Bangalore Palace- A treat to the sore eye!

The ever so majestic Bangalore Palace- A treat to the sore eye!

Ever so often we find that in our eagerness to visit new places we tend to forget places that are almost in our neighborhood. One such place that many people living in Bangalore will come across is the Bangalore Palace. 

The famous Mysore Palace which people from Bangalore frequent so often has taken away most of this palace’s sheen. Though it isn’t in anyway comparable to the palace in Mysore, there are a few nuances that might manage to get your attention. For anyone wanting to spend a good evening in Bangalore this palace can provide more than what you expect from it.

The Bangalore Palace is aptly placed according to its name in the center of the city. The Tudor style architectural manner and resemblance to the Windsor Castle in England has managed to attract a lot of history lovers here. Built in the year 1887, the place belongs to the Woodeyar dynasty and is currently owned by Srikantha Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar from Mysore. The verdant gardens surrounding the castle seem to be a very nice place for some leisure. The fact that it is placed in between the urban environment of the city gives it a stunning contrast from the other buildings.

The beauty of the castle begins right from its door which is marvelously carved. As you enter the castle you will notice a wide variety of woodwork of the 19^th century which is sure to take the breath out of anyone. The castle is extremely well furnished and the extensive paintings and carvings found in its walls is indeed a treat to the eye. The interior of the palace is filled with intricate artwork, ceiling paintings, floral décor etc. 

The courtyard is the first thing you will come across upon entering the palace followed by a Ballroom. The rooms of notice in the first floor were the Durbar Hall where the King mostly held private parties. Plus there are other antiques present here including an elephant head and art displays that have been wonderfully placed to add to the beauty of the room and the palace.

The palace is widely used today for events like concerts, programs and other exhibitions and they are open to the public. Certain preferred groups are allowed to hold private parties within the palace and the place is also rented to movie groups as it proves to be a great location to shoot films and advertisements.

To get to Bangalore Palace one can simply board a bus heading towards Carmel College from Kempegowda bus station. From Carmel College the place is just a few walks away. 

Upon reaching the place the entry to the palace is Rs.100 followed by a recommended audio guide which costs around 175 bucks. If you want to make use of cameras then you will have to pay Rs.500 extra and around 1000 bucks if it is a video camera. The rates are completely revised for the foreigners and seem a bit on the higher side. The entrance fee is around 300 and other rates are comparatively higher for non-Indians which is a let down if you are a tourist. 

Bangalore High Court- an architecural legacy

The Karnataka High Court which is located in the building called Attara Kacheri is a very famous tourist attraction of the city Bangalore. 

Located at the entrance of Cubbon Park this red bricked building houses the high court and several other lower courts. The building is two storied and is just opposite to Vidhan Soudha which is the Karnataka Secretariat building and another tourist destination.

The history of the building dates back to the Tipu Sultan reign. Believed to have been built in the late 1860s the Tipu Sultan reign appointed this building as the highest court of appeal back then. Named the High Court of Mysore back then the court received its present name in the year 1973.

The High Court as previously mentioned is located in a building called Attara Kacheri which means eighteen offices. This two storied building was built in the year 1868 under the supervision of Arcot Narayanaswami Mudaliar and was provided as a replacement for the eighteen departments of the general and revenue secretariat of the Tipu Sultan reign. These departments were asked to move into this building as their temporary residence which was Tipu Sultan’s summer palace was way too crowded and uncomfortable to perform the necessary work. When Cubbon was replaced as the Commissioner by Mr. Bowring he considered the building unsuitable for work and paved way for the construction of a new secretariat. The building was proposed to be demolished in the early 1980s but a public litigation against such a proposal made sure that no demolition took place.

The Attara Kacheri is a majestic building constructed in the Graeco-Roman style of architecture. Tourists are allowed to visit the place all year round and enjoy the Gothic architecture of the building. The red paint of the building compliments the beauty of Vidhan Soudha located opposite to it extremely well and this is one reason why it has been considered a great tourist attraction in Bangalore. The expansive premises has various Corinthian columns constructed in Gothic style architecture is an amazement to several architects who consider this place one of the most esteemed architectural marvel in the country. 

