Bandaje Falls, Karnataka
Bandaje Falls Weekend Trek from Bangalore
- Duration
- 2D / 1N2 days · 1 night
- Starts from
- Bangalore
- Trip type
- Trekking
A 12 km trek through the Charmadi Ghat grasslands to the 200 ft Bandaje Falls, with a homestay night, bonfire and Kodige Falls.
- Trekking
- Heights
- Nature
- Adventure
Dates
- 29–30 Oct 20262 days₹4,399
See 16 more datesShow fewer dates
- 30–31 Oct 20262 days₹4,399
- 5–6 Nov 20262 days₹4,399
- 6–7 Nov 20262 days₹4,399
- 12–13 Nov 20262 days₹4,399
- 13–14 Nov 20262 days₹4,399
- 19–20 Nov 20262 days₹4,399
- 20–21 Nov 20262 days₹4,399
- 26–27 Nov 20262 days₹4,399
- 27–28 Nov 20262 days₹4,399
- 3–4 Dec 20262 days₹4,399
- 4–5 Dec 20262 days₹4,399
- 10–11 Dec 20262 days₹4,399
- 11–12 Dec 20262 days₹4,399
- 17–18 Dec 20262 days₹4,399
- 18–19 Dec 20262 days₹4,399
- 24–25 Dec 20262 days₹4,399
Prices are per person.
The trip
Bandaje Falls, known locally as Bandaje Arbi, is a 200-foot waterfall hidden in the folds of the Charmadi Ghat near Sunkasale in Chikmagalur district. Its water winds on through untouched forest until it meets the Netravati river. The trek to it is one of the less-explored trails in Karnataka: rugged paths, open grassland you can walk barefoot on, streams to dip your feet in and, on clear days, sunsets that look painted.
We leave Bangalore in the evening and drive overnight to a homestay near the trailhead. After breakfast the group drives to the start of the trail and treks about 12 km in all through grassland and shola patches to the falls, with lunch by the water. Forest rules now cover only the falls on the trek permit; the ruins of Ballalarayana Durga Fort, at about 1,509 m above Sunkasale, need separate permission at ₹100 per person, paid to the local guide on the day.
By around 6 PM we are back at the homestay for high tea, a hot dinner, music and a bonfire.
The second morning is gentle: breakfast, a walk through the coffee estates of Durgadahalli and a short 10-minute trek to Kodige Falls, a 30-foot waterfall where you can wade into the shallow water, before the drive home. We reach Bangalore around 11 PM.
Forest entry and waterfall fees, a trained trek leader and a local guide, the homestay night and the listed meals are included.
Highlights
Day 1 · 8:00 AMTrek to Bandaje Falls
Day 1 · 12:30 PMLunch at the falls (included)
Day 2 · 9:45 AMKodige Falls
Day by day
Overnight Drive & Bandaje Falls Trek
Pickups start at 7:30 PM the evening before (HSR Layout, Domlur, Cubbon Park, Mekhri Circle, Yeshwanthpur by 9:30 PM); dinner that night is self-sponsored, so please eat before boarding. We drive about 320 km overnight in a non-AC push-back seat vehicle to a homestay near Sunkasale. After breakfast, we trek to Bandaje Falls and back, ending the day with high tea, dinner and a bonfire at the homestay.
- 6:00 AMArrive at the homestay & freshen upReach the homestay near Sunkasale after the overnight drive and freshen up. Stays are on shared basis, with separate zones for men and women.
- 6:30 AMBreakfast (included)An early breakfast at the homestay. Packed lunch for the trek is handed out here.
- 7:30 AMDrive to the trek start pointShort drive to the start of the Bandaje Falls trail, where forest permits are checked and the trek leader briefs the group.
- 8:00 AMTrek to Bandaje Falls (a highlight)Rugged trail and open grassland in the Charmadi Ghat, down to the 200 ft Bandaje Falls, which flows on to meet the Netravati river.
- 12:30 PMLunch at the falls (included) (a highlight)Packed lunch by the falls, with time to cool off in the water where it is safe.
