green hills. Mullayanagiri, also located nearby, is the tallest peak in Karnataka. We made our trip to the hills in the evening. The route goes through many tea and coffee plantations. Upon reaching the top, we felt the strength of the wind and saw the moving clouds. We had hot masala tea at a stall on the way back.
Tender coconut and bajjis along Karnataka’s highways
Road trips need snack breaks, and Karnataka delivers them beautifully. Vendors sell tender coconut at almost every bend. We stopped at one for cool, sweet water in the afternoon heat. Another stall fried mirchi bajji, chilli fritters dipped in gram flour batter. They arrived hot, crisp and slightly spicy.
What I would tell anyone planning this road trip
Travel during the cooler months between October and February. Also, start early in the morning so you can drive on empty roads and enjoy the cool weather. Have some cash on you because roadside restaurants don’t accept credit cards. It is a good idea to have some snacks and water close by. Plan to make even fewer stops than you think you need to keep room for unexpected stops, and those will probably be the best ones.
Final thoughts
After completing my Karnataka road trip, I came back home with tons of pictures and a happy mind. Those temples were wonderful, and the elevations were peaceful, but I remember most of them as random stops. I truly treasure the wooden bird bought in Channapatna, a plate of thatte idli, and a cup of tea on top of the hill. None of these moments was planned. They just happened because we approached our trip with a spontaneous attitude.
