10 Best Places to Visit in Bangalore the Next Time You Visit the Garden City (2019)

Once Lord Kempe Gowda, a feudal lord, was in the mood for hunting and during that his dog pounced on a rabbit, accidentally. The rabbit was a feisty one as he turned around and attacked the dog. This impressed the lord to a great extent and he decided to name the place, "Place Of Heroes". Although Bangalore grew over the years, it was always considered to be under the shadow of the neighboring Mysore. But in 1831, when the British took over the Mysore Kingdom and made Bangalore it's capital, this is when the city rose to its glory.

From roads and railways to telecommunications, the progress happened in leaps and bounds. And this was the time when the city's most famous gardens and parks were created. The city is filled with lush green parks, relaxing you a bit and letting you beat that Indian heat a bit. Bangalore has developed quite a bit of reputation of a well-maintained and decorated green city. For the people who have been to Bangalore, they know about the greenery around, the roads that are lined with trees and public parks that are filled with abundant gardens, definitely cannot be missed.

Bangalore is one of the most rapidly-growing urban areas which has been deemed one of the biggest IT hubs in India. There is no doubt in saying that it is one of the most developed cities in India. This is very much evident from the city's tall buildings, ongoing developments, and busy pace. Bangalore is not just a fast pace city striving to prove itself, but also it is a city where you can flee to for a few days and find some moments of peace. So, here are the top 8 places that you can visit in Bangalore. So, let's just dig in.

The palace, built in 1887 by Chamaraja Wodeyar, is prominent evidence of India's architecture. Though it is said to be inspired a bit by England's Windsor Castle, there is this vintage charm that is clearly wrapped around this place. With its architecture that has the essence of the one in the Tudor period, this place is a must visit. From its fortified towers to arches, to the beautiful lawns, to its intricate wood carvings, you name it and this place has it.

Awaking all your senses, this place is not only a visual treat but also a place where you can see the original Bangalore. For the photographers, this is a place worth capturing in their lenses. This market sells a variety of spices and copper items. So, if these are the things one is looking for, there is no better place in Bangalore. The best time to visit the market is in the morning when fresh stock is being unloaded from the trucks and sold. The diversity of colors and crowd mixed together is an eye-pleasing sight.

Built-in 1760 by Hyder Ali, and later extended, quite efficiently might be added, by his son Tipu Sultan, this garden covers an area of up to 240 acres. The name is derived from the red roses that blossom throughout the year here and is a highlight. Aside from the roses, there is also a magnificent glass house located here which was built in 1889 to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales. The place is famous for its wide variety of species of plants which hold a show of about 200 varieties of flowers during Independence Day and Republic Day. It occasionally also holds an exhibition of hybrid vegetables. All in all, this place shows you the wonders of our mother nature.

If, after a tiring day at work, one is looking for a bit of relaxation and a time to enjoy the gentle breeze of nature, while just sitting around and find a bit of alone time, then this is the place for them. The Cubbon Park, named after the erstwhile Commissioner of Bangalore, Sir Mark Cubbon, is spread over 300 acres of land. Although this place can be enjoyed by nature lovers and by the ones looking for some peaceful time, this also is a favorite among the joggers and walkers. In the morning or in the evening, for exercising or just taking a stroll, this is the place people look up to. Many flowering and decorated trees are placed here, both exotic and local. Wait, that is not it. This place also holds an attraction for the kids as it has a play area called Bal Bhavan which also has an aquarium inside it.

Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple also known as Gavipuram Cave Temple, is a splendid example of Indian rock-cut architecture. An interesting fact is that this temple was built in the 16th-century by Kempe Gowda I, himself. It is one of the oldest temples in the region and is famous for the way in which it has been built which allows the Sun to shine on the shrine during a time in a calendar year. Although temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, there are other idols inside such as the idol of Agnimurthi which has two heads, seven hands, and three legs. The ones who worship this deity believe that worshipping him will cure the many defects of the eye. One of its special features is that it is cut into a monolithic stone.

