Cubbon Park
Cubbon Park is Bengaluru's equivalent of Central Park: a place
of relaxation, open space and some worthwhile attractions. In and
around the park are the State Central Library, two municipal
museums, an art gallery and the Government Aquarium. The intensely
red Attara Kacheri, which houses the regional high court, is
unmistakable and eminently photogenic. The State Archaeological
Museum is one of the oldest in India, has artefacts dating back
5,000 years, and is well worth a visit to gain some historical
context to this relentlessly modern city. The handsome and
photogenic Seshadri Memorial Library is another distinctly red
building on the fringes of the park. At the northern edge of Cubbon
Park is the imposing Vidhana Soudha, home to the State Legislature
and Secretariat. The massive sandalwood doors to the Cabinet are a
notable feature of this handsome colonial structure, built in a
neo-Dravidian style. The construction work was done by more than
5,000 prisoners, who were set free once the building was finished,
in 1956.
First and foremost, however, the park is a green lung, a
peaceful and pretty place to take a break from the traffic and
noise of this bustling city. It is a great area for walkers and
joggers - particularly early in the morning and in the evenings.
Tourists travelling with kids in Bengaluru will find Cubbon Park
has many lovely picnic spots and open space to let off some steam;
there is also boating on the lake and a toy train that runs around
the park. Note that there is a busy road running through the area
so it is not completely devoid of traffic.
Cubbon Park
Chris Conway
Lal Bagh
This splendid botanical garden, laid out by Hyder Ali and his
son Tipu Sultan as a private royal garden in 1760, contains more
than 1,000 species of rare flora in its enormous grounds. Lal Bagh
is an internationally renowned centre for the scientific study and
conservation of plants, and also a centre of botanical artwork. The
name Lal Bagh means 'red garden', in tribute to its celebrated red
roses. The centrepiece of Lal Bagh is the Glass House, which hosts
an annual flower show and is modelled after London's Crystal
Palace. Apart from the many old and imposing trees which delight
visitors, the gardens also house a deer park, an aquarium, a lake
and one of the city's four Kempe Gowda Towers.
The gardens are large and very beautiful with a great variety of
scenery, many well-maintained paths to explore, and lots of shady
nooks and lawns for picnics and relaxation. There are four entrance
gates to the botanical garden and it is very popular with locals
and visitors alike. None of the features are really stand-alone
attractions but the gardens are a refreshing green lung in a
crowded city, and a lovely place to take a morning stroll or jog
and enjoy the peace.
Address:
Mari Gowda Rd, Shanti Nagar, 2.5 miles (4km) south of the
city centre.
Lal Bagh gardens
Symphoney Symphoney
Hampi
The small, relaxed town of Hampi - located in the state of
Karnataka, about 220 miles (350km) from Bengaluru, and about the
same distance from Panaji (in the neighbouring state of Goa) - not
only boasts one of the weirdest, most awe-inspiring landscapes in
the whole of India, but is also a fascinating historical site. The
capital of the once-great Vijayanagar Empire, the ruins of the
14th-century village and temple complex found in present-day Hampi
have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, as
impressive as these ruins are (especially the multi-tiered,
ornately-sculpted Virupaksha Temple), the grandstand attraction of
Hampi remains its natural landscape. A severe, desolate and
boulder-strewn wilderness, tempered by a slate-grey river
surrounded by lush groves of banana, mango and palm trees. Hampi
might be slightly off the beaten track, but it is a manageable
excursion from Bengaluru and will deeply reward all those who seek
out its thoroughly singular charms. Hampi is a must for
rock-climbers and is considered the bouldering capital of
India.
Vittala Temple, Hampi
Srikar.agnihotram
Bengaluru's tropical savanna climate is one of the city's chief
attractions, especially to sunburnt travellers arriving from the
coastal areas of Karnataka or Goa, and is sure to be one of the
reasons it has been declared India's most liveable city. The city's
altitude of 900 metres (2,953ft) above sea level brings milder
daily temperatures than the coastal areas. The summer months of
March to May are hot and dry, while June to September is the
monsoon season, which is also hot and brings heavy rains. December
and January, the peak winter months, are typically cool and dry. In
winter, the mornings are often misty but you can still expect
plenty of sunshine as the day progresses. April is the hottest
month of the year with an average high of 96°F (36°C), and January
is the coldest with average temperature between 60°F (16°C) and
82°F (28°C).
