Places to visit in Bangalore: The Silicon Valley of India
Bangalore is called the silicon valley of India. The city has one of the largest concentrations of It firms in the country. The city is home to some of the largest players in the IT industry namely Infosys. Bangalore is probably one of the very few cities in India that attracts expats from other countries (especially from the west).
Bangalore ranks high in terms of standard of living. The city is called the startup capital of India. These large numbers of startups stem from the foundation that the city is made on. Bangalore attracts talented people from across the globe. This high concentration of talented people has created a positive ecosystem that has facilitated the growth and expansion of the city.
Bangalore is just not all about flashy malls, well paved infrastructure and so on, the city has a long history that dates back decades. Some of the must see places to visit in Bangalore include sights like:
The Bangalore Palace
Bangalore Palace was built in the year 1878 by Chamarajendra Wadiyar. The palace architecture is a combination of Tudor and Gothic architecture and this unique combination gives the palace its regal look. The palace is spread over an area of 45,000 square feet.
Legend has it that King Chamarajendra Wadiyar drew his inspiration from the Windsor Castle of London while considering to build the Bangalore palace. The palace is famous for its lavish splash of luxury and precious stones across the building. The Palace even has many famous paintings of the great Indian Maestro Raja Ravi Varma.
The palace hosts many events from music concerts, marriages, cultural events and so on. The palace is a testimony of the opulence and the wealth enjoyed by one of the richest dynasties in South India, the Wadia Dynasty. There is an audiotape available inside the palace that describes various artifacts, the history and significance of the various elements used inside the palace both in English and Hindi.
Cubbon Park
Spread over an area of 300 acres, Cubbon Park in Bangalore city is a major hotspot for tourists both domestic and international alike. It is the green belt that absorbs CO2 from the city. The Cubbon Park can in effect be called the lungs of Bangalore. Many Bangaloreans spend long weekends in the park by just taking long walks through the park or enjoy a quiet picnic. The park can be best enjoyed by people who prefer calmness and tranquility in their life. The park is home to more than 6000 trees that support a wide variety of flora and fauna.
The park also consists of India’s second largest Aquarium, Attara Kacheri along with Cubbon Museum and Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Park. The park has evolved into a nature lovers paradise.
Initially, the park was 100 acres but then it was later extended to 300 acres. Cubbon Park was established in the year 1870 by Sri John Meade (the high commissioner of Briton to the princely state of Mysore). Major General Richard Sankey the then chief engineer of the state of Mysore conceived the park in honor of Sri John Meade. The park was hence called the “Meade’s Park”. In 1927, the park was officially renamed as “Sri. Chamarajendra Park” to honor the Silver Jubilee of Sri. Krishnaraja Wodeyar’s rule in Mysore State. In the years that followed the park came to be known as Cubbon Park.
Lal Bagh Botanical Garden
Lal Bagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore is located in the heart of the city. The Botanical Garden covers an area of 240 acres and it has nearly 1854 species of plants. The Lal Bagh was commissioned by the father of Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali. Tipu Sultan gathered rare plants and trees from across the world. This has made Lal Bagh a world renowned sight for scientific study, botanical artwork and plant conservation.
The garden features some of the rarest plants of French, Persian and Afghan origin. The Lal Bagh Rock is estimated to be as old as 3000 years ago. The rock in itself attracts a large number of people. Now Lal Bagh has been elevated to the position of Government Botanical Garden. The garden now consists of a glasshouse where annual flower show events are held, these events attract a large number of people to the gardens. In addition to hosting a wide variety of vibrant rare plants the garden also hosts a large number of birds such as Crows, Kite, Common Egret, Myna, Parakeet and so on. Lal Bagh Garden is a perfect place to spend quality time with your loved ones. If you have kids they will surely love the experience.
UB City
UB City is located 1.5 km away from MG Road – Brigade Road junction. UB city is located in what is prominently called the CBD (Central Business District) of Bangalore. The UB city has a 16 lakh sq ft of built up area. The UB City as such is divided into five blocks namely UB Tower, Kingfisher Plaza, Concorde, Canberra & Comet Blocks respectively. Each building has its unique blend of architecture and interior themes, yet all these unique blocks combined to form this unique piece of infrastructure. UB city is also famous for its three level puzzle parking system that can house about 1600 cars. The UB structure has a height of 123m, the tallest building in Karnataka as of then. Some of the biggest corporates across the world have their offices in UB City. The UB mall is the famous part of the UB City. It was the first mall exclusively reserved for luxury goods. All the big names in the luxury market like Prada, Chenal, Louis Vitton and so on, serve the Karnataka customers from UB City.
UB City is famous for its large variety of eateries available in the center. UB City is a hangout site for most people in Bangalore, especially on weekends. Traveling through UB city will give you a glimpse into the urban side of the city. It also gives travelers an opportunity to study and understand the taste and preferences of the people of Bangalore. Plus, it is a great place to hang out and do window shopping. One of the best ways to spend quality time with your friends and family. UB city is undoubtedly one of the must see places to visit in Bangalore.
Wonderla Bangalore
Wonderla Bangalore is a water theme park suitable for enjoying quality time with friends and family. Wonderala has many amazing rides that are water based and non water based. There are a lot of child friendly activities that you and your family could enjoy together. Wonderla Bangalore attracts a large number of people both Indian and foreigners alike.
You could spend a whole day trying out different adrenaline spiking rides to experience joy, fun, and excitement with friends and family. Wonderla in many ways resembles Disneyland with its theme based rides but it is nowhere near to Disneyland amusement parks ambiance and rides. Wonderla Bangalore is certainly not a place to miss while in Bangalore.
How to reach Bangalore
Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city, hence it attracts people from all over the world. Most major airlines offer cheap international flight tickets to customers who wish to travel to and from Bangalore. Many airlines introduce various offers to attract more travelers to Bangalore through various alternative less busy routes. Getting one of those tickets solves the issue of how to get cheap flights. Cheap one way flights and cheap round trip flights help people get the best fares possible. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru serves the travel needs of the residents of Bangalore.
Conclusion
Bangalore the Silicon Valley of India is also the garden city of India. Bangalore, unlike other cities, has plenty of open space that acts as the lungs of the city. Bangalore is loved by both Indians and expats across the globe. It is one of the very few cities in India that expats love to immigrate to. Bangalore is growing at a rapid rate, a truly global city based in India. Airtickets to Bangalore from the USA is comparatively affordable as well.
