Bangalore, officially known as Bengaluru, is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka in Southern India. It is the third most populous city in the world with a population of over 10 million and the fifth-most populous urban agglomeration in India. Known as “the Silicon Valley of India” for being the leading exporter of information technology (IT) for India, it may come as a surprise that Bengaluru holds many treasures for travellers to discover.
Bengaluru is located in southern India. Travellers to Bengaluru will quickly find it apparent that the city is multireligious given its diverse religious institutions including temples, mosques and churches. It is also one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country, with over 51% of the city’s population being migrants from other parts of India.
One of Bangalore’s top attractions was built in 1887. Bangalore Palace is inspired by England’s Windsor Castle. The royal family still lives in this palace with Tudor-style architecture, fortified towers, arches, green lawns, and elegant woodcarvings in its interiors. On display are all kinds of memorabilia, family photos, and portraits. It is home to many renowned paintings from the 19th and 20th century including by Raja Ravi Varma, one of India’s most famous painters
Located in the heart of the city of Bengaluru is what is known as the “lung of the city”, Cubbon Park. Its beautiful and unique landscape creatively integrates the natural rock outcrops with thickets of trees, massive bamboos, expanses of grass and flowerbeds, along with statues and pavilions. Visitors can also enjoy amenities such as the library, museums, tennis academy, aquarium and toy train. It is a huge reason why the city is often nicknamed “Garden City”.
For a trip to cater to the whole family, Wonderla Amusement Park is the place to be. Spanning over 82 acres and home to over 60 rides, this charming amusement park has been constantly lauded for its excellent rides and service. It has been ranked by TripAdvisor as the No.1 amusement park in India and No. 6 in Asia for five consecutive years.
Bengaluru has been criticized for its rapid urbanisation at the expense of what made its nickname “Garden City” in the first place. However, it is still consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities and India and is thriving and bursting with new sights and sounds. Bengaluru is a city with its own unique character and definitely one of the stand-out Indian cities to visit.