Bengaluru & Mysore Day Tour

Bangalore is one of the most visited destinations of southern India. Known as the garden city of India, the climate of Bangalore makes it a happening place all through the year. One of the highly developed cities of southern India, it is the capital of the state of Karnataka. Bangalore is also the seventh largest city in India. There are many stories and legends related to the city. However the present look of the garden city was given to it in the 16th century. Because of the initiative it took in the wake of the Information Technology revolution in the country, Bangalore has been nicknamed as the Silicon City of India.

Sightseeing

There are a number of tourist attractions to visit in and around the city. Of historical, religious and contemporary interests, these tourists spots are easily accessible and worth a visit. The Vidhan Soudha makes the major attraction in Bangalore. The building is a massive neo Dravidian architecture presently functioning as the state legislative assembly. Cubbon Park in the heart of the city, Lal Bagh which is famous for the wonderfully bloomed red roses and the Bangalore Palace are some of the other must see of this garden city.

For excursions, Bangalore offers you quite excellent spots to move around and enjoy. You also have the number of options to choose from in the modes of transportation too. The city has sufficient options available ranging from tour operators to taxi drives where the driver can also act as a good guide. Starting from religious sites to natural marvels, you can choose any of the options Bangalore has for you. The gigantic banyan tree, the flora and fauna rich Banerghatta National Park, the picturesque Nandi Hills the thrilling Mekadatu and so on. The list goes on and on.

Vidhan Soudha

Vidhan Soudha, built in the year 1954 is one of the major centres of attraction in Bangalore. The architecture of the building is based on the neo Dravidian style and it presently houses the Legislative Assembly of the state of Karnataka. The building also houses a part of the Karnataka secretariat.

Cubbon Park

Situated in the heart of the Bangalore city, the Cubbon Park is an interesting tourist spot which one should not miss out. The park was laid by Lord Cubbon in the year 1864. It is spread over an area of about 300 acres and the layout is absolutely exquisite.

Lal Bagh Gardens

Lal Bagh is a must see while visiting Bangalore. The name Lal Bagh has been given to it for the wonderfully bloomed red roses that remain blooming all through the year in this garden. The garden has also a collection of famous Botanical species. Though the flow of visitors to the park is a regular affair, the garden gets a festive look during the Republic Day and on the days of flower shows that are held here.

Bangalore Palace

Built in the year 1887, Bangalore palace is a must see tourist spot in the garden city. The architecture of the palace is based on the Tudor style. The palace is situated in the middle of the Bangalore city making it easily accessible for the tourists. Covering an area of about 800 acres, the palace gives a look of the Windsor Palace of England.

Venkatappa Art Gallery

Venkatappa art gallery is a pleasant treat for the art lovers. It has about 600 paintings on display that you can see all through the year. The art gallery also has some of the exclusive collections of scenic displays.

Tipu's Palace

The palace and the fort of Tipu Sultan are the must see spot in Bangalore. The architecture, the layout and the overall look of the palace gives you the idea of the ethnic Mughal lifestyle. The fort and its remains present the history of the era in which it was built. The construction of the Tipu palace was started by Haider Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan himself.

Iskcon

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON Temple Complex of Bangalore is a marvellous building structure that has blended the Dravidian and modern architecture in its construction. The building has some of the modern facilities like the multi-vision cinema theatre, computer aided presentation theatres along with vedic library and a preaching library. The temple also has good accommodation facility for its members and non-members.

Shiva Statue

The statue is a 65 feet high depiction of Lord Shiva in a position of Padmashan or Lotus position. The statue is complete with Mount Kailash, the Lord/’s heavenly abode and the river Ganga flowing from his matted locks in the background. The entire area gives you a clear picture of the mythological legend related to it.

Bull Temple

The Bull Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva/’s Vahana (vehicle), Nandi the bull. Here you can find a huge monolithic statue of the sitting bull that draws a large number of people to this place every day. The statue is 4.5 meters tall and 6 meters long and has been at this place long before the present temple was built.

Aquarium

The sight of the Aquarium, which is the second largest in the country, is quite fascinating. Built in a well planned manner, the Aquarium has a good collection of a variety of aquatic life. The Aquarium remains closed on Mondays.

Banerghatta National Park

Another natural retreat to visit in Bangalore is the Banerghatta National Park. Situated at a distance of approximately 11 kilometres from Bangalore, the park houses some of the exotic species of flora and fauna. If interested, you can also explore the nearby temples here. The Banerghatta National Park is also a birdwatcher/’s paradise for it has more than a thousand species of birds in it.

Big Banyan Tree

As if the list above is not enough, mother nature seems to have bestowed all her love to this garden city of Bangalore. This is especially felt when you see the gigantic banyan tree spread over almost three acres of land. It is situated at a distance of about 28 kilometres west of Bangalore at Ramohalli. You must not miss a visit to this place to have a look at the tree.

Mekadatu

The word Mekadatu literally means Goat/’s leap in the local language. The name of the place has an interesting legend related to it. According to the legend, the holy river Arakavathi flows into a ravine narrow enough for a goat to leap across. Hence the name Mekadatu. The river Arakavathi flows through a deep gorge only to make the confluence with the river Cauvery where you can also visit the Hindu temple of Lord Sangameshwara.

