10 best tourist places to visit in Bangalore and must-visit places near it

Bangalore, now known as Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka, is also known by many other names such as the silicon valley of India, pub capital of India, air-conditioned city, and city of gardens. The bustling metropolis has various tourist attractions – lakes, parks, museums, forts, temples, etc. – for all age groups. Unlike other cities in India, Bangalore has pleasant weather throughout the year, so tourists can visit it any time.

 

 

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Here are the 10 best tourist places to visit in Bangalore and the five must-visit destinations near Bangalore.

 

Best places to visit in Bangalore #1: Cubbon Park

 

 

Bangalore has many parks and gardens. Cubbon Park is one of the best places to visit in Bangalore. Also known as Sri Chamarajendra Park, it lies in the heart of the city. The park covers an area of 300 acres and is the largest green space in the city. Thus, it is the lungs of Bangalore. The beautiful park has amazing biodiversity with about 6,000 trees and plants of almost 100 species. There are Gul Mohar (Madagascar), Silver Oak (Grevillea Robusta), Rain Tree (South America), African Tulip Tree, Yellow and Pink Tabebuia (Mexico and Argentina), among others. The park has two main buildings – Attara Kacheri and Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Hall. Built in 1868, Attara Kacheri is a colonial Gothic-style building and Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Hall has classic European architecture with Corinthian and Tuscan-style columns. It also has the State Central Library and the government aquarium, which features diverse marine life. From poetry reading, storytelling, and photo sessions to yoga, music jams, and Bard’s plays and walks, Cubbon Park hosts various activities and events for people from all age groups.

See also: All about Bangalore metro map and routes

 

Best places to visit in Bangalore #2: Bannerghatta National Park

 

One of the famous places to visit in Bangalore, especially with kids, is the Bannerghatta National Park. It is spread over 260.51 sq kms and has a lion and tiger safari with enclosures that recreate their natural habitat. Besides, the national park has an aquarium, zoo, children’s park, crocodile farm, butterfly park, snake park, prehistoric animals park, and a museum. Bannerghatta National Park was established in 1970 and is home to the country’s first biological park to have a fenced forested elephant sanctuary. It has several elephants and other animals like sloths, Bengal tigers, etc., rescued from circus. The park has a zoo with wild animals such as king cobra, panthers, crocodiles, deer, bears and birds. The beauty of the park is enhanced by the Suvarnamukhi stream, which originates in Suvarnamukhi hills and runs through the park. Apart from rides in open jeeps, mini-buses, vans, and elephants, tourists can also go for fishing, boat riding, bird watching, river rafting, and outdoor camping.

 

Best places to visit in Bangalore #3: Vidhana Soudha

  

Vidhana Soudha is a famous place in Bangalore designed in granite and is the largest legislative building in India. The impressive Neo-Dravidian architectural structure is an important landmark of the city. The magnificent building has the legislative chamber of the Karnataka government and many departments. Completed in 1956, Vidhana Soudha is one of the most imposing buildings in the city, which occupies an area of over 50,000 sq metres and looks stunning at night when it is lit up. Vidhana Soudha, the 46-metre-high seat of the government is Bangalore’s best-known landmark and has 22 departments and 300 rooms. Visitors are allowed to see only the outer façade of the Vidhana Soudha.

 

Best places to visit in Bangalore #4: Lalbagh Botanical Garden

 

 

Lalbagh Botanical Garden is one of the best places to visit in Bangalore. It is spread over 240 acres of land in the heart of the city. Lalbagh has India’s largest collection of tropical plants and sub-tropical plants. The Glass House in Lalbagh Botanical Garden is one of its main attractions. Inspired by the Crystal Palace in London, it is made up of glass and iron. It has some rare species of plants. The Floral Clock is a large natural clock designed from various flowering plants and shrubs, measuring seven metres in diameter. It is placed in a garden decorated with figurines from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, making it a colourful place for both, adults and children to relax. It was commissioned by Hyder Ali in 1760s and completed by his son Tipu Sultan. Originally called the Cypress Garden, it has lush green lawns, fountains, lotus pools and the Lalbagh Rock, which is over 3,000 million years old. Lalbagh has many birds like purple moorhen, parakeets, kites, mynah, etc. A renowned center for the study of plants, botanical artwork, and conservation of plants, this multi-coloured heaven on Earth is a delight for Instagram-worthy photos.

