Bangalore is not the cheapest of cities in India in which to live, the Silicon Valley of India does have plenty of fun activities on offer that won’t cost you a single rupee. Here are the top ten things to do for free when in the Garden City of India.
Places to Visit
Bangalore Palace
An epitome of great architecture and beauty, The Majestic Bangalore Palace preserves in it the spice of old regal opulence. Currently the central attraction in Bangalore, the palace was built in the year 1878. Chamarajendra Wadiyar’s British Guardians bought the original property in 1873 from the principal of Bangalore Central High School, Rev, J Garret, from his funds. The palace is extraordinarily vast and spread across 45,000 square feet. A mixture of Tudor and Scottish Gothic architecture have resulted into the grand palace that we see today.The wooden structure of the palace along with the beautiful carvings both inside and outside showcases the royal culture in different ways.
Apart from being a major tourist destination, the palace is a host to different cultural events, rock shows, and marriages. As per beliefs, King Chamarajendra Wadiyar drew his inspiration for building the palace from the Windsor Castle of London. The granite seats decorated with fluorescent blue ceramic tiles on the ground floor, a fairy tale Ballroom, the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings, vine-covered walls, and the Durbar Hall on the first floor come together to form the prepossessing Bangalore Palace.
A visit to the palace gives you a chance to witness the elegant and lavish splendour of one of the most powerful dynasties of South India. An audio tape is available inside the Palace, both in Hindi and English, to help the people having language issues, understand its history better.
Cubbon Park
Spread over an area of 300 acres, Cubbon Park in the city of Bangalore is a major sightseeing attraction rich in green foliage. It is a green belt region of the city and is an ideal place for nature lovers and those seeking a calm atmosphere. Having been laid down by Lord Cubbon, the park is named so in his honour. It is home to more than 6,000 trees that support a vibrant ecosystem. In addition to being a natural sightseeing destination, some of the major structures of the city such as the Attara Kacheri, Cubbon Park Museum and Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Park are also situated here. Another famous attraction in the Cubbon Park is The Bangalore Aquarium, which is the second largest aquarium in India.
Cubbon Park was originally spread over 100 acres, which was later extended to 300 acres. First established in the year 1870 by Sri John Meade (acting Commissioner of Mysore), Cubbon Park has a long history. Major General Richard Sankey (Chief Engineer of the State) conceived this park in honour of Sri John Meade. Initially, the park was called “Meade’s Park” and later came to be known as the Cubbon Park. Since the introduction of the park, it was made and improved in many ways.
In the year 1927, the park was officially renamed as “Sri. Chamarajendra Park” to mark the Silver Jubilee of Sri. Krishnaraja Wodeyar’s rule in Mysore State. At present, the Cubbon Park is under the control of the Department of Horticulture. The Deputy Director of Horticulture (Cubbon Park) is responsible for the administration and maintenance of the park.
MG Road
One of the busiest roads in Bangalore, MG Road or Mahatma Gandhi Road is a hub of recreational and commercial activity in the city. Swarming with people at almost all the time, MG Road is a one-stop destination for a perfect weekend shopping adventure. Items such as traditional handicrafts, silk, sarees and cutlery and bone china sets are easily available here among other enticing goods. And once you get tired of shopping and are looking for a quick bite to eat, a plethora of cafes and restaurants here are at your service. Nights at MG Road call for partying and dancing till you drop and it packs quite a few high-end pubs as well. One of the most popular shopping and entertainment hubs of Bangalore, MG Road is a must visit when you’re in the city.
It was known as South Parade during the pre-independence era but was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Road or MG Road on 26th February 1948. Today, MG Road is best known for its amazing shopping experience, restaurants, cafes and food outlets offering delectable delicacies. With its own metro station now since 2011, MG Road runs east from Trinity Circle at one end towards Anil Kumble Circle at the other end. Once flocked with old buildings, today the avenue is all about fancy glass buildings mixed with an old vibe exhibited by few old-time structures. Take a stroll on the street and enjoy the bright atmosphere at MG Road!
Lalbagh
Lalbagh Botanical Garden is located in Bangalore and is nationally and internationally renowned centre for botanical artwork, scientific study of plants and also conservation of plants. A haven for all nature lovers, Lal Bagh covers an area 240 acres in the heart of the city and has nearly 1,854 species of plants. It was commissioned by Hyder Ali in 1760 and completed by his son Tipu Sultan. The garden features rare plants of French, Persian and Afghani origin and has attained the status of a Government Botanical Garden. The Lal Bagh Rock which is over 3000 million years old is found here and is a major tourist attraction.
This botanical garden, a delight for photographers, also consists of the famous glass house where an annual flower show is held every year and is also a home to an aquarium and a lake. Tipu Sultan brought in imported trees and plants from countries all over the world and planted them here and today, Lalbagh Botanical Garden has one of the world’s largest collection of rare plants. In addition to being rich in foliage, this garden also houses a number of birds such as Myna, Parakeets, Crows, Brahminy Kite, Pond Heron, Common Egret and Purple Moor Hen.
UB City Mall
Located in the CBD (Central Business District) in Bangalore, this luxury mall is the one-stop destination for all your high-end brand needs. Assimilation of four towers as a whole, it is spread over a mind-boggling area of 13 acres. The place takes care of all your exclusive needs, whether it is shopping at some high-end store, ultra-fine dining, or even taking a Spa after a long day of work, this place has it all.
