Bangalore Travel Guide

Bangalore The capital coty of Karnatala state and an air-conditioned city, the Garden City, the Silicon Valley of India the fastest developing city in the world these are some of the attributes used to describe this beautiful city. Bangalore regarded as one India’s most progressive and liberal cities. While it boasts some pleasant parks and gardens Bangalore is generally busied traffic-clogged and fairly light on attractions.Situated at a height of 1000 mts. above sea level it offers a perpetual holiday atmosphere due to the healthy climate it enjoys throughout the year.This beautiful city lends its name to the district of Bangalore to which the city is perceivable the headquarters of India’s sixth largest city the electronics and computer capital of India. It is growing fast. The old part of the city is to the south of the City Railway Station. In the Cubbon Park area with Mahatma Gandhi Road to its east you will find the Tourist office Government buildings and the bigger hotels. M G Road is very pleasant to wander round with excellent shops and eating and drinking places. Bangalore has a population of more than 56 lakhs. Besides Kannada which is the official language of the state Bangaloreans are also comfortable with English, Hindi, Tamil, Telegu, etc. It is also a dynamic city. Hindustani Carnatic and fusion music sharing center stage share out at any one of the innumerable Discos or Pubs or the Roadside Darshinis for a taste of Bangalore. Karnataka’s booming capital is in the vanguard of India’s new economy and its gracious British garrison-town features are being remodeled in the image of the new mall-loving middle class.

The official city of Bangalore was founded by Kempe Gowda a Magadi Chieftain in 1513-69. Christened ‘Bangalore’, it comprised of a mud fort and four watch-towers marking the city’s limits Bangalore was destined to be a cause of hunger and greed for many. Bangalore today has grown beyond his wildest imagination-a veritable melting pot of various races cultures and work interests. The high-ground nippiness of its air the endearing environs and the sheer beauty of its landscape have fascinated the visitors who come back again and again to this warm and welcoming city. Legends of course have another story-Bangalore is said to have received its name from an old woman who served a dish of boiled beans to a lost Hoysala King. The ‘town of boiled beans’ has played its fair share in the course of history. Bangalore first changed hands in the 18th century after its inception when Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan ruled the province of Karnataka and made it their winter capital. The British followed when they officially moved their headquarters from Srirangapattanam   (Tipu’s Capital) to Bangalore in 1831 after the defeat of Tipu. The dramatic growth of the city since the early 1950s has increasingly threatened one feature of its architectural heritage the colonial style ‘residency’ buildings .The High Court and the Bangalore Club have survived  thus far but many private bungalows  built between  1830 and 1940 have been demolished to make way for high-rise commercial buildings. Bangalore’s economic vitality began in the 1960s when the government located key defence and telecommunications establishments here. It became the science and technology centre of India and home to many multinational companies. In some ways the city is a victim of its own success. Rapid population growth is putting immense strain on the infrastructure and environment. Today the city flourishes in its computer-crazy reputation and its cultural and academic ambience.

Places of attraction

The Bull Temple : The Bull Temple (Nandi Temple) at Basavangudi was built in the 16th century by Kempe Gowda and is worshipped for its Nandi (the sacred bull). This is one of Bangalore’s oldest temples. The Holy Bull of Lord Shiva built in the grand Dravidian  style is situated on the  beautiful “Buggle Hill” on the road which derives its name from this famous temple ‘The Bull Temple Road’. The monolithic Nandi bull is believed to have grown in size and now measure nearly 5 mts. in height and 6 mts. in length. It is located near one of the city’s ancient watchtowers also built by Kempe Gowda. It is made of grey granite polished with a mixture of groundnut oil and charcoal. To the northwest of the Nandi temple is the Gavi Gangadhareshwara Cave Temple which has four monolithic pillars and an image of Agni (God of Fire). On every Makarsankranti (14 Jan) the sun lights up the deity in the cave through the horns of the great bull.

Kempe Gowda Fort (1537) on Krishna Rajendra Road was built of mud in 1537 and was rebuilt in stone who centuries later by Tipu Sultan. A temple dedicated to ‘Lord Ganapathy’ can also be seen inside the fort. An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Venkataramana built 300 years ago in the vicinity.

