You have everything from history to adventure, nightlife to book cafes, nature’s beauty to luxury malls, you name it, and you get it in Bangalore. Yes, Bangalore is an interesting destination that intrigues people of all ages. It is also a city of paradoxes, another reason why you must see this place. The diversity, and the foreign influence, colorful history and the rich heritage attractions have all made Bangalore a melting pot of culture. Call it the Silicon Valley of India or the Garden City or may be a Cosmopolitan city, for Bangalore can be anything you call it! It is also blissful to behold gorgeous hill stations and coastal towns here for an amazing escape where beauty and serenity prevails delightfully.
Quick Facts About Bangalore
| Bangalore Nicknames |
India’s Silicon Valley, Pub City, Shopper’s Paradise, Garden City, Air-conditioned City, Gourmet’s Delight, Pub Hopper’s Paradise, Pensioners Paradise, IT and BT City |
| Popular Attractions/ Landmarks |
Bangalore Palace, Lalbagh, Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha. |
| Famous Cuisines |
Obbattu, Mysore Park and Dosa |
| Popular Adventure Activities around Bangalore |
Paragliding at Nandi Hills and Rock climbing at Ramanagaram |
| Specialty |
Hip flea markets, Rava Idli, Gardens and Lakes |
| Official Language |
Kannada |
| Most popular Temples |
Nandi Temple, ISKCON Temple, Big Bull Temple and Ganesh Temple |
Here is our list that proves Bangalore is a place for everyone; I bet you will find your pick as well.
Best Tourist Places & Attractions in Bangalore
- Bangalore Palace
- Cubbon Park
- Lalbagh Botanical Garden
- Pyramid Valley
- Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat
- UB City
- JP Park
- St Mary Basilica
- MG Road (Mahatma Gandhi Road)
- Sankey Tank
- Jamia Masjid
- Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
- The Heritage Center and Aerospace Museum
- St Mark’s Cathedral
- Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple
- Kynkyny Art Gallery
- Dodda Ganapathi Temple
- M Chinnaswamy Stadium
- National Gallery of Modern Art
- Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple
- Infant Jesus Shrine
- Phoenix Market City
- Basavanagudi
- Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
- Suryanarayana Temple
- Malleswaram
- Art of living International Center
- Wonderla Amusement Park
- ISKCON Temples
Top Places to Visit around Bangalore
- Bannerghatta Biological Park
- Shivagange
- Savandurga
- Makalidurga
- Innovative Film City
- Madhugiri
Top Recommended Tour Packages
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
Now this is a place for sky gazers that too even in the day time! The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium is situated on Chowdiah Road and is amongst one of the awesome places to visit with your kids in Bangalore. It was founded by Bangalore City Corporation in the year 1989. One has the opportunity to watch ‘The Sky Theatre Show’ that unfolds the marvel and mysteries of the universe, planets and the solar system. One should also not miss the great Astronomy show which talks about the importance of Astronomy.
Highlights
- The exhibition hall showcases paintings, astro- pictures, sculptures, galaxies etc.
- One of the most interesting things to check here is the weighing machine which can tell the weight of a person on a different planet. Make sure you try this.
- Apart from that books, science kits, telescopes and Astro photos arouse the curiosity of tourists.
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The Heritage Center and Aerospace Museum
Situated on old Airport Road, HAL Aerospace Museum is a one of its kind destination in India. It is in fact India’s first aerospace museum that was established in 2001. It is a good idea to explore some place as innovative as this museum on a weekend holiday in Bangalore. The museum showcases a range of aircrafts, helicopters, aircraft engine models, flight simulators and a mock Air Traffic Control Tower. Along with this one has a good chance to glance at the history of Indian aviation. The visitors are also offered a chance to witness the landing as well as takeoff of a variety of aircrafts at HAL Bangalore Airport.
- Entry Fees – 50 INR per head and for students and children up to 18 years 30 INR per head.
- Camera Charges- Still Camera – INR 50/-, Mobile Camera- INR 20/-
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St Mark’s Cathedral
Situated on M.G Road, St Mark’s Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Bangalore. Founded in 1808, this Cathedral is known for its exquisite colonial architecture. This 200 years old church has appreciative woodwork, ornate carvings that are coupled with excellently done ceilings and domes. The stained glass work also adds to the beauty of this church. The church is dedicated to St Mark who is one of the 12th disciples of Jesus Christ.
Highlights
- It is said that this church has the most beautiful and well-maintained bells amongst all churches in Bangalore.
