Other than being the IT hub, Bangalore is also a popular tourist destination. It is also known as the Garden City for its beautiful lush greenery. Starting from Forts, Palaces and Monuments to Temples, Parks and Museums, the city has a lot to offer. The city known for its work culture and nightlife also has some of the best tourist places as well. The monuments and forts here are evidence of its rich heritage and the museums and parks add its modern day elements. There are some unique places in Bangalore to visit that will make an interesting tour. Are you looking for the best places to visit in Bangalore? Then this article is especially for you. Keep on reading.
10 Best Places in Bangalore to Visit
Cubbon Park
Location: Kasturba Road, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Dr. B R Ambedkar Vidhana Soudha Metro Station
Entry fee: Entry is free
Timings: 6am to 7pm
The park stretching up to 300 acres is like an epitome of tranquility. Lush greenery with almost about 6000 trees and plants and with almost 100 species, this park is brimming with its biodiversity richness. This is one of the most visited tourist spots in Bangalore. Take a day out to visit the place with your friends and family and enjoy the fresh air. The park also has an aquarium which is the largest in the country. Inside the premises there is Cubbon Museum, Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Park and Attara Kacheri.
Bannerghatta National Park
Location: Bannerghatta Road, Karnataka
Nearest Metro Station: Jayaprakash Nagar Metro Station and Banashankari Metro Station
Entry fee: Entry fee for Adults is Rs. 80 and it is Rs. 40 for Children.
Timings: 9:30 am to 5 pm
The Bannerghatta National Park is a huge area covering 104 sq km and is one of the popular places to visit in Bangalore with your family and friends. The park is 25 km away from Bangalore. This national park was opened in 1971 and is known for its flora and fauna. There is a Butterfly Park that was one of the very first in India. The place also has a Zoo, Crocodile Farm, an Aquarium, Children’s Park and a Snake park as well. The park is very well maintained and conceptualized well. There are specific regions for specific animals in the park which means you will spot specific animals in their demarcated zones only. You can spot leopards, elephants, wild boars, sloth bears and sambars here among other animals. The park is popular among people from all age groups.
The main attraction here includes Jungle Safari as well that the tourists enjoy. The ticket price for Jungle Safari is Rs. 260 for adults and Rs. 130 for children. If you want a Special AC Bus then the ticket price is Rs. 500 for adults and Rs. 300 for children. You can opt for Jeep Safari and Car Safari as well that costs around Rs. 3000 to Rs. 5000 depending on the type of car you choose.
Bangalore Palace
Location: Vasant Nagar, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Cubbon Park Metro Station and Dr. B R Ambedkar Vidhana Soudha Metro Station.
Entry fee: Rs. 225 for Indians and Rs. 450 for foreigners.
Timings: 10 am to 5:30 pm
Constructed in the year 1878, this palace is a living example of royalty and exquisiteness. The architecture and grandeur oozes out old world majestic aura and magnificent charm. This is one of the popular Bangalore tourist places that attract a lot of crowd. The area of this palace is huge, sprawling across 4500 sq ft. You can notice a distinct blend of Goth style of architecture here. The intricately carved architecture of both the inside and outside of the palace in itself is a treat to eyes. This palace also hosts a number of events like cultural functions, marriage ceremonies and stage shows. There are arrangements for audio tapes in both English and Hindi that explain the history of this palace.
Vidhana Soudha
Location: Sampangi Rama Nagara, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Dr. B R Ambedkar Vidhana Soudha Metra Station
Entry fee: Entry is restricted. There is no entry ticket for this place.
Timings: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5pm.
Vidhana Soudha is the magnificent granite marvel of the seat of Government in Karnataka. This legislative and state secretariat building is a beautiful structure focusing on the Neo Dravidian style of architecture. This is also one of the biggest state legislative buildings in India. The giant pillars and broad staircase looks splendid. It has 4 diverse entrances leading to 4 floors and one basement area. The tall 150 feet building is also famously known as the Taj Mahal of South India. Entry in the premises of this building is restricted because it is a government building. Only people who have the permission can get access inside.
