Top things to see and do in Bengaluru
Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Bengaluru's most beloved green space and a living link to its garden heritage, Lalbagh was laid out in the 18th century under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan and later expanded by the British into a scientific botanical garden. Its 240-odd acres hold a magnificent Glass House — modelled on London's Crystal Palace and home to the famous biannual flower shows around Republic Day and Independence Day — along with a lake, ancient rock outcrops (one of the oldest on earth), a Kempe Gowda watchtower, and thousands of species of trees and plants. It is a favourite of morning walkers; go early for the light and the birdsong. Entry is nominal (with free-entry hours early morning and evening) and a small camera fee may apply; verify before visiting.
Cubbon Park. The green heart of central Bengaluru, this sprawling 300-acre park was laid out in the 1870s and named for a British commissioner. Shaded avenues, flowering trees, bamboo groves and lawns thread between some of the city's grand colonial-era public buildings, including the red Attara Kacheri (High Court), the State Central Library and several museums. It is free to enter and open to all, a favourite for joggers, families and the Sunday car-free mornings when roads inside the park close to traffic. A calm, walkable counterpoint to the city outside its gates.
Bangalore Palace. A striking Tudor-and-Gothic-style pile built in 1873 for the Wodeyar rulers of Mysore, Bangalore Palace was inspired by England's Windsor Castle, all fortified towers, turrets and arched windows. Inside are ornate wood-carved interiors, floral ceilings and a collection of period paintings and furnishings; an audio guide walks you through the rooms. The grounds also host large concerts and events. Entry is among the pricier of the city's sights and there is usually a separate camera charge, with higher rates for foreign visitors; verify before visiting.
Vidhana Soudha. The seat of Karnataka's legislature and the city's most imposing landmark, Vidhana Soudha was completed in 1956 and is often described as the largest legislative building in India. Its vast granite façade blends Neo-Dravidian style with Indo-Saracenic and European touches — carved pillars, domed bays and the motto "Government Work is God's Work" over the entrance. The interiors are generally not open to casual tourists, but the exterior is a photographer's favourite, and the building is spectacularly floodlit on Sunday evenings and public holidays. It faces the equally grand Attara Kacheri across a broad avenue near Cubbon Park.
Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace. A serene two-storey pavilion of teak, Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace near the City Market was completed in 1791 as a summer retreat for the "Tiger of Mysore." It is a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture — carved pillars, cusped arches, ornate balconies and traces of the original painted floral frescoes — and a small museum on site tells the story of Tipu's reign and his wars with the British. This is an Archaeological Survey of India monument; entry is modest for Indians and higher for foreign visitors, verify before visiting. Nearby stands the historic Kote Venkataramana Temple.
ISKCON Temple (Sri Radha Krishna Temple). One of the largest ISKCON temples in the world, this hilltop complex at Rajajinagar in the northwest is a modern landmark, blending glass-and-steel with traditional temple forms. Devotees and visitors climb to the shrines for darshan, chanting and the temple's famous prasadam; the atmosphere is especially charged during Janmashtami. Entry is free; expect security screening, shoe deposit and long queues on festival days and weekends.
Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi). In the old, atmospheric neighbourhood of Basavanagudi in south Bengaluru stands this 16th-century Dravidian-style temple built by Kempe Gowda, housing an enormous monolithic Nandi (bull) carved from a single granite boulder. It is one of the city's most revered shrines and gives the district its name. Nearby, the Dodda Ganesha Temple holds a similarly huge Ganesha idol. The area comes alive during the annual Kadalekai Parishe (groundnut fair). Entry is free; remove footwear and dress respectfully.
Nandi Hills. Around 60 kilometres north of the city, this hill fortress rising to about 1,470 metres is Bengaluru's classic sunrise pilgrimage. On clear winter mornings the valley below fills with a sea of cloud as the sun breaks over the Eastern Ghats. At the summit are the old Tipu-era fort, the Yoga Nandeeshwara temple, gardens, and the sheer cliff known as Tipu's Drop. It is enormously popular, so weekends and holidays are crowded and the approach road can back up — arrive very early. There is a small entry fee plus vehicle charges; verify before visiting. (More on this in the day-trips section.)
Bannerghatta. About 22 kilometres south of the centre, Bannerghatta combines a national park, zoo, butterfly park and safari in one large forested area on the city's edge. The big draw is the bus safari through enclosures of tigers, lions, bears and herbivores, along with a well-known elephant and big-cat rescue presence. It makes an easy family half-day. Entry and safari fees are tiered — modest for Indians, higher for foreign visitors, with extra charges for the safari — and some sections close on Tuesdays; verify before visiting.
MG Road, Brigade Road and UB City. The city's historic commercial and social spine, the MG Road–Brigade Road area (in the old cantonment) is where Bengaluru goes out — a walkable grid of shops, cafés, bookstores, cinemas and the pedestrianised Brigade Road strip, with the metro running overhead. Nearby, UB City is the marquee luxury-mall-and-dining complex for high-end shopping and rooftop restaurants. Together they anchor an evening of browsing, eating and people-watching.
Commercial Street and the bazaars. For traditional shopping, head to Commercial Street and the surrounding lanes (Shivajinagar, Russell Market), a dense, buzzing bazaar for clothes, textiles, footwear, jewellery and Bengaluru's celebrated silk and sandalwood goods. It is chaotic, crowded and great fun; bargain hard, keep your bag close, and expect to arrive on foot or by metro rather than by car.