Bangalore(Bengaluru) is the capital city of southern state of Karnataka. Bangalore, a city of moderate climate, is blessed with gardens and parks, natural lakes, architectural landmarks, shopping malls and pubs. This place is always bubbling with life and enthusiasm. It is also rich in its religious beliefs and and culture and is now one of the largest cities in the world. Bangalore or Bengaluru is called “the garden city of India” because this city is a retreat to eyes as it is adorned beautifully with hedges and flowers all through.
Endorsing some of the best and the rarest varieties of greenery in the world, the parks and gardens of Bangalore are romantically landscaped with fountains and multicolored Lights. These parks serve as the favorite hangouts to the children and the old people. Today,Bangalore is famous as the “Silicon Valley of India” because it is Asia fastest growing cosmopolitan city. It is home to some of the most most high tech industries in India. The It industry views this city as ‘Byte basket of India’. Bangalore has also acquired the status of educational city as thousands of students come to the city every year to study. With the highest number of pubs as compared to other cities, it is tagged as the ‘Pub city’ of India.
Kannada is the language spoken there. One of the major religions of Bangalore is Hinduism. Apart from that, many other religions are also practiced in the city, although the proportion is not large. Bangalore is turning into a melting pot with dynamic blend of people of various religions and cultures.The city has become an amalgamation of people, belonging to different cultures, educational backgrounds etc. It also boosts a good selection of historical places to visit.
Mentioned below are the 10 Best places to visit in Bengaluru.
1) Vidhana Soudha:
Vidhana Soudha falls amongst the most impressive as well as the most magnificent building in the Bangalore city. Vidhana Soudha Is the seat of the state of legislature of Karnataka. No other state capital in the country boasts of a comparable structure. Vidhana Soudha, a granite edifice of the Dravidian style is built entirely with ‘Bangalore granite.’ In the year 1956,it was built under the then chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Kengal Hanumanthaiah as a tribute to Indian architecture. This building has three main floors with spacious storage in the cellar.
The building’s total area is 550505 sq ft with the the overall length of 700 feet and width of 350 feet. The height of structure from the floor level to the central dome is 150 feet. The 300 rooms of Vidhana Soudha accommodate approximately twenty two departments of the state government. Sir Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India laid the foundation on 13th July. 1951 and the project began in 1952 and was completed by 1956. It took almost four years to complete this construction. its constructed purely out of granite and porphyry. Vidhana Soudha is adorned with 4 domes on its four headed Lion, the National symbol of India. However, the admission to building is restricted to only government officials and one has to take prior permission before visiting the interiors.
2) Attara Kacheri:
Attara Kacheri , the Karnataka high court was constructed during the reign of Tipu Sultan. Attara Kacheri which means ” the eighteen offices or departments” originally comprised the general and revenue Secretariat of the state government. The Attara Kacheri was also known in the earlier as ‘Bowring’s Attara Kacheri or old public offices. The credit goes to Mr. Bowring, the then commissioner of Mysore state who conceived and prepared the plan. The construction of this building was started in 1864 and completed in 1868. This magnificent building is situated opposite to Vidhana Soudha.
The two storied structure was built of stones and red bricks in a Greco-Roman(neoclassical) style of architecture-a structure of of vast, expanse with ionic porticoes at the center and at the two ends of the elevation. Situated in the boundary of Cubbon park, ceiling of the central hall of the building is adorned with portraits of Sir Mark Cubbon, commissioner of Mysore. Behind the building is an equestrian statue of him by Marochetti.
Moreover, the expansive premises comprises of various Corinthian columns in symmetry. Public library, Venkatappa art gallery, Visveswaraya industrial and technological Museums and Government museums are highlights of this tourist attraction. Attara Kacheri beautifully depicts the Gothic architecture. This deep red building is a perfect blend to the white columned Vidhana Soudha.
3) Lalbagh:
Lalbagh – The botanical garden is one of the best places in Bangalore because it transports you to a totally different world, away from the crowded city to a vast open space filled with fragrant blooms and lush greenery. Initially designed in Mughal style by Hyder Ali(Ruler of old Mysore) as an private garden on 40 acres of land and was further developed by Tipu Sultan(son of Hyder Ali) and subsequently by British and Indian doyens of Horticulture by extension of area.Lalbagh(Red Garden) got its name because of the marvelous collection of red roses. It is a scenic place of beauty that has lots of open spaces with numerous paths and walkways for the visitors to explore easily. There are a whole lot of exotic species of unusual type of flora and fauna such as Averrhoa bilimbi,Michelia champaca, etc.