The building is located adjacent to the Venkatappa Art Gallery which is known for its display of famous paintings, artifacts and statues of Venkatappa himself who was considered a great artist back in his time. 

The other tourist attractions around this building are the Vishweshwariah Science & Technology Museum, Cubbon Park and Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall.  

Reaching this place is pretty easy and is easily accessible by using public transport such as buses and Autorickshaw. Tourists new to Bangalore can simply board the suitable bus from the Kempegowda bus station and reach the place in about ten minutes. Accommodation facilities are pretty easy to find here as there are a lot of famous hotels located in and around the locality. Some good places to stay include Fortune Park JP Celestial, Brunton Aster, The Infantry Hotel, Leela Palace Kempinski etc. These hotels are pretty affordable and luxurious. 

Sankey Tank- Every nature lover’s paradise

Henry Thoreau’s most famous quote “All beautiful things are wild and free” apply to almost everything in the world today. 

However, if you speak of a few exceptions in the world Sankey Tank in Bangalore should make it someplace on the list. As a Bangalorean, this lake is the best place you can find close to your vicinity and spending an evening here can really be a heartwarming experience.

Even tourists find solace at this picturesque tank! If you are a person who loves to spend time around water bodies then Sankey Tank is the place to be in Bangalore. One of the major lakes of the city, the water body is sizeable and has been an important tourist attraction for the past few years. Apart from tourists the tank is also a jolly place for locals to spend their weekends for picnics.

 The Sankey Tank was constructed by Colonel Richard E. Sankey of the Madras Sappers Regiment who was the Chief Engineer of Mysore in 1882 to compensate for water shortage in Bangalore during the summer. The tank a few years back was not considered anywhere close to a tourist attraction. With highly polluted waters and choked drains this place was far from the beauty that it is today. However, the government intervened and started restoration actions to bring the lake back to life. After considerable treatment procedures the lake was converted into a park. The lake has a nursery in the north, paved walkways, landscaped parks, a special tank for idol immersion and a public swimming pool. The tank occupies close to 37 acres and is large enough to accommodate a decent crowd during the weekends.

There are a lot of interesting fun things that one can do at this tank. Bird watchers can enjoy a variety of migratory birds that flock here during the respective seasons particularly in the winter. The tank is an excellent place to relax as the soothing environment with greenery that keeps the surrounding cool helps office goers experience a very calm and tranquil time away from their hectic schedule. The paved walkways help people jog in the morning and the parks prove to be a good place to exercise. 

Plus tourists can enjoy a boat ride organized by The Mayura Sankey Boat Club. The boat club operates between 6 to10 AM in the morning and 12 to 5 PM in the afternoon. The club has plenty of boats and for people who want a private ride through the lake they can go for the pedal or row boats. For people who prefer going in groups the motor boats are a suitable choice. 

The best time to visit this lake would be during the summer where the surrounding is dry and clean. Though other seasons do not bring in a lot of changes it is recommended that the lake is avoided during the rainy season mainly because of the muddy conditions prevailing.

Located in the middle suburbs of Malleswaram and Sadashiv Nagar there are a lot of public transport buses that connect the tank. One can simply board any bus from Bashyam Circle or take an Auto-rickshaw to reach the place. What’s more? There are several eateries nearby to savor some good food after a long stroll by the sankey tank. Two of the most prominent eateries are ‘Halli mane’, where you can feat on typical karanataka cusine and ‘Suruchi foods’ where you can eat south indian snacks to your hearts delight!

Agasthya Teertha

Agasthya Teertha is a lake in Badami, in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The lake has been named after one of the saptarishis in Hindi tradition- Agasthya. 

There are some legends regarding the lake as well. It's a rather beautiful lake and if you're in Badami, you should most certainly visit it. There are some local traditions and myths attached to the Agasthya Teertha- it is beleived that the waters of this lake have healing powers, especially since they have been named after Agasthya, the greate sage.

