Bangalore is an excellent starting point for a trip to India to the south, be it Kerala or Tamil Nadu. To start your trip to India, you can fly to Bangalore with various UK airlines; British Airways, Air India, Kingfisher Airlines, Qatar, Emirates… The British called it Bangalore when they used the city as a base in the days of the Raj. Officially, and since 2006, the city regained the old name of Bangalore, but many still think of it and refer to it as Bangalore.
A lively mix of ingredients, Bangalore has tranquil green areas, surrounded by booming industry and heavily congested traffic. It is also reputed to be the center of India’s computer industry and a place that offers cosmopolitan cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Bangalore has always been one step ahead and was the first Indian city to have street lighting and is the home of Hindustan Aeronautics. However, its name, according to Lonely Planet, translates as ‘boiled bean village’ (!)
If you want to get away from the busy streets on your trip to India, you can retreat to the botanical gardens. Spread over acres of parkland, Lalbagh Botanic Gardens date back to 1760. It has beautiful old greenhouses reminiscent of Kew Gardens (but inspired by the original Crystal Palace), flower shows, a bandstand where you can listen to the local police band on a Sunday. You can take a buggie for a guided tour to enjoy the interesting combination of plants and trees. Flower and horticulture shows are usually inside the greenhouses in the run up to Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15). There’s a quirky floral clock surrounded by Snow White and her friends, the seven dwarfs! This was a gift donated by a clock and watch maker and is a great local attraction.
If you are looking for a bit of culture during your Indian holidays in Bangalore, why not visit some of the city’s palaces? Bengaluru or Bangalore Palace was built in 1880 and was modeled after Windsor Castle. Complete with castle towers and formal gardens, it is often featured in movies and is a popular location for weddings and celebrations. A collection of nude portraits is on display inside, as well as family photos of the Wodeyars and the current Raja still in residence.
If you fancy a place to relax, you can take a trip to Ulsoor Lake during your trip to Bangalore. It is just off MG Road in Bangalore and is a popular place to relax. You can have a picnic on one of the small islands or take a boat on the lake.
Bangalore’s Dravidian-style ‘bull temple’ includes an impressive black granite Nandi (bull). It is over 4 meters high and over 6 meters long. Local legend suggests that this monolith was built to appease a bull that was eating all the peanuts from the villagers in his fields. This worked and now the farmers have an annual peanut fair to show their gratitude by the Bull temple.
The Dodda Ganesha Temple is also worth a visit during your India trip in Bangalore and contains an equally impressive idol of Ganesha, the elephant god. Similarly, a visit to the Iskon Temple is also worth your time and would be a real highlight of your Bangalore trip. Its lavishly decorated interior is bursting with vibrant colors and is particularly popular for its extravagant shrine dedicated to both Krishna and Radha.
Cubbon Park is another great place to visit in Bangalore during your trip to India. Within its vast green space, you’ll find giant bamboo, groves within formal gardens, and many marble statues. There is also an old bandstand and pond, and a library housed in a neoclassical building in the middle of the park. In addition to the State Central Library, this park also has two museums, an art gallery and an aquarium, plenty to keep you busy during your India vacation in Bangalore.