Travel to Bangalore – A Fascinating Mix of Rich History and Culture
Bangalore, officially called Bengaluru, is India’s high-tech industry hub and home to abundant green parks and gardens. It’s no wonder that the capital of India’s southern state of Karnataka has rightfully earned the nickname of “Silicon Valley of India” and “Garden City”. Bangalore, the fourth-largest city in India, hasn’t been a must-visit on most tourists’ itinerary, except business travelers. However, with its fascinating mix of rich history and culture and the modern trappings of 21st century, you just can’t afford to give this cosmopolitan city a miss, and if you ever do so it will be at your own peril.
With its old palaces, forts, historic architecture, greenery, interesting modern buildings and a thriving pub culture, the prosperous and fast-growing cosmopolitan city should be experienced first hand at least once in a lifetime. You will surely find many reasons to board flights to Bangalore to enjoy vacation in South India’s prized destination.
Best Places to Visit in Bangalore
Bangalore Palace: The seat of the erstwhile Maharajah of Mysore, the Bangalore Palace has been modeled akin to England’s Windsor Castle. The opulent interiors are great to explore. Steeped in history, the palace is also a fascinating venue for live concerts and events.
Lalbagh Botanical Garden: The regal Lalbagh was formerly a private property commissioned by the ruler of Bangalore State Hyder Ali. Spread in an area of 240 acres, the Lalbagh Botanical Garden is a delightful place in the city to spend an evening. You will be amazed to see about 1,840 varieties of plants, flowers and medicinal herbs. Also, a 3,000 year old rock, popularly called “The Lal Bagh Rock” is a major highlight here.
Bannerghatta National Park: Spread in a 104.27 sq. km area, the Bannerghatta National Park is a protected area for various species of birds and wild animals. You will be delighted to see animals like tigers, crocodiles, peacocks, wild dogs, bears, deer and lions. The park is also home to a museum, a zoo, an aquarium, snake stop, crocodile farm, prehistoric creatures stop and eateries. Day trips to the Bannerghatta National Park, including safari and meals, are also organized by Bengaluru Tourism.
Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace: Built in 1791, the Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace is a must visit for everyone visiting Bangalore. The foundation of the two-storey building is supported with wooden pillars and is made of teak wood. The intricately designed walls and ceilings are gorgeous and great to watch.
Nandi Hills: If you want to enjoy the spectacular sunrise behind the cloudy skies and view the panoramic beauty early morning then Nandi Hills is the place to visit. Situated at height of 1,478 meters, spending a day at the Nandi Hills is a blissful experience. It is undoubtedly the highest rated attraction for tourists visiting Bangalore.
Wonder La Amusement Park: Bangalore takes pride in being home to Wonder La Amusement Park, one of India’s biggest amusement parks. A must-visit destination for all, the amusement park offers 60 exhilarating rides including tunnel rides, wave pools, water slides, and one of India’s biggest roller coaster. Among other exciting rides here include Maverick, Equinox, Hurricane, Flash Tower, Insanity, Dropzone, Recoil, Twister etc. You can also consider staying for the weekend at the resort in Wonder La.
Top Things to Do in Bangalore
Bangalore is greatly admired for its perfect blend of the past and present. With its great mix of nature, architecture, history, culture and spirituality, the city offers some of the best attractions and experiences to the tourists.
The greenery in Bangalore is a major attraction for both locals and tourists. You will enjoy an impressive green expanse across the city. Whether you consider visiting the Cubbon Park in the heart of the city, or witness an annual flower show at the shaded Lalbagh, Bangalore has lots of green spaces to offer for rejuvenation and recharging your batteries.
The performing arts scene in Bangalore is legendary. Those interested in performing arts find the city a great place to visit. Get ready for a never-seen-before experience with a visit to the Nrityagram Dance Village, a residential school offering training in Indian classical dance forms. Also, the National Gallery of Modern Art located on Palace Road is a must visit too.
The architectural marvels in Bangalore are set to catch your attention. The city offers a fascinating mix of heritage buildings as well as those of modern architectural design. Some of the top architectural wonders worth checking out include Bangalore Palace, Bangalore Fort, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace and Vidhana Soudha. These prominent landmarks truly reflect the city’s cultural heartbeat.
Bangalore is a heaven for foodies. Be they traditional South Indian, modern or exotic flavors, just name them and you will find it all here. Whether you want to relish crisp dosas, sushi, pizzas or street food, the varied gastronomy delights in this bustling city will satiate everyone’s hunger pangs. The not-to-be-missed food trails in the city’s old parts such as Basavangudi and Malleswaram will give a real taste of the traditional Bangalore.