Tipu’s Summer Palace (1789): To the south was started by Haider Ali and completed by his son Tipu Sultan in 1789. It is now a fascinating museum which houses a number of artifacts which proclaim Tipu’s bravery   and his deftness in warfare dating back to Tipu’s era. His modest palace in notable for its elegant teak pillars sculpted walls and carved ceilings. The Wodeyars added the Venkataramaswami Temple at the entrance of the palace later in the 18th century.

Bangalore Palace : It is a unique replica of the Windsor Castle built by the Wodeyar rulers in the 18th century complete with granite turrets towers and battlements. The ground are massive and include a formal garden.
 
Lalbagh Botanical Gardens: It does back to 1760. During Hyder Ali’s era his son Tipu added a wealth of plants and trees from many countries in this 240-acre landscape. The name ‘Lalbagh’ reasons with the teeming red roses in the garden. This collection has grown to over 1800 species to date. The Glass House holds exhibitions and flower shows. There are major flower displays here in the week preceding Republic day and the week before Independence day.

Cubbon Park : Located in the cantonment and sprawls across 300 acres this scruffy Park is one of the main ‘lungs’ of the city. It was laid out by Lt. General Sir Mark Cubbon in 1863. On its fringes are the superbly restored neoclassic High Court the grand Public library two municipal museum and a dull aquarium.

The Government Museum one of the oldest in India was established in 1886 and house a collection of stone carvings pottery, weapons, Paintings, and some good pieces from Halebid. It has 18 galleries and exhibits Neolithic finds the Indus Valley and Mohenjodaro. Venkattappa Art Gallery next door displays works of the Karnataka  painters. The Visvesvaraya Technological and Industrial Museum is usually full of school children pressing buttons on exhibits that reflect India’s technological progress. Attractive models are displayed here depicting the industrial and technological developments of India. It comes under the management of the ‘Council of Scientific and Industrial Research New Delhi.

Vidhan Soudha: It is located in the north west of Cubbon Park and is one of the most impressive State Legislative Houses and Secretariats in the country. Based on a Neo-Dravidian style of architecture this massive granite complex was built in1957. The door of the cabinet room is made of pure sandalwood. The wonderful dome can be seen on all working days with the permission of the Under Secretary.

Ulsoor Lake : This is a pretty picnic spot. It is located towards north-east of the city. Boating facilities are available. There is also a modern public swimming pool.

Karnataka Folk Museum : The Karnataka Janapada Trust manage this museum where many rare masks artifacts and costumes are displayed. It also boasts of an impressive  collection of folk music and videos of folk dances. It is located at Kumara Park West Sheshadripuram.

Jawahar Bal Bhavan: A children’s theatre an amusement park and a toy train are the main attractions here. It is closed on Mondays and second Tuesdays of the month.

Bugle Rock: This rock stands as a mute witness to the bygone era of the founder of Bangalore when it served as the watchtower and in case of any attack a bugle call from here alerted the inhabitants of the town.

Jawahar Nehru Planetarium: The sky theatre with a dome of fifteen metres in diameter  attracts all the amateur  astronomers  and the commoners  to this Planetarium. It was founded in 1989 to commemorate the birth centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru the First Prime Minister of India.

Musical Fountain: Another attraction opposite the planetarium is the musical fountain and its dancing waters.

Thavakkal Mastan  Saab  Dargah : This Durgah  of the Sufi saint Thavakkal  Mastan  is associated with Karaga  festival  as the procession always stops here to pay respects before  it proceeds to the temple of Dharmarayan  a true symbol  of the unity that exists amongst the people of different faiths.

St.Mary’s Basilica Church : Abbe Dubois a French missionary built a small chapel in 1818 and later Rev. Kleiner transformed this into a huge Gothic Style church in 1882 which is decorated with stained glass from Europe. Pope John Paul 1V gave the Church the status of a Basilica in 1973 through a papal order. Situated in Shivajinagar it is the oldest church in Bangalore. It is believed that it was built in the 16th century but it was transfigured into the present shape in 1832. It is also known as the church of 'Our Lady of Health’. An annual festival is celebrated in September marked by the grand procession of Virgin Mary followed by thousands of devotees