Nandi Hill

Situated at a distance of about 60 kilometres from the city, Nandi Hill is a picturesque spot to visit. It is a popular health resort for the people of the southern plains of India, especially during summers. The shimmering lake and the green valley is a treat to the eyes. This popular summer retreat is located at an altitude of about 1,615 m above sea level.

Fact File

• Area 159.10 sq. km
• Population 33,02,296
• Altitude 920 metres
• Languages Kannada, Tamil and English
• Best Time to Visit All through the year
• STD Code 080

Sightseeing

The city of Mysore offers a visitor an insight into the lifestyles, cultures and traditions of its erstwhile rulers. The palaces and temples around the city speak volumes about heritage and architecture of the medieval times and the kind of patronage the city received from its rulers. Some of the interesting places to visit around the city are the Mysore Palace, Chamundi, Hills Srirangapatna, Brindavan Gardens and Lalitha Mahal Palace.

A visit to the places around Mysore casts light on the region’s rich heritage. The temples of Somnathpur, Belur and Halebid give an insight into Hoysala dynasty and the Bandipur National Park and the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary showcase the region’s bio-diversity.

Chamundi Hills

Forming the backdrop of the city is the 1,100-feet-high Chamundi Hill. On the top of the hill stands the temple dedicated to the Goddess Chamundeshwari, the royal family\’s patron deity. To reach the temple one can either drive through the 13-km stretch up to the summit or climb the 1,000 stone steps. Nearby the temple stands the huge statue of Mahishasura, the demon slain by the Goddess. Halfway up along the stone steps stands the majestic 4.8-metre monolith of Nandi the Bull, Lord Shiva\’s chosen mount. The statue is believed to be 300 years old and its chief attraction, apart from its size, is the meticulous craftsmanship of its ornaments—from its delicate anklets to the magnificent pendant bell around its neck.

Srirangapatna

About 15 km from the royal city of Mysore lies the town of Srirangapatna. There are many interesting places here of which the summer palace of Tipu Sultan is a must visit. Built in 1784 in the Indo-Saracenic style, the palace also has a small museum where Tipu\’s trivia, including a gold-embroidered tunic, old paintings and a coin collection, are displayed. A little away from the palace is the Gumbaz, the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his father, Hyder Ali. Another famous place to visit is Jami Masjid. The slender minarets of this mosque are visible from several kilometres.

Lalitha Mahal Palace

The snow-white Lalitha Mahal was built in the 1930s for the guests of the Wodeyars. The main attraction of the palace is a staircase of Italian marble branching off from a landing to reach the first floor hall. Surrounded by velvety green lawns and stately trees, the Lalitha Mahal is now a prestigious hotel of the India Tourism Development Corporation.

Mysore Palace

Built in around AD 897 in Saracenic style, the Mysore palace has both Hindu as well as Muslim influences. The palace, designed by an English architect and completed in 1912, was built in place of an earlier palace which was burnt down in 1897. The main palace building is made of massive grey granite with a tower covered by a gilded dome. Colours abound the palace architecture. The huge rooms and the floor tiles are covered with colours like turquoise blue, magenta, golden yellow and leaf green. The central hall, incredible in its beauty, was used for marriages and other major gatherings. A temple is also situated within the royal courtyard. The Dussehra procession, an annual affair in the city in the month of October, starts from here. The palace also houses a museum which has a collection of musical instruments, children\’s toys, many paintings, costumes, weapons, etc., belonging to the Maharaja\’s family.

Bandipur

On the way to Ooty, about 80 km off Mysore, is situated the Bandipur National Park. The park, spread over an area of 875 km, is a famous tiger reserve. Besides tiger, the other animals you can see here are the barking deer, tuskers, and bison.

Belur

One of the three major Hoysala temples still in daily use today is the Channekeshava Temple of Belur. The construction of the temple, which took almost a century, was started in 1116 to commemorate the Hoysalas’ victory over the Cholas. Enclosed in a paved compound, the temple complex includes a well and a bathing tank. It is believed that every major deity of the Hindu pantheon is represented in the temple.

Halebid

The Hoysaleswara temple at Halebid has a history dating back to around AD 1121. Though its construction spanned 80 years, it was never completed. The temple is set in a well-tendered garden. A small museum adjacent to it houses a collection of sculptures. The Kedareswara temple and three small Jain temples are also located at Halebid.

Ranganathittu

For bird lovers, Ranganathittu is worth a visit. This bird sanctuary is situated around 18 km from Mysore and offers a close view of the exotic and common birds.

Somnathpur

Thirty-five kilometres east of Mysore lies Somnathpur, a town famous for the temple built by the Hoysala kings. The beautiful building of the Keshava temple built in 1268 is the major attraction here. The walls of this star-shaped temple are covered with sculptures in stone depicting various scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita and the life and times of the Hoysala Kings.

Fact File

• Area 6,269 sq. km
• Population 3,165,018
• Altitude 776 m above sea level
• Languages Kannada, English, Tamil, Hindi
• STD Code 0821
• Best time to visit October to March