Bangalore – The capital of Karnataka

Location: Karnataka
Tourist Attractions: Art Galleries, Kingfisher Speedzone, Bangalore Lakes
Local Tongue: Tamil, Telugu, English
STD Code : (91) – 80
Best time to Visit: September to February

About Bangalore

The capital of Karnataka, Bangalore is multifaceted with its ultramodern marvels, historic structures, big shopping complexes, and sprawling gardens, all in one place. Also sobriquet as the Silicon Valley of India, the city is blessed with a salubrious climate round the year, which is very much responsible for its rapid modernization along with this abundance of natural resources. Every nook and corner of this lively city is studded with tourist attractions that will keep you engrossed during the day and in the evenings one can look forward to a sizzling nightlife, which is one of the hippest you will get to see anywhere in the country.

Climate & Best time to Visit

Bangalore is located in the southern part of Karnataka at an altitude of 3113 feet above sea level. The city experiences a moderate and pleasant type of climate throughout the year. Summers (April to June) are mild with the temperature hovering around the mid 30’s while winters (October to February) are cool and sunny. The monsoon season lasts from June to August. Although the city can be visited round the year, September to February is the best time.

Tourist Attractions in Bangalore

Art Galleries

Bangalore has a number of art galleries that house a collection of beautiful paintings and other art objects. Two of the most famous art galleries in Bangalore are the Venkatappa Art Gallery (which consists of a collection of paintings by such famous artists as R. Venkatappa, M. F. Hussain, N. S. Bendre, and Rekha Rao) and Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat (opened in 1976, the gallery has a rich collection of traditional paintings and other artifacts).

Kingfisher Speedzone

Experience the thrilling sport of Go-karting at the Kingfisher Speedzone. Set up a short while back at Whitefield, this 22 ft wide cement track can accommodate around six cars at a time. A separate track is available for kids.

Neeladri Amusement and Water Park

Spread over an area of 30 acres, the park is a combination of water and amusement park and consists of over 40 exciting and fun-filled rides as also a video game arena, restaurants, ice cream parlors, and other fun-filled activities.

Bangalore Lakes

The city has a number of shimmering lakes that make a good recreational and hangout spot. The major lakes in Bangalore include the Ulsoor Lake, Sankey Tank, and Yediyur Lake.

Bangalore Palace

Constructed in 1887 by Chamaraja Wodeyar, this archaeological wonder is built on the lines of Windsor Castle and reflects the architectural style of a typical colonial structure. This fortified structure stands in the middle of the city with its interiors ornate with beautiful wooden carvings and other elegant structures.

Suggested Read: Karnataka – Culture and Tradition

Things to Do

Shopping

Shopping at Bangalore is an absolute pleasure with everything ranging from traditional clothes to beautiful jewelry available at a bargain. From the big shopping malls to the roadside vendors, you will find everything such as silk clothes, wooden items, gold and silver jewelry, and incense, which also have the advantage of being produced locally, thus available at a cheap price. Articles of daily use can be purchased from the Super Markets. The major shopping areas of Bangalore are the Mahatma Gandhi Road, Brigade Road and Commercial Street.

Get Away

Devarayanadurga

The adventure enthusiasts have a treat in store for them at Devarayanadurga, situated 70 km north of Bangalore. Located amidst lush greenery at an altitude of 1188 mt above sea level, one can indulge in all sorts of adventure activities here besides visiting the ancient twin temples and a natural spring.

Shivaganga

The Shivaganga hill, standing at a height of 1368 mt is a remarkable structure that looks like a bull when viewed from the east, an image of Lord Ganesha from the west, a Shivalinga from the south and like a cobra from the north. The top of the hill affords a breathtaking view of the surroundings.

Bhimeshwari

Situated 100 km south of Bangalore, Bhimeshwari is a tiny village which houses a resort besides which is a river ideal for the sport of angling and fishing. The place also provides an excellent view of the surroundings and the abundant flora and fauna of the area.

Stay At

The garden city of India Bangalore is also sobriquet as the Silicon Valley of India for it is the fastest developing Information Technology hub in the country. Keeping in mind the large influx of business travelers to the city throughout the year, a number of luxury hotels have sprung up all over the place that provides quality accommodation facilities. Besides, a number of cheap hotels are also available that serve the needs of the budget traveler. Some of the very best hotels in Bangalore include the Leela Palace (5 stars deluxe, situated on Airport Road 5 km from the city center, 3 km from the airport and 7 km from shopping center), Taj West End (5 stars deluxe, situated on Race Course Road 2 km from the railway station and 11 km from airport), The Oberoi (5 stars deluxe, situated on Mahatma Gandhi Road, 8 km from airport), Hotel Windsor Manor (5 stars deluxe, situated on Sankey Road, 12 km from the airport and 5 km from railway station) and Hotel Le Meridien (5 stars, situated on Sankey Road 2 km from the railway station, 12 km from the airport and 2 km from bus stand).

Getting There

By Air: The Bangalore airport, situated just 6 km from the city center is a domestic terminal which also receives a number of international flights from Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysian Airlines), London (British Airways), Paris (Air France) and Bangkok (Thai Air). Domestic Airlines such as the Government-run Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, and Air Sahara operate several daily flights to Bangalore from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram. For more information on flight timings, refer to the official website of Indian Airlines at http://indian-airlines.nic.in/

By Rail: Bangalore has two major railway stations at Bangalore City and Bangalore Cantt. with most of the trains connecting to other parts of the country starting from the city railway station, which is situated near the bus stand. A daily train from Delhi to Bangalore is the Karnataka Exp. which leaves New Delhi railway station at 21:15 and arrives at Bangalore Cantt at 13:08. More information on train schedules is available on http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

By Road: Bangalore is connected to other cities in Karnataka and neighboring states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra through a well-built state and national highways. Karnataka State Transport Corporation buses offer regular services to all the major neighboring cities.

Distance from Major Cities

• Chennai: 331 Km

• Coimbatore: 340 Km

• Mangalore: 347 Km

• Madurai: 446 Km

• Kochi: 533 Km

• Hyderabad: 562 Km

• Panaji: 592 Km

• Pondicherry: 296 Km

Suggested Read: Formation Dates of Indian States