Lalbagh is currently under the aegis of the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. Lalbagh was given the status of a Government Botanical Garden in 1856, and since then, it has been an internationally renowned centre for scientific study of plants and botanical artwork and also conservation of plants.It is the place of legends and beauty, a place of rarity and wonder, a place of paradise and landmarks.
It is an important genetic resource centre for introduction, acclimatization and maintenance of plants. Lalbagh is well protected with stone walls as enclosures and has four approach gates(The north gate, The south gate, The east gate and The west gate). With a thumping collection of 673 genera and 1,854 species of the plants, it can be called a veritable treasure house of plants.
The Bandstand, Lecture Hall, Lalbagh House, Pigeon House, Statue of Sri Chamaraja Wodeyar, the Directorate Building, Lalbagh West Gate Guard Room, the Museum and Cottage, main gate of Lalbagh (Cameron gate), Deer Paddock, Aquarium building, Aviary and Kempegowda Tower are the artistic structures in Lalbagh. Lalbagh lake and the Glass house are the two main important locations of interest. Lalbagh is an important educational centre as it spreads knowledge about plants having ornamental, environmental and economic value. Flower shows are also held twice a year on the occasions of Republic day and Independence day.
4) Cubbon Park:
The Cubbon Park,officially known as Sri Chamarajendra park, is an historic park,located in the heart of city in the central administrative area. It is one of the biggest parks of the Bangalore city. It is major landmark in Bangalore contributing to various Historical Monuments and Government Buildings, Cultural, Scientific Institutions. Sir Mark Cubbon,the then viceroy of India laid the foundation of this park dating back to the year 1864. Infact, the park has been named after him only.
Cubbon Park was basically designed as a public park in an area of about 100 acres and expanded over the years.
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 fairy fountains and an august bandstand also crown this lavish park. A number of neo-classical styled government buildings are situated inside the park. The Public Library, the Government Museum and the High Court the Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall, Ottawa Chatter, Children’s amusement park, Doll museum, etc are located inside this park.
Cubbon Park also has a toy train, which is very popular amongst children. Cubbon Park stands adorned with trees, flowerbeds and rolling lawns. It occupies over 300 acres with flowering plants, towering trees, shaded groves and vast expanse of green. Lush green landscapes contribute to the rich plant wealth. Around 68 genera and 96 exotic botanical species are grow here. Also, statues of Queen Victoria, King Edward , Sir Mark Cubbon,Sir K. Sheshadri Iyer and Sri. Chamarajendra Wodeyar are installed in this park.
Owing to the different features and structures in the park, the Cubbon Park is a well-known tourist attraction.
5) Bangalore Palace:
Bangalore Palace is situated in the Palace Gardens, at the heart of the Bangalore city of India. The Bangalore Palace,located between Sadashivanagar and Jayamahal, is the result of King Chamaraja Wodeyar’s visit to London. Impressed with Windsor Castle of London, He decided to build a similar one, complete with elegant woodcarvings, towers and parapets, lawns and formal gardens. Chamarajendra Wadiyar bought the original property in 1873 from the principal of Bangalore Central High School, Reverend J Garret, from his personal funds. This palace is adorned with magnificent woodcarvings and Tudor-style architecture on the inside. The palace is quite similar to the medieval castles that were built in Normandy and England. Mainly constructed of wood, it boasts of splendid carvings and paintings.
Today the palace serves as the venue for various exhibitions, concerts and cultural programs held in the city. The special attraction is a gallery of nearly a thousand historical photos, including those of viceroys, maharajas and other famous personalities inside and exquisite carvings and paintings. The walls bear exquisite paintings, including those by Raja Ravi Varma. Another attraction is a dining table belonging to the Diwan of Mysore, Sir Mirza Ismail.The ground floor of the Bangalore Palace comprises of a massive open square.The square is full of granite seats that are adorned with fluorescent blue ceramic tiles. Along with the courtyard is a ballroom, where private parties of the King used to be held. On the first floor, the foremost thing that comes into view is an ornate room, known as the Durbar Hall. One of the walls of the Durbar Hall has a set of windows that are decorated with stained glass.
The inner walls of the Bangalore Palace are also festooned with paintings belonging to the mid-19th century.The palace is complete with Gothic windows, battlements and turrets.
6) Tipu Sultan’s Fort and Palace:
Tipu sultans Fort was initially built by KempeGowda II (the founder of Bengaluru) a chieftain of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1537. The fort is in the most crowded city market area of Bangalore. The fort is in the most crowded city market area of Bangalore. The Fort stands as a witness to the struggle of the Mysore Emperor against the British domination. Read on to know more about Tipu Sultan Fort and Palace of Bangalore, India.
