The Dussehra or Dasara holidays in Bangalore run from 11 to 20 October 2026, and they are the one stretch of the year when the schools are shut, relatives are in town and the weather has finally turned. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, Ashtami falls on 18 October, Maha Navami on 19 October and Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October — a ten-day window that most families spend deciding, a little too late, where to actually go.
Why the Dussehra holidays in Bangalore are the best day-out window of the year
October sits in the gap between the monsoon and the winter mornings. The rain has largely finished, the afternoons are warm without being punishing, and the greenery from three months of rain is still everywhere. For an outdoor day it is the most forgiving month Bangalore offers.
It is also the only holiday where the whole group is available at once. Children are off school, offices run light, and the relatives who visit for the festival are already here. A day out during Dussehra is usually the largest group a family assembles all year.
Planning for a group that spans four generations
The difficulty with a festival outing is rarely the destination — it is that a nine-year-old, a twenty-five-year-old and a grandparent want completely different days. Three things make a shared day work.
Water for the children, shade for everyone else. The wave pool, rain dance and 300m lazy river keep the younger ones occupied for hours, while there is seating and greenery for anyone who would rather watch.
Activities that do not need booking slots. Bowling, archery, net cricket, the rope course and the VR Arena run through the day, so a group can split up and regroup without a timetable.
One buffet that feeds everyone. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian are both served, and pure vegetarian or Jain preferences can be arranged when you mention it at booking — which matters more than usual during a festival week.
The day runs from 9 AM to 5:30 PM, which is long enough that nobody feels rushed and short enough to be home before the evening puja.
What to do on each part of the Dussehra break
The ten days are not one block — they have a shape, and the middle of the window is the easiest to plan around.
11–17 October, the early Navratri days. The quietest part of the break and the best time to come if you would rather avoid crowds. Good for a first visit with young children.
18–19 October, Ashtami and Navami. Households are busiest with puja at home, so an outing usually works better either side of these two days.
20 October, Vijayadashami. A public holiday and the natural day for a large family gathering — worth booking ahead rather than arriving on spec.
Getting there, and what it costs
Club Cabana sits at Sadahalli, just before the International Airport toll gate, about ten minutes from Bengaluru International Airport and roughly an hour from most of north Bangalore. That matters during a festival week, when a two-hour drive each way eats the day.
Day outing packages start from ₹2,000 per person and cover water park access, the activities and meals. Group rates apply from 20 people, which most festival gatherings comfortably clear.
Where to go next
If your plan is mainly about the water, the water park page has the full list of pools, slides and the rain dance. For the rides, games and the VR Arena, see the amusement park and its attractions. And if you would rather stay the night and make it a proper festival break, the villa stay is on the same property. To check availability for the holiday dates, see the day outing packages.