You actually have no choice but to visit it, as it is located where the two Bhootanatha Temples are located. The Agasthya Teertha, along with the Bhootanatha temples form one of the most picturesque sights in all of India. If you're visiting Agasthya Teertha, you are visiting the Bhootanatha Temple- they are not exclusive, for sure. The Bhootanatha temples are dedicated to the Lord Shiva. It's supposed to be dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of ghosts, spirits and souls. The temple is made of rich red sandstone and is incredibly beautiful to behold. There are two of these temples and both of them are placed on the eastern and the western banks of the Agasthya Teertha, respectively.

 In order to get to the Agasthya Teertha, you could take the scenic road from the Badami Caves. The path is winding and slightly narrow- with a mystical feeling to it. This path also passes right through a village. You will be able to see the Badami Caves from the Agasthya Teertha, actually. There are some sandstone rocks around the cave that actually feel like steps- you can make use of these rocks and climb up a nearby hill to get a better look of the Teertha and the temples- an aerial view of the place would certainly be breathtaking. It's, of course, beneficial, that all the caves in the area face Agasthya Lake.

The Beautiful Badami caves are located quite close to the lake. Ideally, you should visit the caves in the morning and then head down to the Bhootnath Temple and the lake. This way, you will reach the lake by evening- you will be able to enjoy the beautiful sunset and the amazing weather, as well.

The best time to visit the Agasthya Teertha is between November and March, when the temperature is sufficiently low and the humidity is also quite low. Badami is well connected to all other major cities of Karnataka. The nearest airport is in Belgaum, which is around 150 km away. You can access this area through the Hubli- Sholapur rail route. If you're coming from Bangalore, the nearest train station for you is Hospet. There are buses directly connecting Bangalore and Mysore to Badami as well. You could always choose to take one of those tourist buses to Badami as well.

Some of the best restaurants you could o to enjoy a meal after the wonderful evening in Agasthya Lake include olden Caves Cuisine, Banashree, Geeta Darshini, Hotel Sanman and Pulikeshi Dinner Room as well.

Kote Venkataramana Temple

Bangalore is often referred to as the IT hub of India. In a city such as this one wouldn’t expect to see a lot of temples and religious constructions. But surprisingly the city has a number of temples that are of great historical and religious significance. One such temple is the Kote Venkataramana Temple.

Located in Krishnarajendra Road of Bangalore this temple is dedicated to the god Venkateshwara. The temple was built in the year 1689 by the then ruler of Mysore Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar. The temple is built in Dravidian and Vijayanagar style of architecture. The temple is located very close to the famous KR Market of Bangalore and is adjacent to the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan which was the residence of the Wodeyar family back then.

The temple is skillfully constructed with the Dravidian art being reflected in every aspect of the temple. The beautifully carved pillars or colonnades with yalis in all four directions are a real treat to the eye but most of them are partially damaged by canons during the Third Mysore War. Other than this the decorations inside the temple is very modest and is very similar to the designs found in the palace complex of Mysore. The central hall is connected to the sanctum of the temple by a vestibule. Both the sanctum and the vestibule consist of wall painting of gods and goddesses at the base.

The temple is largely visited by devotees during the Vaikuntha Ekadashi during which it is believed that the inner gate to Lord’s sanctum is opened. This is the main festival celebrated in this temple. The entire temple looks majestic and is decorated grandly to mark the festival. This is without doubt the best time to visit this temple. However if you are a person who does not prefer large crowds then it is recommended that you avoid visiting the temple during the festival. The temple is open from 8 to 12 in the morning and then again from 6.30 to 8 in the evening all days. All the necessary items that are required to perform the ritual can be purchased in the market which has a lot of shops put up to provide the same.

The temple is easily accessible from all the major locations in and around Bangalore. The area is well connected by all sorts of public transports as there are many buses that connect the KR Market. From here you can walk it down to the temple or hire an auto-rickshaw to get you there quickly. The bus travel should take about half an hour from Majestic bus stand depending on traffic conditions. If you are traveling by car try and reach the temple early to avoid parking problems.

