Bangalore is one of the top 5 destinations in Karnataka. It is one of the almost top 2 favourite metropolitan cities for the young Indians. There are many spots in and around the city which makes it a great destination for tourists. You know that a city is special when it has earned multiple monikers. It is known as the Garden City, Silicon Valley of India, the Pub Capital of India and also Air Conditioned City.

Bangalore or ‘Bengaluru’ as it is now called, is big on nightlife and restaurants serving delicious food. But there are also parks, museums, palaces, forts, lakes, shopping malls, amusement parks, street-shopping options etc. and one can easily spend days in Bangalore without getting bored.

But if you aren’t staying in Bangalore and will be visiting it for a weekend to meet a family member or friends or for a work meeting, or planning to come down for a week, there are few spots that you must cover. We have made a list of sightseeing and activities spots for you that’s going to make your stay enjoyable. These are the best tourist places in Bangalore.

Places to Visit in Bangalore

1.Lalbagh

 Lalbagh Botanical Park is a must visit and you are bound to fall in love with this place after a visit. The place is 8kms away from the city centre and located in Jayanagar. There is also a lake in the botanical garden and it shelters birds and wildlife. In the Republic Day week and Independence Day Week, flower exhibitions take place which are very popular. Inside Lalbagh you will find a rose garden, a bonsai garden, a lotus garden and a topiary garden too.

This garden has a royal origin and was built by Hyder Ali, as his private garden, in an area having 240 acres of land. Initially it was designed to look like a wide garden in Mughal style to be built in thTumkur’s Sira. Hyder Ali’s son Tipu Sultan helped in the construction and completion of the garden.

Tipu Sultan imported trees and plants from places like Afghanistan, Arabia, Arabia, Persia and so on which were never previously seen in the country. This made the Lalbagh Botanical Garden historic. Some of those plants can still be seen in the garden.

This place is also a birdwatcher’s delight as they can spot the common egret, the myna, the purple moorhen, the Brahminy kites, the Pond heron, parakeets etc. Another striking feature of this park is the Lalbagh rock which is in the centre of the place. This rock is believed to be more than 3000 years old, making it one of the world’s oldest rocks.

2.Brigade Road

 When talking about Banglore famous places, mentioning Brigade Road is inevitable. This hub is the second best place in Bangalore which you should visit. This road is at the junction of Residency road and MG Road. When you are in a major city, you must be on the lookout for cool shopping areas where you can buy gifts for your loved ones. Shops and retail outlets of all kinds are lined up across this long stretch of road. You will be able to see some of the biggest brands here. The road with its razzle dazzle and all the lights make it a great sightseeing spot during the evening and especially during the New Year’s Eve.

3.Bangalore Palace

 If you are a history buff, you must visit the Bangalore Place during your Bangalore sightseeing. This palace is one of the most attractive ones found in India which was built in the 19th century (1873) by Chamaraja Wodeyar. The grand palace was built on a land of 25000 square feet! It was constructed in the Tudor style, taking inspiration from the Windsor Castle of England. It has also the influence of the Scottish-Gothic architectural style. The massive grounds, the wooden carvings, the spiral stairs, the turrets, the massive towers, the well-lit interiors, the antique furniture, the huge courtyards, the beautiful garden and other striking features of the palace will keep you hooked.

Gardens spread over 430 acres of land surrounds the Bangalore Palace and now it is a popular venue for events like concerts, parties and exhibitions. A walk through the interiors of the palace will give you an outlook of the magnificent lives of the royals back in the days. Being the residence of the Wodeyar family, it has family photos, artefacts, hunting trophies and various paraphernalias. You will have the opportunity to see priceless paintings like works of the legend Raja Ravi Verma. The enclave of the palace houses an amusement park for kids, so they won’t get bored.

The Palace is open from 10 am to 5 pm and one needs to pay 230 rupees as the entry fee.

