Bangalore, often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ or ‘Garden City’ is a city full of stories, told beautifully by the remnants of history sprinkled all over. Considering it was ruled by the Vijayanagara Empire, Haider Ali, the British, and a few more names between the three, it is no surprise that you have a wide variety of things to see and experience.
That being said, going through the entirety of Bangalore to see all that it has to offer will take months, if not more, and most of us rarely have more than a weekend to ourselves. So, how do you decide which places to see and which to hold off until the next trip? Well, here’s a two-day itinerary of Bangalore to help you figure that out!
Completed in the year 1791, this summer residence of Tipu Sultan is one of the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. The ceilings, walls, and pillars of this palace feature Islamic carvings with a touch of floral designs. However, the creme-de-la-creme isn’t in the design, it is in the construction of this monument; it is built entirely out of teak wood!
Once inside, do keep an eye on the majestic staircases that lead to the beautifully carved balconies in this palace. It is said that Tipu Sultan used two of these balconies, the eastern and the western ones, to conduct state and mass affairs.
This palace might not be very large, but has all the ingredients for a royal monument. The rustic interior, the majestic decorations, and the overall beauty of the place make the Summer Palace the ideal place to start your trip through Bangalore.
Entry Fee: INR 5 for Indians, INR 100 for foreign nationals
Timings: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
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With two exhibition floors that house 18 different galleries, the Government Museum is definitely one spot that you might not want to miss. The galleries here cover categories like natural history, art, music, numismatics (the study of currencies), geology, and sculptures.
However, the wonderment starts before you ever step into the building. This grand, red colored, neo-Victorian building is located on one end of Cubbon Park, giving it a beautiful green backdrop. Moreover, there are some artifacts like cannons and statues kept in the yard of the museum, turning that into an exhibition floor as well. As a history and culture buff, the Government Museum is definitely one place that you should visit.
Entry Fee: INR 20 for adults, INR 10 for children
Timings: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed on Mondays)
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Cubbon Park is one of the most well-known spots to hang out in Bangalore. This 300-acre park is home to more than 6000 trees, multiple lawns, and all of that built around Greco-Roman structures in the park. Moreover, a lot of the heritage sites in the city like Attara Kacheri, State Archeological Museum, and Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall call this place home.
Taking a walk through the scenic park will let you experience some of the most picturesque places in the city, placed alongside monuments that mark some significant parts of the state’s history. The best part is, this walk will lead you to an amusement park and an aquarium.
Lastly, as you make your way through the park, make sure you glance through the many plaques around the buildings and other structures. They will give you an insight into the history and gradual development of the park, and a very interesting story to take home as you walk out.
Entry Fee: Free!
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Also read: 5 National Parks In South India You Can Visit
These three streets make up one of the trendiest areas in Bangalore. They come alive with the sights and sounds of the people of Bangalore and become arguably the best spots to end a day full of exploration.
This culmination of all things cool has a few snappy restaurants and cafés that share the space with some great pubs and bars. The neon signs, somewhat heavy traffic, and the constant chatter of happy conversations are reminiscent of Bangalore from the nineties, with much more BTS and cocktails, of course.
If you want to grab souvenirs before you head on home, make a pit-stop at Cauvery Emporium, then grab a book or two from Blossom Book House. As a last stop before heading off to grab a bite or a drink, is to check out the Rangoli Metro Art Center.
Talking about grabbing a bite or a drink, you’ve got places like Koshy’s, Indian Coffee House, Café Mozaic, and Café Azure, along with a few of the more oftenly heard cafés like Starbucks and Tea Villa. If you want something with a little bit of liquid magic, head on over to The 13th Floor, SkyDeck, Communiti, or Ebony.
Regardless of which of these spots you choose to visit, or just check out as you pass it by, just keep an open mind as you go through these three streets. Take a walk across the boulevards and stop at the street food spot you find most interesting. It doesn’t get any more Bangalore than this!
Entry Fee: N/A
Timings: N/A
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Lal Bagh Botanical Garden is huge, old, and very well planned. It was commissioned by the then ruler of Karnataka - Hyder Ali, and completed by his son, Tipu Sultan. This father-son duo designed the garden after the gardens of Sira in Tumkur District.
This 240-acre piece of art is full of beautiful walkways that lead to glasshouses and other structures with exotic fauna. Speaking of fauna, Tipu Sultan, when actually putting plants up in this garden, imported a lot of them from countries like France, Afghanistan, Arabia, Persia, amongst others. This garden single-handedly introduced a variety of new flowering plants to the country.