For people looking to find accommodation near this temple Amshi International Inn, Compact Tea Pavillion, and Hotel Nandhini will be great choices. These hotels are extremely comfortable and also provide easy access to all other major locations in the city.

Bull Temple Bangalore

Bangalore over the past few years has grown to be a chaotic and confused city. Older residents can give you just the account of how the city transformed from being a gentle, peaceful place to what it is today. But even amidst such tumultuousness there are places in the city that offer a calm and soothing environment for dwellers. One such place is the island of the Bull Temple. Located in Basavanagudi which literally means ‘Bull Temple’ this temple is one of the most famous temples in the city installed by Kempegowda the First who is the founder of Bangalore.

The temple is built in the Vijayanagar style of architecture and is dedicated to Nandi, Lord Shiva’s mount. The temple is famous for its larger than life statue of a bull that measures almost 20ft in length and 15ft in height. The temple is present on top of a mound just below the highest point known as the Bugle Rock. There is a very famous tale behind the construction of this temple which dates back to the early 16^th century. Back then the present area of Basavanagudi was a vast group of farmers who cultivated groundnuts. Most of these farmers had a common problem which was a large bull pillaging all their crops time after time. Kempegowda who was then the ruler of the city knew straight away that this was no ordinary bull and ordered the construction of a giant Nandi to pacify the raged bull. It is believed that the construction of the temple appeased the bull and the farmers could cultivate groundnuts without any further problems.

Ever since, farmers around the temple first offer groundnuts to the Nandi as a sign of gratefulness. This tradition continues even today as you can see several farmers set up shops in front of the temple in an annual event called the Kadalekai Parishe which means groundnut fair. This fair takes place in the months of November and December which is the best time for anyone to visit this temple. 

Below the hillock is the Dodda Ganesha Temple which is also known for a large statue of Ganesha. The Benne Alankara is the most celebrated event in this temple. This extraordinary ritual involves the covering of the huge idol completely with over 100kg of butter. 

Plus the vantage point of the hill has is known as the Bugle Rock which is a great place for tourists and visitors to spend sometime and breathe some fresh air. The Bugle Rock too has a lot of history associated with it as this is considered the place where the Mysore Army finally recruited before attacking the British during the Third Mysore war.

The place is well connected by buses and other public transport and it is just about half an hour’s journey from the Kempegowda Bus and Railway station. Tourists can also find a lot of comfortable accommodation options around this historic temple. Lalit Ashok, ITC Windsor, The Chevron Orchards are all great places for a brief stay in the city. 

Hesaraghetta Lake

Hersaraghetta Lake has become quite popular off late for it is close to Bangalore and it is perfect for a Sunday out. Hesaraghetta Lake is a manmade lake that is located around 18km away from Bangalore. It's a fresh water lake. It was actually made in 1894- so it is quite old. It is made across the Arkavathy River and it was initially constructed in order to ensure supply of water to Bangalore.

By road, the lake is only 26 km away from the city, so it is quite easy to visit. The lake has been built on the Arkavati River, which actually originates in the Nandi Hills at Chikkaballapur district and joins the Kaveri River. Right after it's construction, the lake began to dry up in 1925, and a dam was constructed to ensure continuous waterflow to the Hesaraghetta lake. This lake is integral to bangalore because of the fact that it has continually provided water to the city over the past century. 

Now, the lake is a popular tourist spot. A lot of tourists go here from Bangalore- a lot of Bangalore residents prefer visiting Hesaraghetta lake in the form of a Sunday or a holiday trip. It's a large and beautiful lake surrounded by greenery. It's quite a picturesque place. 

It attracts a lot of important birds as well- including common mynas, the magpie robin, kingfishers, common mynas, purple sunbirds, black drongbos, bulbuls, etc. Around 29 different species of birds have been identified in the area. It's an amazing spot for bird watchers. Even if you are not a bird watcher, the sight of over 2000 birds is rather amazing to behold. If you visit the lake during the winter months, you will be able to spot the spotted eagles and herriers as well.