4.Church Street

 This is one of Bangalore’s hip and happening streets which draws a lot of crowd, especially the youngsters. The street is only about a kilometer away from the city centre and is approximately 750m long. It was named after St. Marks’ Cathedral which is located near one end of this fun street. A wide range of products are sold and various eateries are found on this stretch. Some of the shops, especially the bookstores, are iconic as they were established years back.

Come to Church Street and spend hours visiting the gift shops, cafes, restaurants, music stores and book shops. During some weekends, the whole street turns into a fest zone where you will see buskers and all sorts of artists displaying their talent and selling their stuff. You might find bands giving free performances or skilled craftsmen selling handmade items like paintings.

5.Bannerghatta National Park

If you are a wildlife lover who loves to visit jungle and forest areas like national parks and forest reserves, Bannerghatta National Park is the best option for you. This is not exactly in Bangalore but on its outskirts and is also known as Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBBP). It is also a popular tourist destination which is visited by people with their families. Children would most definitely love their time here. So if you are looking for places to visit near Bangalore, this is the best one.

The park is spread across a massive area of 104.27 square kilometres. There are jeeps and buses which give a ride to the visitors to take them through the whole National Park and to see wild animals like tigers, deers, monkeys, bears and elephants roaming free in the park and not in a cage like it is in a zoo. In the year 2002, the park was announced to be a biological reserve.

But outside the limited access area or restricted area, where you can only travel in their vehicle, the National Park does have a zoo. There is also a Children’s Park, a butterfly park, an aquarium, a crocodile’s park and other interesting sections. This National Park is one of the very few ones which are so near to a big city and can be easily reached. The jungle safari and the rescue centre makes it a real special place. Animals are protected and conserved in the centre.

The forested elephant sanctuary which is inside the National Park is sponsored by PETA. BBBP is India’s first biological park to have a fenced sanctuary for the elephants, and that too covering an area of 122 acres.

There are many different kinds of trees including plants and herbs having medicinal properties. You will see trees and plants like tamarind, eucalyptus, sandalwood, neem etc.

If you are an adventurous person who wants to rejuvenate amidst nature, this park has short hiking trails too, where you can walk to freshen your mind and soul. There are also some very old temples in the premises. Do not forget to click some amazing photographs here!

6.Devanahalli Fort

 This fort is located in Devanahalli which is in the north of Bangalore. In the year 1501, a mud fort was built by Malla Byre Gowda. Later on towards the late 18th century the fort was reconstructed to the structure that you can see today. Till the mid-18th century, the fort was being passed down to the descendants of Malabar Gowda. In the year 1749, the Dalwai of Mysore, Nagarajaiah had attacked and then occupied the fort.

This place (Devanahalli) under Gangawadi saw rules of different kingdoms like the Rashtrakutas, Pallavas, Hoysalas, Nolambas, Cholas and the Vijayanagara kings. During the rule of Vijayanagara, the mud fort was built in Devanadoddi with the permission of Devaraya.

In 1947 A.D., the Wodeyars of Mysore had captured the fort with the help of Nanja Raja. The fort was captured multiple times by the Maratha kingdom, before it finally was occupied by Haider Ali and his descendant Tipu Sultan.

7.Cubbon Park

 This is also a  must-visit out of all the other places to visit in Bangalore which falls under the top 10 places. Cubbon Park is located in central Bangalore and is a gem for nature lovers. The park has different attractions like the Cubbon Park Museum, Atta Kacheri, Seshadri Iyer Memorial Park and Bangalore Aquarium.

Though entry is free, the park is open from 6 am to 6 pm and only morning walkers are allowed to be in the park for the first two hours after opening. You can easily spend one to two hours in Cubbon Park.

The rich green foliage covering an area of 300 acres makes it the best place to be in when you are looking for some tranquillity. The park is in Bangalore’s green belt region. The park established by Lord Cubbon houses 6000 trees approximately which contributes largely to Bangalore’s ecosystem. The aquarium here is India’s second largest.

