Bengaluru (Bangalore) - Karnataka
Discover Bengaluru
Known as Bangalore from the time of the British Raj up to 2006 when its name officially changed to Bengaluru, the city still embraces certain British characteristics. The city which is fondly nicknamed the Silicon Valley of India, is a lively and exciting place to visit.
India’s third most populous city was ranked third by Lonely Planet among the world’s top 10 cities to visit because of its arts output and it’s known as the rock and metal capital of India due to the growing underground music scene.
Gardens and palaces dating back to the 18th Century stand proudly amidst the glittering shopping and nightlife options favoured by its younger residents and visitors making it one of the most popular cities in Southern India to visit. As India’s third most populous city, popular with tech companies, universities and the Kannada film industry alike, there really is something here for everyone.
Places to visit in Bengaluru
- To experience the city’s rich cultural history, a visit to the Tudor-styled Bangalore Palace is not to be missed. As you walk around and marvel at the opulent interior design, try to keep in mind that the palace was purchased for the ruling Maharaja of Mysuru (Mysore) when he was only ten years old.
- Any horticulturalists will be keen to make a visit to the home of India’s largest collection of tropical plants, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.
- Bengaluru also holds a number of other pleasure gardens to provide a welcome retreat from the metropolis’ hustle and bustle.
- As you would expect in any modern city there are a proliferation of bars and microbreweries. Cocktails concocted with Indian spices served in chic rooftop bars are abundant, while an endless selection of local craft beers will tempt even the staunchest Heineken fan.
Bengaluru Wine
India might not spring to mind as a wine producing country, but there’s a great range of world-class wines to try on a wine trail, including sparkling wine, fruit-forward easy drinking wines and barrel-matured reserve wines.
Try six different wines at Grover Zampa, one of the original vineyards in Bengaluru, take part in grape-stomping at Kādu who give a portion of their profits towards tiger conservation in Karnataka or enjoy exclusive wine tasting at SDU Winery, India’s first female-owned boutique vineyard.
Food and drink
Grab a ‘byte’ to eat at Robot Restaurant, where food is ordered and served by robots backed up by mini trains on side-tracks. The robots are equipped with face recognition, so they can greet you by your name (with your permission) if you visit again. Or set sail on a culinary adventure at The Black Pearl, Koramangala, India’s largest pirate-themed restaurant serves a variety of hearty buffet food accompanied by live music and nautical accents.
Where to stay
The 5-star Royal Orchid Hotel offers exquisite rooms and suites with views of the KGA golf course. One of the only hotels in the city to have a rooftop temperature-controlled swimming pool, the hotel is home to Jeffs – Bangalore’s favourite English pub alongside the award-winning Indian outdoor garden restaurant Tiger Trail and Limelight – a coffee shop offering indulgent world cuisine
The best way to see Bengaluru
If you would like to visit Bengaluru, why not take a look at one of our wonderful ABTA and ATOL-protected holidays and flights? Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and the tours mentioned are just examples to help inspire you. Contact our travel experts on 01792 315499 or email info@aitholidays.com for more information.
Hotels in Begaluru (Bangalore)
