Recreation & Leisure
Waterfall circuit tours from Bangalore, for groups
Waterfall trips are the only bookings on this site where the season decides whether the trip is worth taking at all. Shivanasamudra in March is a rock face with a trickle down it; the same place in September is one of the largest falls in the country. Get the timing wrong and no vehicle, itinerary or driver saves the day. The second thing groups underestimate is that most of these falls involve a walk down and, harder, a walk back up — several hundred steps at Bharachukki, a jeep track at Hebbe, a forest walk at Sirimane.
What this trip actually involves
- SeasonAugust to December is when these falls actually run. March to May is not worth the drive. Peak flow is usually late August through September
- Walk-down accessBharachukki has several hundred steps down and back up. Hebbe needs a local jeep from Kemmanagundi. Sirimane is a short forest walk. Plan for who can and cannot manage each
- SafetyWater levels rise fast and without warning in the monsoon. Barricades and lifeguard warnings at Shivanasamudra exist for good reason and are not advisory
- Hebbe accessNo touring vehicle reaches Hebbe Falls. Local 4x4 jeeps from Kemmanagundi only. Your driver waits at the jeep stand
- Jog Falls400 km from Bangalore — a two-day trip, not a day trip. Usually combined with Sringeri or the coast
- Wet clothesEveryone will be wet. Ask for rubber floor mats and bring bin bags for wet clothing, or the return journey is unpleasant for everyone
Cost per person
Round-trip fare divided by the vehicle's seat count. Fill fewer seats and each person pays proportionally more.
Bangalore to Shivanasamudra — 135 km, 3 – 3.5 hours
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip | Per head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ertiga | 6 | ₹4,600 | ₹767 |
| Tempo Traveller 12 | 12 | ₹6,300 | ₹525 |
| Tempo Traveller 17 | 17 | ₹7,600 | ₹447 |
| Mini Bus | 25 | ₹12,000 | ₹480 |
No interstate permit — the route stays within Karnataka. Driver allowance included; tolls and parking at actuals. Minimum running 300 km per day for round trips out of Bengaluru. Point-to-point fare for this route: sara.cab.
Bangalore to Sringeri — 330 km, 7 – 8 hours
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip | Per head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ertiga | 6 | ₹10,900 | ₹1,817 |
| Tempo Traveller 12 | 12 | ₹15,100 | ₹1,258 |
| Tempo Traveller 17 | 17 | ₹18,100 | ₹1,065 |
| Mini Bus | 25 | ₹28,600 | ₹1,144 |
No interstate permit — the route stays within Karnataka. Driver allowance included; tolls and parking at actuals. Minimum running 300 km per day for round trips out of Bengaluru. Point-to-point fare for this route: sara.cab.
Bangalore to Chikmagalur — 245 km, 5 – 6 hours
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip | Per head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ertiga | 6 | ₹7,900 | ₹1,317 |
| Tempo Traveller 12 | 12 | ₹10,900 | ₹908 |
| Tempo Traveller 17 | 17 | ₹13,100 | ₹771 |
| Mini Bus | 25 | ₹20,700 | ₹828 |
No interstate permit — the route stays within Karnataka. Driver allowance included; tolls and parking at actuals. Minimum running 300 km per day for round trips out of Bengaluru. Point-to-point fare for this route: sara.cab.
Bangalore to Sakleshpur — 220 km, 4.5 – 5.5 hours
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip | Per head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ertiga | 6 | ₹7,200 | ₹1,200 |
| Tempo Traveller 12 | 12 | ₹9,900 | ₹825 |
| Tempo Traveller 17 | 17 | ₹11,900 | ₹700 |
| Mini Bus | 25 | ₹18,700 | ₹748 |
No interstate permit — the route stays within Karnataka. Driver allowance included; tolls and parking at actuals. Minimum running 300 km per day for round trips out of Bengaluru. Point-to-point fare for this route: sara.cab.
Itinerary options
Day trip
Shivanasamudra — Gaganachukki and Bharachukki
07:00 departure, 135 km. Gaganachukki viewpoint first, then Bharachukki with the walk down. Talakadu temples on the return, or Somanathapura if the group prefers. Back in Bangalore by 19:00. The best single-day waterfall trip from Bangalore, in season.
Two-day trip
Chikmagalur — Hebbe and Kemmanagundi
Overnight in Chikmagalur. Hebbe Falls by local jeep from Kemmanagundi, Kalhatti Falls, Mullayanagiri if the weather is clear. Second day for the coffee estates and the drive home.
Two-day trip
Sringeri and Sirimane
Combines with the Sringeri temple visit — Sirimane Falls is a short drive and a forest walk from the town. Good for groups who want a temple and a waterfall in one trip.
Recommended vehicles
Ertiga
The smallest vehicle on this site, and the entry point for group travel. Below six people a sedan is cheaper; at six the Ertiga is the only vehicle where nobody sits sideways.
Tempo Traveller 12
The best cost per person of anything on this site. If the group is eight or more and the budget matters more than recliner seats, this is the answer.
Tempo Traveller 17
The workhorse for temple groups and school excursions. Seventeen seats at the lowest per-head cost available anywhere in the fleet.
Mini Bus
For groups above seventeen, where splitting into two Tempo Travellers costs more and separates the party.
Questions we get asked
When is the best time for a waterfall trip from Bangalore?
Late August through September for peak flow, and August to December for a reliably good trip. Between March and May most of these falls are close to dry, and we will tell you so rather than take the booking — a dry waterfall makes for a long drive and a disappointed group.
Can we drive up to Hebbe Falls?
No touring vehicle of any size reaches Hebbe. It is local 4x4 jeeps only from Kemmanagundi, arranged there on the day. Your driver drops the group at the jeep stand and waits, which is included in the day booking.
Is Bharachukki suitable for elderly passengers?
The Gaganachukki viewpoint is, and it is the more dramatic view. Bharachukki involves several hundred steps down and the same back up in humid weather, which many people find harder than expected. Split the group rather than making everyone attempt it.
Can we do Jog Falls in a day from Bangalore?
No. Jog is around 400 km each way. It is a two-day trip at minimum, and it is usually paired with Sringeri or the Karnataka coast to make the distance worthwhile.
One last thing
Bring bin bags. Every waterfall group underestimates how wet everyone gets and how far it is home in wet clothes, and a vehicle full of soaked towels on a five-hour return leg is the thing people remember instead of the falls. Ask for the rubber mats when you book.