Most visitors to Bangalore know the city for its tech campuses. What they do not know is that beneath the glass towers lies one of South India's most historically rich cities, founded in 1537 by a chieftain named Kempe Gowda.
This private Bangalore city tour takes you through that hidden city in a single day. Walk through Lalbagh, the 240 acre botanical garden planted by Hyder Ali in 1760. Visit the Bull Temple, its Nandi idol carved from a single granite block. Stand before Vidhan Soudha, one of the most imposing public buildings in South India. Experience the ISKCON temple, a riot of colour and devotion. End at Bangalore Palace, the Tudor style royal residence that looks more like Windsor Castle than anything in Karnataka.
Private car, English speaking guide, multilanguage audio in French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin, entry fees and lunch included.
5 Senses Tours is recognised by the Department of Tourism and a member of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.
Pick up from lobby of all hotels in Bangalore
- Our guide will meet and pick you up from your hotel. We will head to Lalbagh the magnificent botanical garden. The 240 acre Lalbagh Botanical Garden with more than 1,800 species of plants, shrubs and trees serves as the lungs of Bangalore. Built by the legendary Hyder Ali in 1760, Lalbagh Botanical Garden is a prominent landmark of Bangalore and is host to the world famous flower show making it a key destination among places to visit in Bangalore. Lalbagh Botanical Garden is not only a horticulturist’s paradise, but it also provides a respite to people of Bangalore from the ever-spreading concrete jungle.
The Bull temple of Bangalore is dedicated to Nandi Bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Situated in Basavanagudi, this temple has been built in the Dravidian style of architecture. Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bangalore, got the Bull temple built during his time. This temple counts amongst the oldest temples of the city and draws devotees from all over the country. There is huge idol of Nandi Bull inside the temple, measuring 4.5 m in height and 6.5 m in length. This idol is said to have been carved out of a single rock. The bull also has a small iron plate on its head. As per the tradition, this plate prevents the bull from growing.
We visit Vidhan Soudha, one of the most famous buildings and landmarks of Bangalore. It houses the Legislative Chambers of the state government. The three hundred rooms of Vidhan Soudha accommodate approximately twenty-two departments of the state government. The building rises to a height of almost 46 m, making it one of the most imposing structures in the city of Bangalore. Since this is a working government office, we see it from outside.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Its core beliefs are based on select traditional Hindu scriptures, particularly the Bhagavad-gītāand the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. ISKCON was formed to spread the practice of bhakti yoga, in which those involved (bhaktas) dedicate their thoughts and actions towards pleasing the Supreme Lord, Krishna. We will visit the magnificent temple here located on a hill.
After lunch we visit the Bangalore Palace belonging to the Wodeyar Kings of Mysore. It is a majestic structure built in Tudor Style. The Palace has fortified towers, battlements and turrets. Interiors look regal with elegant wood carvings, floral motifs, and relief paintings. With furniture in Edwardian and Victorian themes, the Bangalore Palace has a striking resemblance to the Windsor Castle of England. The audio tour provides a rich detail of the life and times of the Wodeyar Kings and their relationship with the British Empire. On Mondays this Palace is closed and we will visit the Tipu Sultan's Palace instead.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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