Bangalore and Around

Places to Visit in and around Bangalore:

The third most populous city in India has something more to explore other than the IT industry, some of the places where you can spend time away from the urban rush.

Here I put in the ten best places to visit in and around Bangalore

1. WonderLa
2. Nandi Hills
3. Lalbagh Botanical Gardens
4. Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha and High court
5. Bannerghatta National Park
6. Basavangudi Bull Temple
7. Pyramid Valley and Art of Living International Center
8. Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
9. Innovative Film City
10. Lumbini Gardens Nagavara Lake

Nandi Hills view point

ISKON Temple and Big Banyan Tree being the next most popular places, and MG Road-Brigade Road most loved shopping spaces. The lifestyle Shopping malls Phoenix Market City and Orion are worth visiting. Most popular temples are the Bull temple and ISKON temple. The events which are of more importance are the biannual flower show at Lalbagh and the biennial airshow Aero India, which has emerged as one of the world's most important and largest military aviation exhibitions. Bangalore is also called as city of lakes, with more than 17 lakes existing at present, where there were about 50lakes 25years ago. Most popular among them include Ulsoor Lake, Sankey tank, Yediyur Lake, Nagavara Lake, Hebbal Lake, Madiwala Lake, Lalbagh Lake, Bellandur Lake, Puttenahalli Lake and Kempanbudi Lake. Although a little short of amusement parks, there are WonderLa, Innovative film city, Fun world and Lumbini gardens to justify. It also holds one of the most important institutions of the country, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Management (IIMB) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).

With a Gross domestic product of $83 billion, Bangalore is listed 4th among the top 15 cities contributing to India's overall GDP. Bangalore also holds an important share in India with its major public sector giants of India headquartered here, including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), HMT (formerly Hindustan Machine Tools), and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Also called as Silicon Valley of India, contributing to over one third of the countries IT exports.

WondeLa:

WonderLa entrance

This is simply not the best place to hang out in Bangalore, so better spend whole day here. There are about 50 attractions here most of them worth visiting.

Musical fountain at WonderLa

Itinerary: As soon as you enter, get your lockers from the lobby and catch up with the dry rides like Wonder Splash, Pirate Ship, Techno Jump, and Crazy Wagon. Once you start with these startups you can go with major rides Equinox, Insanity, Hurricane, Y- Scream, Maverick, Mixer, Drop Zone, and Wonderla Bamba.

Then by afternoon you have your lunch here and start with the water games when the sun is at high, the wet rides are the most enjoyable ones, so spend more time here. You can start with Lazy River, Rain Disco, Play Pools, and start with the rides Boomerang, Harakiri, Fun Racers, Uphill Racers, Banded Kraits, Twisters, Water Pendulum, and the most difficult one here Wavy and Vertical Fall, and finally end up at the Wave Pools. There are heaters kept aside these rides where you can warm-up again for your next rides.

Just by the evening go about for some more dry rides like Toon Tango, Termite Coaster & Train Dungeon Ride, Crazy Cars, and Net Walk.

Don’t miss out the SkyWheel and Hang Glider in the evening during sunset. And later you can end up your day relaxing at Cine Magic 3D, Musical Fountain & Laser Show.

Must do: Wonder Splash, Boomerang, Water Pendulum, Rain Disco, Wave Pools, one of the high thrill rides, SkyWheel, Cine Magic 3D, Musical Fountain & Laser Show.

Distance from Bangalore (Majestic): total 30km, in which about 2.5km from the highway.

Public transport: available till about 3km away from the venue, on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, from here there are shuttle buses which ply every 15-30mins.

Length of visit: whole day (11am-6pm)

Age groups: There is everything for all the age groups here, but not suitable for heart patients or elders. Best suited for Kids and youth. People up to age of 55 can enjoy at least half of the rides.

