Bangalore

BANGALORE – KARNATAKA TRAVEL GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

Bangalore is the capital city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the seventh largest city in India. It is also known as the Garden City because of its many beautiful gardens and parks. The nandi hills in Bangalore is not to be missed by the pious. Though the origin of Bangalore is ancient, the present-day city was founded in the 16th century and has since continued to be an important administrative center. Because of the high concentration of IT industry, it also called the Silicon Valley of India. There are a number of good hotels in Bangalore like the Ashoka Hotel in Bangalore that make your stay in the Garden city comfortable.

History

Legend has it that the city is named after an old woman, who lived in this area and offered a humble meal of boiled beans to a lost Hoysala ruler. The origin of the present-day city of Bangalore can be traced to the early 16th century, when Kempegowda, a local chief, built a small mud fort here. Bangalore gained prominence in the 18th century, when it became an important fort city, under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore. This area witnessed the struggle between Tipu Sultan and the British. The British defeated Tipu Sultan and took over Bangalore city. In 1831, the British made it the regional administrative city and established a big cantonment here.

How to Reach :

1.By Road :

Bangalore has a large bus terminus, which is near the railway station. There are two railway stations in Bangalore. The main station is well connected to all major Indian cities. There are number of daily express trains from Bangalore to other cities of India.

2.By Air :

Bangalore is accessible by air, road, and rail. Bangalore Airport is 13 km east of the City Station. There are number of daily flights to important cities like Calcutta, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, Mangalore, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. Bangalore has direct international flights to Muscat, Sharjah and Singapore. It is also a stopover for many international flights.

Best Time to Visit :

Bangalore, the IT Hub of India is a city one can visit anytime of the year. The city enjoys a moderate temperate all throughout the year. The months between September and February see the highest tourist inflow. The summers are pleasant in Bangalore. When the country is exhausted by heat, the temperature of the city never crosses 35 degree Celsius. Rains are also blissful but it’s better to avoid the monsoon season. The weather becomes the most pleasant during the winter season. The temperatures are soothing but not dipping than 10 degrees. Carry light woolens for comfort. The cold season is the best time to plan a visit as the city also hosts numerous music festivals.

Places to Visit :

Bangalore city has a number of tourist places. Apart from the numerous gardens, it also has some historical sites and other places of interest. The Vidhan Soudha or the State Secretariat, built in 1954, is the main attraction of this city. It is a marvel of modern architecture and is a fine amalgamation of traditional Dravidian and modern styles. Cubbon Park, the 120-hectare park located near the Vidhan Soudha, has a number of neo-classical styled government buildings. The Government Museum of Bangalore (one of India’s oldest museums) and the Visvesvaraya Technological and Industrial Museum are important museums within the city. The Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, which holds a number of flower shows, especially during the Republic Day (26th January), is located on the southern fringes of the city. The 18th-century Tipu Sultan’s Fort and Palace are other important places of interest to the traveler. The 16th-century, Dravidian-styled temple dedicated to Nandi hills in Bangalore is an important place of worship. For all those religious visitors the nandi hills in Bangalore is not to be missed. The Venkataramanaswamy Temple, the Gavi Gangadhareswara cave temple, and the Someshwara Temple are other important temple of this city. The Ulsoor Lake on the northeastern edge of the city is an important picnic spot. Bangalore city is famous for it’s numerous Yoga centers, where fitness freaks can learn and practice this ancient art of keeping healthy. Most of the good hotels in Bangalore are located close to the tourist spots like the Ashoka hotel Bangalore.

Places Around Bangalore

There are number of places of tourist attraction near Bangalore. Thirty kilometers from Bangalore is the Nrity Bangalorem village, housing a classical dance academy. Bannerghatta National Park, 21 km from the city, is an important place to visit. andi Hills in Bangalore is also famous for its temples and fort. Devarayandurga, 70 km from Bangalore, is famous for its hilltop shrines.

The craggy rock formation around Bangalore offers adventure activities like trekking and rock climbing to the adventure seeker. Devarayandurga (70 km), and Ramanagaram (49 km) are important spots for adventure.

Bangalore has a number of cultural centers near it, which offer to the tourist a number of traditional craft items. Ramanagaram is a silk cocoon-marketing center. Janapada Lok (near Ramanagaram) and Channapatna (60 km southeast of Bangalore) are famous craft centers.

The Doda Alada Mara, a 400-year-old banyan tree lying 28 km from the city, is an idyllic place for picnics. Mekedatu, 98 km south of Bangalore, and Muthyalamaduvu, 40 km from Bangalore (also known as the Pearl Valley), are other important picnic spots.

The historic city of Mysore is 139 km from Bangalore and offers to the traveler a number of monuments belonging to Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the erstwhile rulers of the place. It also has a number of ancient Hindu temples and a few monuments built by the British.

Whitefield Ashram, the summer abode of the Shri Sathya Sai Baba, 20 km east of Bangalore, and the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Temple Complex are important spiritual centers, worth paying a visit.