Most definitive spots for a tourist in Bangalore
We are having some American clients visiting us for 2.5 weeks and some of them are very excited to see Bangalore. I was discussing what to see and what not to see with one of them. Very soon I discovered that I was getting far more excited and talking about too many things and mentioning spots sprinkled all over the place. I then told him that I would send him an email with some spots that he can cover in 2 weekends and those he should not miss. Funding is not a problem and so he can travel to nearby places too, on official cost. :-)
When I sat down to consolidate what he should visit in Bangalore, I again faced a problem. The reason is that you can recommend the right list of places depending on the person’s interest. For example, if the person is an art loving person then you could recommend some ongoing plays at Ranga Sharda and places like that. He could visit some of the bookstores and pore over some pages. He could visit the various art galleries dotting the city etc. If the person is a fun lover, then recommend some happening malls, discos and pubs. Like that…
Nevertheless, there has to be a “unique” list of places that every tourist must see in Bangalore. Those could be…
1. Vidhan Soudha
2. Cubbon Park
3. Lalbagh + eat at MTR
4. Visveswaraya Technological Museum
5. Cauvery Emporium
6. Bull Temple (to see the Nandi)
7. Bangalore Palace & Fort
8. Tipu’s Summer Palace
I am not listing temples of places of worship here because any person could visit the above places. Some Hindu temples are conservative in whom they allow to enter.
And time permitting…
a) Go to Mysore and see the following
– Srirangapatna sights – Dariya Daulat, Gumbaz, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (if interested), Kaveri Sangama
– Mysore sights – Brindavan Garden, Chamundi Hills, Mysore Palace
– On return trip – Somnathpura, Shivanasamudram (Gaganachukki and Barachukki)
– If manageable – Talakkad, Mekedatu etc.
b) Go to Belur, Halebid and see the Hoysala Temples there.
Any other suggestions? What do you think forms the most definitive Bangalore sight seeing list?
hey Rubic, thats one neat list! pretty much encompasses those unique things in n ard blore. its a shame that despite being a blorean all my life, ive never been to The bull temple and Tipu;s fort, and my memories of teh blroe palace are very vague, as it was ages ago that i went there.
shame shame!:(
hey there are other places like…the kempegowda towers on the four corners of the city, the ulsoor/hebbal lakes, oh no! i already feel there are a hell of a lotta things!!!
so i maintain urs was comprehenive, and those places haev that certain essence that adds glamour to blore:)
Cant quite fathom why the museum should be on the tourist itenary, its sucks, imo.
Some places I’d suggest
Darshinis – Ganesh Darshan in Malleswaram used to be good(not sure how it is now), Adiga’s in Jayanagar is pretty decent as well.
Mysore – why miss out on Ranganathittu?
For performing arts and stuff – there are shows everyday at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall.
There’s a Bangalore walk that is organised by Arun Pai – some info is available here
(that includes some pub-hopping)
(PS: Dont you mean Ranga Shankara?)
Hi
I also second leaving out the Museum. Ulsoor lake (once they restart boating) will be nice. I also like a walk on the leafy avenues of old Bangalore
Bangalore is great for the weekend trips we can make out of town than for the sights within the city. The hills in and around Ramanagaram or Savanadurga are good ones for treks or rock climbing. Nandi hills or Devarayana Durga or the many other hills or bettas in Kolar / Tumkur are other options. Fishing in cauvery at Bheemeshwari or getting drenched in Shivanasamudra falls are other options for a weekend day trip.
Cheers
SLN
Iskon Temple
Darshinis…esp SLV Jayanagar 9th Block is a must visit….
hey..i had a similar thingi to do last week,
my manager and my dev headhad come down to india/bangalore.
i took them to ISKON and lalbagh.
Other than that, i showed them the real bangalore. including a ride in an autorickshaw.
took em to styx and pecos [ one of them is a part time RJ]and even rang de basanti.
hehe…some people also consider ITPL a must visit place~! :))
hey maybe you can make this list more comprehensive (with pics et al) and put a link on the sidebar so it can serve as a ready reckoner for people who wander into the site looking for more info on bangalore.
Looking at that list – somehow one gets the impression that there really isn’t much to see in Bangalore. As in nothing great.
What I mean is Bangalore needs some more awesome and must see places.
The government can also enhance existing areas and make them more attractive.
Also what happened to that musical fountain place opposite the Planetarium? Is it still there?