The Fort stands as a witness to the struggle of the Mysore Emperor against the British domination. Tipu had named the palace as “Rash-e-Jannat” meaning the Envy of Heaven as the fort comforted him from the scorching heat of summer. The entire palace is made up of teak wood and was originally a summer retreat. It took 10 years to complete this construction. It is a two storied wooden structure with pillars, balconies and carved arches.
The intricately carved arches of the Tipu Sultan Fort have been built as per the Islamic style. The floral pattern on the walls and ceiling is beautifully carved for tourist attraction. Another major attraction of the fort is the well-preserved Ganapati temple situated inside it. Within the fort lies Tipu Sultan palace, which dates back to year 1790. Among the many gates that once guarded the Bangalore fort, only one Delhi gate exists now.
Today, the court stands as a testimony against Tipu’s struggle against British
7) Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium:
The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium is situated at T. Chowdiah Road in Bangalore. This Place was named after the first Prime minister of India. Established in the year 1989, it counts amongst the popular tourist attractions of the city. The planetarium is a sky theatre with a dome of 15 meters in diameter. It provides an awareness of astronomy among the students and the common public. This is managed by Bangalore Association for Science education(BASE). Around 225 people can be seated at a time. The shows are a combination of entertainment and instructions. It provides a pleasant experience.
The narration, music and the sound effects creates among the viewers a sense of total participation. The timings of the shows are fixed(3:00 pm and 4:30 pm), with the exception of Mondays. “Space master” Planetarium projector supplied by M/s. Carl-Zeiss, Jena, Germany, projects the night sky as seen with naked eye on the dome. It can also projects constellation pictures, Panoramas used for the shows and teaching astronomy.
Apart from this, slide projectors, video projectors, special effect projectors, etc., are also used for the shows. This six inch code refractor telescope is used to project the solar system and the activities related to it along with animated graphics in about one hour.The sky-theatre shows are very popular attracting about 200,000 visitors every year. These shows blend science with art, literature and cultural aspects of many countries. Programs based on historical backgrounds, modern developments and future prospects are conducted. They use special visual effects, animation and videos for these programs.
The places in the planetarium are Exhibition halls with huge posters of Galaxies,supernovas of remnants, painting and sculptures and The Science Park which showcases the elements of science in the scientific ambiance around the activities of the Planetarium and Science Centre. There is also the facility to check your weights over different planets. The main aim behind the establishment of the planetarium was to promote an understanding of astronomy, amongst students as well as the other individuals.
8) Ulsoor Lake:
Ulsoor Lake is centrally located on the northeastern fringe of the city center, near M. G. Road is one of the biggest lake in today’s date. It is spread over an area of 1.5 sq km. The lake in its early years was known as “Halsur” or “Alasur”. This Lake was constructed during the time of Kempegowda II by the then commissioner Sir Lewin Benthem Bowring.
The beginning of Ulsoor Lake can be traced back to the rule of Kempe Gowda who started building lakes since the river Arkavathy was the only closest river. There are 2 springs which exists at the bottom of the lake. These springs are now covered with heavy silt. One of the major attractions at the lake is boating. Another attraction is Kensington Park, a small garden located towards the northeastern side of the Lake. The lake is a famous tourist spot. It is not fit for swimming. Also, the sunrise and sunset from this point looks really lovely.
9) Crazy Water Park:
Crazy water park is a complete water world located in Bannerghatta road, near the famous Meenakshi Temple. This place provides you with range of exciting water rides. Your journey will include great amount of thrill, splash and excitement. Crazy water park is also called Pearl Water Park. This park is all about rollicking rides and fun in the pool. The most famous ride here is probably the giant water slide. There are facilities for safe water sports and other rides. Apart from the other water-based rides, adults and children can splash around in the pool or tunnel down colorful floats.
10) Nandi Hills:
Nandi Hills has been been a favorite picnic spot for young enthusiasts. The pleasant climate of this health resort appeals to the old and the young. Nandi is also commonly called Nandidurga (Fort) because of the fort build here by the ruler Tipu Sultan. It is also perhaps called Nandi Hills because the hill resembles a sleeping bull (Nandi). Nandi Hills, a solid monolithic mass of granite and the best scenic hill station in the vicinity of Bangalore (60 Km away).
Its height is about 4,851 feet above sea Level and acquires an area of 97 acres. Nandi Hills is the birth place of rivers Arkavathi and Palar. Beautiful stone carvings are a popular tourist site and are a source of inspiration for students of art and architecture. Historians can find a wealth of of information and spiritual minded, peace and tranquility. Medical, postal and telephone facilities are also provided on hill top.