ISKCON Temple
Location: Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Mahalakshmi Metro Station and Sandal Soap Factory Metro Station
Entry fee: Entry is free
Timings: 4:15 am to 5am, 7:15 am to 1pm, 4:15 pm to 8:20 pm
The ISKCON Temple in Bangalore is situated on top of a hill known as the Hare Krishna Hill. The magnificent architecture is a representation of the Neo Classical style mingled with contemporary elements. Like every other ISKCON temple, the temple in Bangalore also is visited by devotees all across the world. The presiding deity is Lord Sri Krishna and Radha Rani. The hall is in itself huge and covers 10000 sq ft and is beautifully painted. There are 4 Gopurams and the glass canopy looks exquisite. The temple complex also has ISKCON Vedic Theatre and Vedic Museum inside.
Halasuru Someshwara Temple
Location: Ulsoor, Someshwarapura, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Halasuru Metro Station and Indiranagar Metro Station
Entry fee: Entry is free.
Timings: 6 am to 12:30 pm and 5:30 am to 9 pm
This is one of the ancient temples in Bangalore that was formed during the Chola Dynasty. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva. The shrine is maintained by the Endowment Department of Karnataka. One of the main attractions in this temple is the huge sculpture of Ravana holding the Kailash Parvat for Lord Shiva as a sigh of gratitude. There are also massive images of wedding rituals of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati among other notable images.
Bangalore Fort
Location: New Tharagupet, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Krishna Rajendra Market Metro Station
Entry fee: Rs 15 for Indians and Rs. 200 for Foreigners.
Timings: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Around 1537 this fort was a mud fort. Later in the year 1761, Hyder Ali reconstructed this fort into a stone fort. It was further constructed by his son Tipu Sultan. At present not much of the fort is present. Currently it is only the remains of ancient heritage. Tipu Sultan’s Summer Fort was previously a part of Bangalore Fort but now it is a separate structure. Currently only a section of the fort and the Delhi Gate is accessible. The fort complex also includes Kote Venkataramana Temple, Fort High School and Vani Vilas Hospital.
Tipu Sultan’s Palace
Location: Albert Victor Road, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Krishna Rajendra Market Metro Station
Entry fee: Entry fee is Rs. 15
Timings: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
This double storied palace was Tipu Sultan’s summer residence. The construction of this palace was started by Haider Ali but it was completed under the guidance of Tipu Sultan In 1791. The whole palace is made of teak wood. This is one of the finest examples of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The ceilings and walls are painted with floral patterns. The carved arches and gigantic pillars are examples of the Islamic architecture. There is a museum on the ground floor of this palace that has missiles and swords that were used in the war. A tour in the Bangalore city is incomplete without a visit to the Tipu Sultan’s Palace. So surely add this place in the list of must visit places in Bangalore.
HAL Heritage Centre & Aerospace Museum
Location: Marathahalii, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Baiyappanahalli Metro Station
Entry fee: Rs. 50 for adults. Free for kids.
Timings: 9 am to 5pm
This is one of the most prestigious museums in Bangalore that attracts people who have an inclination towards knowing India’s achievements in the Astronomical field. This museum was established to give an idea of HAL which is Asia’s largest aeronautical company and its journey. It also showcases the development of the aviation industry. There are photographs depicting the journey of development. You will also see model aircraft as well as genuine aircrafts here. It is one of the unique places that you can visit in Bangalore if you love visiting museums.
Lal Bagh Botanical Garden
Location: Mavalli, Bangalore
Nearest Metro Station: Lalbagh Botanical Garden Metro Station and National College Metro Station
Entry fee: Rs. 20
Timings: 6 am to 7 pm
For the nature lovers this can be an ideal place to visit in Bangalore. This garden was made during the times of Hyder Ali and was completed by Tipu Sultan. The area is 240 sq km and is beautifully maintained. You can see some rare Persian, French and Afgani plants. A flower show is held here annually inside a glass house. Also the garden has a beautiful aquarium and a manmade lake. This garden is also home to a variety of birds including crows, myna, Brahminy Kite, Common Egret, Pond Heron, Parakeets, Purple Moorhen etc.
Bangalore as a city has everything from high tech modern facilities to old age historical structures. It is an experience to witness different things at the same place. In this article I have mentioned some of the best places to visit in Bangalore. There are places to visit for couples in Bangalore as well as places to visit with friends in Bangalore. No matter if it’s a solo trip or family vacation you have a lot to explore. If you are visiting there or you stay there, these are surely the places that you must visit. This capital city of Karnataka is the perfect holiday destination. So plan your trip and itinerary according to this list and have a gala time in the city.