Bangalore

Prime Attractions

The Bull Temple
In the shrine atop the hill a massive garlanded black and shiny Nandi ( the bull) is ensconsed, The 4.57m high and 6.10 m long image was built by Kempe Gowda,in the 17th century.

The size of the Nandi is overwhelming. At the back is a small Lingam shrine. Its modern Gopuram rises, gracefully and majestically. The underground "Sri-Gavi Gandadhareshwara Temple" is equally fascinating, where on every January 14th (Makara Sankranti) they say, a ray of light passes between the horn of a Nandi outside the temple and lights the idol kept inside. Three levels of excavations have been carried out in the cave. One can see the black stone Hanuman, here. On the way to the Bull Temple one comes across a temple dedicated to the Elephant God Ganesha. The Bull temple is a buzz with great activity during the Shivratri festival.

Local festival Kadalekaye Parishe (Groundnut fair) at the Bull Temple includes a groundnut eating festival. The farmers offer their first harvest collection to Nandi

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Lalbagh Botnical Garden
Lalbagh is regarded as one of the most richly diverse Botanical Garden in India. It was laid out by Haider Ali in 1740. Spread over 240 acres of Parkland, many of its tropical plants were brought here by Tipu Sultan. Later, John Cameron, the Garden's Superintendent in the 1870s, imported several more rare species from Kew Gardens in London. Cameron was also responsible for initiating work on Lalbagh's famous Glass House, modelled on London's Crystal Palace and Conceived as a venue for horticultural shows. Surrounded by champaka trees and pencil cedars, the Glass House has played host to several visiting dignitaries. An Annual Flower show will be held The Entrance to the Park is marked by an equestrian statue of Chamaraja Wodeyar of Mysore. Another popular attraction is the surreal Floral Clock, surrounded by Snow White and the Seven dwarfs. This was a gift from Hindustan Machine Tools, leading Indian Manufacturers of Watches.

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Vidhaan Soudha
A marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and one of the most imposing building is, the Vidhaan Soudha houses the state legislative assembly of Karnataka and part of the Secretariat. The majestic looking Vidhan Soudha is one of the most imposing building not only in Bangalore but also in India. Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Chief Minister of the then Mysore State between 1951-1956 was responsible for the concept, the structure and the setting of this magnificent building.

Supervised and executed by engineers and architects led by the then Chief Engineer, late B.R.Manickam of the Public Works Department, the Vidhana Soudha is an arresting monument.

The building project was started in 1952 and was completed in four years. Five thousand labourers, 1500 chisellers, masons and wood carvers were employed to bring the building to its present form. Built entirely from Bangalore granite in the Dravidian style, it has floral motifs on stone carvings drawn from the celebrated temple craft of South India.

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Tipu's Palace
The architecture, the layout and the overall look of Tipu's Palace shows the ethnic Mughal lifestyle. The Palace and its remains present the history of the era in which it was built. The construction of the palace of Tipu Sultan was started by Haider Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan himself. This double-storeyed ornate structure was constructed in 1781-1791 AD.

Tipu's Palace is a two-storied ornate wooden structure with pillars, arches and balconies flanked by gardens on either sides leading to the palace. Built entirely in Teak wood, the palace is described as the "Abode of Happiness", as proclaimed by an inscription on the wooden screen.

Apart from the palace, the remains of the Fort near the Palace are a testimony of the struggle by Tipu against the might of the British Raj in India. The eastern and western projecting balconies of the upper floor contained the seat of state from where Tipu Sultan conducted affairs of the state. The summer palace of Tipu Sultan was built in Bangalore. This palace is beautifully decorated with floral motifs on the walls and ceilings. After the death of Tipu, the British used this building as their secretariat till 1867. In the busy market place of the city are the remnants of this fort built by Tipu Sultan.it is built of teakwood.

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Attara Kacheri
The Attara Kacheri, is a beautiful stone structure in an intense red hue built in 19th century.This graceful, two storeyed Building with Corinthian columns, was completed in 1864 and housed the Public Offices from 1868 until 1956. These were later moved to the Vidhana Soudha, and this building became the high court. On the ceiling of its Central Hall is a Portrait of Sir Mark Cubbon, Commissioner of Mysore from 1834 to 1861. Behind the building is an equestrian statue of him by Baron Marochetti.

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Bangalore Palace
The Bangalore Palace was modelled on Windsor Castle, completed with fortified towers and turreted parapets. It stands amid undulating lawns, partly converted into a formal garden with axial paths. It spreads over 13,700sq m. T he palace fell into disrepair after 1949 when it was at the centre of an ownership dispute between the government and the ruling wodeyars. It has since been restored to the wodeyars and is now rented out as a popular venue for functions such as weddings and music concerts and film shoots. No Kannada movie is considered complete if a scene is not shot here.

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Cubbon Park
Laid out in 1864 by Richard Sankey, The chief engineer of Mysore, and named in honour of the Commissioner, Cubbon Park extends over an area of 135-ha (334 acres). Its partly formal landscaping imaginatively integrates natural rock out croppings with groves of trees and giant bamboos. The park is liberally dotted with statues, such as that of the 19th Century ruler Chamarajendra Wodeyar ( 1868 - 94 ) over looking the pond near an Octagonal, cast-iron bandstand. There are also marble statues of Queen Victoria and Edward VII. In the middle of the park a red painted, Neo-Classical building known as the Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Houses a Public Library.

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Government Museum - Kasturba Gandhi Road
It is one of the oldest museums in the country. Housed in a red stucco Neo-Classical Building with Corinthian Columns, it has 18 sections with a fine collection of jewellery, miniature paintings sculpture, artifacts from Mohenjodaro and 5,000 years old neolithic relics. The Venkatappa Art Gallery, named after an early 20th century artist patronized by the wodeyar rules of Mysore, forms one wing of this museum. It has water colours and paintings made in mysore style. These works still retain a greenish coating imparted by a finishing rub with jade. The Gallery also has a collection of leather puppets made of deer and fine sculptures from the satvahana, Hoysala and Vijayanagar periods.

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Visveswaraiah Industrial and Technological Museum
This Museum is a tribute to the great Sir M.Vishveshwariah, a Stateman who worked dedicatedly to bring science and technology to the common man. See an unconnected tubelight glow watch your voices as you speak, learn to make motion pictures, alarms etc. This museum has wonderful informations about the marvels of science.

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Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium was founded in the year 1989. The sky theatre inside with a dome of fifteen meters in diameter.The Planetarium gives the opportunity to tourists on vacations in Bangalore to unravel the mysteries of outer space. The Planetarium aims to provide an awareness of astronomy amongst students as well as the common public. Daily two shows are held here for everyone interested in knowing the mysteries of outer space.

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Excursions from Bangalore:
Ramohalli - This picnic spot is located 28 kms from Bangalore on the Mysore road. Ramohalli is a beautiful picnic spot with a KSTDC restaurant.

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