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A Few Things to Know Before Planning a Trip

Bangalore is a place of enchanting beauty and mesmerising tourist attractions. The Nandi Hills, Lal Bagh, Tipu Sultan Palace, and a number of other fantastic places can amaze even the well travelled tourist. It's a combination of great heritage and contemporary world. The natural scenarios, temples, architectural marvels, tantalizing foods, and lively nightlife will inspire you to come back here again.

Are you in a mood to plan a trip? However, it's essential to be aware of some useful points before proceeding:

Choose Your Destination: Don't expect your journey to a place just by determining its beauty. You must know about the situation in detail, including safety, cost of accommodation, weather, food options, etc. It primarily holds if it's an offbeat destination or not. Moreover, if you're about to travel with ladies and kids, you need to be more cautious.

Budget Structure: It appears as no brainer, right? Well, you're wrong. Many times, we fail to estimate hidden costs. As a result, we get bound to spend out of our budget. So, talk to your travel agent about every charge before finalising your tour.

Advance Booking: Whether it's about booking a flight or train ticket or your accommodation in a hotel or guest house, do it in advance. Don't wait until the last minute. First, decide your departure date and work accordingly.

Best Time to Visit Bangalore

Bangalore is a place of moderate climate all around the year. So, you can visit this place any season, as per your convenience. However, every area has some specific time of high tourist influx. For Bangalore, the same is between September and February. It's due to this, that the weather becomes more beautiful during winters in Bangalore. However, you can also plan your visit from March to May or June to September. Are you going to Bangalore during monsoons? Don't forget to take an umbrella and a proper pair of shoes.

Getting Around in Bangalore

Are you wondering about the transportation system in Bangalore? You're in luck. You can access various types of vehicles to reach your destination, ranging from regular buses to costly taxis. Moreover, solo travelers will also get ample options in this regard. Just take an auto-rickshaw, which is ready to go at your direction. Moreover, you'll start to experience the real flavors of Bangalore. Furthermore, the car rental option is perfect for solo travelers.

Where to Stay in Bangalore

Bangalore is among the largest metropolitan cities of India. As we will discuss the places of interest further in this article, there are lots of hotels in and around town which you can book depending upon your preferred location. The areas such as Jayanagar, Whitefield, and Malleswaram are among the most favored regions not just for tourists but for locals as well. The city has hotels and lodges which suits everybody's budget, and hence it isn't that expensive to visit Bangalore. Banashankari and Basavanagudi are the areas where the charm of old Bangalore is still in being and therefore not a bad option to plan your stay over there.

Best Places to Visit During a Family Trip to Bangalore

Bangalore houses opportunities aplenty to explore with the family. The buzzing streets, majestic hills, and beautiful tourist spots will allow you to spend some wonderful moments with your near and dear ones. Some such spectacular options include Lalbagh, Bangalore Palace, Bannerghatta National Park, Wonderla Park, ISKCON Temple, Tipu Sultan Palace, Ramanagara, Cubbon Park, Nandi Hills, Vidhana Soudha, Snow City, Ulsoor Lake, Kanakpura Adventure Camp, Grover's Vineyard, VV Puram Food Street, Bheemeswari, The Innovative Film City, Bull Temple, Shivanasamudra Waterfalls, Chunchi Falls, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, M.G. Road, Lumbini Gardens, Venkatappa Art Gallery, etc. It will be an excellent experience for you and your family.

Bangalore Palace

Are you a history enthusiast? Then you must head to Bangalore Palace. It's one of the most historic and iconic spots in the city of Bangalore. Constructed by King Chamaraja Wadiyar in 1878, it's become an enchanting tourist destination. The king was a fan of elegance which can be observed in the paintings and its Tudor style architecture. The furniture portrays a style of Victorian and neo classical sense. You'll get a golden opportunity to discover some of the rich histories of South India's famous dynasties.

The mesmerising garden and beautiful wooden interiors will blow your mind. It's believed to be a blend of Scottish Gothic and Tudor styles of architecture. After you have examined the palace itself, you can walk around the grounds and learn about various historical facts about the palace and the dynasty from the plaques and tablets spread out around the grounds that offer plenty of interesting information.

How to get there - As it is located in the central hub of the city, You can reach this place easily through bus or metro. In case of families, private cabs are also a great option. BMTC Buses 287, 287B, 287C, 287D and 287E ply out of the central Bus terminal to the Bangalore Palace.

Address - Near Mount Carmel Institute of Management, Palace Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560052, India
Timings - 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday - Sunday)
Website - bangaloretourism.in/bangalore-palace

Bannerghatta National Park

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If you're a wildlife enthusiast or nature buff, then you should pay a visit to the nearby Bannerghatta National Park. The rich vegetation and fantastic flora and fauna attract many visitors to this place. You can opt to hire a car to drive around as the park is spread over 104.27 sq. km, which makes exploration on foot extremely limiting. You'll get to explore a fantastic butterfly park, Children's park, an aquarium, a museum, a zoo, and many more such attractions of the natural world.