- The semicircular chancel. Dome, the intricate wood carvings and roman arches of the church is a mesmerizing sight to behold.
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Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple
At Gavipura, you have the opportunity to witness the best example of rock-cut architecture in Bangalore. It is one of the must visit temples in Bangalore. Cut out from a monolithic rock, Gavi Gangadhareshwara is a cave temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and there are two unique discs present in the foreground of the shrine. What intrigues people here is its well-planned architecture that allows the Sun to shine on it only at a certain time of the year. The mysterious stone discs in the forecourt are also a major attraction here. An astronomical phenomenon happens here every year in the month of January.
Highlights: It houses the most unique and rare idol of Lord Agni which has two heads, seven hands and three legs. It is the only temple in the entire South India to have such an idol.
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Kynkyny Art Gallery
At Infantry Road in Bangalore city, Kynkyny Art Gallery is a hotspot for budding artists. It is certainly a place for those who take interest in art work. This art gallery showcases different styles of contemporary fine art like painting, sculpture, figurative, abstract, mixed media, oil on canvas and etching. It was built in order to make Indian art more accessible to the world. Even if you lack adequate knowledge about art, trust us, you are going to love this place anyway!
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Dodda Ganapathi Temple
A popular landmark in Bangalore city, Dodda Ganapthi Temple is situated near another famous shrine named Bull Temple. The eye-catching idol of Lord Ganesha attracts a lot of people here. It is one of the biggest idols of Lord Ganesha in Karnataka.
The most interesting fact is that the stone statue is said to have self-manifested since the time of Kempegowda. The idol is 18m tall and 16 m wide. The idol is coated with 100kgs of butter as a form of paying reverence to him. It is also believed that the idol of Ganesha is growing in size from its right side.
Timings– 6:30am to 1:00 pm and 4:30pm to 8:00pm
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M Chinnaswamy Stadium
Fancy watching a cricket match or two? M Chinnaswamy Stadium is indeed the best cricket ground to visit in Bangalore. This 40 years old stadium is currently the home ground of the Indian Premier League. Situated at the heart of the city, this stadium is one of the must visit places in Bangalore. It has also housed India’s National Cricket Academy since 2000. It has a capacity of accommodating around 40,000 people.
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National Gallery of Modern Art
Located in Manikyavelu Mansion on Palace Road, Bangalore, National Gallery of Modern Art is definitely a place that one should visit at least once in a lifetime. The Gallery is a repository of the cultural ethos of India and showcases Indian art dating back from the early 18th century till the contemporary times. Equipped with an auditorium, a public art reference library, a cafeteria, and a museum shop cum facilitation block, the Gallery is a major hub and cultural center in Bengaluru. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions to visit in Bangalore.
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Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple
A popular Hanuman temple in Bangalore, Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple is situated in Jayanagar. Located on a hilltop, the temple is believed to have been constructed in 1969; however, Ragiguda has a Hindu mythological legend behind its construction. The legend has it that Ragiguda is a hill made of Ragi (a food grain), on which the Thrimurthies, Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva wanted to reside permanently. They thus modified themselves as stone pillars near this place. At Ragigudda the main attractions are Parna Kuteera, Trimurthy Sannidhi, Auditorium and Pushkarni.
Highlights: Each year Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated here with a lot of zeal for about 12 days and we believe it is the best time to visit this temple.
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Infant Jesus Shrine
Situated in Vivek Nagar, Bangalore, Infant Jesus Shrine gives the impression of being a place of miracle. The Church is situated amidst lush rose gardens and is known for its exquisite architecture. Many people, not only from India but abroad, come to this church considering it a place where prayers are answered. You can also visit this sacred place in Bangalore to seek blessings.
Also Read: Religious Tourism in Karnataka
Phoenix Market City
If you are in Bangalore, you have to visit Phoenix Market City Mall. Covering an area of 1.4 million square ft., it is one of the largest malls in Bangalore. The mall has more than 270 stores that are a mix of International and National premium brands, PVR multiplex and a food court. So now you know where exactly you want to be when you want to shop, eat or watch a movie!
Also Read: Heritage Tourism in Karnataka
Basavanagudi
Located in the south of Bangalore is the oldest area of the city called Basavanagudi. The place is known for its Bull Temple which is one of the must visit temples in Bangalore and the celebration of Kadlekai Parishe and Belngaluru Ganesha Utsava. Apart from Bull Temple, there are several other Hindu shrines like Dodda Ganeshana Gudi, Ramakrishna Ashram/Math, Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple and Kaaranji Anjaneya Swamy Temple that can be visited here. Basavanagudi is an ideal place to see the old-world charm of Bangalore.
