About Bangalore
Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, is the capital and largest city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. As per the 2011 census, the city had a population of 8.4 million, making it the third most populous city in India and the most populous in South India. The Bengaluru metropolitan area had a population of around 8.5 million, making it the fifth most populous urban agglomeration in the country. It is located towards the southern end of the Deccan Plateau, at an altitude of 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level. The city is known as India's "Garden City", due to its parks and greenery.
Places to visit in Bangalore
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Bangalore Palace
HistoricA palace built in Tudor style, with turrets, gardens and royal memorabilia. The audio guide is included in the ticket and helps explain the history.
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Lalbagh
Park · 2 mi from centreA historic botanical garden with a glasshouse modeled on London's Crystal Palace. Visit early morning to see joggers and birds, and check for seasonal flower shows.
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Cubbon Park
ParkA large green park in the heart of the city with museums and colonial buildings nearby. It is a great place for a morning walk or picnic.
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Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace
Historic · 2 mi from centreA wooden palace once used by the ruler Tipu Sultan, with carved arches and a small museum. Combine it with the nearby Bangalore Fort ruins.
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Vidhana Soudha
LandmarkThe grand neo-Dravidian seat of the state legislature. It is not open to the public, but it looks especially impressive when lit up on Sunday evenings.
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ISKCON Temple
Religious · 3 mi from centreA large hilltop temple dedicated to Krishna, blending modern glass design with traditional temple architecture. Visit for the evening aarti ceremony, and expect security checks and a long walkway through the complex.
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Nandi Hills
Viewpoint · 29 mi from centreA hill fort about 60 km from the city, popular for sunrise views above the clouds. Leave very early to beat traffic and arrive before dawn.
Things to do in Bangalore by type
17 tours, tickets and experiences across 5 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Art & culture 4 experiences Bangalore City Tour - Private Full-Day Tour -
City tours 4 experiences Bangalore Biryani Walking Tour -
Zoo, Aquarium & Nature 3 experiences Bannerghatta National Park - Private Tour -
Day Trips & Excursions 2 experiences Excursion to Lepakshi -
Tickets & Attraction Passes 2 experiences Electronic City IT Park - Private Tour
- Families 16
- Couples 15
- Senior 15
- Youth 15
Top experiences in Bangalore
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 17 available.
Bangalore City Tour - Private Full-Day Tour
From $71 per adult
Excursion to Lepakshi
From $159 per adult
The Malleswaram Heritage Trail
From $80 per adult
Bangalore City Tour - Private Half-Day Tour
From $59 per adult
Excursion to Mysore and Srirangapatnam - Full-Day Tour
From $167 per adult
Sravanbelagola, Belur and Halebid - Private Tour
From $177 per adult
Cauvery Fishing Camp - Private Tour
From $113 per adult
Bannerghatta National Park - Private Tour
From $95 per adult
Lumbini Park - Private Tour
From $51 per adult
The Lal Bagh Garden
From $82 per adult
Bangalore Biryani Walking Tour
From $82 per adult
Pettah City Walking Tour
From $82 per adult
Where to stay in Bangalore
Popular hotels in Bangalore, out of 663 properties you can book.
juSTa Indiranagar, Bangalore
From $72 per night
juSTa Off MG Road, Bangalore
From $72 per night
juSTa MG Road, Bangalore
From $72 per night
Taj Yeshwantpur, Bangalore
From $344 per night
Townhouse 273 Hosur Main Road Bommanahalli
From $17 per night
ibis Bengaluru City Centre
From $76 per night
The Park Bangalore
From $230 per night
Hyatt Centric Mg Road Bangalore
From $330 per night
Taj Bangalore Bengaluru
From $598 per night
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore
From $1,284 per night
BloomSuites Electronic City
From $63 per night
The Leela Palace Bangalore
From $495 per night
Best time to visit Bangalore
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Bangalore is December to January, when average daytime highs are around 79–82°F and rain falls on about 4 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Bangalore weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 82° 68° 83%
- Thu 22 Oct 81° 67° 97%
- Fri 23 Oct 81° 67° 88%
- Sat 24 Oct 82° 67° 84%
- Sun 25 Oct 82° 67° 59%
- Mon 26 Oct 83° 65° 29%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Indian rupee (INR)1 US dollar ≈ ₹95.1
- Languages
- Hindi, English
- Calling code
- +91
- Driving
- On the left
- Time zone
- Asia/KolkataUTC+5:30
- Capital
- New Delhi
Getting to Bangalore
These are the airports closest to central Bangalore. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- BLR Kempegowda International Airport17 mi (27 km) from the city centre
Getting around Bangalore
Traffic in Bengaluru is generally appalling: it's often ranked as one of India's most congested cities. Allow plenty of time to get around, especially anywhere near rush hour. Heavy rains often cause flooding that can bring traffic to a complete standstill.
By metro
The Namma Metro is an efficient cross-city rail service in Bengaluru that provides the only realistic way to escape the traffic, but its coverage of the city remains limited. As of August 2025, there are three lines:
By bus
Buses are cheap and usually frequent (though expensive compared to other states). But travelling on them can be very difficult if you don't know the system well. Now, most buses have digital signage alternating between the local language Kannada and English but some buses still display the old printed signs with only the route number in English, with the destination and route information written in Kannada.
By train
There are DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) and MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains run by the South Western Railway (SWR), which connect the city centre to various suburbs, especially in the IT corridor areas of Whitefield, Outer Ring Road and Electronic City. However, speeds are low and station infrastructure can be poor.
Bangalore travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Bangalore?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Bangalore is December to January, when average daytime highs are around 79–82°F and rain falls on about 4 days a month.
What is the weather like in Bangalore?
April is usually the warmest month in Bangalore, with average highs of 96°F (35°C). December is the coolest, with average lows of 63°F (17°C). The wettest month is typically October, with about 218 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Bangalore?
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) is the closest airport, about 17 miles (27 km) from the centre of Bangalore.
What currency is used in Bangalore?
Bangalore uses the Indian rupee (INR). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ ₹95.1.
What time zone is Bangalore in?
Bangalore uses the Asia/Kolkata time zone (currently UTC+5:30). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Bangalore?
Traffic in Bengaluru is generally appalling: it's often ranked as one of India's most congested cities. Allow plenty of time to get around, especially anywhere near rush hour. Heavy rains often cause flooding that can bring traffic to a complete standstill.
What are the best places to visit in Bangalore?
Top sights in Bangalore include Bangalore Palace, Lalbagh, Cubbon Park and Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace. A palace built in Tudor style, with turrets, gardens and royal memorabilia. The audio guide is included in the ticket and helps explain the history.
What are the top things to do in Bangalore?
Popular experiences you can book in Bangalore include Bangalore City Tour - Private Full-Day Tour, Excursion to Lepakshi and The Malleswaram Heritage Trail. Destina Holidays offers 17 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Bangalore?
The most popular types of experiences in Bangalore are art & culture (4), city tours (4), zoo, aquarium & nature (3) and day trips & excursions (2). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Bangalore?
Popular areas for hotels in Bangalore include Bangalore. Well-reviewed options include juSTa Indiranagar, Bangalore and juSTa Off MG Road, Bangalore.
How many hotels can I book in Bangalore?
Destina Holidays currently lists 663 properties in and around Bangalore, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
