Best Time and Season to Visit Bangalore

Lalbagh is one of the oldest botanical gardens in India and is also a major tourist attraction in South India. Located in South Bengaluru, the Lalbagh Botanical Garden is not only one of the largest botanical gardens in India, but also the first of its kind, with planned routes, glasshouses and ornamental flowers growing throughout the property.The garden itself is spread over an area of 240 acres and its construction was commissioned by the famous ruler Hyder Ali. It was finally completed by his son- Tipu Sultan- who designed the gardens keeping in mind the beautiful gardens of Sira in Tumkur District in Karnataka.Lalbagh is home to exotic flowers that were imported by the Sultan from countries like France, Persia, Arabia, Afghanistan, etc. Therefore, flowers that were previously never seen in India were first witnessed in this historical garden. Trees that were imported by Tipu Sultan from all over the world can still be found growing here.Apart from the exotic trees, visitors can also catch sight of some rare birds such as the Myna, pond heron, purple moorhen, parakeets, Brahminy kites, the common egret and much more. Apart from the stunning flora and fauna of the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, it has another striking attraction, which is the Lalbagh rock. This rock, which is said to be over 3000 years old, is one of the oldest rocks in the world and can be found in the center of the garden.

At the intersection of MG road and Residency road lies Brigade road which is considered a shopping paradise for the city dwellers. There is a long stretch of standalone shops, individual retailers, and outlet selling almost everything you need making it one the best Bangalore sightseeing. This commercial hubs houses myriads of global brand outlets as well and it has been a hub for celebrating New Year in the almost every year.

In the technology-driven, futuristic Silicon Valley of India, monuments of historical significance boasting of a glorious past are also abundant. The historical heritage of the city is so magnificent and eminent that it rises to prominence on its own. One such landmark is the Tudor style Bangalore Palace.The Palace is a perfect representation of the lavishness and splendour with which India's most resilient dynasties ruled. Famous for its opulent architecture and amusement activities, the Palace is visited by several visitors every day. The colossal Palace boasts of massive courtyards, bright interiors, kingly grounds, splendid spiral staircases, stately towers and a luscious garden in a proud display of posh regality.Anyone who admires classic architecture and artistry would be delighted to experience it first hand at this Palace. It also houses an amusement park in its enclave to the delight of many younger visitors. Having been a private residence to the Wodeyar family, Bangalore palace offers a linear perspective into the royal life of the forepassed era. It is plush with a vibrant and varied collection of ancient royal artefacts, paraphernalia, hunting trophies and family photos.The Palace houses some of the most famous paintings of the 19th Century, including the works of one of India's most celebrated artists Raja Ravi Verma. The Palace grounds very often become venues for concerts and festivals. World-renowned artists like Enrique and Guns N' Roses have graced the palace grounds with their talent and presence. The Palace hence combines the richness and luxury of royal history with the vivacious and exuberant demeanour of the youth. Bangalore Palace HistoryOriginally a property of Reverend J Garrett, the principal of a school in the cantonment town at that time, the area where the Palace is now located was purchased from him by the British Guardians of Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar for 40,000 rupees. The construction of the palace began in the year 1874. Mr John Cameron of Lalbagh was assigned the task of landscaping Palace along with its surroundings. The complete construction of the palace was completed in the year, 1878.The Palace saw many additions and modifications in its architecture in subsequent years. Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar added a few portions like the twin external staircase, the platform for musicians etc. outside the Durbar Hall. In 1970, HH Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar transferred ownership of the property to two companies, Chamundi Hotels and Shree Venkateshwara Real Estate Enterprises. However, this transaction was later shown to be fraudulent. A legal battle followed between this deal and Jayachamarajendra's son, Srikanta Datta. The five sisters of Srikanta Datta are now in possession of sections of the 28 acres of the Palace. In the year 1990 Srikant Datta finally compromised with the Chamaraju group and got back his part of the property including the main Palace except for 45 acres that the Chamaraju group still retains. Architecture:The Palace showcases exquisite wooden interiors surrounded by pristine walls. The Palace is enclosed within beautiful gardens. The architecture is a medley of Tudor style and Scottish style and has gothic undertones. A lot of physical artefacts inside are of British origin. It is said that the architecture of this building is inspired by that of the Windsor Castle and other architectural marvels of England and Normandy. The most prominent features of the Palace like the two-level granite structure of the fortified towers and turreted parapets take direct inspiration from the Tudor building styles. The entrance is decorated with grand Roman arches. The exterior of the building is covered in eccentric shapes and angles. The exterior walls are of a blushing cinnabar shade that gives the building a quaint Victorian vibe. The floor of the open courtyard of the Palace is adorned with granite seats covered with azure ceramic tiles. The ground floor also contains a beautifully decorated ballroom.The first floor of the Palace has a distinct chamber known as the Durbar Hall attached to an ornate staircase.This hall is famous for the enormous elephant head that is mounted in it and its gothic style tinted glass windows.  

