Bengaluru Holidays

Bengaluru (earlier Bangalore) is one of the few Indian cities that are truly cosmopolitan and progressive in its vibe. It is a buzzing, modern city that is emerging at the top in terms of its dining, drinking and shopping scene. Despite its obviously contemporary outlook, Bengaluru is very capable of offering an insight into the heritage of the Indian state of Karnataka, of which it is the capital, vis-à-vis food, architecture, arts and crafts.

Top Things to Do
Search for popular Bengaluru attractions will take one to several gems in architecture, including the Bangalore Fort, Tipu Sultan Fort, Bangalore Palace and St. Mary's Basilica. One can seek the history and legacy of the city at popular museums that have preserved it with a lot of care. These include National Gallery of Modern Art, Venkatappa Art Gallery, HAL Aerospace Museum & Heritage Centre as well as Janapada Loka Folk Arts Museum. The bustling city doesn’t lack green spaces either and rolls out several manicured gardens that beautify the whole city. Lalbagh Botanical Park, Cubbon Park, Cariappa Memorial Park and Freedom Park are loved by denizens who visit seeking lush scenery. The flora and fauna of the city is best preserved in the Bannerghatta Butterfly Park and the Bannerghatta National Park, the latter being home to the famous Bengal Tigers. Bengaluru’s temples might not be as famous as their other counterparts in the rest of south India, but one look at the Venkataraman Temple, Swee Dodda Ganapathi Temple, ISKCON Temple and the Bull Temple, and you will know they don’t lack the beauty and grandeur.

Where to Stay
For tourists looking to make the most of their time in city, Koramangala, Indiranagar, MG Road and Malleswaram make for great base locations. These areas keep you right at the centre of city’s hustle and bustle and boast a number of hotels, hostels and guesthouses.

Food
Seeking the hotspots in the city, one will be led to the MG Road or Koramangala, oozing with hip restaurants, rooftop bars, ice-cream shops as well as local south Indian food stalls. It’s important to mention the little cafes that continue to emerge on the scene in Bengaluru and to keep impressing with their concept, food and ambience. The White Room—Coffee & Kitchen, Mudpipe Cafe, Cafe Nosh and An Egg Story are few of the crowd favourites.

Shopping and Nightlife
Though, it’s possible to also indulge in shopping at aforementioned MG Road and Kormangala markets, it’s best to visit Krishnarajendra Market, Chickpet Market, Avenue Street, Malleswaram Market and Gandhi Bazaar with that specific purpose. Bengaluru is a great place for buying exquisite Tanjore paintings, jute bags and craft as well as a collection of sandalwood handicrafts, ethnic knick knacks.

How to Get to Bengaluru
Bengaluru is a major Indian hub with good connectivity with rest of the world. There are number of direct and indirect flights running between London Heathrow and Bengaluru every week. British Airways offers non-stop flights between the route, with the flight time being around 9hr 35min. Read more ...