Welcome to Namma Bengaluru, a sakkath chill place to visit and live in! One of the most culturally diverse cities in India, everything about Bengaluru makes it the coolest – the weather, people, food, culture, scenery, and shopping.
Bengaluru is a hub for start-ups, cafes, cultural activities, exhibitions, melas, and more.
Whether you are a foreigner visiting the city for the first time, or an Indian visiting with hopes and dreams, we have hunted down some of the best places in Bangalore for you to visit. (we’ve saved the best for last)
Pyramid Valley International
Away from all the noise and chaos of the city lies serenity amidst beautiful scenery and small hills. A unique place in Bangalore where you can rejuvenate yourself and detox the mind, the Pyramid valley houses the world’s largest meditational pyramid, at 102 ft in height. It can house 5000 people inside.
There is a staircase inside the centre of the pyramid leading to a meditation spot reaching up to 80 ft or so. It is said that the energy is so concentrated in this spot that you can literally feel the immense vibrations. People spend 10-20 minutes meditating here. Seating along the periphery of the pyramid is also provided. It would truly be an intriguing and intense experience if you were to meditate here.
The pyramid is surrounded by small streams and parks. It’s a good place to relax and enjoy the scenery with family and friends. Food courts are facilitated as well. They serve some amazing sandwiches, chats, and other cuisines.
- Location: Kanakapura road, Kebbedoddi halli
- Entry fee: None
- Open on: All days
- Timings: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Nearest metro/bus stand: Best to take a cab
Lalbagh Botanical Garden
Known for its variety of species of flowers, trees and plants, Lalbagh is the city’s most beloved spot for morning walks, family picnics, and romantic rendezvous. There are gates in all four directions. In the heart of Lalbagh lies the famed beautiful glass house that occasionally showcases works of art made with flowers.
Lalbagh was completed in 1856 by Tippu Sultan. It has a collection of rare trees, some as old as centuries. The rich collection is home to hundreds of monkeys and attracts many exotic birds such as pond heron, purple moorhen, Brahminy kite, and more.
There is a big lake and walking space around it. You can feed puffed rice to the fishes and enjoy the simplicity of little things.
The Lalbagh rock that’s 3000 million years old, one of the oldest rock formations on earth is another famous attraction.
- Location: East gate – Jayanagar
- Entry fee: INR 20 per person above 12 years of age
- Open on: All Days
- Timings: 6:00 am to 7:00 pm
Bangalore Palace
Talking about architecture in Bangalore, it was heavily influenced by different cultures, especially during British rule. If you are seeking to experience one of a kind royalty, head over to the Bangalore palace which was commissioned by the Mysore king, Chamarajendra Wodeyar. During his trip to England, His Majesty was so inspired by the architecture of Windsor Castle and others in Normandy. The construction of the palace was completed in 1878.
The architectural style of the Bangalore palace is a mix of Tudor and Scottish Gothic. You get a feeling of being in England’s countryside when you see the palace. The lower half of the exterior wall is covered with beautiful vines, an iconic sight in Namma Bengaluru.
The interiors are mainly wooden with some elements imported from England. Contrary to the English look of the Palace exterior, the interior is quite Indian. It features many famous paintings from the 19th and 20th century, including those of Raja Ravi Verma; animal trophy heads from hunting by the Wodeyars, photograph collections, and exquisite furniture.
The huge grounds near the Palace has hosted some world famous concerts of Backstreet Boys, Lamb of God, Ludacris, Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, and many more.
- Location: Palace road, Vasanth Nagar.
- Entry fee: INR 230 for Indians: INR 460 for foreigners
- Camera charges: INR 685, Mobile camera: INR 285, Video camera: INR 1485.
- Open on: All days
- Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Nearest metro/bus stand: Vasanth Nagar.
NGMA
The National Gallery of Modern Art is one of the best places for art enthusiasts. It is surrounded by lush greenery, banyan trees and a big lotus pond. The main building is modern in terms of architecture and has a very aesthetic look to it.
