BENGALURU (BANGALORE)
ABOUT BENGALURU (BANGALORE):
- Beautiful Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka is one of the prettiest and cleanest cities of India.
- It is popularly known as the ‘Garden City’ and has earned several other epitaphs like an ‘Air –condition City’, for its climate throughout the year; the ‘Silicon Valley’ of India, for its rapidly growing software market and the ‘City of Draught Beer’ etc.
- Foundation of the present day Bangalore was laid in 1537, by Kempe Gowda.
- A Magadi chieftain, owing allegiance to the king of Vijayanagar.
- The cantonment area of Bangalore was developed by the British in early 19th century, after the fall of Tipu Sultan.
MODE OF COMMUNICATION:
- Airport: Bengaluru International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR), 35 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- Rail: Bangalore City Railway Station, Bengaluru, 4 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- Road: Well connected with NH 47 and NH 48.
SIGHTSEEING AT A GLANCE
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SCENIC SITE
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Devarayanadurga Nandi Hills Muthyala Maduvu (Pearl Valley)
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FORT & MONUMENTS
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Vidhan Soudha Attara Kacheri (High Court) The Fort Tipu Sultan’s Palace Maharajah’s Bangalore Palace
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HOLY CENTRE
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Shiva Statue & ISKCON Temple Dodda Ganapathi Temple Sri Gavi Gangadhareswara Temple Dharamraja Temple (Nagarathpet) Basavangudi or the Bull Temple St. Mary’s Basilica Venkataramanaswamy Temple
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MUSEUM & AUDITORIUM
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Cubbon Park & Museum The Government Museum & Venkatappa Art Gallery Visweswaraiah Industrial & Technological Museum Tipu Sultan’s Palace Karnataka Folk Art Museum Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
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WILD LIFE
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Bannerghatta National Park
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PARK & GARDEN
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Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Cubbon Park & Museum
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LAKE
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Ulsoor Lake Hesaraghatta Lake
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OTHERS
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Whitefield Nrityagrama
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ATTRACTIONS OF BENGALURU (BANGALORE)
- Vidhan Soudha:
- Majestic structure towering over the Cubbon Park, houses the Secretariat and the State Legislature, as well as several other State government offices.
- Magnificent edifice built of granite in the neo – Dravidian style of architecture is one of the most spectacular buildings of India.
- Four storeyed building covering a total plinth area of over 5,00,000 sq. ft.
- It was conceived and executed by Kengal Hanumanthaiah, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1956.
- The structure is beautifully illuminated on Sunday evening.
- Attara Kacheri (High Court):
- Magnificent two storeyed two building housing the High Court of Karnataka was built in 1867.
- It lies in front of the Vidhan Soudha and was originally built the house the Secretariat.
- Lalbagh Botanical Gardens:
- Beautiful garden was laid out in 1760, by Haider Ali and later developed by his son Tipu Sultan.
- Sprawls over an area of 240 acres and is one of the most beautiful botanical parks of the country.
- In 1840, an excellent glass house was built resembling the famous Crystal Palace of London.
- Cubbon Park & Museum:
- Park designed by Lt. Gen. Mark Cubbon, in 1864, covers an area of over 300 acres in the heart of the city.
- Studded with some splendid sculptures and red Gothic building, which house the Public Library, the High Court, the Government Museum and the Technological & Industrial Museum.
- Children’s Park inside the garden is exclusively for kids.
- Jawahar Bal Bhavan here has a children’s centre.
- The Government Museum & Venkatappa Art Gallery:
- Established in 1886, and is one of the oldest museums of India.
- Art gallery here has paintings and sculptures done by K. Venkatappa, a renowned artist from the royal court of Mysore.
- Visweswaraiah Industrial & Technological Museum:
- Interesting museum is dedicated to Sir M. Visweswaraiah, the architect of modern Karnataka.
- Shiva Statue & ISKCON Temple:
- Beautiful Hare Krishna shrine on the hillock is a fine blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony.
- A fine view of the surroundings.
- A 65 feet tall Shiva statue is one of the new attractions of the city.
- The Fort:
- Originally a mud brick structure built by Kempegowda in 1537.
- Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan rebuilt the structure in the 18th century.
- Most of the fort was badly damaged during the wars with British.
- Tipu Sultan’s Palace:
- Construction of the palace was started by Haider Ali and completed by his son, Tipu Sultan in 1791.
- Wooden building resembling the Daria Daulat Bagh at Srirangapatnam and houses a museum.
- Maharajah’s Bangalore Palace:
- Magnificent granite palace built in 1887, by the Goodyear’s of Mysore resembles the famous Windsor Castle in England.
- Karnataka Folk Art Museum:
- Displays a wide range of folk arts, costumes, toys and extensive recorded music collection.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium:
- Modern planetarium was built in 1989.
- An attractive Musical Fountain with dancing waters is set opposite the planetarium.
- Dodda Ganapathi Temple:
- One of the oldest temples of Bengaluru.
- A huge monolithic statue of Lord Ganapathi, which attracts a large number of devotees.
- Sri Gavi Gangadhareswara Temple:
- Shiva temple built by Kempe Gowda is famous for a unique event at sunrise on ‘Makar Sankranti’ (14th January).
- Sun rays pass through an arch between the horns of the Nandi bull outside the temple and illuminate the idol of Lord Gavi Gangadhareswara inside the main shrine.
- Dharamraja Temple (Nagarathpet):
- Enshrines fine images of Lord Krishna and Sri Dharamraja Swami, the hero of epic Mahabharta.
- Sacred shrine is also associated with the famous Karaga festival celebrated in March/ April.
- Basavangudi or the Bull Temple:
- Built by Kempegowda on the Bugle Hill in Dravidian style.
- A large monolith of Nandi, the celestial bull measuring 4.57 metres in height and 6.10 metres in length in breathtaking.
- St. Mary’s Basilica:
- Originally built in 1818, by Abbe Dubois.
- It was transformed into a huge Gothic style church by Rev. Kleiner in 1882.
- Venkataramanaswamy Temple:
- Ancient temple near Tipu Sultan’s Palace was built by Maharaja Chikka Devaraya Wodiyar.
- It was destroyed during the third Mysore war and was restored by Maharaja Chikka Krishna Devaraya.
- Ulsoor Lake:
- One of the eight lakes by Kempe Gowda around Bangalore.
- 1.5 sq. kms has picturesque tiny islands and boating facilities are available.
ATTRACTIONS AROUND BENGALURU (BANGALORE)
- Whitefield:
- 16 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- Famous for the ashram of world renowned saint philosopher Sri Satya Sai Baba.
- International Tech Park, one of the most modern and successful software tech park in the country is also located here.
- Export oriented software centre has contributed immensely in making Bangalore the ‘IT Capital’ or the ‘Silicon Valley of India’.
- Bannerghatta National Park:
- 22 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- Beautiful Park covers an area of 104 sq. kms amidst thickly wooded hills.
- Inhabited by bison, elephant, panther, wild boar, jackal, lion tailed monkey etc.
- There is also a lion and tiger safari, a crocodile and snake farm and a mini zoo.
- Hesaraghatta Lake:
- 25 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- Beautiful lake set amidst lush fertile landscape is famous for its boating and wind surfing facilities.
- Region teems with orchards, poultry and sheep farms.
- An Indo-Danish dairy project has also been established here.
- Devarayanadurga:
- 71 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- Beautiful hill resort is famous for Namada Chilume, a natural water spring, said to be created by Lord Rama.
- Nandi Hills:
- 60 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- It was the summer resort of Tipu Sultan, who strengthened the existing fortifications on the hills in 18th century.
- Later on, it becomes a favourite resort of the British.
- There are two ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Amrita Sarovar Lake.
- Nrityagrama:
- 28 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- Unique experimental village is dedicated to the gurukula tradition of learning to revive the Indian classical dance and music.
- It is a winner of rural architecture award.
- Vasantha Habba, the annual festival celebrated here attracts a large number of visitors.
- Muthyala Maduvu (Pearl Valley):
- 40 kms away from Bengaluru city centre.
- Scenic site is named after the small pool created by the waterfalls, which looks like a ‘pond of pearl’.
- There is also a small temple over here.