Also Read: Adventure Tourism in Karnataka
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
Situated in Cubbon Park, Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum is a one of its kind place in Bangalore. It is a Science Centre that holds interactive exhibits. The museum has different galleries like Engine Hall, Electro Technic Gallery, Fun Science Gallery, Space Gallery and Science for Children Gallery. This museum is indeed a treasure house for those having keen interest in science and technology. The museum also features a virtual game area and organizes a mini-planetarium show.
Also Read: Must Visit Museums in Karnataka
Suryanarayana Temple
The Suryanarayana Temple displays one of the best samples of Chola architecture. Situated in Domlur on old airport road, this sacred shrine is dedicated to Sun God. It is believed that the 3.25feet tall idol of Suryanarayan presiding here was brought from Badrinath. Although the temple can be visited any time of the year, yet the period when the annual fair of Suryanarayana Swamy is held on the Ratha Saptami day in January is the best time to visit here. During the celebration a 32 feet chariot is brought which the devotees pull. You must include this serene temple in your Bangalore travel itinerary.
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Malleswaram
Located in the northwest of Bangalore, Malleswaram is a suburban town that is known for its temples. The old-world charm is what fascinates the visitors here. Also, shopping and small eating joints have their share of fans at Malleswaram. The major attractions here are Halli Mane and Shirdi Sai Temple.
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Art of living International Center
An ideal place to attain spiritual knowledge and peace of mind, Art of Living is a destination with a difference in Bangalore. Focusing on meditation, satsang and seva, this ashram offers help in experiencing spiritual bliss and inner satisfaction. Since, living amidst the hustle and bustle of the city can be challenging many times, it is good to know that places like Art of Living are there to shelter one from the anxieties.
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Wonderla Amusement Park
Situated on Mysore Road, Wonderla Amusement Park in Bangalore is a connotation for a well spent family vacation. This amusement park offers thrilling rides along with a stay in a comfy resort. There are about 59 water rides that can be enjoyed by people of every age group. Wonderla is indeed an exciting tourist attraction in Bangalore if you are planning a weekend trip.
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ISKCON Temples
Bangalore has two ISKCON Temples namely, ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Temple and Sri Sudarshana Narasimha Temple. The two temples have an important place in the travel and tourism in Bangalore as they attract not only devotees from India but from abroad as well.
These temples, which have Lord Krishna as their presiding deity, are indeed excellent places to visit while one is in Bangalore. ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Temple is situated at Hare Krishna Hill in Rajaji Nagar and Sri Sudarshana Narasimha Temple is located at Vaikuntha Hill on Kanakapura Road. ISKCON Bangalore has also initiated a Krishna Lila Theme Park at Vaikuntha hill with the aim of displaying the cultural heritage of India with the help of modern technology.
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Bannerghatta Biological Park
A one of its kind place, Bannerghatta Biological Park is a wonderful place to visit near Bangalore for people of all ages. The biggest achievement of this place is that it helps in conserving wildlife at a close proximity to a metropolitan city. Established in order to make people aware about wildlife and diversity, Bannerghatta Biological Park makes Bangalore a proud city and is also a wonderful option to spend a day trip. The Park is situated at a short distance of 24kms from Bangalore and offers visitors the opportunity to witness wildlife from close quarters.
Highlights
- Safaris, Zoo, butterfly park and rescue center are the main attractions of this park.
- These two masterpieces are amongst the best sights to see the architectural excellence in Bangalore. Situated near the famous Cubbon Park, these two exquisite buildings are located opposite to each other. While Attara Kacheri is the place where the High Court is housed, Vidhan Soudha is the seat of the state legislature.
- The Attara Kacheri is a two storied Gothic style building and is in perfect contrast to the architecture of Vidhana Soudha, which has been done in Mysore Neo-Dravidian style. The two buildings are equally interesting and make for a perfect heritage walk tour in Bangalore.
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Shivagange
Shivgange is located at a distance of about 54kms from Bangalore. It is a mountain peak, which is 1368m high and is in the shape of a Shivalinga. A small stream flows nearby it, which is locally called Ganga. There are a number of famous temples around Shivaganga like Gangadhareshwara temple, Olakal Teertha, Nandi Statue and Patalagange. Sharadamba temple and several theertham such as Agasthya teertha, Kanva theertha, Kapila theertha, Pathala Gange can also be found on this hill. Apart from its religious importance, Shivgange has become the most popular place around Bangalore for trekking and climbing. It is a suitable place for beginners.
