The cosmopolitan city of Bangalore, popularly known as the Garden City, is one of the most developed and progressive cities in India. With its abundance of green foliage, cool climate and growing startup culture, you’ll find an eclectic mix of cool, quirky and traditional everywhere you go. While the city has seen an accelerated surge of development, the central city district is still reminiscent of the British rule with distinctive Victorian-era architecture. With its trendy cafes and evolving pub culture, the city has a little something for every kind of visitor. If you are visiting the city on a short trip there are a lot of interesting resorts on the outskirts of the city that have a lot to offer as well. Resorts like Discovery Village have a lot of fun activities for everyone. Whether you are visiting with family for a one day outing in Bangalore or a solo traveler on a short sojourn here are some of the must-visit spots in the city.
Cubbon Park
Founded in 1870, this 120-hectare green oasis in the heart of the city was renamed after Sir Mark Cubbon, the longest-serving commissioner at that time. This beautifully landscaped park integrates huge bamboos with grassy knolls and natural rock outcrops. Sundays are when city dwellers head over there with their family and pets in tow for fun picnics or just a run in the park. The park also houses some important government buildings, like the State Central Library, the High Court and a few others. Cubbon Park also has a designated children’s area which has some fun rides like a merry-go-round and toy trains. The Bangalore aquarium is in the adjoining building so you can make a quick pit stop when you are at the park.
Vidhana Soudha
Undoubtedly one of the most imposing and magnificent pieces of architecture in the city, the Vidhana Soudha houses the Secretariat of Karnataka and the State Legislature. Located very close to Cubbon Park, this is one of the largest state legislative buildings in the country. Constructed in the Neo-Dravidian style of architecture, this magnificent structure stands majestically against the Bangalore skyline. The building is illuminated on Sundays and public holidays and is a sight to behold.
Source: Wikipedia
UB City
Among some of the newer buildings, the UB City Mall is a striking, modern high rise located in the central business district. This mall is home to all the luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Canali many more. UB City also has a beautiful open-air, canopied food court with a host of cafes and resto-bars serving a variety of cuisines from Pan-Asian to Mexican. The mall also has a spa and art gallery and you can easily spend an entire afternoon window-shopping and nibbling at tasty delectable at the chic cafes. There is an open-air amphitheater and if you are lucky, you might catch some live music acts there.
Ulsoor Lake
Sprawled over 50 hectares, Ulsoor Lake is one of the largest lakes in Bangalore. Built by Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring, the lake is dotted with miniature, lush green islands. Though you cannot swim in the lake, it is a popular spot to go for a boat ride. The lake has an adjoining children’s park and a public swimming pool on one side and it has a running/walking path on the other side. Surrounded by greenery on all sides, this is a beautiful, tranquil place to sit back and relax.
Source: Culture Trip
Bangalore Palace
Built-in 1878, the Bangalore Palace spread over 45,000 square feet is a mixture of Tudor and Scottish Gothic architecture. The unique wooden structure of the palace along with the intricate carvings both inside and outside the palace showcases some of the royal cultures. It is believed that King Chamarajendra Wadiyar was inspired by the famous Windsor Castle in London when he had this palace built. The palace has a fairy tale ballroom and has several paintings by the famous artist, Raja Ravi Varma. The vine-covered walls along with the Durbar Hall come together to form a regal structure. The palace is not only a tourist destination but is also used for various cultural and music events.
Bull Temple
One of the oldest temples in Bangalore, the Bull Temple is also known as Nandi Temple was built by Kempe Gowda. The locals refer to the temple as ‘Dodda Basavana Gudi. This is supposed to be the largest Nandi temple in the world. As per Hindu mythology, Nandi the bull, is the ‘vahana’ or mount for Lord Shiva and Parvati. This temple is a must-visit for every Shiva devotee. The sculpture of the bull is carved out of single granite rock and is regularly applied with coconut oil and butter causing the stone that was originally Grey to turn Black.
Source: TripAdvisor
For a comfortable stay near the city consider Discovery Village resort. It is one of the most sought after day outing resorts in Bangalore for adventurous people seeking lavish amenities.