The “Garden City of India” and the capital of Karnataka, Bengaluru is a vibrant tourist destination blending history, nature and modernity. The city is famous for its pleasant climate, beautiful gardens, historic monuments, museums, shopping areas, technology companies and delicious South Indian food. It offers a wonderful mixture of history, nature, culture and modern life.
This 19th-century Wadiyar palace was constructed in 1887 across a 400-acre estate, drawing inspiration from England's Windsor Castle and built in Tudor style with turrets and battlements. The palace encloses a well-preserved 16th-century Ganapathi temple. Opened to the public in 2005, it displays a gallery of nearly a thousand historical photographs of viceroys, maharajas and other notable figures.
Laid out by Hyder Ali and later enriched by his son Tipu Sultan with plants imported from several countries, Lalbagh holds over a thousand species of flora. Its Glass House, modelled on London's Crystal Palace, is the garden's centrepiece and hosts biannual flower shows that draw participants from across India.
Established in 1864 in the heart of the cantonment, the park features ornamental fountains, a bandstand and statuary. Its lush lawns and flowering trees make it a popular place for morning walks, relaxation and enjoying nature away from the busy city streets.
This grand neo-Dravidian granite building on the northern edge of Cubbon Park houses the state legislature and secretariat. It is particularly striking when illuminated during special occasions and is open to visitors only after 3 pm.
Located about 22 km from the city, the park attracts visitors interested in natural history and is home to a wide variety of fauna, including a lion safari and serpentarium.
A favoured retreat of Tipu Sultan, Nandi Hills lies about 60 km north of the city and offers sweeping views from Tipu's Drop, a 600-metre cliff face. Nearby are the Chola-era Yoga Nandishvara temple and the Dravidian-style Bhoganandishvara temple at its base.
Built in 1791, this two-storied wooden structure with finely carved pillars, arches and balconies was one of Tipu Sultan's favourite summer retreats. Its Indo-Islamic architecture features elegant teak columns, ornate floral motifs and spacious audience areas. The palace also houses a museum displaying artefacts associated with the Hyder Ali–Tipu Sultan period.
One of India's oldest museums, it displays sculptures, coins, inscriptions, weapons, jewellery and objects from different periods of Karnataka's history. Located close to Cubbon Park, the museum introduces visitors to the art, culture and archaeology of South India.
One of Bengaluru's largest lakes, Ulsoor was developed during the period of Kempe Gowda II and contains several small islands. Boating is popular, while the surrounding area offers peaceful walks and opportunities for photography.
A popular destination for students and science lovers, VITM has interactive galleries on machines, electricity, space, transport and the human body. Its seven permanent galleries include Engine Hall, Fun Science, Electrotechnic, Space, Emerging Technology in the Service of Mankind, Biotechnological Revolution, BEL Hall of Electronics and Children Science.
Housed in the historic Manikyavelu Mansion, the gallery exhibits paintings, sculptures and other works by well-known Indian artists. Its collection traces the evolution of Indian art from the 18th century to the present, including graphic prints and early photography. The gallery also features peaceful gardens and spacious exhibition rooms.
Popular excursions from Bengaluru include Mysuru, Coorg, Shravanabelagola, Ooty, Belur and Halebidu.