Located on the outskirts of Bangalore, and usually known as BBBP, the Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park is amongst the most popular and frequently visited destinations in the city. Catering to nature and wildlife enthusiasts, it is an integral part of the magnificent Bannerghatta National Park and is spread across a massive area. It was declared a biological reserve in 2002 and is also one of the only places in the world where one can experience wilderness in such a close proximity to the city. In addition to a zoo and jungle safari, the Bannerghatta Biological Park also has a butterfly park and a rescue centre where the animals who were in captivity are conserved and protected. The Bannerghatta Biological Park is also the first biological park in all of India, which has a fenced forested elephant sanctuary. Covering an expanse of 122 acres, this sanctuary is sponsored by PETA India. The biological park is also home to a large variety of butterfly species. On a safari here, you can catch a glimpse of various animals, including tigers, bears, deer, elephants as well as monkeys. Additionally, you can also get to see many beneficial herbs and plants here, such as neem, tamarind, eucalyptus and sandalwood, amongst others. The park is also a complete retreat for people, with different safaris, along with locations for short trekking and hiking expeditions. Many people also visit the park due to the presence of several ancient temples in its premises. Additionally, the park is also a haven for those who wish to get away from the busy city limits and spend some time rejuvenating and relaxing amidst the calm of nature. The Bannerghatta Biological Park is also a great place for photography, with shutterbugs getting an opportunity to capture a lot of amazing sights in their camera. 

Wonderla Waterpark in Bangalore is beyond doubt, the best waterpark in the city. It is a haven for those seeking an escape from the mundane boredom of everyday life and offers a series of rides that will make your adrenaline go berserk.It is renowned for its high thrill rides, but there are other relaxing booths that attract people of all ages thus making it an all-encompassing place. It is located on the outskirts of Bangalore, so if you are a temporary wanderer there, then reaching the place may be tricky but not impossible. In fact, the connectivity in Bangalore has made it all the more easy to reach. The water park/ amusement park features over 60 exhilarating rides for kids aged five years old to adults over 70 years old. One of its recently constructed rides, the ‘Reverse Looping Roller Coaster’ – a roller coaster that can be ridden in both directions, once straight and then reverse, has left adrenaline junkies thrilled.The wave pool is built with hi-tech devices that give you the feeling of standing in the middle of an ocean with smooth waves around you; the rain disco is an always-raining discotheque with hit songs playing in the background so that you can dance too and what not!Here is a guide to answer some prompt questions that might arise in your head before your visit to one of the loudest, craziest, and most thrilling places of Bangalore.