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Savandurga
An outing at Savandurga with friends and family is an ideal picnic spot on any weekend. Savandurga is situated 60kms away from Bangalore and is known as the perfect picnic spot. It is also reckoned to be the largest monolithic rock in Asia. At Savandurga many people perform pilgrimage at the two temples namely, Savandi Veerabhadreshwara Swamy and Narasimha Swamy temple that are located at the foot of the hills. Adventurists like rock climbers, cave explorers and trekkers consider Savandurga as one of the best places for adventure holidays in Bangalore.
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Makalidurga
A Perfect place for those looking for a peaceful vacation, Makalidurga is situated about 60kms from Bangalore city. Due to its beautiful landscape this place has become one of the best tourist attractions near Bangalore. It is also a favorite haunt for trekkers as well. The Makalidurga Fort and several luxury resorts are other attractions here.
Highlights
- Makalidurga Got its name either from a woody climber called Makali Beru or a juice called Makali root which is a health drink.
- As per the legend it is said that a great sage named Markandeya performed penance here.
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Innovative Film City
Innovative Film City is one of the best places to visit near Bangalore with your kids. Situated at about 40kms from Bangalore city, Innovative Film City offers unlimited entertainment on a weekend. With entertainment sources like Amphitheatre, Cartoon City with India’s biggest roller coaster, Aqua Kingdom, Haunted Mansion, and Fossil Museum, you and your kids are guaranteed the time of your life!
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Madhugiri
Madhugiri is an excellent place for nature lovers and history enthusiasts. Situated 104kms from Bangalore city, Madhugiri is well connected by road. It is a large monolithic rock on which is perched the Madhugiri Fort built during Vijayanagar reign. Today, Madhugiri has become one of the best weekend getaways from Bangalore for seasonal trekkers and hikers. Other important places near Madhugiri include Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve or MaidanaHalli Blackbuck Sanctuary (25kms from Madhugiri), Chennarayana Durga, Siddara Betta and Venkataramana and Malleswaram temples.
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Bangalore is indeed a paradise for any kind of traveler as there is so much to do and see. A tourist will lose the track of time by indulging in fun and reveling in the charms of its attractive landmarks. If you are planning to visit Bangalore then don’t hesitate for even a second to plan a trip for a wonderful vacation. Trust us you won’t regret; the tourist attractions of Bangalore are absolutely worth your time.
Other Important Karnataka Tourism Resources:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What is the nearest airport & railway station to Bangalore?
Kempegowda Airport is the nearest airport to Bangalore. Yeshwantpur Junction and Bangalore city are the nearest Railheads of Bangalore.
Q.How many minimum days are required to visit Bangalore?
There are many things to do in Bangalore. From adventure, nature, sightseeing, shopping, amazing museums, cafes, luxury malls to historical attractions, It is important to have at least a week to enjoy the best of Bangalore tourism.
Q.Are there any wildlife sanctuaries to visit near Bangalore?
Yes, there are awesome Wildlife Sanctuaries near Bangalore to enjoy Wildlife. The top Wildlife Sanctuaries are –
- Bandipur National Park
- Bannerghatta National Park
- Nagarhole National Park
- Dubare Elephant Camp
- Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
- Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary
Q.What are the top places to visit near Bangalore?
- Nandi Hills
- Ramanagara
- Coorg
- Kanakpura
- Sakleshpur
- Wayanad
- Chikmagalur
- Ooty
- Kabini
- Makalidurga
Q.What are the best places to visit near Bangalore with kids?
- Bannerghatta National Park
- Mysore
- Innovative Film City
- Horsley Hills
- Ooty
- Kabini
- Brindavan Gardens
- Janapada Loka
- Channapatna
- Melukote
- Bheemeshwari
Q.What are the best hill stations to visit near Bangalore?
- Nandi Hills
- Ooty
- Sakleshpur
- Coorg
- Munnar
- Kodaikanal
- Chikmagalur
- Coonoor
- Wayanad
- Yercaud
- Skandagiri Hills
- Yelagiri hills
- Horsley Hills
- BR Hills
About the author
From the Lake District, Nainital, Nidhi Singh is a travel writer whose love for mountains can be seen in her write ups. Talk about solo travelling, indulging in adventure activities, binging on good food, planning budget trips or the Aurora Borealis and you will get all her attention. It is the wanderlust that keeps her going and if at all she could get one wish granted she would love to live a life less ordinary. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
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