WonderLa view from of the SkyWheel as seen from the entrance during night

Innovative Film City:

Innovative Film CIty entrance Plaza

Itinerary: start your day with some target practice with Bow & Arrow, Target Strike at the entrance. Then follow with the attractions Mirror Maze, Dino Park, Fossil Museum, Ripley's Museum, 4D Cinema, Haunted Mansion, Go Karting and post lunch hang out at the Aqua Kingdom and then if time permits go for Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum and Carousel in the evening, and spend some time at the main street relaxing and having snacks.

Must do: Bow & Arrow, Target Strike, Mirror Maze, Dino Park, Fossil Museum, Aqua Kingdom, Carousel, Ripley's Museum, 4D Cinema, Haunted Mansion, Go Karting

Distance from Bangalore (Majestic): total 35km, in which about 5km from the highway.

Public transport: available till the diversion on the highway about 5km from the venue, from which there are shuttle bus service which runs every 15-30mins.

Length of visit: whole day (11am-6pm)

Age groups: suitable for all age groups from kids to senior citizens.

roller coaster

Bannerghatta National Park:

Butterfly Park entrance

Although a national park officially but I feel it is like an expanded zoo. More preferred for its 50 odd tigers along with white Tigers, Leopards and Lions. One more place to check out here is the Butterfly Park. The whole zoo is kept untidy and in ill-treated state. There are a number of reptiles to watch out for, including the king cobra. Few animals missing here are the Cheetah, Giraffe, Hyena, hunting dogs, wild cats and Rhinoceros.

Itinerary: start the day with the Tiger and Lion safari, and then gaze around the zoo and then end up the day at the Butterfly Park. You can also check out the Elephant ride here.

Must do: Tiger safari and the Butterfly Park.

Distance from Bangalore (Majestic): 27km.

Public transport: there are Air-conditioned buses from the main city bus stand (Majestic) to this place every 15-30mins.

Length of visit: whole day (11am-5pm)

Age groups: suitable for all age groups from kids to senior citizens, but not suitable for babies under 2yrs as it is a stinky place.

Electronics city Elevated express highway

Nagavara Lake:

Itinerary: go for a walk at the lakeside and then get some pedal boating and end up day having some spicy snacks available at the food counters.

Must do: pedal boating in the evening and some spicy snacks at the food counters.

Distance from Bangalore (Majestic): 10km.

Public transport: there are buses from Majestic to Hebbal, and have to change bus from here to the venue, or can take auto from Hebbal.

Length of visit: half day preferably in the evening.

Age groups: suitable for all age groups from kids to senior citizens, but not suitable for babies under 2yrs as it is a stinky place.

Nandi Hills:

Circular skywalk and View point at Nandi hills

Nandi hills, at an altitude of 4,851 ft. (1,479 m) above sea level is the nearest hill station from Bangalore, about 60km from the city.

Itinerary: have some good views at the area beside the temple area where the tippu drop is situated, catch up the beautiful panoramic view from the circular walkway built for the view point, and there is a temple near this place. You can also avail the washrooms and a restaurant at this place. And then walk to the other side of the hill through the Nehru Nilaya to get some lovely views of the mountains surrounding Nandi hills, there are viewpoints built here also. End up the day relaxing at the park area having some snacks available here. Beware of the monkeys, the monkeys here are in great numbers and are violent too. If you expose your eatables to them, then you cannot run away from them. The place is cool with lots of breeze here, and is popular for bike rides.

Must do: check out the bamboo houses in the children’s park at the entrance, Nehru Nilaya and the circular walk view point.

Distance from Bangalore (Majestic): 60km.

Public transport: there are KSRTC buses from Majestic till Nandi Hills.

Length of visit: half day preferably in the evening till sunset or in the early morning when there will be fog covered all over the hill.

Age groups: suitable for all age groups from kids to senior citizens.

Bamboo houses at Nandi hills

Bamboo houses at Nandi hills

Restaurant at Nandi Hills

Nehru Nilaya

Inverted Bamboo house at Nandi Hills

Bamboo house being constructed

Monkeys at Nandi hills

View around the Nandi hills

View around the Nandi hills

View of the town from the view point at Nandi hills

The road to Nandi Hills