- 2:00 PMBallalarayana Durga Fort (optional, ₹100 extra)The trek permit now covers only the falls. The fort ruins at about 1,509 m need separate permission at ₹100 per person, paid to the local guide.
- 3:30 PMDescend to the baseWalk back down to the base and drive to the homestay, arriving by about 6 PM.
- 6:00 PMHigh tea, dinner & bonfire (included)High tea and evening snacks, then dinner, music and a bonfire at the homestay before an early night.
Coffee Estates, Kodige Falls & Return
A gentle morning after the trek. Breakfast at the homestay, a walk through the coffee estates of Durgadahalli and a short trek to Kodige Falls, then lunch (self-sponsored) and the drive back, reaching Bangalore around 11 PM.
- 7:00 AMWake up, freshen up & check outAn unhurried start at the homestay. Pack up and check out after breakfast.
- 7:45 AMBreakfast (included)Breakfast at the homestay before heading out.
- 9:00 AMCoffee estates of DurgadahalliA scenic walk through the green coffee estates on the way to the falls.
- 9:45 AMKodige Falls (a highlight)A short 10-minute trek to Kodige Falls, a 30 ft waterfall away from the usual crowds. Wade into the cool, shallow water and take photos.
- 1:30 PMLunch (self-sponsored)Lunch before heading back. Not included in the price.
- 3:00 PMDrive back to BangaloreHead home, reaching Bangalore around 11 PM along the pickup route, depending on traffic.
What’s included
6 items · extras
Gear & extras, 6 items
- Trained trek leader and a local guide
- Waterfall entry permit and fees
- Karnataka Forest Department entry fees and trek permit for Bandaje Falls
- Shared homestay stay, with separate zones for men and women
- 2 breakfasts, 1 packed lunch, high tea and 1 dinner
- Round trip from Bangalore by non-AC tempo traveller or mini bus (by group size) with push-back seats
Not included, 7 items
- GST @ 5%
- Ballalarayana Durga Fort permission (₹100 per person, paid to the local guide)
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions
- Round-trip jeep ride to the falls
- Insurance of any kind (health, medical, life and accidental)
- Personal expenses of any kind
- Meals not listed in the inclusions, including dinner on the way out and Day 2 lunch
Questions about this trip
What should I carry?
A hard copy of the same photo ID you booked with (needed for the permit); a 30L backpack and a 10L daypack; hiking shoes, floaters, a raincoat and a phone cover; 2 water bottles and a lunch box with spoon; 3 T-shirts, quick-dry pants, shorts, socks, a warm layer and a towel; toiletries; personal medicines and a Dettol spray for leeches; a power bank, poly bags for wet clothes, and cash for the fort permission and Day 2 lunch.
How hard is the Bandaje Falls trek?
It is rated moderate: about 12 km in all on rugged trail and open grassland, most of the day on foot. First-timers with basic fitness can do it. The rocks near the falls are slippery, so good shoes matter, and leeches are common in the monsoon. Swimming at the falls is only where the trek leader says it is safe.
Is Ballalarayana Durga Fort included?
Not any more. Under current Forest Department rules the trek permit covers only Bandaje Falls. Visiting the fort needs separate permission at ₹100 per person, paid to the local guide on the day, and depends on time and conditions.
Are permits included? When should I book?
Yes, the Bandaje Falls trek permit, forest entry and waterfall fees are included and arranged for you. Permits are limited and sell out, so book well in advance where you can. The trek runs only when permits are issued for your date, and the ID you carry must match the one you booked with.
Is it safe to join solo or with strangers?
Yes. Most people on this trek come solo or in small groups. The group is led by a trained trek leader together with a local guide, a female trek leader accompanies every group, and sleeping areas at the homestay are separate for men and women.
Read before you go
- Bandaje Falls Trek 2026: Route, Rules, Cost from BangaloreTravel Guide · 13 min read
- Karnataka Trek Online Booking 2026: Permits and RulesTravel Guide · 10 min read
- Travel Buddies in Bangalore: Find Your Weekend Crew (2026)City Guide · 13 min read
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