The cosmopolitan city of Bengaluru is today India’s one of the most developed and progressive cities. The beautiful city is blessed with incredible weather throughout the year, has got the most exotic clubs and offers the best dining options. A traveler seeking to explore a place offering comfort, thrill and excitement has to make a visit to Bengaluru. Although there are no world best sites but you one will find stunning parks and breathtaking works Victorian era architecture. With the surging years of development, traffic congestion and pollution levels have taken a toll over the city areas. However, its fortunate that the central city is leas changed and the busiest areas (IT industry) is set on the outskirts.
To help you have a smooth and great time in the busy yet amazing city, we have created this detailed Bengaluru city guide. It’s always better to know the destination inside out prior to your travel. So, here’s everything you should know before taking the tour to Bengaluru city.
Getting to and from the airport
Traveling to and from the Kempegowda International airport is most suitable via buses. Like you found cheap flights to Bengaluru at Indian eagle, cheap transportation within the city is also possible.You can find AC Volvo buses named VayuVajra outside the airport departing in a time interval of 30 minutes. The buses are run under the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and cover almost every area of the city. The fares vary based on the area you want to reach. You can find the BMTC buses 24 hours a day. However, if you want to choose taxi as your transport, head to the taxi counter outside the airport and look for the cheapest fares the taxi companies propose. The average fare to city center area will come around 750INR – 1000INR. The exact fare depends on the destination you booked it for.
Also Read: Everything You Need to Know About Bengaluru International Airport
Getting around in the city
Once you are in the city transportation becomes easier. You can either opt for the BMTC buses (city buses) or use the metro to move around within the city. Remember, the red AC BMTC buses connect to places within the city whereas the green deluxe BMTC buses connect to the suburbs. You can check the fares, timings and routes on the BMTC website.
Coming to the other mode of transport metro, the metro system in Bengaluru has two lines – green and purple. The fares depend upon the distance you are traveling. While for shorter trips, the minimum fare comes around INR 9 whereas longer trips cost up to INR 40. Depending on the line and destination you are traveling to, you can see the schedules and routes on the metro website before boarding the train.
Shorter distances can also be covered in auto rickshaws, but only when you can haggle over the price.
Accommodation in Bengaluru
Finding a suitable accommodation in Bengaluru is not a milestone to achieve. One can easily find upscale, midscale and budget hotels all around the city. However, make sure to make he bookings beforehand. Booked last minute flights to Bengaluru and worried about accommodation? That can also be done online!Some of the upscale hotels in the city include ITC Windsor, Bengaluru (25, Windsor Square, Golf Course Road), The Park Bangalore (14/7 MG Road), Alila Bangalore (100/6 HAL-Varthur Main Road, Whitefield), The Leela Palace Bangalore (23, Kodihalli, Old Airport Road), Mövenpick Hotel & Spa Bangalore (115 Gokula Extension, HMT Road, Near BEL Circle), Vivanta by Taj (2275 Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur), JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru (24/1 Vittal Mallya Road) and The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore (No. 99 Residency Road, Bangalore).
If you are looking for some comfortable budget hotels in Bengaluru, you can book a room in the 3-star hotels in Marathahalli and HBR Layout– FabHotel Scarlet ( 90/4, Beside Park Plaza, near Innovative Multiplex, outer ring road and Marathahalli) and Hotel Oak Castle (417, 4th Main, HBR layout, HBR Layout) respectively.
Things to do and see in Bengaluru
Bengaluru has a lot to offer a tourist from its lush green gardens, parks to palaces, breweries, art galleries and museums. Start sightseeing by taking a stroll in the Cubbon Park of the “Garden City of India” and explore its wide range of plant species. There are several other attractions close to the Cubbon Park like the art gallery, Government museum and State Central Library. The 300 acre area has colonial architecture building al around that makes it a peaceful respite from the chaos of the city. You will find various Bengaluru tourist guide services near the tourist destinations in and around the city to help you explore them well.
Move to know all about the Bengaluru Palace (Bangalore Palace as it was formerly called), a palace built in the year 1887 inspired by Windsor Castle and is still the residence of the present royal family. You can go for a self-guided tour (tour) to gain knowledge about its history and architecture. Spend some quality time seeing the lavish décor in the interior and the ornate wood carvings.
Are you on a business visit to Bengaluru? Take out some time from those regular meetings and get the worth of your business class flight bookings by spending a night at an exotic bar or brewery. If you are a beer fan, check out the best craft breweries in Bengaluru such as The Biere Club, the first craft brewery in the city. Generally, there’s a lager, an ale, a wheat beer and a special or seasonal brew on tap. Others to give a shot include Toit Brewpub, Windmills Craftworks, Barleyz and Arbor Brewing Company.
The city of Bengaluru is home to various art galleries and museums you can explore. If you are an avid history buff, you will definitely cherish the time checking out places like the National Gallery of Modern Art, Visvesvaraya Industrial Technological Museum, Government Museum, Venkatappa Art Gallery and HAL Aerospace Museum.
What and where to eat in Bengaluru
When it comes to food and best places to eat in Bengaluru, the city is a gourmand’s heaven. The local cuisines are an influence of Tamil, Andhra, Hyderabadi, Chettinad, Keralan and Mangalorean dishes emphasizing on sambhar, rasam and rice dishes. Being a global capital today, Bengaluru is known for delicious international dishes too, however, the real delight still remains in the indulgence into the succulent local cuisine.
Start your day with a delicious plate of masala dosa, a layer of crepe with stuffing of spiced potatoes along with some chai (tea). For lunch, have the typical South Indian plate consisting of curries, steamed rice, pickles and vegetable dishes. Additionally you will have a sweet dish like buttermilk, poppadoms, ghee and curd. As per the traditional values, you should start your meal with a sweet dish and end it with curd rice. Everything is well-served on a rinsed banana leaf.
Also Read: Treat Yourself to the Delectable Street Food of Bangalore at These 6 Best Places
The most famous eateries and restaurants in Bengaluru include names like Oliver Bar and Kitchen, Authentic cook, Ebony, Karavalli, Blue Ginger, The Fisherman’s Wharf, Milers 46, Sattvam, and many more. You can take help from the city guide map of Bengaluru to navigate different restaurants and food joints.
We hope our Bengaluru city guide proves to be useful and you have a great time in the vibrant city.
