7 Days in Karnataka — Mysore, Coorg and Bandipur

Karnataka in seven days takes in three very different sides of the state: the regal old kingdom city of Mysore, the coffee-and-rainforest country of Coorg, and the Bandipur–Nagarhole tiger reserves that sit between them. The loop is a relatively easy one to drive — distances are modest, the roads are good, and Bengaluru is the natural starting point.

At a glance

• Total days: 7 (6 nights)
• Route: Bengaluru → Mysore (2 nights) → Bandipur (1 night) → Coorg/Madikeri (3 nights) → Bengaluru
• Distance: ~600 km loop
• Best season: October–March. April–May is hot in the lowlands; June–September is wet in Coorg.
• Permits: none. Wildlife park entries are paid at the gate or pre-booked.

Day 1 — Bengaluru to Mysore

Fly into Bengaluru (BLR) and pre-book a taxi or take the Vande Bharat Express to Mysore (~140 km, 2 hours). Arrive Mysore by lunchtime.

• Afternoon: Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas Palace) — the Maharaja of Mysore's principal residence, one of the largest palaces in India. Allow 2–3 hours. The palace is illuminated on Sunday evenings and during the Dasara festival.
• Evening: Devaraja Market for produce, flowers, and Mysore's famous sandalwood and silk shops.
• Optional: Chamundi Hill at sunset for the view back over Mysore.

Stay: Mysore.

Day 2 — Mysore: palace, art gallery, sandalwood

A full day in town.

• Morning: revisit the Mysore Palace at opening time if you want to do the interior properly — the Durbar Hall, Kalyana Mantapa, and the royal collection.
• Late morning: Jaganmohan Palace and Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery — the smaller royal palace, now home to one of India's better Indian art collections (with Raja Ravi Varma originals).
• Lunch: at RRR, Hotel Hanumanthu, or one of Mysore's traditional Udupi restaurants.
• Afternoon: Government Sandalwood Oil Factory (worth the visit if interested in sandalwood production); Mysore Silk Factory for the famous handloom silk; Lalitha Mahal Palace for a heritage-hotel high tea.
• Evening: Brindavan Gardens at the KRS Dam — illuminated musical fountains in the evening, the sole reason most Indian visitors come to Mysore other than the palace.

Stay: Mysore.

Day 3 — Mysore to Bandipur

A safari overnight in Karnataka's biggest tiger reserve.

• Morning: drive to Bandipur National Park (80 km / 2 hours south of Mysore on the Ooty road).
• Afternoon: check in to a forest department lodge or one of the private resorts at the park edge. The 3:00 PM safari is the classic afternoon activity (3 hours by Forest Department bus or shared Gypsy).
• Evening: dinner at the lodge.

Stay: Bandipur.

Day 4 — Bandipur to Coorg

A morning safari, then the drive into coffee country.

• Pre-dawn: morning safari (the 6:00 AM Forest Department bus or Gypsy). Tigers are infrequent but possible; elephants, gaur (Indian bison), wild dogs and many bird species are common.
• Mid-morning: breakfast at the lodge.
• Late morning: drive to Madikeri (Coorg) — 130 km / 3.5 hours via Hunsur and Periyapatna.
• Afternoon: check in. Walk Madikeri's Raja's Seat for the sunset view over the rolling Coorg hills.
• Evening: dinner at a coffee-estate property.

Stay: Coorg (a plantation homestay is the experience — see our Coorg travel guide).

Day 5 — Coorg: Madikeri, Abbey Falls, Talakaveri

A full day around Madikeri.

• Morning: Madikeri town — Madikeri Fort, Omkareshwara Temple, and the central market.
• Late morning: Abbey Falls — 10 km from Madikeri through plantations.
• Lunch: at a coffee-estate restaurant or one of the central Madikeri options.
• Afternoon: drive to Talakaveri — 48 km from Madikeri, the source of the Cauvery (Kaveri) river, with a steep climb up to a viewpoint at the top of Brahmagiri peak. Stop at Bhagamandala (river confluence) on the way.
• Evening: plantation walk at your homestay.

Stay: Coorg.

Day 6 — Bylakuppe and Dubare

A combination of culture and elephants.

• Morning: Bylakuppe — 35 km from Madikeri, the second-largest Tibetan settlement in India and home to the Namdroling (Golden) Monastery. Allow 2–3 hours.
• Late morning: drive to Dubare Elephant Camp (40 km from Madikeri) for the morning elephant bathing and feeding session. Coracle rides on the river are also offered.
• Lunch: at the Dubare camp restaurant or back at your homestay.
• Afternoon: plantation tour (most homestays will arrange the coffee-processing tour: bushes, harvest, wet/dry processing).
• Evening: Coorg cuisine dinner — try pandi curry (pork) with kadambuttu (steamed rice dumplings) and akki roti.

Stay: Coorg.

Day 7 — Coorg to Bengaluru

The drive back, with optional Mysore stop.

• Morning: check out and drive back to Bengaluru (260 km / 5–6 hours via Mysore). Stop in Mysore for lunch if you want a final taste, or push through to Bengaluru for an evening departure.
• Afternoon/evening: Bengaluru airport for departure.

Practical notes

• Bengaluru–Mysore train: the Vande Bharat Express makes the trip in 2 hours; book ahead via IRCTC.
• Bandipur park rules: the highway through Bandipur is closed at night (9 PM–6 AM) to reduce wildlife collisions; plan your drive accordingly. The park itself has restricted private-vehicle access; safaris are by Forest Department bus or licensed Gypsy.
• Coorg homestays: book directly with the homestay (most have websites or are listed on the major travel-stay platforms). The plantation-stay experience is what makes Coorg distinctive.
• Driving: the ghat road from the plains up to Madikeri is twisty but well-maintained. The Mysore–Bandipur–Coorg leg is straightforward.
• Wildlife alternative: Nagarhole National Park (also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park) is 90 km south of Coorg and an alternative to Bandipur for safaris. Many Coorg homestays arrange day trips.

Variations

• 5 days: drop one Coorg day and skip Bandipur; do Mysore 2 nights, Coorg 2 nights.
• 10 days: add Hampi (the magnificent Vijayanagara empire ruins, 350 km north of Bengaluru) — a 3-night extension for one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in India.
• 14 days: combine Karnataka with the Kerala backwaters (Coorg → Wayanad → Kochi) for a south-Indian double.

Related guides

• Coorg travel guide →
• Top 12 Hill Stations in India →
• All India Travel Itineraries →