A rich collection of plants are also found here, including sandalwood, bamboo, tamarind, etc. While it comes to animals, the Bannerghatta National Park houses elephants, porcupine, wild boar, Royal Bengal Tiger, sloth bear, leopards, etc. This place is not only a natural paradise, but it also offers short trekking scopes.

How to get there - Located just around 22 kms from the main city, you can easily take the public transport to reach the place. City buses with the route numbers 365, 366 or G-4 (depending on route) are available every 20 minutes.

Address: Bannerghatta Rd, Bannerughatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560083
Timings: Butterfly Park and boating: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm,
Grand Safari: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. Closed on Tuesdays
Website: bannerghattabiologicalpark.org

Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum

Source www.museumsofindia.org

Are you a science buff? Then, don't forget to include the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM) to your Bangalore itinerary. Its structure is interactive, and so it's quite different from regular museums and can be great fun even for those not particularly interested in science. Each of the floors of this place houses a different scientific discipline. The first floor of VITM is about the 'Fun Science Gallery.' Here, you'd get to discover various aspects of fluids, sound perception, and math.

On the other hand, the 'Engine Hall' is all about automobile engines, a jet aircraft engine, and industrial machines. You'll also enjoy the 'Electro-Technic Gallery' and the 'Space Gallery.' The awe-inspiring 3D theater of VITM will appease many queries of science.

How to get there: You can take the following routes - Bus Routes # 150, 154, 155, 291, 293 & 294C

Address: 5216 Kasthurba Road | Cubbon Park, Gandhi Nagar, Bengaluru 560001,
Timings: 9:30 am - 6:00 pm (Monday - Sunday)
Website: vismuseum.gov.in

Wonderla Amusement Park

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The most surprising and crazy family scene to seek in Bangalore is Wonderla Amusement Park. A world full of engaging activities around and diverse kind of sports to experience makes it the ideal target to explore with the family. Your children would love it, as it possesses over 60 thrilling rides and spreading down in the pool under the transparent sky. Some unique thrill rides of Wonderla will attract you and make your day. Apart from outdoor tasks, the mouth-watering cuisines are also expecting you. Some of the famous restaurants in Wonderla are Park View Restaurant, Chili's Restaurant, Greens Restaurant and Waves Restaurant. You can have delicious foods while retaining the astonishing view of Wonderla.

How to get there: BMTC Volvo buses are available at 9 and 10 am on all weekdays, and at different intervals from 7.30 am to 10 am on weekends.
Address: 28th Km, Mysore Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 562109
Website: wonderla.com
Timings: 11 am to 6 pm

Sree Surya Narayana Swamy Temple

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Shree Surya Narayana Swamy Temple is the rarest of Sun God temples established in Bangalore City. An ancient and spiritual place like this will complete your travel package to Bangalore. This temple is devoted to Lord Surya. Apart from its historical influence, it is a peculiarly constructed temple with rich Chola style architecture.

It is a state of the art temple and every year thousands of tourists come here. Moreover, it is one of the few Sun God temples in the country, and that makes it even more special. For the ones searching for peace in the city which is full of the hustle and bustle, then this is the place to be. It is located on the old airport road, and one can find buses from anywhere in this city to reach here. There are time restrictions, and hence, one should make sure they plan accordingly.

How to get there: Taxis, autos, buses are available from any point in the city and will easily transport you to this place.
Address: HAL Old Airport Rd, Krishna Reddy Colony, Amarjyoti Layout, Domlur, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560071
Website: suryatemple.org
Contact: 98458 09262
Timings: All days of the week except Sundays from 8:00 am - 12:00 am, and 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Sunday: 6:00 am - 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm

ISKCON Temple

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The most iconic place in Bangalore - the ISKCON temple is one of the most visited areas. It is situated in Chor Road, and apart from its fascinating historical background, it is well recognised for its outstanding architectural features. The construction style of this temple is the combination of Ultra-contemporary and likewise, the traditional method. Having all the type of modern facilities and committed to Lord Krishna, this is built to mark the birthday of Sri Prabhupada.

Moreover, the prime interests of this temple are The ISKCON Vedic theatre with the symbolic museum and exhibitions area. Here you can enjoy all the historical stories and traces of this temple. The spectacular view of the lavish green garden, the gorgeous blossoms, and plants around you will hike up your energy and really soothe your eyes.

How to get there: The Iskcon can be reached easily by public transport as well. The nearest metro station to Iskcon Temple Bangalore is Sandal Soap Factory station (Green Line) while the nearest bus stop is Mahalakshmi Layout Entrance which is just 2 kilometers away from the temple.

Address: Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Rd, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560010
Darshan Timings: 4:15 am - 5:00 am, 7:15 am - 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Website: iskconbangalore.org
Contact No: 8023471956

Tipu Sultan Palace

Another glimpse of Bangalore, Tipu Sultan Palace is the most famous location preferred among tourists. Located in Albert Road, its architecture is the blend of Indo-Islamic work. Its Opulent palace is likewise referred to an Abode of Happiness, Rash e Jannat and Envy of Heaven and was also used by the king as the summer retreat. Apart from its incredible beauty of architecture, it is the significant creation of ancient time with alluring ornamental frescoes, stunning arches, and protruding balconies. You can enjoy the mind-blowing view from balconies and enjoy the pleasurable sights there. This palace is unique as once you enter, you will feel the spellbound beauty of ancient era.

