Bangalore or Bangaluru has gracious and relaxed rhythm of life … Adds to this some wonderful monuments, stately palaces, marvelous greenery and a salubrious climate …and you have no other city in India like Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The palaces and the sanctuaries of Bangalore offer an endless treasure trove of discoveries for the discerning visitor. Being 1,000 m (3,300 feet) above sea level, the climate is pleasant even in the summer... which is a good news for a tourist. For others, good news for an investor or an entrepreneur…Bangalore is known as the “Silicon Valley of India”, for many computer companies are situated here.

Bangalore was founded by Kempe Gowda in the year 1537 A.D. He erected a small mud fort and constructed Gavi Gangadhareswara Temple at Gavipuram and Basava Temple at Basavangudi. There are still remnants of this old fort, rebuilt two centuries later by Hyder Ali and improved by his son Tipu Sultan.

Cubbon Park and Museums: Located in the centre of the city, this picturesque park was established in 1864. It is named after the former Chief Commissioner, Mark Cubbon. Also check out the Government Museum in the park, which has an enviable collection of Hoysalan sculptures, antique arrowheads from Mohenjo Daro, coins and pottery.

Vidhana Soudha:

Built in 1958, this is the Secretariat and used by the state legislature. It is an impressive, neo-Dravidian structure built of Bangalore granite. It’s a treat to watch it floodlit, on Sunday nights.

Gandhi Bhavan:

Located at Kumara Krupa Road (Ph.2261967). A visit to the Gandhi Bhavan will throw light on the simple and frugal life of the great visionary. You can see his photographs, wooden shoes, clay drinking bowls and a collection of letters he wrote to Roosevelt, Nehru, and Tolstoy.

Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace:

Though called by Tipu Sultan as ‘Lask-e-Jannat’ meaning the envy of heaven… there is not much to see here. This palace took ten years to complete.

Bull Temple (Basavanagudi Mandir) :

Situated on the majestic Bugle hill, this temple was constructed by Kempe Gowda, Bangalore’s founder. There is a huge Nandi bull here over 500 years old. It is 5m (16.5 ft) high and 6m (20ft) long, carved from a single stone. Also there is a Ganesh temple, with a large deity made of 110 kg of butter.

ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Temple :

The ISKCON temple is situated at Hare Krishna Hill, 1 ‘R’ Block, Chord Road, Rajaji Nagar. Situated in the midst of a beautiful garden, you can relax in the sylvan surroundings of the temple and feel one with the almighty. There are elevators to aid the handicapped and aged.

Lal Bagh :

Acres and acres of terraced lawns, long stretches of greenery, century-old trees, lovely lakes, lotus pools, rose beds, rare tropical and sub-tropical plants, ornamental flowers… where nature communes with man … That’s Lal Bagh Botanical garden one of the loveliest spot in Bangalore, spread over 240 acres. It was laid out in the year 1760 by Hyder Ali and developed by Tipu Sultan. There is also a spacious Glass House situated in the midst of Lalbagh, flower shows are held twice a year – in January and August. There is also a deer enclave within the park. Many film shootings are held in this scenic paradise.

Bangalore Palace :

It is in the midst of a well-laid-out garden in the high grounds north-west of the Vidhana Soudha. It resembles the Windsor Castle of London.

Brindavan Whitefield Ashram (Sai Baba’s Ashram) :

The Ashram is located in Whitefield, 16 kms from Bangalore, on Chennai Road. Sai Baba’s main ashram is in Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh where he spends most of his time.

Nrityagram Dance Village :

This famous dance school is on Bangalore-Pune Highway, 30 kms west of Bangalore (Ph:080-8466314). The school was established as an experiment by Protima Gauri, one of the best Odissi dancers in India to propagate the nuances of the great dance style. Students come from all over India to learn traditional Odissi dance.

Bannerghatta National Park :

Come face to face with the wild cats, Indian leopards, lions, tigers and elephants…watch them laze happily unaware of onlookers, in their natural habitat, at Bannerghatta National Park, 20 kms south of Bangalore. You can drive around on a zoo safari where the animals are fenced in. The park also has a snake and crocodile farm.