The park is very close to different administrative buildings and you can have a look at them from the park. These are Karnataka High Court, Central Public Library, Sir Vishweshwaraiah Industrial and Technological Museum, Venkatappa Art Gallery and Government Museum. There are many statues of different eminent personalities in the park. There are some attractions like the lotus pond, toy train ride, band stand, Dancing Fountain, Ringwood Circle and the bamboo groove nook.

8.Vidhana Soudha

Vidhana Soudha is in every list having the must-visit places of Bangalore. Painted in white colour, the sprawling Vidhana Soudha stands over an area of 60 acres. Both the state secretariat and state legislature are housed in Vidhana Soudha. It is India’s largest legislative building. Kengal Hanumanthaiah, who was Mysore’s Chief Minister had conceptualised the construction of Vidhana Soudha. On July 13, 1951, the foundation stone was laid by Jawaharlal Nehru. He referred to the building as ‘a temple dedicated to the nation’. The structure was finally completed in 1956.

Vidhana Soudha is lovingly called the ‘Taj Mahal of South India’. The building has four storeys as well as four entrances, one on each side. There is an underground level too. The architecture is that of a Neo-Dravidian style which makes this 150 feet tall structure look very opulent. The design of the building has Rajasthani, Indo-Saracenic and Dravidian influence as well.

The building looks absolutely eye-grabbing with its cornices, pillars, arches, pediments, bases and every nook and corner. On the east, you will see a humongous porch supported by twelve pillars made of granite. There are eight columns which support the building’s central dome. The national emblem of the country, the four-headed lion, sits proudly at the top like a crown on the building.

22 state departments are being housed in Vidhana Soudha and there are nearly 300 rooms. Vikasa Soudha has been built adjacent to it by the state government, which serves as the secretariat building. You will see the High Court of India right opposite to these buildings.

9.Jaanapada Loka

This is one of the most unique places to visit in Bangalore. A man called H.L.Nagegowda was both a civil servant and a folklorist. It was his idea to establish a museum which would help to display the state’s prosperous culture and rich folk art. On 21 March, 1979, the Karnataka Janapada Loka Parishat was founded. It was formed to conserve, document, propagate and promote the folk traditions of the state. This institution gave birth to Janapada Loka.

After his retirement, Gowda used his retirement benefits and funds contributed by his friends to buy 15 acres of land. This was on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway. On 12 March, 1994, he finally announced a folk cosmos which he had set up, a village atmosphere in the midst of lush greenery – the Janapada Loka. One has to pay a very minimal entry fee to go inside the museum.

10.ISKCON Temple

The ISKCON temple Bangalore, located in Malleshwaram locality, is one of the world’s largest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. You will find idols of Radha Krishnachandra, Krishna Balarama, Prahlada Narasimha, Nitai Gauranga and Srinivasa Govinda. The timings for Darshan has been divided into three slots: 4.15 – 5 in the morning, 7.15 am to 1 in the noon and from 4 to 8pm. Keep at least two hours in hand when you come to visit this temple.

This temple in Rajajinagar region was built under Madhu Pandit Dasa’s guidance. The temple was inaugurated by Shankar Dayal Sharma in the year 1997. The temple is at once a religious establishment and a cultural complex.

In the temple, the hardcore devotees of Lord Krishna are involved in various activities. Ardent followers can get lifetime enrollment. For promoting awareness of Lord and making people aware of Krishna consciousness, various programs are conducted in their community centres. There are also public processions where recitals and songs are performed in praise of Lord Krishna.

Prayer services and lectures are arranged on a regular basis here. The temple community aims at fostering a harmonious spirit and conducts various activities which would help an individual to discover or rediscover spirituality on a personal level.