Apart from the beautiful trees and construction, this garden is home to a lot of exotic birds as well. You can see species like pond heron. Myna, purple moorhen, parakeets, common egrets, Brahminy kites, amongst many others. This spot puts you in close proximity to nature, while letting you be right in the middle of the city, making it the perfect place to start a day of exploration.
Entry Fee: INR 10
Timings: 6AM - 6PM
Also read: Spending A Day Out In Bangalore
Built in the year 1878 during the Wadiyar dynasty, this palace lives in the middle of the city and is a tourist attraction for people all around the country. It lives on land built on land bought by the guardians of Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar X as they wanted a place for the young Maharaja to complete administrative training in Bangalore.
This two-level palace is built in tudor style, complete with battlements, a ballroom, turrets, and fortified towers. On the inside, you will find Neoclassical, Victorian, and Edwardian elements of design that blend in seamlessly.
On the outside, you have a palace in the middle of 454 acres of grounds that are now used for a lot of cultural and music events. Interestingly, this palace has seen a lot of legal tussles since the 1970s, the latest of which rendered it closed for commercial shows in the mid-2000’s.
All that being said, if you’ve taken a quiet walk through the palace, and now want to do something a little more exciting, visit Fun World. It is a resort on the palace grounds that houses an amusement park as well as a water park! While going to a water park is a day-long activity in the least, a couple roller coasters before you head out sounds fun. What do you think?
Entry Fee: Bangalore Palace - INR 230 for Indians, INR 460 for foreigners. Fun World - INR 1,199 for adults
Timings: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
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Located in a quaint little village called Halasuru, Ulsoor Lake is one of the most well known attractions in Bangalore. This is a manmade lake built by Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring and sports a jogging track surrounded by lush trees and highly varied avifauna.
This is arguably the best place to end a two-day Bangalore tour. You can come in here during the evening, grab some grub from one of the four cafés around the lake, and sit down on one of the many lawns for a sunset picnic. However, if you’re fortunate enough to be in the vicinity during Ganesh Chaturthi, you can see this lake in a different avatar as the entire place comes to life with celebration and colors, especially during Ganesh Visarjan.
Not too far from the lake is Commercial Street. It is a typical shopper’s hotspot with a lot of shops, ranging from local brands to premium outlets, along with a number of great restaurants. So, any last minute shopping, along with the souvenirs you forgot the last time around, can be taken care of here.
Entry Fee: Free!
Timings: 5:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Also read: 12 Top Things To Do In Bangalore
Summing Up
Bangalore is an expansive city and covering it in just two days is not possible. Even more so considering a lot of places in the city demand some time to themselves, instead of just passing by. This itinerary covers a few popular attractions that are close enough to visit in continuity. All in all while on the two-day tour-de-Bangalore, make sure you don’t rush through any place. That is only when you will get to actually experience the city to the fullest. Cheers!
Are Two Days Enough For Bangalore?
No. While the city is small enough that you can cover the whole place in two days, you cannot really experience Bangalore in two days. There are too many places to fit in a 48-hour window and you might have to pick and choose which ones you want to visit.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Bangalore?
The best time to visit Bangalore would be between October and February, which are the winter months in this city.
Is Bangalore Expensive?
Bangalore isn’t very expensive, but it isn’t cheap in any way, shape, or form. Even for a small two-day trip, expect somewhere around INR 5,000 to be spent, outside of traveling costs.
Is AC Required In Bangalore?
Unless you’re visiting the city in winter, you might need the AC running. However, it is just a tiny bit cooler than cities like Mumbai and Delhi. So, you won’t be very uncomfortable either way.
What Is Bangalore Famous For?
Bangalore has made a reputation for itself as the IT Hub of India. However, it is home to a lot of cultural and historical monuments as well, and this part of Bangalore has quite a fan following too!
What Food Is Famous In Bangalore?
Foods from all over the country, if not the entire world, have an influence on the cuisine of Bangalore. You can find great spots for everything from kebabs to idlis.
Which Is The Closest Beach From Bangalore?
The closest beach from Bangalore is Auroville Beach, which is about 300 Km away from the city.
Is Bangalore Bigger Than Delhi?
No. In fact, Bangalore is about 741 square kilometers smaller than Delhi.
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