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Bangalore

Karnataka is among the most prominent states of Southern India. Endowed with places of historic importance, mountain ranges, thick vegetation, lush greenery, and wide stretch of coffee estates, the state of Karnataka has emerged as a tourism hub of South India.

Bangalore or Bengalooru is the state capital. Originally inhabited by the Dravidian race, the influx of cultures from across the country has made Bangalore a place of diverse ethnicity. The mushrooming as well as established software firms have made Bangalore, an important IT hub, so much so that it is known as India`s Silicon Valley.

Bangalore is not essentially a tourist hub but is definitely the fastest growing city in India and a pleasant tourist`s transit spot. It welcomes tourists into a green &well planned urbane exterior with a truly enticing core which is worth exploring. There are several places of tourist importance in and around Bangalore.

Vidhaan Soudha

This is a marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and an imposing building in the country. It houses the state legislative assembly of Karnataka and part of the Secretariat. The Vidhan Soudha is the largest Secretariat in India. It was conceptualized by Kengal Hanumanthaiah the then Chief Minister, of Mysore State between1951-1956.

It is built entirely from Bangalore granite and has a Dravidian style to it. There are floral motifs on stone carvings which are inspired from the time honored temple craft of South India. Statistics notify that 1500 chisellers, masons and wood carvers were employed to bring the building to the present form.

Lal Bagh

A beautiful sprawling garden laid out by Hyder Ali is a famous botanical garden and an important tourist attraction. The garden houses over 1000 species of flora which include exceptionally enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. The Glass House inspired by London's Crystal Palace, is the center of attraction in this park. The park is spread across 2400 acres of land and is truly a tourist`s delight. The flower shows held twice every year attracts participants from all over India. The show is held in the glass house. Besides this, Training in Horticulture, Post Harvest Technology and Mushroom cultivation is held here. Classes in Ikebana and Bonsai are also conducted.

Lalbagh remains open daily from 6.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. throughout the year.

Cubbon Park

The park has a few concrete buildings housing government organizations amidst the predominantly green area. The park has many motor able roads and well laid out walking paths spread across the path. It is considered as a lung space for Bangalore and is a location for morning walks. The park has approximately 68 genera and 96 species of plants and trees growing in its locale. You may visit the place if you are looking for surreal calm amidst the chaos and traffic, innate to the IT hub.

The Bangalore Palace & Fort

While you are in the garden city, make sure to visit the Palace and Fort at Bangalore. It was built by Kempe Gowda and expanded by Tippu Sultan. Interestingly there is a 16th century Ganapathi Temple situated within its walls.

The palace was built by a Wodeyar king in 1887.The palace sprawls across 400 acres of land. This is an important landmark in Bangalore. The palace has been inspired by Windsor castle but is built in Tudor style. There are Gothic windows, battlements and turrets bearing a close resemblance to the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatnam.

The palace is open to public especially to tourists. The main attraction there is the gallery with nearly a thousand historical photos including those of viceroys and maharajas. You will find exquisite paintings and carvings within the complex which is truly enticing.

Tipu's Palace - The summer palace of Tipu Sultan was constructed in Bangalore. The entire structure is built of teakwood. This double-storeyed elaborate structure was constructed in 1781-1791 AD. Tipu's Palace is a spectacular looking edifice and a must see for tourists visiting Bangalore.

Temples in Bangalore

Bull Temple

This is a temple built in Dravidian style. It is famous for the monolithic bull which is made of grey granite. It is 4.5 m high and 6.5m long. The bull is known as Nandi in Kannada and is revered as the vehicle of Lord Shiva.

It is believed that the temple was built to pacify a bull which ate all the groundnuts grown in that area. The bull thus became docile and stopped inflicting damage. The farmers still show gratitude by organizing a Groundnut fair near the temple premises. This groundnut fair is a grand event held in Bangalore and contributes to Bangalore Tourism. People from across the country throng the place to get a feel of the local fair.

Bhanashankari Temple

This is a temple dedicated to Goddess Banashankari Amma and was built by a devotee Somanna Shetty who brought the deity all the way from Badami in Bijapur district. The uniqueness of Sri Banashankari Amma Temple is that the deity, Banashankari Amma is worshipped in Rahukala. Rahukala is an inauspicious time according to Hindu belief. Devotees believe that by worshipping the goddess Banashankari Amma in Rahukala, one's hardships and poverty will be removed. Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays are special days to offer prayer to the deity.

Dodda Ganesha Temple at Basavanagudi

The temple has a monolithic statue, 18ft in height and 16ft in width. Ganesha is also known as Shakthi Ganapathi or Satya Ganapathi. The way the idol gets decorated during the day is the focus of interest here. The most popular one of course, is the butter coating which apparently consumes about 100 kg of butter. This is a spectacular sight at the temple and a visit to the temple to witness this is recommended.

Iskcon Temple on West Chord Road

Definitely the most popular temples of Bangalore, the Iskcon Temple is located on the west of Chord road. This Radha Krishna temple and cultural complex is set on a seven-acre hillock called the ‘Hare Krishna Hill’. The temple is built in the neoclassical style which combines traditional elements of temple architecture with technically advanced utilities.

There are ornamental arches and water cascades that lead to an opulently decorated Rajagopuram. The cultural complex, houses the unique open air amphitheatre for concerts and festivals. The four temples are connected by a glazed glass canopy which forms a hall of 10,000 square feet. There are wonderful ceiling paintings. The main attraction at the temple is the ISKCON Vedic Theatre where multimedia Vedic film is shown.

Bannerghatta National Park

If you are in Bangalore and want to experience some adventure then look no further than 22 km south of Bangalore. Situated in the outskirts of Bangalore, Bannerghatta is a sanctuary, rich in dry deciduous forests and thorny scrub, with patches of moist deciduous vegetation. There are streams that run along the length of the park.

The Bannerghatta National Park, spread over 25,000 acres is home to panthers, lions, tigers and a large variety of birds. Indulge your sense of adventure with a lion or tiger safari. There is a zoo which boasts of amazing reptiles like the crocodile and slithery snakes.

That is not all! Bangalore tourism is profuse with a lot of other events like clubbing, nightlife and discotheques. If you are a trekking aficionado, then you will enjoy trekking the Uddigebande, Hajjamana Kallu a natural rock formation and Mirza Hill.

Besides this, you may relish the typical South Indian cuisine while you are here. Shopping is also a good option for shopaholics. The pleasant weather is however the biggest attraction in Bangalore. Come to Bangalore and experience a tour like never before.

Reaching there

Air: Bangalore is well connected with many domestic and international flights.

Train: There are railways connecting Bangalore to all major cities of India

Staying there

Hotel Grand Ashok (Five Star)
Kumara Krupa,
High Grounds area
Bangalore

Le Meridien
28,Sankey Road
Email: leme@lemeridien-bangalore.com
Phone: 2226 2233, 2228 2828

The Leela Palace
23,AirportRoad,
Email: admin@theleelaBlr.com
Phone: 2521 1234, 2521 2727