If you are looking for a lively shopping scene then visit the malls, boutiques and flea markets of Bangalore. There are plenty of shopping options to keep the avid shoppers engaged for hours. Visit the Phoenix Mall for high-end shopping, or search for sparkling trinkets and fragrant spices on Commercial Street, a shopping extravaganza is just waiting for you in this magnificent destination.
Best Time to Visit Bangalore
The climate of Bangalore is pleasant and evergreen. The evening showers are frequent and common. You will rarely experience summer temperature increasing above 35 C. The spring season from February to March makes the city serene and beautiful, offering amazing sights of the blooming flowers in Lalbagh and many other areas. This is surely one of the best times for nature lovers. The afternoons in the summer season from April to June are harsh, but the likely evening showers make the climate pleasant. This is also the best time for pub hopping and sampling some amazing brews. Avoid visiting Bangalore from late June to early September as the monsoon rains will mostly keep you indoors making sightseeing impossible. Tourists mostly book flights to Bangalore for travel in late September to October for having a good time seeing nearby waterfalls, trekking in the Western Ghats of Chikmagalur and Coorg, and taking part in the world-famous Mysore Dasara.
Where to Eat in Bangalore
Locals flock to a darshini in Bangalore to relish the first meal of the day. These small eateries offer authentic South Indian breakfast items such as vada, dosa, idli, filter coffee, and more. Some of the popular darshinis to enjoy breakfast include Maiyas, MTR and Vidyarthi Bhavan. There are many restaurants in the city offering a wide variety of Indian and international cuisines. You may consider visiting restaurants such as Tandoor Restaurant (for North Indian food), Chianti Restaurant (for Italian), Karavalli (for seafood), Shiro (for dim sum), and Rim Naam (for Thai). For local food eateries such as Oota Bangalore, Shree Sagar and Mavalli Tiffin Rooms are a must try.
Bangalore is called the “Pub Capital of India” for its pioneering role in introducing microbreweries in the country. If you want to enjoy the city’s pub culture then head to areas like M.G. Road, Indira Nagar, Malleshwaram, Koramanagala, UB City, Jayanagar and BTM Layout. You will be delighted to know that Bangalore is home to around 406 pubs. Tourists can be seen frequenting some of the popular pubs like Skyye, Toit, Pecos and The Biere Club.
Best Places to Stay in Bangalore
Bangalore’s M.G. Road is the best place to stay in the city. It is one of the busiest parts of the city and centrally located. You will find many theaters, hotels, offices, pubs, shopping malls and restaurants. Staying in M.G. Road will also provide access to several 5-star, budget and business hotels while keeping you in the middle of all action in the city. Staying in budget or luxury hotels in Ulsoor in Central Bangalore is recommended due to its proximity to popular areas such as MG Road, Shivajinagar, Richmond Town, Indiranagar and Frazer Town. It is also efficiently connected with the metro and city buses. Tourists can also consider staying at Malleswaram, one of Bangalore’s oldest localities. You will find many 5-star as well as budget hotels in this area, and brings you in close proximity to localities such as Seshadripuram, Sadashivnagar, Rajajinagar, and the Kempegowda Bus Stand.
Getting Around in Bangalore
Travelling to Bangalore from USA has now become easier with the first nonstop flight being operated from Seattle by American Airlines. Flights from USA are also offered by Air India and United Airlines as well with connections from major cities such as Dallas, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Portland and can be booked from Fond Travels. At a distance of 25 miles, reaching the city centre from Kempegowda International Airport (KIAB) will take between one and two hours, depending on traffic. You can navigate the city through Uber and Ola cabs, taxis, self-drive cars, Bangalore Metro train called Namma Metro, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus services.
Major Festivals in Bangalore
Bengaluru Habba: The annual Bengaluru Habba is held from December to January. This free-to-attend cultural festival is held in different locations of the city, and attracts the best of India’s emerging music, art, dance and film artists. The city’s malls, temples, parks and other public places are transformed into performance areas. It’s no wonder that Bangalore, the cultural capital of India, welcomes tourists from all over the world to this most sought after event.
Dussehra (Dasara): Celebrated in October every year, the 10-day festival Dussehra marks the start of harvest season in Bangalore. The festival commemorates the victory of the goddess Chamundeshwari over the demon Mahisasur. A major attraction for tourists, the highlights of the festival is bonfires and fireworks displays.
Kadalekaye Parishe: The Peanut Festival or Kadalekaye Parishe is centered around the Bull Temple, one of Bangalore’s major attractions. The festival is celebrated to mark the arrival of the first crop of peanuts. Held in November every year, the farmers can be seen gathering at the Kadalekaye Parishe fair in the Basavanagudi area to sell their groundnuts harvest.
Bangalore may not have so far been on your itinerary list, but with so much to see and experience you should plan your next vacation to the city and book flight tickets to Bangalore. It’s indeed a delight for tourists.