Right next to the lake, there are a lto of big institutes. There is a Government Aquarium that you would be able to visit. If you do have enough time, you should most certainly go to Nrityagram, the dance village close to the lake. Nrityagram was actually the first gurukul established in India by the famous Protima Gauri, a renowned Odissi dancer. The lake's quality has been deteriorating- as has been the condition of all the lakes in and around Bangalore. But major restoration projects are being undertaken in the area.

The best time to visit the area would be in the winter months- October to February. The winter birds migrate around that time and the area is beautiful to behold. During the winter months, the chances of finding the lake in it's fully glory is high- as the monsoons would have just replenished it's water availability. The best way to reach the lake is through road. It will take about an hour to get there. You will get to the place if you go on NH-4 till Vidyanagar and then get on to the Hesaraghetta Main Road. The road conditions are good. If you do not have your own car, you should be able to hire a car to reach there. There are a lot of car hire options in Bangalore- depending on the size of the car you want and whether or not you want air conditioning, it will cost anywhere between Rs 6 to Rs 18 per kilometer. There are a lot of eateries on the NH4, but the number of eateries does go down drastically in Hesaraghetta Road. If you are planning a picnic in the lake, you should certainly pack your own food. 

Jog Falls

Jog Falls is the second highest plunge waterfall in the country. It's located in the scenic Shimoga and it's an absolutely stunning locale. It's located near Sagara in Karnataka and it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the state. Locally, they are also known as Jogada Falls or Gersoppa Falls.

"Joga" is the Kannada word for falls. It's quite popular among Kannada speakers, especially around these Sahayadri mountain ranges to use the word "Joga" in reference to a waterfall. The falls is created by the Sharavathi River and it falls from a height of 253 meters. THat makes it the second highest falling falls in the country- following the Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya. Sharavathi River originates in the Thirthalli Taluk. The Sharavathi flows over a rocky bed and once it gets here, it reaches a large, gaping chasm that is rather deep. As a result of the same, it comes down in four distinct falls. The Raja Falls pours down in one unbroken column for 250 meters. Halfway down it's lenght, the Roarer starts precipitating. The Roarer meets Raja at a peculiar, 45 degree angle. The third fall is the ocket and it just shoots down in various jet streams. The fourth falls is the Rani. The Rani moves quitely over the mountain, it's calm and moves like foam.

Tourists do not have access to the foot of the falls- it's quite dangerous to go near the falls, especially because of the force of the water falling from such a height. The Tourism Department has built a viewpoint. It has also built steps leading down from the viewing platform to the bottom of the mountain. From the bottom, you will be able to see the opposite side of the falls. You would have to walk a long distance to get to the bottom, though- there are easily 1400 steps leading down.

There is a Linganmakki Dam across the river Sharavathi, that is linked to this falls. At one point of time, in late 1940s, this falls was considered to be one of the largest hydroelectric stations in the country. The best time for you to visit the Jog Falls will be during the monsoons. Before the monsoon season, there is barely any water, so you won't be able to see the Jog Falls in all it's majesty. Right before the monsoons come, the falls just form a few slow, and thin streams. But once the monsoon hits, the falls becomes increasingly beautiful.

Jog Falls is easily accessible through multiple routes. If you are flying in, you can either come to Bangalore, which is 340 km away, or Goa, which is 246 km away. The Mangalore International Airport and Hubli Airport are the closest airports for those travelling domestic, they are 200 km and 130 km away from Jog Falls, respectively. The nearest bus station is the Sagara station- there are buses leaving on a daily basis from Bangalore. Talaguppa is also a nearby bus stop you could access. There are no train connections, so your only other option would be to hire a cab from any of these major cities. Some of the best places to eat around this area include the Madhura Hotel, Shivani Hotel and the KSTDC run hotels. In the latter, the quality and availability of food will be assured at all times.