See also: Best place to invest in Bangalore 2022

 

Best places to visit in Bangalore #5: Tipu Sultan Palace and Fort

 

  

Tipu Sultan’s fort is also known as the Bangalore Fort or Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. The Palace is one of the must-see tourist places in Bangalore, which is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture. Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace (Rash-e-Jannat or Envy of Heaven) was built within the Bangalore Fort between 1781 and 1791. Kempe Gowda, the city’s founder, built the fort. The two-story palace has impressive architecture, with its magnificent wooden structure, fluted pillars, arches, and balconies, and has a museum of various artifacts belonging to the Hyder Ali-Tipu regime.

 

Best places to visit in Bangalore #6: Bangalore Palace

 

 

 

One of the must-visit places in Bangalore is the Bangalore Palace built in 1887 by King Chamaraja Wodeyar, which resembles Windsor Castle’s Tudors-style architecture. The beauty and simplicity of its wooden façade and lush green grounds is just amazing. It has an open courtyard on its ground floor, which has been used for concerts, weddings, exhibitions, etc. The Bangalore Palace has many renowned paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries. These include the artwork of India’s famous painter Raja Ravi Varma. An extensive collection of pictures of generations of the powerful Wadiyar Dynasty is displayed in the palace. The palace has granite seats adorned with fluorescent blue ceramic tiles. Along with the courtyard is a ballroom, where private parties of the king were held. On the first floor is an ornate room, known as the Durbar Hall. Mounted on the hall is a colossal elephant head, while its walls are decorated with exquisite paintings.

Also read all about the Mysore Palace

 

Best places to visit in Bangalore #7: HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum

 

 

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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum, Bangalore, is the first aerospace museum in the country started in 2001. The HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum are one of the best places to visit in Bangalore for children and aviation enthusiasts. The museum has fighter planes, jets and aircrafts on display along with a dedicated corridor for the history and achievements of HAL. The HAL Museum is known to be the largest research and development complex with world-class infrastructure, design, and production. Engines such as Garret (for Dornier Aircraft), Orpheus (for Kiran Aircraft) and Adour (for Jaguar Aircraft), can be seen here along with Pushpak and Basant aircrafts and ejection seats with parachutes. An impressive collection of aircrafts, prototypes, engine models, and photographs, takes you through the origin, growth, and achievements of India’s aviation sector. The museum complex also has simulator rides, gardens, play areas and other attractions. Do visit the mock Air Traffic Control Tower here and get a first-hand experience of how the aviation industry works. You can experience sitting in the pilot’s seat and enjoy an exciting virtual flight.

See also: Cost of living in Bangalore

 

Best places in Bangalore to visit #8: ISRO (UR Rao Satellite Center)

Source: URSC

 

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is a famous place in Bangalore. It is the largest space research center in Asia, which has some of the most advanced spacecrafts and satellite technologies in the world. Founded by renowned physicist Vikram Sarabhai, in 1969, this ISRO centre has been renamed as UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). It has earned many space achievements, including the launch of India’s first satellite into an orbit and development of India’s first indigenous rocket. It was only a couple of years ago that ISRO began welcoming visitors to see satellites and launch facilities, to educate them on space assets and applications. ISRO offers a glimpse into the world of space exploration. The centre boasts some of the India’s most advanced spacecrafts and satellite technologies and an impressive collection of historical artifacts from space.