How to get there: If you choose to commute by road, then the closest bus stop is Kempegowda Bus Station which is about 2.7-3 km away. If you choose to take a train, then the nearest railway station is Kempegowda Railway Station, which is at a distance of about 3.5 km from the fort.

Address: Tipu Sultan Palace Rd, Chamrajpet, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560018
Timings: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Website: karnatakatourism.org

Cubbon Park

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If you are a nature lover, Cubbon Park will be an excellent destination for you to explore while traveling to Bangalore. Spread over higher than 300 acres and established in 1870, it offers magnanimous sightseeing for tourists to enjoy the greenery all around. For those who want to explore a tranquil and enjoyable atmosphere with the family, Cubbon Park has over 6000 trees and plants which make its atmosphere calm and cooling. Additionally, structures like Uttara Kacheri, Sheshadri Iyer Memorial park, Cubbon Park Museum are also situated here. Every year, numerous tourists visit the park to enjoy the natural view of this place and make their trip more remarkable.

How to get there: Cubbon Park is accessible from M.G. Road, Kasturba Road, Hudson Circle, and Ambedkar Veedhi. Visitors can easily reach the park by hiring a cab or boarding the KSRTC bus that is well connected to various important points of the city. Cubbon Park metro station is also a few metres away and easily accessible.

Address: Kasturba Road, Behind High Court of Karnataka Ambedkar Veedhi, Sampangi Rama Nagara, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001
Timings: 6:00 am - 6:00 pm. Closed on Mondays and the second Tuesday of every month.
Strictly for morning walkers: 6:00 am - 8:00 am

Ramanagara

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Ramanagara is one of the most memorable and unique places, and is known as the Land of Movies. The main reason is that Sholay was shot here. This film was iconic, and so is this place. Surrounded by mountains, trees, and greenery, it is a must-see for every traveler. This mountain landscape is the most untouched natural part of the country with the glimpse of seven hills named as Yatirajagiri, Shivaramagiri, Somagiri, Revannasiddeshwara Betta, Krishnagiri, Sidilakallu Betta, and Jalasiddeshawara Betta.

If you are an adventure lover, then you are in the right place. Thus, sports like hiking and day trekking are in the offerings here, and you can also enjoy camping at night. It is also known as the silk city of Karnataka, although, its economy has a higher share and mainly depends upon the sericulture. You can also buy some of the purest kind of silk from here.

How to get there: The nearest bus station is Chanapatna, as Ramanagara does not have any bus stations.

Big Bull Temple and Bugle Park

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Big Bull Temple is an exemplary part of the construction. It is also called as Nandi temple due to its attractive and gigantic statue of the divine bull. With the height and the length of 4.6 meters and 6.1 meters respectively, it is one of the tallest temples in the world. It is the reason that a large number of tourists visit here from all over the world. On the other hand, the Bugle Park is a nearby famous tourist attraction. As it is quite clear from its name, this place is a prominent central rock which is natural appeared and formed throughout the decades by geographic differences.

How to get there: Bull Temple bus stop is the closest bus stop around 600 metres away. Alternatively , the Bengaluru Railway Station is 6 kms from there.

Address: Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560019.
Timings: 6:00 am - 8:00 pm

Commercial Street

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Well, after staying at the excellent natural and iconic places, everyone wishes to get back to the central city and encounter the shopping and hustle-bustle of people around the city. Bangalore has a lot to offer in this case.

The Commercial Street of Bangalore is famous as a business district. You will find numerous shopkeepers and shops for shopping for various types of things for your family. It is the commonly visited shopping area famous for its street-side shopping choices to high-end showroom shopping. The atmosphere of this place always remains busy with visitors and local communities. Additionally, one can find various stores and shops to purchase multiple items from traditional clothes to high-end branded clothes. This place has everything that a shopper needs.

How to get there: the closest stations to Commercial Street Market are:
Commercial Street: 349 meters away, 5 min walk
Naga Talkies: 462 meters away, 7 min walk
Russel Market: 582 meters away, 8 min walk

The metro station of Purple Metro Line is also close by, making it a viable option.

Address: Tasker Town, Shivaji Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001
Timings: 10:00 am - 08:00 pm

Additional Suggestions for Outings in Bangalore

Well, almost everybody in the country is aware of the traffic situation in Bangalore. There can be times you are stuck in traffic for hours if you get out at the wrong time. So pre-plan your day, get a local to go around with you. Avoid office hours to travel. You also have a rental car option to move all around the city.

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From our editorial team

The Traffic Dilemma

Bangalore is infamous for its traffic situation. Most roads are jammed during the office commute hours and these are the times in the day when share cabs or rental cabs charge surge pricing. It is better to take public transport at such times. Bangalore has very good public transport facilities like government buses and Volvo buses to make your travel cheaper and hassle free, waiting for the cab driver who just cannot reach you through the traffic. Happy touring Bangalore!