Have weekend, will travel? Bengaluru or Bangalore is a futuristic city with a cultural heart. Globalisation came a-knocking on Bengaluru's doors in the late 20th century. In the IT capital of India, Victorian-era bungalows still lurk in the shadows of high-rises and hip cosmopolitan crowd bows before deities on their way to work for million dollar start-ups. The traffic-congested streets wind its way through narrow alleys of spice markets which are plastered with flashy Kannada cinema posters.
Explore More: Bengaluru Tourist Map
Here's a handy guide to make the most of 48 hours in the “Silicon Valley of India” –
Day One
What better way to unfold a city than exploring its historical sites! Set a date with Bengaluru's past and start exploring.
Tipu Sultan's Palace (9 AM)
Famed for its flashy frescoes and teak pillars, the elegant 18th-century summer pad of Tipu Sultan is built in Indo-Islamic architecture. Rickshaw horns of the city almost succeed in making sure one doesn't travel back to the glory days of Mughal Emperor. Saturated with historical charm, rambling remnants and pink stone walls of the Bangalore Fort – a stronghold of Kempe Gowda – stand in the vicinity. The entire complex lies adjacent to the cramped gullies of K.R. Market (City Market) where Bangaloreans love to barter with fruit and flower vendors.Bangalore Palace (11 AM)
A solemn reminder of Tudor architecture, this royal residence offers a slice of bygone regal splendour amidst a dizzying downtown ablaze with neon. Its façade presents a vague resemblance to Windsor Castle built in the days of yore whereas, its lavish interior décor and galleries exhibit memorabilia, paintings and portraits. Have a lunch on the run along the MG Road or Old Airport Road and make a quick stop at Shivoham Shiva Temple to resume your day by heading east from the city centre.HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum (3 PM)
A paradise for aviation aficionados, the prestigious museum houses indigenous aircraft models (like Dornier and Jaguar), choppers and flight simulators. Visitors can engage in mock dogfights and take strolls through orchids in India's oldest aerospace museum at HAL premises.Cubbon Park (5 PM)
It's a vital green lung of the city where nine-to-fivers converge to seek solace from city's rat race. The park sprawls against the crimson façade of Attara Kacheri (Karnataka High Court). The park is renowned for botanical assets, Araucaria-lined avenues, and an aquarium housed in an octagonal building. The Visvesvaraya Museum, Nehru Planetarium and Freedom Park are other prominent attractions only a few yards away.Nightlife in Bengaluru (8 PM onwards)
Bengaluru caters every whim from classical dance to rock concerts and fresh brews to lip-smacking Udupi cuisine. The city has a swanky nightlife thanks to a diverse population which follows a simple mantra of “work hard and play harder.” No Limmits, Pebble – the Jungle Lounge, Opus and Loveshack are popular watering holes frequented by barflies.Day Two
After a day of colonial hangovers and hedonistic delights, start your next day with local deities. Make sure to have a tasty Masala Dosa in Gandhi Bazaar.
