Top 10 Places to Visit in Bangalore

Bangalore recently renamed as Bengaluru and widely acclaimed as the Garden City of India, and also the Silicon Valley of India, is the capital of Karnataka state.

It is one of the most favored tourist destinations in India. Bangalore is a queer mix of cosmopolitan culture and traditional charm.

From the ancient forts of Tipu Sultan to the modern towering buildings, Bangalore city offers a host of tourist attractions and has today emerged as the IT hub of India. The city has a tremendous tourism appeal, ranging from time-honored temples to quaint museum and stately palaces to adorable gardens.

This spectacular amusement park, owned by Wonderla Holidays Private Limited, has been designed to global standards. It is also to be noted that the park has secured ISO 14001 (environment friendly) & OHSAS 18001 certification from BVQI, France. Records reveal that this well-maintained park has attracted more than 13 million people and that speaks for its popularity. Some of the water rides at the park provide exciting experience and the rides are tailored to cater to people of all age groups.

This temple constructed and run by ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is a splendid palace of worship featuring the idols of RadhaKrishna, Krishna Balaram, Nitai Gauranga, Srinivasa Govinda and Prahlada Narsimha. One can hear soul-stirring prayer songs almost continuously sung at the temple. This is a place where a visitor can experience a tranquil atmosphere that calms the mind and soothes the nerves. Yet another attraction is the Dwaja Sthamba which is reportedly the largest pillar in India. The temple also features a multi-vision theater and an open air theater.

This exceedingly beautiful park is centrally located and covers an area of over 300 acres. The park verily serves as the lung space of the ever growing Bangalore city. Designed by Lt. General Sir Mark Cubbon, in 1864, the park boasts of many carefully crafted statues, a lush green expanse of flowering trees and gorgeous fountains. The park also features a well-stacked library and some aesthetic buildings adding to its appeal. Other notable attractions of the park are Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall, Ottawa Chatter, Museum, Century Club and the Press Club. This is a romantic place with the right ambience for relaxing and escaping from the stress of day-to-day living.

Bought and renovated by the then Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar in 1887, the Bangalore Palace spread over an area of 45000sq.ft is a piece of marvelous architecture. The Palace features fortified towers, imposing arches and lush green lawns. Inside the palace you can see the elegant woodcarvings and Tudor-style architecture. The lay-out and design of the palace is said to be inspired by Windsor Castle of England. One can see windows designed in Gothic Style, exquisite painting and rich wooden carvings. The palace also features a Ballroom and Durbar Hall.

Thisis one of the most elegant and tastefully designed buildings of the Neo-Dravidian style. It houses the Karnataka State Legislature. The entire credit for this pride of Bangalore building goes to K. Hanumanthaiah, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka who conceived and executed the building project. This aesthetic building is indisputably Bangalore's best-known landmark. The building has four domes in its four corners and has 300 rooms. The building has 12 massive granite pillars and other noteworthy architectural artwork. There are four Domes on the building and on top of the biggest dome stands the national emblem of India - the Ashoka Sthambh (4 lions facing 4 directions).

This massive 240-acre botanical garden features over 1,000 species of plants including some 100-year-old trees. The Lal Bagh was originally conceived and started by Hyder Ali in 1760 and subsequently completed by his son Tipu Sultan. Within the Lalbagh gardens, you will find a deer park, aquarium, a lake and a small rocky hillock on which is situated one of the four Kempe Gowda Towers and a Glass House. Once inside Lal Bagh do not miss to visit the Rose Garden that boasts of almost all the species of roses available throughout the world. Flower shows are conducted every year to educate people about different flora and motivate the habit of growing plants among the public.

The National Park is renowned for the tiger and lion safari, a rare crocodile farm and an exciting butterfly park. The safaris are classified into two different sections - carnivore and herbivore. The park is boasts of a wide variety of animals including the royal Bengal tiger, hyenas, bison, black buck, leopard, barking deer, elephant and wild boar. You need to spend a full day if you wish to cover the entire park and see all that needs to be seen. Opt for the safari tour first before visiting the zoo.

There is no denying that when you visit this center, you experience a rare sense of fulfillment. The experience will get further intensified if you are lucky to meet Sri Sri Ravishankar. This is a truly heavenly place and all can visit regardless of religion, caste or creed and even atheists are welcome. This is an absolutely serene place for introspection, inward thinking and meditation. In short, a visit to the center can rejuvenate one’s mind, body and the soul. This place will fill you with its positive energy, you will meet courteous and ever smiling people, witness some aesthetic constructions as you leisurely stroll along the lush green pathways.

The temple, built by Kempe Gowda, is located in Basavangudi which is one of the oldest localities of Bangalore. The temple is noted for its massive monolithic bull carved out a single piece granite rock that stands 4.5m tall and 6m long. Traditionally, a groundnut fair is held near the temple every year when the farmers offer their first crop. The shrine attracts a multitude of devotee not only from the state but also from other parts of the country. It is reportedly believed that the source of the river Vishva Bharti originates at the feet of the statue. In the outer corridors of the Bull Temple, there is huge 20 ft high pillar which has its base embellished with relief figures on all the sides. In the sanctum sanctorum there is a black idol of the Big Bull in the crouching position.

Sir M. Visvesvaraya, who is a well-known figure throughout India, is acknowledged as the builder of modern Karnataka. This museum to perpetuate the memory of Sir M. Visvesvaraya is located on Kasturba Road. The museum has rare exhibits including an airplane and steam engine n its compound. The chief attraction of the museum is the mobile science exhibition that keeps traveling within the city throughout the year. The museum is also a venue for exhibitions pertaining to electronics, motor power and the properties and applications of wood and metal. The salient features of the museum are its galleries: Engine hall, Electronic Technology Gallery, Kimbe Paper Metals Gallery, Popular Science Gallery and Children’s Science Gallery.

The other notable places of interest in Bangalore include St. Mark’s Church, MG Road, Ulsoor Lake, Shivasamudram Falls, Nandi Temple, Four Fountain Spa, Taman Buddha - amongst others.