Bengaluru (Bangalore) tours and excursions

Bengaluru (Bangalore) tours

Bangalore Rounds bus tour

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation offers daily sightseeing bus tours, visiting all the main sights, including the Bull Temple, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace and Cubbon Park. The buses are billed as ‘hop-on, hop-off’ but actually it’s more like a full-day tour, with designated sightseeing time at each stop along the route.

Tel: 1 800 425 1663 (in India only).
Website: http://www.mybmtc.com/en/bangalore-rounds

Walking tours

Bangalore Walks offers a selection of themed weekend walks led by fluent English-speaking guides, with a focus on heritage and history. The ‘Victorian Bangalore Walk’ offers a 19th century glimpse of busy Mahatma Gandhi Road, while the ‘Green Heritage Walk’ involves a stroll through Lalbagh Gardens. There are also medieval and cultural themed walks.

Tel: +91 98 4506 8416
Website: http://www.bangalorewalks.com

Bengaluru (Bangalore) excursions

Nandi Hills

When temperatures rise, Bengaluru heads for the hills, the Nandi Hills to be exact, about 60km (37 miles) north of the city. These rolling knolls were the country retreat of Tipu Sultan, the last sultan of Mysore. Today, they attract legions of city dwellers on the weekends. There are peaceful country walks, masses of monkeys, ancient temples and viewing platforms with epic outlooks across the plains.

Tel: +91 80 2657 9231
Website: http://www.horticulture.kar.nic.in/nandi.htm

Nrityagram

This modern-day Gurukul (spiritual and cultural school) was founded to preserve the ancient rituals and philosophy of Indian classical dance, under the guidance of legendary dancer Protima Gauri Bedi. Visitors can take a casual tour of the campus, attend classes on Indian dance, or take in performances by the school’s students. Nrityagram is 30km (19 miles) from Bengaluru, close to Hesaraghatta Lake.

Tel: +91 80 2846 6312.
Website: http://www.nrityagram.org

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

Vivanta by Taj – Yeshwantpur

Soak in the space that's right in the centre of Bengaluru’s business and entertainment areas. The lobby of this luxurious hotel in Bengaluru is a unique mix of chic and classic. This is where sophisticated business travellers can find intelligent work environments and vibrant leisure options in one hot spot.

Gateway Hotel

Many pick this upscale downtown hotel for its superior restaurant, the delectable Karavalli, but the rooms are just as tasteful. The setting here is calm, and the location is perfect for shoppers with their sights on MG Road. They even offer a jetlag service for international guests.

Hotel Empire International

A budget hotel with an unbeatable location right in the heart of Bengaluru, Hotel Empire International is close to the shops and traveller hangouts of MG Road. All rooms are clean and offer air conditioning, safety deposit lockers, and TVs. There’s also internet access and a respectable in-house restaurant.

Iris Hotel

Small but perfectly formed, the Iris offers a big package on a modest floorplan. Its contemporary rooms are compact yet comfortable and include LCD TVs, free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. There’s even a small pool, in-house spa and business meeting rooms, all in a great location near Mahatma Gandhi Road.

The Taj West End

This stylish, old mansion was built in 1887 and started life as a boarding house, but soon became a lavish retreat for Bengaluru’s wealthiest colonial rulers. Luxuriously refurbished and surrounded by an 18-hectare (45-acre) garden, the hotel drips with character. There are two pools, a gym and beauty parlour, as well as fine dining at the Mynt, Blue Ginger and Masala Klub restaurants.

The Leela Palace Bengaluru

Located 4km (2.5 miles) from the city centre, the opulent Leela Palace is set in lavish grounds beside an azure lagoon. True to its name, the hotel is indeed palatial, with gilded domes, soaring arches and stylish rooms that strike the perfect balance between heritage glamour and modern luxury. The hotel has three restaurants and a well-regarded spa and gym.

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