Bangalore
PLACES OF INTEREST
Ulsoor Lake
Ulsoor lake is a perfect gateway dotted with picturesque islands. This pretty picnic spot is on the north eastern fringe of the city centre. Here one can enjoy boat ride or swim in the near by pool. One of Kempegowda's watch towers stand near by.
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albagh Botanical gardens
This garden is at Lal Bagh Fort Road. The pleasant and supereb 100 ha Botanical garden were laid out by Hyderali in 1760 while his son Tippu Sultan added a wealth of plants and trees from many countries. It was originally called Lalbagh because the garden had profusion of red roses. It has a very good collection of tropical and sub tropical and medicinal plants.
The galss house, based on London Crystal Palace, is the main attraction in this huge park. It is built in 1881. There are major flower displays here in the week preceding Republic day and the week before Independence day. The gardens are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Entry free during flower shows.
The 'Bal Bhavan is a children park with pony rides, boat rides, toy train rides and other attractions. It open on Sunday 09.30 - 18.00, public holidays 09.30 -20.00. Closed on Monday and second Tuesday of the month.
The Rose garden is another attraction at Lal Bagh garden. It is placed at the heart of the Lal Bagh, near to north gate entrance. 150 different kinds of roses are grown here.
Cubbon Park
Cubbon park was planned by Sir. Richard Sankey, the then chief Engineer of Mysore and named after Sir Mark Cubbon, Bangalore's longest serving commissioner. With in the sprawling cubbon park are situated the Attara Kacheri, the central library, the aquarium, the Jawahar bal bhavan with its mini theatre and toy train, the museum, VITM and KSLTA tennis court.
Vidhan Soudha
It is at Dr.Ambedkar Veddi Road, Banglore. It is a beautiful building, built between 1954 and 1958. It houses the state legislature and secretariat. Opposite side of the Vidhan soudha there is another attractive public building, red brick High court of Karnataka, built in 1885.
Nehru Planetarium
It has a seating capacity of 200 and conducts special shows for schools. The lectures and shows on astronomy are a regular features. It is closed on Mondays and 2nd Tuesdays. Just opposite to Nehru Planetarium, is a new attraction "Musical Dancing Fountain".
Tipu's Summer Palace
This palace is at Albert Victor Road. Visit - Daily 8 - 5.30 PM. The Haidar Ali started the construction of this palace and this wooden summer palace completed by Tipu Sultan in 1789. Its construction was alike of the Daria Daulat palace of Srirangapatnam. The 2- storeyed ornate palace is made of wood. The walls and ceilings are painted in brilliant colours with carvings. The building is now used to exhibit the modern photo of Tipu and his era.
Bull Temple
It is one of the oldest temple in the city and is built by Kempegowda, the founder of Bangalore. This typical Dravidian style temple has a mammoth, monolithic bull, 15ft high and 20ft long. It is made of gray granite polished with a mixture of charcoal and groundnut oil, in 1786. It is believed that it has grown in size since and now measures nearly 5 meters in height and 6 meters in length. The temple is dedicated to Nandi, the sacred bull. Visit - Daily 6- 8 PM, Entry is free.
Visveswaraiah Industrial and Technological Museum
It is a wonder land of information on science and technology. The museum has various technological gadgets, working model and diagrams and displays. The museum is dedicated to the memory of Sir. M. Visveswaraiah.
Government Museum
It is situated at Kasturba Gandhi Road, Cubbon Park. Visit - Thursday to Tuesday 1000 -17
00. Small entry fee.
This is one of the oldest museum which existed in the country, opened in 1886. It has 18 galleries including Neolithic finds from the Chandravalli excavations, and from the Indus valley, especially Mohanjedaro antiquities. The museum exhibit the antique jewellery, textiles, coins and miniature paintings.
The Venkatappa Art Gallery is next to the museum exhibits the works done by the Karnataka Painter. The state products are displayed at the Trade Centre, next door to the Visveswaraya Industrial and Technological Museum.
Places Around Bangalore
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annerghatta National Park (22km)
The park is situated in a picturesque surrounding with a variety of fauna, at Anekal Road. The main attractions are bisons, Elephants, Baboons, Panthers, Jackals and Lion taled Monkeys. The park has a snake park and lion and tiger safari.
Open 0900 - 1200, 1400 - 1700, Closed on Tuesday. Entry fee Rs.15. It covers a 100 sq km, has a lion and tiger 'safari' in a 'caged' car. The park also offers elephant rides.
Channapatna (60km)
Channapatna is a wonder land of wooden toys. Every person in this town is involved in some aspect of making colourful lacquer wooden toys.
Mekedatu (98km)
It is a beautiful picnic spot were river Cauvery offers an unforgettable site. It tumbles down majestically through a deep ravine, on top of which is a chasm around 5meters wide, narrow enough for a goat to leak across. Mekedatu is on Kanakapura Road.
Ramohalli (28km)
The fabled big banyan tree spread over 4acres is an interesting picnic spot. The 400years old tree witness the penance of sage Muneshwara.
Hesaraghatta (25km)
Hesaraghatta has an artificial lake, a dairy and a horticulture farm. Baoting & windsurfing are the other attractions. Also here is the famous 'Nrityagrama' where young dancers are trained al disciplines of traditional dance.
Shivaganga(56kms)
An interesting hill with four faces, rising to a height of 4599ft looks like a Nandi from the East, Ganesh from the West, A Linga from the South and Cobra with it hood spread from the North side. It is accessible by road.
Shivanasamudram
The picturesque waterfalls, the Ganganchukki and the Bharachukki, cascade down 90 meters. These falls are the source of Asia's first Hydro Electric Power Statin called "Shimsa". The falls are in full splendour during July-August. The falls are 22 km from the Bangalore.
Hogenekkal Falls (140km)
These are also known as the 'smoking rocks' because of the mist. At the bottom of the 90ft water falls, one can ride in a coracle.
Devarayanadurga
This is a hill station of Tumkur road perched at a height of 3940 feet. A few kilometers from foot of the hills is a natural spring called "Namada Chilume". On the Bangalore /Mumbai national Highway near Dobbospet (50km) take a right turn and proceed to devarayanadurga.
Chowdaiah Memorial Hall
It is named after Karnataka's greatest violinist. This 1100 seated auditorium has a shape of a gigantic violin. It's architecture is marvelous.
Kolar Gold Fields
98 Km east of the city and south of Kolar town. Prior permission is required to visit the field. Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Banglore can arrange the permission. Visitors are Permitted only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from October to February. Children below 10 years are not permitted. It is world's deepest gold mine. It is 2,400 meter below the surface and oldest in the country.
