One Day Trip from Bangalore and 5-Day School Tours

A one day trip from Bangalore is the most common school outing we run between November and February. A class of 40 to 50 students, two or three teachers, one bus on rent in Bangalore, out by 7 am and back before dark.

This is also the season for longer tours. Right now one of our buses is on a 5-day school trip that started from Arsikere and runs Mysore, Ooty, back to Mysore and on to Bangalore. Below are the places that work well for students, ready time plans for one day and for 2 to 6 days, the bus size for your group, and what we do for safety on the road.

Quick facts for school and college trips

A college group with three of our buses before the drive.

One day trip from Bangalore: 8 places for students

These are the places schools and colleges ask us for most for a 1 day trip from Bangalore; most of them also work as picnic spots near Bangalore for a college trip. Distances are by road from central Bangalore; times are what a class of 40 actually needs on the ground, not what a family needs.

1. Bannerghatta Biological Park

The easiest outing for primary classes. The zoo, the safari and the butterfly park fit in one day with time for lunch, and the drive is short enough that small children do not get tired before they arrive.

An elephant at Bannerghatta Biological Park.

• Distance: about 22 km
• Time needed: 5 to 6 hours
• Good for: classes 1 to 7
• Our tip: the park is closed on Tuesdays. Book the safari slot in advance for a large group.

2. Nandi Hills

A hill top with an old fort wall, a Nandi temple and a wide view. Older students like the early start and the cool air. The last stretch is a ghat road with tight bends, so we keep a slow pace on the climb.

An old stone mantapa on the road up Nandi Hills.

• Distance: about 60 km
• Time needed: 3 to 4 hours at the top
• Good for: classes 6 and above, colleges
• Our tip: reach before 9 am on weekdays; weekends are crowded. More on timings in our Nandi Hills guide.

3. Devanahalli Fort

Tipu Sultan was born here, and the stone fort and his birthplace memorial make a short history lesson that fits well with Nandi Hills on the same day.

A bastion of Devanahalli Fort.

• Distance: about 40 km
• Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Good for: classes 5 to 10 (history)
• Our tip: combine it with Nandi Hills; both are on the airport side of the city.

4. Shivagange

A rock hill with temples on the way up and steep steps near the top. It is a proper climb, so it suits college groups and senior classes with a teacher at the front and one at the back.

A mantapa on the rock at Shivagange.

• Distance: about 55 km
• Time needed: 3 to 4 hours for the climb
• Good for: classes 9 and above, colleges
• Our tip: start the climb before 9 am; the rock gets hot by noon. Carry water for every student.

5. Lepakshi

Just across the Andhra Pradesh border, the Veerabhadra temple has a hanging pillar, ceiling paintings and one of the largest stone Nandi statues in India. It is a good art and history day for senior classes.

The stone Nandi at Lepakshi.

• Distance: about 120 km
• Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
• Good for: classes 7 and above, colleges
• Our tip: the bus crosses into Andhra Pradesh, so the AP entry permit is added to the bill.

6. Srirangapatna

Tipu Sultan's island town on the Kaveri: Daria Daulat Bagh (his summer palace with wall paintings), the Ranganathaswamy temple and the spot where he fell in 1799. Most schools pair it with Mysore.

Daria Daulat Bagh, the summer palace at Srirangapatna.

• Distance: about 125 km
• Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
• Good for: classes 5 and above
• Our tip: Daria Daulat is closed on Fridays. Plan Srirangapatna first, Mysore after lunch.

7. Mysore Palace

The longest one day trip on this list, but the one most schools want. The palace, the zoo and Chamundi Hills will not all fit with a class of 50; pick two. Our Mysore places guide has timings for each.

Mysore Palace.

• Distance: about 145 km (3 hours on the expressway)
• Time needed: a full day
• Good for: classes 5 and above, colleges
• Bus fare: a Bangalore to Mysore bus for the day is Rs 21,100 for a 45 seater and Rs 14,500 for a 33 seater, plus taxes and tolls.

8. Shivanasamudra Falls

Two falls on the Kaveri, Gaganachukki and Bharachukki. They are at their best from August to early winter, which makes November a good month. Students watch from the viewpoints only; no one goes into the water.

Bharachukki, one of the two falls at Shivanasamudra.

• Distance: about 135 km
• Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
• Good for: classes 6 and above
• Our tip: the viewpoint steps are steep and wet in places; keep groups of 10 with one adult.

A one day plan, time by time

This is the plan we follow for most one day trips around Bangalore within 100 km. For Mysore, add one hour at each end.

• 6:30 am: bus at the school gate, headcount, seat list handed to the driver
• 7:00 am: leave; breakfast stop around 8:30
• 9:30 am: first place
• 1:00 pm: lunch (packed or a booked hotel; we stop where there are clean toilets)
• 2:00 pm: second place
• 4:30 pm: headcount and leave
• 6:30 to 7:30 pm: back at school

Longer school tours: 2 to 6 days

From December, many schools take their annual study tour of 4, 5 or 6 days. The bus and the driver stay with the group for the whole trip, so the plan can change on the way when a place is crowded. These are the routes we run most often.