 

Famous places to visit in Bangalore #9: Temples

Sri Someshwara Swamy Temple

 

Dodda Basavana Gudi Temple

 

 

ISKCON Temple

 

Bangalore has various temples that attract tourists. The Chola dynasty ruled southern India for a long time and built several beautiful temples. Some of the famous temples to visit are the Chokkanathaswamy Temple, Mukthi Natheshwara Temple, Choleswara Temple, and Someshwara Temple. One of the most famous temples in Bangalore, the Chokkanathaswamy temple was built in the 10th century by the Cholas and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is constructed in the Chola style of architecture and has Tamil inscriptions on pillars. The features of large pillars and the sculpted statues are worth seeing. On one of the pillars, Lord Vishnu’s dashavataras (10 forms) are etched.

Another one of the Bangalore’s famous places is the Nandi Temple (Bull Temple). It is one of the oldest temples in the city and is popularly called ‘Dodda Basavana Gudi’ and is the largest temple dedicated to Nandi in the world. Nandi, the bull, is the mount or ‘vahana’ of Lord Shiva and the guardian deity of Lord Shiva’s abode, Kailashagiri.

ISKCON Temple, Bangalore at the foot of the Vaikunta Hills in north Bangalore is a modern temple built on principles of the ancient Indian architecture. This Radha Krishna temple has several architectural and artistic creations, which makes it one of the most popular places to visit in Bangalore.

 

Best places to visit in Bangalore #10: The National Gallery of Modern Art

 

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The National Gallery of Modern Art in Bangalore is a must visit for art lovers as it has a collection of paintings, sculptures, graphic prints and early photography in India that showcases the historical development of modern art in the country. The National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru was inaugurated in 2009 as the third National Gallery in India. The exhibit includes Indian miniatures, colonial artists, artists from the Bengal School, and post-modern art. Works of famous artists, such as Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Verma, Jamini Roy and Amrita Shergill, are displayed here. All the artworks have been labelled and displayed according to various periods, art schools, and artists.

 

Must-visit tourist places near Bangalore

Chunchi waterfalls

 

There are various amazing places to visit near Bangalore. As the city is bordered by hills, you could explore nature in Coorg, explore heritage monuments in Mysore, or go to Bheemeshwari Adventure and Nature Camp, Bheemeshwari Wildlife Sanctuary, Chunchi falls, among others.

Here, we have listed some must visit tourist places near Bangalore. 

Manchanabele Dam

 

Manchanabele Dam built on the Arkavati River is 40 kms from the city. It is a serene place to relax with friends and family. The reservoir has led to the formation of a beautiful lake where boating, and kayaking are done. It is also popular among tourists due to its breath-taking natural beauty.

 

Nandi Hills

 

 

 

Nandi Hills is one of the best places to visit near Bangalore for couples, families, cyclists, hikers, joggers, and travel enthusiasts. Around 60 kms from Bangalore, Nandi Hills is a popular tourist destination. It is an ancient hill fortress, an ideal trekking destination for adventure lovers. The hills stand erect in Nandi town and attract tourists due to its natural beauty, pleasant weather throughout the year, misty mountains, and scenic sunrise. On the top of the hill lies Yoganandeshwara temple, which has a statue of Nandi, the bull.

 

Trekking at Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta

 

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Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta, 70 kms south of Bangalore, is a popular trekking spot near Bangalore. At an altitude of 3,780 ft, Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta is also called Bilikal Betta that means white rocks.

 

Turahalli forest

 

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The Turahalli forest or Turahalli park is a dry and deciduous forest located about 20 kms from Bangalore. Spread across 590 acres, it is surrounded by various types of vegetation and has many wild birds. It is one of the most popular places to visit near Bangalore to explore flora and fauna. One can enjoy activities such as biking, cycling, and trekking on the terrains of Turahalli forest.

 

Devanahalli Fort

 

 

Devanahalli Fort is a well-known tourist place located 35 kms north of Bangalore. The fort was the birthplace and residence of Tipu Sultan. It is one of the oldest forts in India. The semi-circular fort constructed on a hillock, surrounded by a dry moat has beautiful views of the countryside. It has several monuments, including temples, water tanks, and other structures. One of the oldest temples in the fort complex is the Venugopalaswamy Temple in the Dravidian style. There is an idol of Venugopala (Lord Krishna) that has features of the Vijayanagara style of architecture.