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The gallery houses some collections of really old miniature paintings and works of well-known artists. It also exhibits works of well-known modern and contemporary artists. You can completely lose yourselves in their works and even inspire you to take up art. A library with a collection of art books is also provided.
At the end of the day, you’ll surely feel refreshed with a different perception of the world.
Occasional short-film festivals happen at NGMA. A small food court is provided next to the main building surrounded by serene nature and ambience.
Chitra Kala Parishat which is quite close to NGMA is another attraction that has an art gallery and shopping exhibition centre. Both are quite famous, with the gallery permanently exhibiting some works of Roerich, Amrita Sher-Gil, Mysore paintings, and more.
- Location: Manikyavelu Mansion, Palace Road.
- Entry fee: Indian – INR 20 Foreign national: INR 500
- Open on: All days except Mondays
- Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Nearest metro/bus stand: High ground police station(local bus stand)
M.G road
The most common adda for any Banglorian is M.G road. The city comes buzzing alive during evening hours highlighted by the neon lightings of pubs and bars, cafes and shopping complexes. In day time when it is quiet, you can explore around for shopping or a bookstore.
There are some cool shops that sell your favorite band t-shirts. Then there is a famous bookstore called Blossoms book house, a wonderful store with a plethora of books in every genre and it is a favorite place among book lovers.
You can visit Church Street which is right next to MG road, decorated with murals (the church street side metro station is a sight for sore eyes), food trucks and street food. To experience the best of Bangalore nightlife, Church Street and M.G road are for you.
There are some really nice pubs, restaurants with different cuisines like there is a really good Korean restaurant called Hae Kum Gang, next to Plan B. It’s a must-try! MG road is every foodie’s adda.
Then there’s Rangoli Metro Art next to the MG road metro where Art exhibitions, shopping expo, flea market happen occasionally. Once a year, Indie Comic Fest takes places with other cultural festivals happening alongside it.
MG road offers a lot to explore around. It’s like a mini urban jungle for you to immerse in various activities. Very Banglorian activities.
- Nearest metro/bus stand: M.G road metro station.
Commercial street
A haven for shopaholics and retail therapy, Commercial street is one of the most beloved spots for budget-friendly shopping. It is popularly known as Comm street. The place is always bustling with hundreds of clothes shops, both local and branded to satisfy all your clothes and accessories needs.
Trendy tops, long, gypsy-earrings, a plethora of local and imported shoes/boots, luxurious pashmina shawls & ponchos, precious antiques, and street foods are the highlights of this part of the city.
There are jewelry shops that sell a wide variety of nose rings, ear studs and do piercing as well. It’s quite safe to get pierced here because Com street is so old and habited by experts who are good at what they do.
Images source: Styleinked.com
There are some decent well-known restaurants that serve delicious north-Indian, south-Indian and continental foods. The place will be buzzing with high activity mostly on weekends. So if you want to avoid the crowd (you’ll be too busy shopping to notice), visit on weekdays before 6 pm.
- Open on: All days
- Timings: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
- Nearest metro/bus stand: Shivajinagar bus stand, M.G road metro station
UB City
If you have an expensive taste, then UB city is your adda.
A symbol of opulence, UB City was commissioned by Dr Vijay Mallya in joint venture with the Prestige Group. Located 1.8 KM away from M.G road, UB City houses many business centres, one of India’s most expensive services apartments, high-end retail stores, luxurious shopping mall, five-star hotels (JW Marriott), fine dining and fine breweries.
When you enter UB City, you will immediately notice four tall towers – UB Tower, Comet, Canberra, and Concorde, which have been regarded as the most outstanding structure in Karnataka. The mall here is known as India’s first luxury mall with all kinds of post brands like Louis Vitton, Zara, Mango, Canali, Rolex, Paul Smith, and more.
Annual programs like Art Bengaluru are hosted in UB city which attracts thousands of visitors. All forms of art – paintings, sculptures, installation, performance are promoted and exhibited to raise awareness about them.
UB city mall and other high raise beautiful buildings in Bengaluru/Bangalore, India. These buildings are owned by kingfisher.