Hundreds of devotees come in around mid-January every year during the time of the Indian festival Makar Sankranti to this temple. There is a special day during this festival when the sunrays fall on the Shivalinga, one of the highlights of the temple, for one hour as it passes between the horns of the Nandi, the gate guardian deity or the bull who serves Lord Shiva. From the contemporary structures and drawings by Thomas Daniell and William Daniell, it is seen that earlier, the temple had fewer structures and the Sun illuminated the shrine in summer and winter solstice.

But now the Sun illuminates the Shivalinga, the stone statue of Lord Shiva, twice a year - from 13 to 16 January in late afternoons and from 26 November to 2 December. Because of its importance and glory, the temple shrine is a protected monument under the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments, and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1961. There is a belief that a tunnel which leads to Kashi, is present here. However, there are no evident sources to support this information.

ISKCON temple or Sri Radha Krishna Temple is located at Rajajinagar, in North Bangalore. It is one of the largest ISKCON temples in the world and a major attraction for followers of the Hare Krishna movement and Krishna devotees in general. The place is a big cultural hub of the region and offers several activities apart from daily darshans of the deity. Daily lectures on the Gita, attractions styled around Lord Krishna and his teaching form a major part of the temple. The temple also organises major festivals on a grand scale that sees people join in from farthest corners of the region. If you are not visiting during any major festival then you can consider visiting during the evening hours when the grand palki utsav is organised. It is beautiful event filled with chants, hymns and the energy of hundreds of devotees coming together. One can also enjoy the delicious prasadam available every day. A kisok shop, food court, information centre are some of the facilities available here.

Nandi Hills or Nandi betta is a hill fortress in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka state. which is about ten km from Chickballapur town and approximately sixty km from the city of Bangalore. The place is located in the depth of the town of Nandi. There are many legends owing to the origin of the name Nandi Hills. Some suggest that the hills have been named after the great Yoga Nandeeshwara who spent a great part of his life here while many believe that the hill is named after Nandi Durgh which is a fort built here by Tipu Sultan. It is also, according to some, called Nandi Hills because these hills are very similar to the form of a sleeping bull. Like many hills, this is also very diverse in its vegetation. Overall, these hills form a picturesque landscape for tourists to admire.

Spreading over an area of 125 acres, this lake is located in the heart of the city, north of M.G. road. It was constructed by Kempegowda II. The lake, like every other lake, has the serene and soothing atmosphere that can be very much enjoyed by the tourists. Also, if one is looking for a bit of recreational activity, then boating might be something one would like to try out in this place. The boating facilities are provided by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation. There is also a walking track around the lake. So, if one wants to take a stroll, it is very much convenient. This place forms a beautiful landscape for visitors.

Apart from its familiarity and closeness to nature and the developed IT hubs, Bangalore also has many more things to offer to ones who visit here.

In spite of the fact that the crime rates have escalated a bit when compared with the earlier years in this city, the city is still lesser than many other urban communities in the north, when it comes to the crime rates. The city can also be termed as the friendliest city for people coming from other parts of the world for the first time in their lives.

You can find a lot of stay and food options ranging from budgetary to 5-star. For stay, there are reasonably priced lodges, guest houses and even hostels. Several high-end resorts and hotels are also available for people looking for a luxury holiday. Same goes for food; you can find delicious, hygienic street food. Dishes like Idli, Vada, Dosa, buns, bhaji and the famous south indian Kaapi (coffee) can all be found in almost every corner of the city at reasonable prices. There are fine dining restaurants, food courts and other extravagant dining experiences as well that you can try if you are willing to splurge.

The people in Bangalore are not very different from people anywhere in the country. One cannot generalize that people from a place are more helpful than other places as it is purely subjective. However, that being said, the people who have been here claim that the locals are extremely friendly and helpful. They never hesitate or shy away from lending a hand when in need of help. Though language might be a slight barrier, you will find that many locals fluently converse in English and several in Hindi as well.