Tourism in Bangalore

Bangalore, Capital of Karnataka, is at present Asia's fastest growing cosmopolitan city with
huge demand from technological giants worldwide. With rapid development 'The Garden
city of India' boasts now of also being 'The Silicon Valley of India'.

Spread over an area of 2190 sq.km. Bangalore, the fifth major metropolis of India is home to
6.52 million people. The city is lined with green landscapes and is free from extremes of
climate due to its convenient location in the heart of Peninsular India.

Founded in 1537, Bangalore now is a kaleidoscope of striking colors. The city epitomizes
India's excursion from an emergent nation to the hub of Information Technology. Recently
renamed as Bengaluru, it is also the core of some of the major scientific establishments in
India. The city bears mark of a splendid past and this mingles with modern conveniences
and pleasures.

A delightful destination, the city of Bangalore is beautifully decorated with parks, gardens,
lakes and fountains. It also serves as a perfect stopover for some very beautiful places
nearby including Mysore and the Jog Falls.

While in Bangalore, you can visit the Lal Baug Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan or just take a
break in one of the numerous amusement parks. Breeze through some of the best eating
joints, the swankiest shopping malls or the hip-n-happening pubs. Pleasant climate,
architectural landmarks and the beautiful city--Bangalore has something for everyone.

Vidhana Soudha

Vidhana Soudha houses the state legislature of Karnataka, constructed in the Neo-Dravidian
style of architecture this is one of Bangalore's most imposing buildings. The Vishana Soudha
is known for the intricate woodwork on the insides of the building, including the
Sandalwood door to the cabinet room and the speaker's chair that is made out of Rosewood
from Mysore. Unfortunately the Vidhana Soudha is not open to the public, though it is
beautifully floodlit on Sunday evenings.

Tipu Sultan's Palace

Tipu Sultan's Palace can be found in one of the most congested markets in Bangalore. This
palace was initially built as a summer home for Tipu Sultan and was also called "The Abode
of Peace". This palace is sculpted entirely out of teakwood and is known for its ornamental
pillars, curved arches and balconies. Tipu Sultan's palace is known for the beautiful floral
patterns on the walls and a Ganesha Temple, a testament of Tipu Sultan's religious
tolerance.

Bangalore Palace

If you wish to see a replica of the Windsor Castle in the middle of India, complete with
Tudor and Scottish Gothic architecture, granite turrets, towers and battlements then a visit
to the Bangalore Palace Is a must. Spread over a rambling 430 acres the Bangalore Palace
was acquired by the King Chamarajendra Wodeyar in 1873 from its original owner Reverend
J Garret who was then the principal of the Bangalore Central High School. A visit to
Bangalore without visiting the Bangalore Palace is surely incomplete.

Cubbon Park

Located in the heart of city, set on a 300 acre area, Cubbon Park is a great place to laze
around in the lush green paradise. It has a treasure of different species of exotic plants. The
park was named after the erstwhile Commissioner of Bangalore, Sir Mark Cubbon. Many
ornamental and flowering trees, both exotic and indigenous, can be found in the park. It's a
popular place for walkers, joggers, and nature lovers. Bal Bhavan in the park is a great place
for the kids to enjoy. An aquarium is also located in Cubbon Park, with many varieties of
exotic and ornamental fish.

Ulsoor Lake

The Ulsoor Lake, also known as Halasuru, is in central Bangalore, close to M. G. Road. It is
said that God Somesvara came to Kempe Gowda in his dream and blessed him with hidden
treasure. He then built a pagoda using Dravidian architectural style, dedicated to God
Somesvara. The lake was formed for harvesting rainwater and has a surface area of 125
acres. City drainage also contributed as a source of water. The lake is an interesting location
for tourists, as it has boating and cruise facility to visit beautiful islands that contain various
kinds of flowers, birds and insects. The Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara on the edge of the
Ulsoor Lake enhances the beauty and attraction for the visitors.

Govt Museum (Visvesvaraya Museum)

The Government Museum of Bangalore, an archaeological museum located on the Kasturba

Gandhi Road, is considered one of the oldest museums in India. The building, originally
designed by Colonel Sankey in 1876, was extended later. The museum has two exhibition
floors, with eighteen galleries housing sections on sculpture, geology, natural history, art,
numismatics, etc. The collections in museum are enriched by ancient coins, jewellery,
sculpture, inscriptions, and artifacts including relics from Mohenjodaro, Halebid and
Vijayanagar. Some prehistoric artifacts of Neolithic period found during excavation at
Chandravalli adore the museum. The museum is governed by the Directorate of Archeology
and Museum of Karnataka State. It is open for viewers from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on
Wednesdays.

ISKCON temple complex

The ISKCON an international society having 350

temples dedicated to Lord Krishna across the world. Among these, the temple in Bangaluru
is the largest. It was inaugurated in 1977 by the President of India. Built atop a hillock, the
temple offers the visitor an ethnic view of the surrounding. The architecture is a mix of neo-
classical and Dravidian style, with four tall towers called gopurams. Its large prayer hall can
accommodate 2,000 devotees. Roof paintings depicting the life of Krishna are unique and
informative. The temple houses five incarnations of God Vishnu. Daily puja starts with
mangala aarti at 4:15 a.m., followed by various other pujas and kirtans, ending with Shayana
Utsava at night. The complex also houses ISKCON museum, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, and
the Dakshinakriti shop for handicrafts.