- Nearest metro/bus stand: Cubbon park metro
Lakes
Bengaluru is known for its lakes and walking space around it. You can spot many uncles and aunties brisk walking and exercising in early morning hours. Some of the best places to visit if you want to start the day with a fresh mind are: Sankey Tank, Agara Lake, and Ulsoor lake.
Sankey Tank: A man-made lake which was built to meet the water demand, Sankey lake has a 2 KM path around it which is great for morning jogs and evening walk. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery, shrubs, flowers and tall trees. Different schools of fishes, swans, ducks and migratory birds inhabit the place. Experience energizing and soothing sunrise, and peaceful sunsets. There is a play area for kids as well.
- Timings: 6:00 to 8:00am: 4:00 to 6:00 pm
- Entry fee: None
Agra Lake: Once in terrible condition, the lake was revived by citizens and it is well looked after now. It has become one of the best lakes in Bangalore. Surrounded by rich biodiversity, Agra lake is a great place for bird watching. After dark, the mesmerizing city lights around the lake makes it a spectacular spot to watch the city come alive.
- Location: HSR layout 1st Sector
- Timings: 5:30-11:00 am: 4:00-6:30 pm
- Entry fee: None
Ulsoor Lake: One of the largest lakes in Bengaluru covering an area of 50 hectares, Ulsoor Lake was built by Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring, Bangalore’s then commissioner. The lake is dated to Kempegowda’s time. Tiny islands rest in the middle of the lake. You can go boating around the lake and enjoy all the peace of mind nature offers. There’s a beautiful Gurudwara near Ulsoor lake that you must visit – Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara.
- Open on: All days except Wednesday
- Timings: 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Entry fee: None
- Boating charge: INR 35
- Nearest metro/bus stand: Halasuru Metro
Bannerghatta national park
No other biological park lies in close proximity to a city. The Bannerghatta National park is embellished with 48 species of butterflies, elephants, aquarium, tigers, deers, beneficial herbs like neem, eucalyptus, and more. Some of the animals here are rescued and rehabilitated from captivity.
You can get a glimpse of wild animals on a safari around the park. It’s a thrilling 1 hour experience. There’s a fenced forested elephant sanctuary where you can feed and bathe the humble giants if both you and they are comfortable. The 1 km butterfly trail is an absolute sight for sore eyes. The park is also an attraction for ancient architecture surrounding it.
Other activities you can do around the park are trekking around Uddigebande which is 3.5Kms away from the park. It is a natural rock formation ideal for trekking in Bangalore. on weekends. Other places to trek are Hajjamana Kallu and Mirza hill. Thottikallu Falls which is located 7KMs away from the park is also a great place for trekking and insight seeing.
- Zoo Timings: 9:30-5:00 PM
- Safari timings: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Open on: All days a week except Tuesdays
- Entry fee: INR 40 for kids, 80 for adults
- Safari fee: Non-A/C – INR 90-280: A/C – INR 300-500
- Boating: INR 300 (30 minutes)
- Nearest bus stand: Jayadeva Hospital
Magnolia Bakery
An iconic New-York based, globally renowned bakery has opened one of its outlets in Bengaluru! Nowhere in India can you find this bakery that serves taste-buds tingling goods.
As soon as you enter, the smell of freshly baked cookies, cupcakes and pudding will entice your sense of smell and give you a different high! No drug can compete with that. And oh, the taste! Can’t stay calm because it’s too good!
You’ve got to try the famous banana pudding. It’s an absolute delight! The cupcakes are no ordinary too. Their fluffiness and texture is an absolute bomb! They come topped with different flavoured frostings that will leave your tongue wanting for more. Red velvet is a favourite among many too.
Once you eat here, no other cakes will ever reach up to the same standards.
Experience one of a kind bakery in Bengaluru only (if you’re not going abroad) and you will leave with a lasting memory of some of the best baked goods you’ve ever had. It’s a perfect way to end your day.
- Open on: All days
- Timings: 11am-11pm
- Starting Price range: Cupcakes – INR 120; Cake slices – INR 210; Banana pudding – INR 225
- Location: Indiranagar
What are your favorite places in Bangalore? Do let us know!
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