A New Girl in the City of Bangalore

 

I didn’t know what to expect when I first came to Bangalore. Sure, I had heard of how it is one of the better cities of India, and how there are so many places I could go, how it is close to other places I can visit, how there is amazing food and so on. I’ll cut to the chase and say outright that all of these are, in fact, true. But, then again, I really wasn’t expecting much. And this is perhaps why setting foot here in Bangalore blew me away from the very first moment.

The city is bright, big, clean and so, so green. It is gorgeous. Bangalore is also famous as the following names, and for all the right reasons.

1.    The Garden City/ The Green City: The name suits as there are parks around every block and trees all around the city.

2.  The Silicon City: Also known as the IT hub of India, this city is filled to the brim with big Tech companies and hence the name.

3.   The Industrial City: Bangalore is also home to a lot of factories and industries giving jobs to millions here.

4.   The Silk City: Famous for their silk sarees and silk dresses, their fabric is one of a kind.

5.  The Sandalwood City: The city is also famous for its sandalwood and sandalwood products like incense sticks, soaps, face scrubs and tons of other products all from sandalwood.

Here is what you can do and places to go when you’re in Bangalore

ISKCON Temple

The biggest Krishna Temple in Bangalore, this temple is also called the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple. ISKCON stands for “International Society for Krishna Consciousness”. This place will have you in awe from the very start. With beautiful interiors, a massive place and clean to its very core, ISKCON is just a whole other vibe. There are three forms of Krishna in this temple and after you say your prayers, you will find all sorts of souvenirs that you can take home with a market under the temple and eateries of all kinds.

Tippu Sultan Summer Palace

I was confused at first, too. The Tippu Sultan Summer Palace and the Bangalore Palace are two different palaces. As the name implies, this palace is where Tippu Sultan used to dwell in the summer. There is not much to it, but the wooden carvings and architecture is marvelous to look at.

Bangalore Palace

Beautiful and grand, this place is majestic to the very core. Oozing with history, every corner, every wall tells you their story. The Bangalore Palace was the private residence of the royal Wodeyar family. Built to resemble Windsor Castle, this quirky palace is filled with an interesting and eclectic collection of art and paraphernalia from a bygone era.

Laalbagh Botanical Garden

A massive botanical garden that you can spend hours roaming about, Laalbagh Botanical Garden could be the perfect place to catch up with someone. With a lake inside, the rose garden, the glass house, the bonsai garden, the tower, it just keeps getting better.

Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technical Museum

Growing up, I did not like Science as it began to get more complicated in middle school. I can only wish we had such an educational and fun place in Nepal where science was taught in a fun and interactive way! This place is four floors of different areas and innovations of science. You will not get bored, trust me.

The Art of Living International Ashram

The biggest AOL Ashram in India, this place is serenity and divine in itself. There is something so peaceful and relaxing the moment you step in here It could be the greenery all around you, the calming air, the fountains and the cows, this place has its own magic. Spread across hundreds of acres of land, AOL is home to meditation, happiness programs and more. With free lunch every day, a health centre, restaurants, hospital, , ayurvedic spa, schools and more, the foundation is like a whole different town where you will lose track of time. Sit down by their fountain, or relax in their Vishalakshi Mandap or by the lake. Try the sweets made with pure milk from the 1300 indigenous cows that are bred here. There is just so much to explore.

Bannerghatta National Park

A promise of a glimpse of the wildlife goes fulfilled at the Bannerghatta National Park where you can book a safari tour around the national park. The wild life will not fail to impress you.

After the safari, you can stroll around the beautiful butterfly dome in the butterfly park where different species of butterflies flutter around and make your day.  Here, you will learn a thing or two about the lifecycle and species of butterflies and some other insects.

The Bannerghatta zoo is home to many species of animals and it will take you hours to go see everything. From different species of birds, wild dogs, wild cats to elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and more, you will be lucky if they are not sleeping during your visit!

Shopping around the City

The choices you get in this city are wild, from budget friendly online shopping to expensive brands, Bangalore has it all. If you ever feel like going shopping, Bangalore Central Mall, Shopper’s Stop, Orion Mall, Forum Mall, Meenakshi Mall and more are awaiting you with display of utmost quality and class.

Try the Local Cuisines

At Bangalore, you can get pretty much everything from international food chains to street food but it is local food and street food that will enthrall you the most. Try the South Indian cuisines like idli, sambar, vada, dosa, uttapam, pongal, dilpasand, Mangalore buns and the list can just go on, you will not be disappointed.

The Cubbon Park

Don’t be surprised if you find community parks around the blocks here, it is common. But Cubbon Park is one of the biggest parks here in Bangalore. It covers 100 acres and its existence goes back  to 1870. Also popular as the Sri Chamarajendra Park, the park is perfect for a stroll around or relaxing or exercising.

Wonderla WaterPark

The high-thrill rides at Wonderla Bengaluru are fast, absolutely safe and verging on crazy, as they should be! Enjoy a day here trying the rides and the fun in water.

Bangalore is a fantastic place to explore and live. Have you been here or do you plan to?