Although it is advisable not to visit Bengaluru during the
monsoon season, the city is far more pleasant in the summer than
most of India. Winter is still the best time to visit Bengaluru
though, and any time between October and February is great.
Kempegowda International Airport
Location: The airport is located around 23 miles (37km) from
central Bangalore.
Time: Local time is GMT +5.5
Getting to the city:
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) offers a
shuttle service called 'VayuVajra' which operates 24 hours a day.
The most current BMTC fares, routes and schedules are displayed in
the arrivals hall just before the exit.
Car Rental:
Driving on the often-chaotic roads of India is not recommended
and it is better to rent a car with a driver who knows the roads
and the rules of the road. Rental operators are located in the
arrivals part of the airport. Operators at the airport include WTi
cabs and Carzonrent.
Airport Taxis:
The official airport taxis are operated by Mega Cabs, Karmataka
Taxi and Meru Cabs. The 23 mile (37km) drive into central Bengaluru
can take anything from 30 minutes to two hours depending on
traffic. Air conditioned taxis charge higher rates, and there is a
10 percent charge for night fares between midnight and 6am; non air
conditioned taxis are cheaper.
Facilities:
ATMs and currency exchange facilities are available. Porters are
available for hire. Airline lounges have a range of facilities and
services. Passengers travelling with infants can also make use of
the baby care rooms. There is a duty free shop and a number of
other shops as well as a varied assortment of eating options and
bars.
Parking
Parking in P2, the Budget Parking lot, is INR 100 for any period
of time within the first two hours, and INR 50 per any additional
two hours thereafter, up to INR 500 for the first day and INR 300
per day thereafter. P3 Premium Parking cost INR 100 for the first
hour and INR 50 per each additional hour. P1 is reserved for two
wheel vehicles.
Public transport in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) is run by the
Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). There are
several Traffic Transit Management Centres (TTMCs) in the city.
TTMCs are transport terminals, providing passengers with a central
location to access multiple routes and forms of transport. Major
stations include Kempegowda Bus Station, Shivajinagar and K.R.
Market. Buses are broadly categorised as air-conditioned or
regular, which have separate fee structures. Single tickets can be
purchased upon boarding, while daily and monthly passes can be
bought from TTMCs, Bangalore One Centres and major stations.
The Bangalore Metro consists of a north-south corridor (the
Green Line) and an east-west corridor (the Purple Line). Single
tickets are bought in the form of tokens at station ticket offices.
Passengers can also purchase a rechargeable Namma Metro Travel Card
for multiple journeys. Metro-Bus Ticket (MBT) Daypasses are also
available, and can be used on both transport modes. Tickets can be
purchased at station ticket offices and at ticket vending machines
(TVM).
Officially recognised taxi services include Mega Cabs and Meru
Cabs. Rates are charged based on distance travelled and some cabs
will have credit card facilities. Prices may differ based on the
time of day.
Bengaluru is not a city packed with traditional tourist
attractions, and is often used simply as a base for tourists to
explore the charms of southern India. However, that doesn't mean
there isn't plenty to see in the city itself. Aside from some
attractive buildings and lush parks, what is on show here is the
modern face of India: confident, brash and progressive, connected
to the world at large and evolving all the time. It's a fascinating
and energising glimpse into the future of this developing
superpower. Having said that, the city is clean, well-organised and
friendly, with a relaxed atmosphere that is almost surprising in
India's most modern city.
Apart from the great shopping that Bengaluru has to offer, there
are also a number of interesting attractions dotted around the
city. Worthwhile and popular attractions include Bugle Hill, the
Bull Temple, and Vidhana Soudha. Bengaluru is still affectionately
known as the 'Garden City' and two of the best gardens to visit are
the enormous Cubbon Park - Bengaluru's equivalent of New York's
Central Park - and Lal Bagh, a splendid botanical garden.
Those who have time for an excursion out of the city should
visit the nearby town of Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which
boasts some awe-inspiring natural landscapes as well as
14th-century ruins.