“A Temple Dedicated to The Nation,” is what Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore, which houses the State Legislature along with the Secretariat of Karnataka. In addition to being amongst the top tourist places to visit in the city of Bangalore, it is also the largest Legislative building in the entire country. The conception and construction of Vidhana Soudha was done by the then Chief Minister of Mysore, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, with Nehru laying down its foundation stone on July 13, 1951. Subsequently, the iconic structure was completed in 1956, with a total cost of almost INR 1.84 crore.Boasting of four different entrances in all the four directions and four storeys, with an additional floor below the ground level, Vidhana Soudha is also popularly known as the “Taj Mahal of South India.” At the moment, the structure stands tall at 150 feet, with an opulent and exquisite Neo-Dravidian style of architecture. Moreover, it has several elements of Indo-Saracenic, Dravidian as well as Rajasthani designs implemented into it.Spread over an expanse of 60 acres, this stunning white building has many carved pillars, pediments, bases, arches as well as cornices, which add to its immense beauty. With four different floors, the building has a porch on its eastern side, with 12 huge columns of granite. Additionally, the central dome of the building is supported by eight pillars, with a crown of the four-headed lion, the national emblem of the country.Vidhana Soudha also has almost 300 rooms, which accommodate around twenty-two different departments of the State Government. As of now, its replica, called the Vikasa Soudha has been built by the Karnataka Government adjacent to it, which acts as a secretariat building. Also, it is located right opposite to the High Court of Karnataka.History of Vidhana SoudhaInfluenced by the House of Commons in London, the Vidhana Soudha is spread over 60 acres of land. It is popularly known as the building that houses the State Legislature Assembly and the Secretariat of Karnataka. The foundation stone of Vidhana Soudha was laid down by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1951.It has been described by many dignitaries in many different ways over the years. Inaugurated on October 10, 1956, Vidhana Soudha is the original seat of power in the state of Karnataka. The construction of such a building was due to the immense amount of nationalist sentiments that were growing amongst people soon after India gained its independence. During that time, the administrative offices were based out of Attara Kacheri, built by the British in 1868. It is due to this that plans were made for India’s own structure of legislature. However, the plan was mooted during K.C. Reddy’s tenure, who was the first Chief Minister of Karnataka. Regardless, soon after that, Nehru laid its foundation stone down, followed by Hanumanthaiah, who completed the construction of the Vidhana Soudha.Hanumanthaiah was Reddy’s successor and wanted to shed light to the nationalist sentiments. And so, he asked B.R. Manickram, the chief architect of the project to build the structure right opposite to the Attara Kacheri, that too at a slight elevation. Ultimately, the house of the legislature and secretariat was built, spreading over 5,00,000 square feet, with a total cost of INR 1.84 crore at that time.

Nandi Hills, a small albeit beautiful town, is just 60 km away from the city of Bangalore and has emerged as the perfect weekend getaway for its people. Even though it is most well-known for its viewpoints and its greenery, Nandi Hills is also a popular historical fortress that is home to a number of temples, monuments and shrines.The place was previously used by the famous ruler Tipu Sultan as a summer retreat, and several traces of the Sultan’s life and legacy can be found in the area. His summer residence can still be found in Nandi Hills. The house was called Tashk-e-Jannat, whose painted walls, intricate archways, high pillars and artfully crafted ceilings attract tourists and visitors even today. Nandi Hills is also home to some famous temples and shrines such as the Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and his companions- Parvati and Nandi. This temple is also an architectural wonder and pilgrimage spot because it is one of the oldest temples in the area. Apart from its historical sites and heritage monuments, Nandi Hills is also famous for its trekking trails, cycling routes and adventure sports such as paragliding. It is truly the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful retreat from life in the city and take in some of the best views the countryside has to offer. 

Skandgiri is a beautiful hill near Bangalore, which is famous for trekking and sunrise views and is also known as Kalavara Durga among the locals. Surrounded by the Nandi Hills, it lies at an elevation of 1450 meters.The trek to the hilltop location is a thrilling one with a moderate difficulty level for trekkers. It is known that people often spend the night under the stars at the hilltop which provides a splendid view of the surrounding hills.Skandgiri was once home to a majestic fort built by Tipu Sultan, who was the ruler of the kingdom of Mysore in the eighteenth century. When the battle between his kingdom and the Britishers was lost, there was a shift in the power to the British officials.The fort did not manage to thrive under their administration. Today, only a few walls of the fort remain erect while a major portion of the fort is now in ruins. Notable among the landscape are two temples, one at the bottom of the hill and another at the top, which did not come to any harm, while everything else lies in rubble today.Also, this is one of the notable trekking spots in Bangalore, which can be visited not only during the day but also at night. In fact, undertaking a trek on the trail up the hill on a night of full moon is one of the adventurous things that you can do at Skandagiri. At the top of the hill, the display of natural beauty around you will be an enchantment to cherish!