6 Things To Do In Bangalore

As one of the largest and most modernised cities in India, Bangalore has much intrigue to explore and experience. Also known as the Garden City, the Silicon Valley of India and the centre for the Rock Music culture in India, Bangalore has a wide range of recreational options for visitors. Located on the Deccan plateau, next to Mysore, Bangalore also has many tales of the heroism of the Mysore Empire and rulers to tell. It is also the centre for research and education, and many prestigious institutions are present here, thus making for an overall atmosphere of intellect.

Bangalore, being a metropolitan city is very well connected both externally as well as internally. Externally, the Kempegowda International Airport has frequent flights across the nation as well as abroad. The railway line has four stations or junctions, and frequent trains travel in all four directions to and from Bangalore. The city is also very well connected by road, with a smooth highway that leads directly to it. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation offers AC buses connecting Bangalore to all major cities. These buses are known to be safe, punctual and very comfortable.

Famous for its pleasant weather and beautiful sunsets, Bangalore is a year round visit. However, it is best visited during the winter months of December to January as this is when the weather is most pleasant and does not drop below a certain degree. The peak winter months of April to June should be avoided as temperatures tend to rise to slightly unbearable levels during the day at this time.

1. Music Festivals

Bangalore has a dominant rock music culture that has seen some of the biggest names in the global rock scenario visiting and performing in Bangalore to a mass audience. These performances usually take place in the Palace Grounds, that is, the sprawling gardens of the great Bangalore Palace. Most artists who make a stop at India during their tours like to perform at Bangalore. These include renowned names such as Aerosmith, Backstreet Boys, Don Moen, Machine Head, Iron Maiden, Elton John, Deep Purple, Jay Sean, Textures, Lamb Of God, Mark Knopfler, Akon, Guns N’ Roses, Black Eyed Peas, Amon Amarth, The Rolling Stones, Scorpions, Michael Learns to Rock, Roger Waters, The Prodigy, No Doubt, Enrique Iglesias, Cradle of Filth, Ludacris, Flo Rida and recently, Metallica.

Other than this, various local bands also perform at Bangalore. Bangalore is said to have its own variation of rock, which is a mixture of classic rock, hard rock and heavy metal, with a touch of jazz and blues. The Storm Festival, one of India’s biggest music festivals is held here. Some local bands from Bangalore who have made it big include the Raghu Dixit Project, Kryptos, Inner Sanctum, Agam, All the Fat Children and Swaratma.

2. Pubs And Nightlife

Bangalore is a city that sleeps early and not many nightclubs are open until late, except maybe on weekends. However, Bangalore has a very strong culture of drinking freshly brewed beers and lagers, which is in tune with their predominant rock music culture. Thus, locals and tourists alike prefer to flock to the various pubs and lounges across town. Popular pubs in Bangalore include Toit, ABC, Skyye City Bar, Purple Haze, Coconut Grove, Church Street Social, High, District 6, Hoppipola, Loft 38, 13th Floor, Fenny’s, the Biere Club, Guzzler’s Inn, Pecos, Tavern at the Inn, Windmill Craftworks, Opus, Love Shack, FBar, Prost, Noon Wines and La Casa. With a fine ambience, food and drink, many of these places have their own breweries as well as many other attractions to make for an entertaining evening.

3. Shopping

Bangalore is a city where one can experience the best of both the luxury as well as simplistic life. Various malls are present in the city, the most famous of which is UB City, the first luxury mall in India, which has some of our favourite high-end brands, such as Jimmy Choo, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Rado, Michael Kors, Burberry and Crabtree and Evelyn. All of this is set in a pleasant ambience with beautiful displays. Other large malls include the Forum Mall, Garuda Mall, and Esteem Mall etc.

Other than this, one can also enjoy street shopping in Bangalore. Cheap trinkets, ethnic clothing and jewellery and intricately designed local handicrafts can be found on Commercial Street, Brigade Road and MG Road.

4. Restaurants And Cafes

Bangalore is a city that has imbibed Indian as well as Western palates into its cuisine. One can find mouth-watering Konkan as well as other South Indian dishes, both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian. However, due to the youth present in Bangalore as well as tourists from abroad, there is a large culture of cafes that serve delicious coffees, teas, milkshakes and juices as well as sandwiches, salads etc. In fact, Bangalore is recognised globally as one of the only cities in India to have imbibed the vegan culture into its cuisine. Some of these places include the Fatty Bao, Khan Saheb Grills and Rolls, Bistro Claytopia, Hyderabadi Spice, Waffle-Waffle, Chopstick World and Peppa Zzing.

5. Museums, Culture And Heritage Sites

As the summer capital of the Mysore Empire, as well as a recognised city during Colonial times, Bangalore has many heritage sites. These include the Bangalore Palace and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, where the great emperor would rule from in the summer.

Bangalore has of late been making special efforts to preserve its culture. Many events are held where the local theatre, dance and music forms are showcased. The events occur in the Ravindra Kalakshetra and the Ranga Shankara. Dance forms include Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali and Kuchipudi.

Art and literature has also been preserved in museums. The most famous of these is the National Gallery of Modern Art, where one can witness the evolution of modern art into what it is today.

6. Gardens

Bangalore is known famously as the Garden City mainly because of the famous Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, which are a must visit walk through visit for nature lovers and botany enthusiasts alike. Each year, biaanual flower shows take place here, on Republic Day and then on Independence, as a way of both celebrating as well as showcasing the varieties and specialities of the different types of flora. Other than this, there are a lot of green parks spread across the city, including the Cubbon Park.

Bangalore is a bustling city with a fast paced life. However, it also has great beauty, if one can explore all that there is within the city.