TRAVELLER

SIGHTS, HIGHLIGHTS, LANDMARKS Parks, landmarks, places of religious interest...

With Bengaluru, the sobriquets keep getting added up. From Air Conditioned City to Aviation Capital to Garden City, this small town turned technopolis has added a new word to the

American lexicon: ‘Bangalored’. It means ‘to lose one’s job’ as a result of off shoring work to India.

That’s not all. The city is emerging as a medical tourism hub in India by offering ‘First World Service at Third World Cost’. What’s more, the best and the brightest multinationals are spicing up the retail scene by test-marketing large format stores like Reebok,

Levi’s, Adidas, Esprit and Nautica. It’s become a ‘yuppie heaven’. Now that’s yet another sobriquet for the city. With the Metro Rail opening in phases, things are getting better by the day. Visit the city and be bowled over.

VIDHAN SOUDHA

Dr Ambedkar Veddi Road, North of Cubbon Park Built of granite and porphyry, this is the seat of the Secretariat and the State Legislature. Built in 1956, it has a dome, Rajasthani Jharokhas and Indo- Saracenic pillars. Things to watch out for: the sandalwood door to the Cabinet Room, and the Speaker’s Chair which is made of Mysore rosewood. Established in 1866 and located on Kasturba Road, this is one of the oldest museums in India. Housed in a red stucco Neo-Classical building with Corinthian columns, it has 18 sections with a fine collection of jewellery,

BANGALORE PALACE

Sankey Road

Built in 1880 at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, the Bangalore Palace was modeled on Windsor Castle, complete with fortified towers and Old Airport Road, Lord Shiva in lotus position. It has the backdrop of Mount Kailash, Shiva’s heavenly abode and the river Ganga flowing from his matted locks.

turreted parapets. It stands amid undulating lawns, partly converted into a formal garden with axial paths.

ATTARA KACHERI

Ambedkar Veedhi, Opp Vidhan Soudha.

Formerly offices of the secretariat, the two-storey structure of stone and brick Enterprises which also consists of the

structure is now home to the Karnataka High Court Built in Greco-Roman style, this bright-red building is spread over 1.95 lakh sq ft of space.

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PLANETARIUM

High Grounds, T Chowdiah Road Founded in 1989, the sky theatre inside comprises a dome that is fifteen metres in diameter and has a seating capacity of 225.

GOVERNMENT MUSEUM

Kasturba Road, Bangalore GPO miniature paintings, sculpture, artifacts from Mohenjo-Daro and much more.

SHIVA STATUE

Kemp Fort, Old Airport Road

Located behind on this statue is 65 feet tall, depicting

WORLD TRADE CENTER

Rajajinagar Also known as North Star is a 32-floor building. It was constructed by Brigade There are two shows held every day.

Sheraton hotel, Colombia Asia hospital, the Orion Mall, and so on. WTC Bangalore is recognised for international trade and opportunities.

LALBAGH

Laid out by Mysuru ruler Haider Ali in 1740 spread over 240 acres. Its tropical plants were imported by Haider and his son Tipu Sultan from countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Persia, Mauritius, Turkey and Africa. Ogle at the Glass House modeled on London’s Crystal Palace. There is an annual flower show as well. Climb the rock mountain and take a look at Bangalore from the top.

JP PARK

Junction of Jalahalli and Mathikere The Jayaprakash Narayan Park boasts of 20,000 varieties of plant species, 60,000 flowering plants and shrubs and 5,000 medicinal herbs. It also include a 4.5-km jogging track, bamboo garden, women’s playground with dedicated shuttle and tennikoit court, football court, 1,000-seater amphitheatre and so on. The big lake there attracts migratory birds. Timings: 5am-8.30am & 5pm-8.30pm.

BANNERGHATTA NATIONAL PARK

Located 22 km from Bangalore, it is a sanctuary for wildlife, bears, reptiles, elephants and deer. Chief attractions include the lion and tiger safari, herbivore safari and the butterfly park. The Bannerghatta Nature Camp offers a package and a guided nature walk. It is closed on Tuesdays.

ISKCON TEMPLE

Hare Krishna Hills, West of Chord Road, Rajajinagar The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is one of the most sought after destinations in India. The white temple building has gorgeous deities of Lord Radha Krishna.

BAHAI BHAVAN

82, Coles Road The centre hosts regular ‘firesides’ or discussions among small groups on the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith along with prayer meetings and study groups.

BULL TEMPLE

Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi This is a typical Dravidian-style temple built by Kempe Gowda I. It is has a monolith bull that is 4.5m tall and 6.5m long. It was apparently built to appease a vagrant bull which persisted in devouring all the groundnuts in the surrounding fields. Once this temple was built, the bull stayed away from the groundnuts. A Groundnut Fair (Kadalekayi Parishe) near the temple premises is held every year.

TAWAKKAL MASTAN DARGAH

Cottonpet, Near Majestic

Dedicated to the Sufi Saint Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Shah, it is characterised by coloured floor tiles, tinted glass lamps, a green-and-white façade and ornate minarets.