• 2 days: Mysore and Srirangapatna, night halt in Mysore. Day 2 for Chamundi Hills and Brindavan Gardens.
• 3 days: the Mysore Ooty tour package most schools ask for. Ooty is about 300 km from Bangalore via Mandya, Gundlupet and Gudalur; a Bangalore to Ooty bus for 2 days and 600 km is Rs 41,200 for a 45 seater and Rs 28,300 for a 33 seater, plus taxes.
• 4 days: Mysore, Coorg (Golden Temple, Abbey Falls, Dubare) and back via Srirangapatna. See the Bangalore to Coorg bus fares.
• 5 days: the plan our bus is on this week. Pickup at Arsikere, Mysore, Ooty, back to Mysore, and the last day in Bangalore.
• 6 days: Mysore, Ooty, Kodaikanal, or a coast tour of Dharmasthala, Udupi and Murudeshwar.

On a multi-day tour the bus is billed at 300 km a day minimum (a 5 day tour = at least 1,500 km), plus driver day and night allowance, tolls, parking and state permits. Ooty needs the Tamil Nadu permit and the Nilgiris e-pass, and the Bandipur and Mudumalai forest roads are closed from 9 pm to 6 am, so we always cross them in daylight.

Which bus for how many students

Count students and adults together, and keep two or three seats free for bags and for a child who feels unwell.

A study tour group with our 40 seater bus.

• Up to 17: 17 seater tempo traveller, Rs 34 per km, Rs 8,000 for 8 hours in the city
• 18 to 21: 21 seater mini bus, Rs 34 per km, Rs 8,000 for 8 hours
• 22 to 25: 25 seater mini bus, Rs 36 per km, Rs 8,500 for 8 hours
• 26 to 33: 33 seater bus, Rs 45 per km, Rs 10,000 for 8 hours
• 34 to 40: 40 seater bus, Rs 60 per km, Rs 13,000 for 8 hours
• 41 to 45: 45 seater bus, Rs 65 per km, Rs 15,000 for 8 hours

Per km rates are for outstation round trips with diesel and driver included. For 80 or more students we send two or more buses with drivers who know each other's route.

Safety on our buses

Parents ask us about safety before they ask about the price. This is what every school bus from us carries and follows.

Pushback seats inside one of our AC buses.

• Seat belts: on every seat
• Speed governor: fitted as per law; our drivers keep buses under 80 km/h on highways
• Safety glass: toughened (moulded) window glass
• GPS tracking: the office can see where the bus is at any time
• Fire extinguisher and first aid kit: on board, checked before every trip
• Emergency exit: marked emergency exit window and door
• Drivers: our own drivers with years on these routes; two drivers for long night drives
• Night rules: no forest-road driving at night; the driver gets a full night's rest on multi-day tours
• Papers: valid permit, insurance and fitness certificate; copies given to the school on request

What is inside the bus

• AC: ducted AC with vents for every row
• Seats: pushback seats with legroom
• Charging: USB charging points
• Sound: music system and a microphone for teachers' announcements
• Luggage: boot space under the bus for bags on multi-day tours
• Curtains: on every window

Checklist for teachers

• Before the day: parents' permission letters, emergency numbers, a seat list per bus
• Adults: at least one teacher for every 10 to 15 students, both male and female staff for mixed groups
• Headcount: at every stop, before the bus moves
• Food and water: a water bottle per student; avoid heavy oily food before hill roads
• Motion sickness: seat students who feel sick in the front rows
• Water: no one enters rivers, falls or lakes, even where locals do
• Bus number: give every student the bus number and the teacher's phone number on a card

Ready to plan? See all sizes and rates: bus on rent in Bangalore, mini bus on rent in Bangalore, tempo traveller on rent in Bangalore. For more ideas, our earlier list of educational places near Bangalore.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best one day trip from Bangalore for a school?

For primary classes, Bannerghatta Biological Park, because the drive is short. For classes 6 and above, Nandi Hills with Devanahalli Fort, or Srirangapatna with Mysore if the school can start by 6:30 am.

Which bus is best for a school trip of 45 students?

A 45 seater bus seats 45. With teachers the count is usually 48 to 50, so take a 50 seater, or a 45 seater with a mini bus, so every child has a seat.

How much does a school bus for a one day trip cost?

Within the city, a 45 seater is Rs 15,000 for 8 hours and 80 km. Outstation, the day is billed at least 300 km: a Bangalore to Mysore day in a 45 seater is Rs 21,100 plus taxes and tolls.

Can we take a 5 day school tour to Mysore and Ooty?

Yes. The bus and driver stay with the group for all 5 days. Billing is at least 300 km a day plus driver allowance, tolls and the Tamil Nadu permit, and we cross the Bandipur forest only in daylight.

What safety features do your buses have for school trips?

Every school bus from Tejas Tours & Travels has seat belts on every seat, a speed governor capped at 80 km/h, GPS tracking, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, marked emergency exits and toughened safety glass. Permits, insurance and fitness papers are valid, our drivers know these routes well, and we do not drive through forest roads at night.

Photo credits: Bannerghatta elephant by Yercaud-elango (CC BY 4.0); Nandi Hills road by Tsenapathy (public domain); Devanahalli Fort by Harvinder Chandigarh (CC BY 4.0); Shivagange by Christian Lederer (CC BY 3.0); Lepakshi Nandi by VasuVR (CC BY 4.0); Daria Daulat by Roshan381 (CC BY 3.0); Mysore Palace by Hari R (CC BY 2.0); Bharachukki falls by Prasanna lakshmipura (public domain); all via Wikimedia Commons. Other photos: Tejas Tours & Travels.