11.Nandi Hills

How can a list on Bangalore tourism not have Nandi Hills on the list? It is the favourite weekend destination for many people staying in the city. They head over for a long drive or a bus trip to see the sunrise or sunset. These hillocks serve as a nature retreat from the humdrums of city life. There is the Yoganandeeshwara Temple on the top of a hill where there is a massive Nandi statue. The set of hills have been after this statue. The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva, Parvati. One can do a lot of things on these mounds like paragliding, trekking, camping and cycling.

Nandi Hills is actually also a hill fortress having a small picturesque town. The greenery and viewpoints at this weekend destination lies just 60 kms away from Bangalore. The historical fort also houses monuments, temples and shrines.

The famous ruler Tipu Sultan used Nandi hills as his summer retreat and you will be amazed to see the remnants of his legacy still found in the region. Even his summer residence is still here, which was named Tashk-e-jannat. Tourists visiting this place get awestruck by the painted walls, tall columns, designed and delicate archways, and the ceilings with art crafted on them. The other attractions of Nandi Hills are the Brahmashram, Tipu’s Drop and Amrita Sarovar.

12.Innovative Film City

 This movie theme park is located on the edge of Mysore, about 40 kms away from Mysore. The place spread over an area of 58 acres of land, situated on Bidadi, is one of the top fun-filled tourist destinations of the city. The Film City will awaken the child in you as you explore the place. You will also have plenty of places where you can eat or shop.

The Film City is like a whole city and you must reserve at least half a day to walk through all the three segments. The Innovative Studio will take you closer to the glamorous movie industry. The segment called Innovative Attractions is the best where there are museums, fun sections like Cartoon City and Wild West Wind, and also amusement park rides. Shopping and enjoying world cuisines is more of your thing? You will love visiting the segment called Innovative Style! There is something for everyone visiting the Film City. The wild mix of different themes makes this high-quality park a must-visit destination to be visited with both friends and family.

13.Wonderla Amusement Park

Another fun place which is great for kids and kids-at-heart, Wonderla is the best amusement park in Bangalore. You can enjoy new age VR experiences and also rides like roller coasters, water rides and Ferris Wheel. Your heart will not be content if you leave before 6 hours!

Wonderla is in fact one of India’s best amusement parks. If you love doing things which give you an adrenaline rush, then you must plan a trip to this amusement park. But then if you are going with a group of thrill-seekers but you are not so adventurous, don’t lose heart. There are also some fun rides which are much more relaxing and will not get your heart pounding or your hands sweating!

There are more than 60 rides here and it is an amalgamation of a water park and an amusement park. The country’s first ‘reverse looping roller coaster ride’ has been newly constructed here and it is such ‘high-thrill’ rides which takes it a step above most other amusement parks of India. The slides at the water park cater to all kinds and ages for people, there are twisted slides and there are more straightforward slides.

14.Toit

This is one of the most famous places in Bangalore. Bangalore being the pub capital of India, we had to include at least one pub or a brewery in this list. And the winner turned out to be this very popular pub called Toit, located in the happening 100 feet road of Indiranagar. The brewery here brewers fresh beer continuously and that is why locals claim that for enjoying the best freshly-brewed beer, you must head to Toit.

If you are a party person and want to experience the best of Bangalore nightlife, you must not skip Toit. Especially when you are free on the weekends and want to chill out with a few glasses of beer, head to this pub as there are various kinds of beer. Have a taste of them all and decide your new favourite beer! And do you own a pet and are looking for a place which will allow your fur-baby? Well, Toit is pet-friendly too. Now you don’t have to keep your pet at home waiting and missing you. Bring your little loved one with you.

If you are interested in a brewery tour and want to know about the production of beer from scratch, then you can do that  by visiting a month’s first Saturday.

Now that we have completed all the top destinations of the city, you might be wondering which is the best time for a trip for you. Bangalore being the air-conditioned city, has pleasant and cool weather all-year round. So feel free to come down anywhere but according to the locals, the best time to be in the city is between September and March.