See also: All about Karnataka’s Bellary Fort

 

Thottikallu (TK) Falls

 

TK Falls (also known as Swarnamukhi falls) is located about 35 kms from Bangalore. Thottikallu Falls, the cascading waterfalls popular for trekking, is a quick getaway to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city. It is surrounded by dense forests of teak and other trees. The best time to visit it is after the monsoon as the gushing flow of water adds beauty to this place.

 

Bangalore famous places to shop

 

 

 

 

Bengaluru is the best place for shopaholics with several budget shopping destinations. Traffic can be a headache while commuting in the city, especially during weekends. So, plan your shopping accordingly. You can bargain for a god deal, while shopping in the streets of Bangalore.

Bangalore has various malls such as Phoenix Market City, Forum, Orion Mall, Mantri Square Mall, Bangalore Central Mall, among others. Bangalore is famous for sandalwood products, silk sarees, rosewood inlay paintings, cotton export garments, wooden toys south Indian spices, Coorg coffee powder, and Mysore pak.

If you are fond of silk sarees, then, visit the famous Chickpet market, which has a history of 400 years. It has a mind-boggling variety of Kanchipuram, pure silk, Tussar, Banarasi, Kadiyal, Mysore silk, and embroidered sarees. If you wish to pick local handicrafts as souvenirs or sarees, then MG Road is a good shopping area. Commercial Street near Shivaji Nagar is one of the best shopping destinations in Bangalore. You can get good sarees, dress materials, spices, antiques, etc., at reasonable prices.

 

Bangalore must-have food

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, is also popular for its food. Food-lovers can get everything from piping hot idli vada, masala dosa, and bisi bele bath to pizza and burgers. Many Udupi restaurants serve hot delicacies of south India such as lemon rice, pulao, appam, stew, and coastal food like sambar, rasam, and rice. These south Indian delights are easily available, affordable, and tasty. They are served with hot sambar and coconut chutney. The cuisine of south India is flavoured with curry leaves, tamarind, coconut, vegetables, and seafood.

Bisi Bele Bath, a bowl of hot lentil rice, is an aromatic spicy dish of Karnataka. Boiled rice and lentils are combined with ghee, butter, tamarind, curry leaves, nutmeg, and vegetables such as carrots, beans, onions, and green peas. Chow chow bath is a must-have dish here with spices teamed up with sweet. This popular breakfast dish has upma, which is dry roasted semolina with spices and vegetables. Another delicacy is kesari bath, made from semolina but cooked in ghee and sugar. Those fond of sweets can indulge in Mysore pak made with pure ghee, badam halwa, and delicious range of ladoos (unde in Kannada), available in Bangalore.

Mangalore sweet buns are another popular snack made from banana and served with coconut chutney and sambar. Local delicacies of Udupi and Mangalore are also famous in Bangalore. The city is known for its coffee. You can spot everyone sipping a cup of coffee at roadside stalls and iconic outlets.

 

FAQs

How to travel within Bangalore?

Bangalore has a good public transport network, comprising Namma Metro, BMTC buses, and auto rickshaws. App-based taxis are also available across the city. You can even rent a bicycle or motorcycle and enjoy the pleasant weather of Bangalore. Travelling in Bangalore metro is the best way to avoid busy traffic during peak hours.

What are the best things to do in Bangalore?

There are many outdoor activities that can be enjoyed like trekking, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, go-karting, hiking, or boating. You can also attend concerts or stand-up shows or go for bowling. The city is also known as the ‘Pub Capital of India’ as it has over 800 clubs and bars.

How many lakes are there in Bangalore?

There are almost 200 lakes in Bangalore and majority of them were created artificially in the 16th century. Madiwala Lake is the largest lake in Bangalore and is famous for its rich flora and fauna, bird watching, and boating. The Hebbal Lake, the oldest and best-maintained lake is a beautiful place to visit in Bangalore with a picturesque view. Other worth visiting lakes are Lalbagh, Kaikondrahalli, Madiwala, and Agara lakes.