GURUDWARA

Ulsoor Sri Guru Singh Sabha that faces the picturesque Ulsoor Lake is a white architectural delight that revels in pristine marble floors. Built in 1946, it is the main Sikh centre of worship in the city. Timings: 4am-9.30pm.

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH

Cubbon Road. This red-and-white Scottish-styled Gothic church was built in 1867. High windows, tall doors and circular ventilators are the highlights of this pretty edifice.

ST MARY’S BASILICA

Shivajinagar

Best known for the eight-day St Mary’s Feast every September, this church started in as a small chapel 1818. Rev LF Kleiner transformed the small chapel into a church in 1874. Boasts of stately arches vaulting towards the ceiling, rich Corinthian capitals of moulded bunches of grapes and artistic stained-glass windows from Paris.

JAMIA MASJID

NR Road

One of the biggest mosques in town, it can accommodate over 10,000 people at a time. Made of pure white marble from Rajasthan, it was built in 1940 and is in the middle of City Market.

BIG BANYAN TREE

Village of Ramohalli, near Kengeri, 60Km west of Bangalore The Doda Alada Mara literally translated to Big Banyan Tree, is a giant tree covering 3 acres (12,000sqm) and is one of the largest of its kind. It is said to be at least 400 years old. Buses can be taken from Majestic Bangalore to Kengeri, and Kengeri to Doda Alada Mara.

BRINDAVAN

Whitefield, Kadugodi This is the Bangalore home of spiritual master Sathya Sai Baba. Spread over 50 acres, it is surrounded by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and the Sri Sathya Sai Hospital.

BANGALORE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE (BIEC)

Tumkur Road

A multi-purpose facility spread over 34 acres, is a common ground for industry exhibitions, conferences, product demonstrations and training programme.

MATA AMRITHANANDAMAYI MATH

136, Ullal Cross Road, 2nd Stage Jnana Bharathi Like her ashrams across the world, this one is run by Amma’s disciples and regularly holds spiritual discourses and classes. It manages the Bramasthanam Temple, an engineering college, Amrita Vidyalayam, Amrita Krupa, a charitable clinic that offers free medical check-ups.

CUBBON PARK

Near the Vidhan Soudha is this 334-acre park laid out in 1864 by Richard Sankey, the Chief Engineer of Mysore, and named in honour of the then Chief Commissioner of Mysore, Sir Mark Cubbon. It is dotted with statues, giant bamboos, flowerbeds, natural rock formations.

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FIRE TEMPLE

15, Queens Road, Bangalore GPO Built in 1926, the fire temple is so called because of the presence of the sacred fire that represents the infinite light of Ahura Mazda. The actual name of the temple is Baidhanmai and Cawasji Dadhabhai Dar-E-Meher, situated on Queens Road. Major festivals include Jamshedji Nowroz in March and Pateri in August. The temple is open to Parsis only. Timings: 9am-7pm,

JUMMA MASJID

11, Jumma Masjid Road This brick and mortar building is the oldest mosque in the city. Built during the time of Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan when Bengaluru was part of his territory, it had to be renovated in 1836. It boasts of jali-work, gleaming granite pillars and ornate stucco floral motifs.

RAMAKRISHNA MUTT

Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi Set up in 1909 by a disciple of Swami Ramakrishnananda, this became a prominent hub of spiritualists. The mutt organises daily bhajans, religious discourses and publishes religious books.

GAVI GANGADHARESHWARA TEMPLE

Gavipuram-Guttahalli, Behind Ramakrishna Math Going back 500 years, this cave temple was renovated by King Kempegowda in late 19th century dedicated to Lord Shiva. Observe the mantapa supported by 14 pillars, and Shiva’s trident and drum in carved granite.

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

C V Raman Avenue Built in 1913, Indian Institute of Science is a two-storeyed grey granite building capped with a Mangalore-tiled sloping roof. The tower has three levels, each bearing niches, balustrade railings and striking cupolas with molded arches flanking the tower on either side.

MAHABODHI SOCIETY

14, Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar

The Mahabodhi Society has a stupa, a monastery and a Bodhi tree. Set up in 1956, it aims to put his teachings into practice through spiritual, social and educational activities. It is also a resource centre for the detailed study of Buddhism.

THE ART OF LIVING

21st km, Kanakapura Road, Udayapura Tel: 2843- 2273/74 The Art of Living Ashram is the home of Sudarshan Kriya, Sri Sri Ravishankar’s internationallyrenowned breathing technique. Spread over 24 acres, it boasts of lush green hills and a spacious lake Residential courses to enhance mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health are conducted here.

TIPU’S SUMMER PALACE Albert Victor Road, City Market

Near City Market is this dilapidated palace built in 1790. Made largely out of wood with embellished balconies, pillars and arches, this two-storeyed structure is a replica of the Dariya Daulat Bagh in Srirangapatna.

176/3 Commercial Street, next to Woody’s Tel: 4205-8319, 2559-9744 M: 96867-99744. Email: linensanddrapes@gmail.com www.linensndrapes.com