Bangalore to Lepakshi Road Trip Guide: Route, Stops & Itinerary
Famous for its hanging pillar and giant monolithic Nandi, Lepakshi is one of the easiest interstate heritage day trips from Bengaluru.
How to reach Lepakshi from Bengaluru by road
Via Hoskote, Chikkaballapur and Bagepalli (main route)
The direct route runs through Hoskote, Chikkaballapur and Bagepalli before crossing into Andhra Pradesh towards Lepakshi. Roads are generally in reasonable condition, with the final stretch narrowing into a state highway near the temple town.
Via Devanahalli (alternative)
An alternative approach via Devanahalli and Chikkaballapur avoids some of the Hoskote traffic on the outbound leg, rejoining the same road towards Bagepalli and Lepakshi.
Distance and drive time to Lepakshi
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Distance (one way) | About 120 km from central Bengaluru |
| Drive time | 2.5–3 hours |
| Suggested trip length | Day trip |
Distance (one way)
- Detail
- About 120 km from central Bengaluru
Drive time
- Detail
- 2.5–3 hours
Suggested trip length
- Detail
- Day trip
A mid-morning departure works well since this is a half-day trip; leaving by 7–8 am gives comfortable time to explore the temple before the afternoon heat. There is an interstate permit and applicable tax for crossing into Andhra Pradesh, arranged and billed at actuals.
The route has no ghat sections or forest checkposts, so there are no night-driving restrictions. Fuel stations are available at Chikkaballapur and Bagepalli; food options near Lepakshi itself are limited, so eat before or after the temple visit at a larger town en route.
Best time to visit Lepakshi
Cool mornings between October and February make walking around the temple complex most comfortable, with clear skies for photographing the carved pillars and sculptures.
Summer afternoons (March–May) get quite hot on the exposed temple grounds, so an early start is preferable in that season. Monsoon months bring occasional rain but rarely affect the drive; the surrounding countryside looks greener during this period.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Oct–Feb | Best; cool mornings, comfortable temple visit |
| Summer | Mar–May | Hot midday; visit early morning |
| Monsoon | Jun–Sep | Occasional rain; drive largely unaffected |
Winter
- Months
- Oct–Feb
- What to expect
- Best; cool mornings, comfortable temple visit
Summer
- Months
- Mar–May
- What to expect
- Hot midday; visit early morning
Monsoon
- Months
- Jun–Sep
- What to expect
- Occasional rain; drive largely unaffected
Places to stop on the way to Lepakshi
Chikkaballapur
A convenient halfway town with fuel stations and small eateries for a quick break.
Bagepalli
The last significant town before the Andhra Pradesh border crossing towards Lepakshi.
Veerabhadra Temple
A 16th-century Vijayanagara-era temple famed for its hanging pillar and vividly painted ceilings.
Nandi Statue
A giant monolithic Nandi carved from a single granite boulder, a short walk from the main temple.
Suggested Lepakshi itinerary
- 1
Day 1 — Half-day Lepakshi heritage trip
Leave Bengaluru in the morning, break briefly at Chikkaballapur, and reach Lepakshi by late morning after the interstate crossing. Spend an hour or two exploring the Veerabhadra Temple’s hanging pillar and painted ceilings and the giant Nandi statue nearby, then start the return drive after lunch to reach Bengaluru by evening.
What a Lepakshi trip from Bengaluru costs by vehicle
Estimates below are for a same-day round trip of about 120 km each way plus roughly 10 km a day of local sightseeing, using our current per-km rates and daily minimums, with driver bata included. They are a planning guide, not a quote.
| Vehicle | Seats | Rate | Billable km | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan (Swift Dzire / Etios) | Up to 4 | ₹13/km (min 250 km/day) | 250 km | ≈ ₹3,600 |
| MUV (Ertiga) | Up to 6 | ₹18/km (min 250 km/day) | 250 km | ≈ ₹4,900 |
| SUV (Innova Crysta) | Up to 6 | ₹20/km (min 300 km/day) | 300 km | ≈ ₹6,400 |
| Tempo Traveller (12 seats) | Up to 12 | ₹26/km (min 300 km/day) | 300 km | ≈ ₹8,300 |
Sedan (Swift Dzire / Etios)
- Seats
- Up to 4
- Rate
- ₹13/km (min 250 km/day)
- Billable km
- 250 km
- Estimate
- ≈ ₹3,600
MUV (Ertiga)
- Seats
- Up to 6
- Rate
- ₹18/km (min 250 km/day)
- Billable km
- 250 km
- Estimate
- ≈ ₹4,900
SUV (Innova Crysta)
- Seats
- Up to 6
- Rate
- ₹20/km (min 300 km/day)
- Billable km
- 300 km
- Estimate
- ≈ ₹6,400
Tempo Traveller (12 seats)
- Seats
- Up to 12
- Rate
- ₹26/km (min 300 km/day)
- Billable km
- 300 km
- Estimate
- ≈ ₹8,300
Tolls, parking, interstate permits (where applicable) and GST are extra at actuals. Your exact fare depends on pickup point, dates, stops and the final kilometres — ask us for an exact quote before you travel.
Travel tips for a Lepakshi road trip
- A sedan is fine for small groups; larger families are more comfortable in an Ertiga or Innova Crysta.
- This route has no ghat sections, so motion sickness is rarely a concern.
- Dress modestly at the Veerabhadra Temple; footwear is left outside and the stone floor can get hot at midday.
- Andhra Pradesh interstate permits are needed for this crossing, paid at actuals along with applicable tax.
- Keep FASTag active where tolled, and carry some cash for the interstate checkpost as a fallback.
- Network coverage is generally reliable, with only minor gaps near the state border.
- Combine this trip with Horsley Hills or Tirupati if extending into a longer AP itinerary.
- Book your cab a few days ahead for weekends when heritage-route demand is higher.
Ready to go? Book your Lepakshi ride
Bangalore to Lepakshi cab — fares & booking
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How outstation fares work
Per-km billing, daily minimums, driver bata, tolls and GST explained in plain English.
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