10 Top Tourist Places To Visit In Bangalore

Capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, Bangalore also known as Bengaluru, is one of the fastest growing cities of Asia. Also known as the Garden City, Bangalore is the Silicon Valley of India as it is the centre of the ‘software revolution’ which India has witnessed over the past two decades. It is the home to some of the biggest I.T. companies in India. Innumerable colleges and institutes have sprouted in Bangalore over the years earning the city the sobriquet of ‘Student City’. It is blessed with large number of meticulously planned gardens, parks, lakes, architectural landmarks balanced with modern amenities like pubs, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls. Located on the Deccan Plateau, Bangalore has many great tourist places to visit, here are the top 10.

The construction of this architectural splendour was patronised by Chamaraja Wodeyar and constructed in 1887. Built in the Tudor-style, Bangalore Palace is often believed to have drawn inspiration from the Windsor Castle of England. Complete with Gothic windows and richly carved interiors, the palace has fortified towers. The sprawling grounds around the palace are used for hosting public events and concerts.

Bangalore Palace remains open to public from Monday to Saturday between 10.00am to 6.00pm. It remains closed on Sundays. An entry fee of Rs. 200 is charged for Indians and Rs. 400 for foreigners. Other costs include Rs. 1000 for video and Rs. 500 for still photography.

Started by Hyder Ali, the palace was completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791 A.D. It served as the latter’s summer palace till his death in 1799 A.D. Made entirely of ornamentally carved French Rose wood, the structure is supported by richly adorned pillars, arches and balconies. Presently it houses a small museum displaying artefacts from the Hyder-Tipu rule.

Tipu’s Palace is open between 10.00am and 6.00pm except Sundays and a nominal entry fee is charged. 

A stronghold of Tipu, the history of the fort dates back to 1537 A.D. Kempe Gowda, a feudatory of the Vijaynagar Empire laid foundations of a mud fort. This was later converted into a stone structure by Hyder Ali in 1761 A.D. Only the Delhi Gate and remnants of two bastions are what remain of the original fort. Tipu’s wooden palace is located within the fort area.

Bangalore Fort is open between 10.00am and 6.00pm except Sundays and a nominal entry fee is charged.

Vidhana Soudha or the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly is an awe-inspiring construction that was completed in 1956. Built in a Mysore Neo-Dravidian style, the building draws heavily from Indo-Saracenic and Dravidian styles. It is complete with imposing granite columns and a dome 60 feet in diameter crowned by a likeness of the Indian national emblem.

As the State’s Legislative Assembly, entry to Vidhana Soudha is restricted. However, it can be visited on weekends and public holidays between 6.00pm and 8.30pm when it is beautifully lit up.

Attara Kacheri is the Karnataka High Court overlooking the Vidhana Soudha. Made of bricks and stones painted in red it belongs to the Greco-Roman style of architecture.

Referred to as the ‘Garden City’ of India, Bangalore has some of the most beautifully laid out gardens in the country. Commissioned by Hyder Ali in 1760, Lal Bagh is a botanical garden housing over more than 1000 species of flora and fauna, containing a glass house. It is famous for its annual flower show. Lal Bagh remains open daily throughout the year from 6.00am to 7.00pm. Entry fee is Rs.10.

Located on the banks of Nagawara Lake, Lumbini Gardens is a wave pool with an artificial beach. The pool covers an area of 12,500 square feet. Lumbini Park is open to public between 10.00am and 7.00pm. Entry costs Rs. 10.

Bangalore also boasts of a wide variety of museums. One of the most fascinating among these is the HAL Aerospace Museum, India’s first aerospace museum. Different model aircrafts, communication and navigation equipments are placed on display here.

HAL Aerospace Museum remains open from Tuesday to Saturday between 9.00am and 5.00pm. Entry fee is Rs. 25 and an additional Rs. 10 for still photography.

Built in Dravidian style by Kempe Gowda, Nandi or the Bull is carved out of a single block of granite. It is one of the biggest monolithic Nandi (Bull) statues of the world. Open from 6.00am to 8.00pm entry to Bull Temple is free.

Situated about 22 kilometres from Bangalore, Bannerghatta National Park is a major tourist attraction. Spread over an area of 25,000 acre, this zoological park boasts of one of the richest zoological reserves of India. It has a tiger and lion reserve, a museum, a butterfly park and a biological reserve. Bannerghatta National Park remains open from 9.00am to 7.00pm while the grand safari is conducted between 11.00am and 4.00pm. It is closed on Tuesdays. Entry fee to the zoo is around Rs. 50.

It is one of the busiest commercial centres of Bangalore ideal for all kinds of shopping.