The place is home to all the luxury beauty, shoes, jewellery, bags and fashion brands from all around the globe, where Louis Vuitton, Estee Lauder, Rolex, Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Canali are to name a few. Various events are also timely organised for all the visitors to experience the best of everything. The dining options here are some of the best in the world and are a bit on the higher budget as well. The most budget-friendly eatery here is Subway.
Ulsoor Lake
One of the largest lakes in Bangalore, the Ulsoor Lake is a stunning lake that is sprawled over an area of 50 hectares. Ulsoor lake was built by Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring, who was Bangalore’s commissioner at that time. Dotted with a number of islands all along, the natural beauty of this destination is enhanced by the lush greenery that surrounds the lake. Owing to its landscape and calming environment, the Ulsoor Lake is frequented by picnickers and nature lovers alike. Ulsoor Lake is also an important venue for the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi, sometime during August and September every year.
Ulsoor Lake has an abundance of activities that one can indulge in here. Sit back and take in the tranquil ambience of this place, or click a few shots of the endemic birds that call this destination their home. One of the most popular activities in Ulsoor Lake is boating, which is a fantastic way to understand the landscape and revel in the charm of this destination. A weekend picnic complete with homemade snacks and a game of badminton is a must when you visit Ulsoor Lake!
Vidhana Soudha
Described by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as ‘a temple dedicated to the nation’, Vidhana Soudha houses the State Legislature and the Secretariat of Karnataka and is one of the most popular attractions in the lively and colourful city of Bengaluru. It also proudly boasts the title of being the largest state legislative building in the country. With four entrances in all four directions and four floors above the ground level and one below it, we surely don’t doubt the title. Popularly known as the ‘Taj Mahal of South India’, it is counted as one of the most magnificent buildings in the city and is sure to impress the onlooker with its sophisticated poise and glorified grandiose. The entire monument is illuminated on Sundays and public holidays and is a sight for sore eyes.
Then Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru along with then Chief Minister K.C. Reddy laid down the first brick of this establishment on 13 July 1951 and initiated the construction of a monument that symbolizes the legislative sovereignty of the people of the country. Its construction took a good five years and it was finally inaugurated in 1956 to become the largest legislative building in India. The Vidhana Soudha stands 150 feet tall and boasts of an elegant and truly exquisite Neo-Dravidian style of architecture.
HAL Aerospace Museum
HAL Aerospace Museum is one of the major public attractions of Bangalore. Inaugurated in 2001 at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited premises, the museum was established with an objective of educating the public about everything the journey of HAL, one of Asia’s largest and most important aeronautical companies, had to offer – be it historical, scientific or academic. The museum proudly boasts of the giant leaps Indian aviation has taken, both commercially as well as in terms of defence, giving the visitors an all-inclusive aerospace experience in the most effective environment possible.
The museum makes sure that the visitors get the best possible insight into the aeronautical history of HAL and of India – its experiments, achievements and possibilities; and at the same time, they also get to have a glimpse of some of the most powerful possessions of the Indian Air Force. Such an exhibit is an enchanting experience not only for the aviation enthusiasts but also for the layman.
Art Of Living International Centre
Located 21 kms southwest of Bangalore on Kanakpura Road atop Panchagiri Hills, Art of Living Centre is the headquarter of the spiritual, cultural organization Art of Living Foundation, established by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Constructed in 1986, the ashram focuses at creating a stress-free society through its multitudinous programmes which include yoga, meditation, Ayurveda treatments etc. The magnanimous campus housing several mini gardens, tiny water lake and abundance of trees is popularly called the ?Bangalore Ashram? and draws over 1.2 million people from across the world annually. The centre is considered a retreat from the stress and din of the city and provides the much needed therapy and solace from city blues.
Set in a tranquil backdrop with pretty winding paths to walk on, amidst flowering gardens and a sparkling lake, this ashram provides the much needed respite from the strain and monotony of the regular routine. Art of Living Centre aims to unite people and help them reflect on their lives and privileges through meditative programmes, satsangs and spiritual talks while keeping them in between nature. It also has to option of Seva which is just voluntary work you can do to attain the satisfaction of the mind. The daily routine involves yoga, chanting and meditation to calm the mind, satsangs to light up your spirits and numerous customized courses that you can take up for your peace. The ashram is an ideal location not just for followers but also for nature lovers and all you people seeking seclusion, solitude and spiritual bliss.
Must Try Food in Bangalore
- Edo | Japanese Restaurant and Bar
- Vidyarthi Bhavan
- Grasshopper
- Toit Bangalore
- Mangalore Pearl – Seafood Restaurant
- Karavalli
- Windmills Craftworks
- Truffles
- Spice Terrace
- The Only Place
How To Get There
By Air
Kempegowda International Airport is one of India’s busiest and modern airports. It is connected to around 50 destinations across the country and plenty of international destinations as well. It hosts 10 domestic and 21 international airlines like Air India, Qatar, Emirates, Jet Airways, Etihad Airways, among many others.
By Road
If you are up for a little adventure, you can travel to Bangalore by bus. There are both government and private bus that operate from all the major towns like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Hyderabad, etc. The bus arrives and depart from the Bangalore Bus Stand which is located opposite to the Bangalore City railway station.
By Train
Bangalore has two main rail terminals- The Bangalore City and Yeshwantpur Junction. The Bangalore City is the major terminal situated in Majestic, which is the heart of the city and most trains arrive and depart from here.
The Yeshwantpur Junction is located on NH-4 and mostly long-distance trains arrive and depart from here. After arriving at the junction, you will need to take a taxi or a rickshaw to the main city which is easily available outside the station.