Bull Temple

Bull Temple in Bangalore, also known as "Nandi temple"or Bhoganandiswara temple. The
temple is a sculptural masterpiece. It is dedicated to Nandi, the bull, which is considered as
Lord Shiva's Vahana or vehicle according to Hindu mythology. The temple is situated in
Bungle hill on the south of Bull Temple Road. There is a large sculpture of Bull, which is
about 4.6 metres tall and 6m long. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the structure
is that it has been carved out from a single rock of granite.

Lalbagh Botanical Gardens

Literally translated as the "Red Garden" this is

one of the star attractions of the city of Bangalore, the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens are
spread over a sprawling 96 hectares and is rich in a variety of flora. This park was founded
by Hyder Ali in the year 1760 who commissioned it as a private retreat for himself and
wanted it be along the lines of the Mughal Gardens in Delhi. Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali's son
completed this garden and named it Lalbagh due to it's profusion of red roses. The Lalbagh
Gardens is popular for it's collection of rare trees, the famous Lalbagh Rock that is believed
to date back to 3000 million years and a glasshouse inspired by the Crystal Palace in London.
Tourist Destinations Near Bangalore

Wayanad

Wayanad is a popular wildlife sanctuary in the state of Kerala. It is famous for its variety of
exotic fauna like the elephant, Indian Bison, tiger, and deer. The place is ideal for different
categories of tourism such as adventure tourism, recreational tourism, pilgrim tourism, and
historic tourism. Wayanad comes on the route from Sulthan Battery to Mysore. The
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1973 and it is the second biggest wildlife
reserve in Kerala. Visitors enjoy elephant rides in this reserve. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary,
also known as Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, is home to verdant green jungles and diverse
wildlife.

Mysore City

Mysore city, popularly called the 'City of Palaces', is famous for its magnificent palaces,
beautiful gardens, majestic temples and serene lakes. This is a place of festivals as well since
many festivals are celebrated here with great joy and enthusiasm. Besides these, this city
attracts tourists from all over the country for its rich tradition and culture. Visitors get
enthralled by the place's quaint charm. This city of Karnataka is even known for its silk and
sandalwood products, for which it is even called by the name of "Sandalwood City". Apart
from being the state's cultural capital, this is the 2nd cleanest Indian city.More...

Tirupati

One of the far-familiar pilgrimages of India, Tirupati, is located at the Chittoor district of
Andhra Pradesh at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats. It is at a distance of 550 km south from
the capital of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. Being one of the major pilgrimages of India, this
place is the busiest pilgrimage centre in the world.

Coorg

Located on the plateau region of the Western Ghats, this is Karnataka's administrative
district. The British called it the "Scotland of India". Some people have named the place as
the "Kashmir of South India" as well. This place is one of the famous tourist destinations of
the state as well as the country. The natural beauty of the area has made it popular even
among tourists from all over the world. Thus, this district of Karnataka is mostly frequented
by the nature lovers from across the globe.

Ooty

Ooty travel provides a tranquil retreat amidst the exquisite natural splendor of the pristine
Nilgiri mountains. Ooty or Ootacumund is a tranquil hill station that is located in the state of
Tamil Nadu in South India. Ooty is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and
is visited by thousands of travelers every year, who arrive from all corners of the world.
Ooty is known for its verdant valleys covered with wild flowers and lush forests. The lovely
tea plantations add to its scenic value. More...

Shiva Temple

Renowned author, singer and philanthropist R.V.M. founded the Shiva Temple in 1994 on
the Old Airport Road. The 65-feet-tall idol of Lord Shiva, hand-sculpted by Kashinath using
marble paste, is a splendor. The temple is also the abode of a 32-feet-high idol of Lord
Ganesha. The roofless temple makes one feel that Lord Shiva is sitting in the Kailash facing
Manasarovar, with the infinite sky above. Daily at 8:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m., aartis
are performed and bhajans are played. Devotees engage in various spiritual activities, such
as chanting mantras, which they believe will fulfill their wishes. A light and sound show,
conducted thrice every evening at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., is a real spiritual experience.
The temple is open 24 hours.

Nandi Hills

Nandi Hills, also called Nandydroog, are situated near the Bangalore International Airport
(Kempegowda International Airport) at a height of 4,851 ft. The River Arkavathi originates
from the hills. The Summer Palace and the Fort of Tipu Sultan are among the notable places.
This was where the British army first attacked Tipu Sultan. The climatic conditions of this
place has supported rare species of plants. Nandi Hills is of interest to bird-watchers as well.
Sites of historical interest are Tipu's Drop, Horse Way, and Secret Escape Route. Temples of
Sri Ugra Narasimha, Sri Bhoga Narasimha, Sri Yoga Narasimha, Gavi Veerbhadra Swamy;
Brahmashram cave; and Amruth Sarovar Lake are places of tourist interest. One can go for
paragliding, trekking or cycling here.