What to see
Day 1: Temples
Commence your day promptly, ideally between 6:30-7:30 am, at Lalbagh Gardens. Delight in a delectable breakfast experience at Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR), a cherished establishment with a rich 91-year history. As you immerse yourself in the tales of MTR's innovation of the rava (semolina) idli during World War II, savor the delightful flavors of crisp dosas and chandrahar, a deep-fried maida dessert immersed in khoya. And do not overlook the coffee; it is exclusively presented to a chosen few patrons in tumblers crafted from genuine silver.
The closest temple to Lalbagh Gardens is the Subramanya Swamy Temple, an 800-year-old structure dedicated to Lord Shiva's eldest son, Muruga. Located just off a bustling street in V.V. Puram, the imposing and intricately carved entrance of this temple bears a striking resemblance to Madurai's renowned Meenakshi temple. As one of the city's oldest temples, it features gilded Tanjore paintings and houses a silver chariot, displayed exclusively during the annual "peanut fair" on the adjacent street, which commem
Proceed to Ragigudda Temple in JP Nagar. Experience the refreshing coolness of its stone floors and the soothing melodies of the nadaswaram, an oboe-like instrument played to awaken the gods – a pleasant contrast to the bustling noise outside. Extend your reverence to the Hanuman and Annapurna devi sections within the temple, and then stroll towards three expansive slabs of pale grey stone adorned with exquisite sculptures of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. According to legend, the three deities were so enamored with the area during their visit that they chose to remain here eternally, transforming themselves into stone.
Complete your temple exploration for the day with a visit to the Gavi Gangadeshwara temple in Gavipuram. This distinctive cave temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is believed to be sculpted from a monolithic rock dating back to the 9th century.
Conclude your day with a meal at Malgudi Mylari Mane in KHB Colony, the preferred place for authentic Karnataka cuisine in Bengaluru. This casual eatery offers delectable dishes in a relaxed ambiance. Inspired by RK Narayan's fictional town in "Malgudi Days," the restaurant is dedicated to presenting Karnataka's rich culinary heritage. Highly recommended menu items include the Mylari Dosa, Chicken Pulav, Mutton Chops, Mutton Keema Gojju, Chicken Pepper Fry, Nati Koli Fry, Ragi Mudde, Thatte Idli, and Mysore Pak.
Day 2 : Shopping
Explore Basavanagudi, Bengaluru's oldest neighborhood, which has maintained its idyllic ambiance since its establishment in the early 1900s. Originating as a response to a plague outbreak that prompted the construction of new suburbs, Basavanagudi derives its name from the bull temple at its core. In Kannada, "basava" translates to bull, and "gudi" colloquially refers to a temple. Central to the area is the bull temple, featuring a 15-foot-tall Nandi carved from a single granite slab by farmers seeking to appease a rogue bull that was damaging their crops. The same complex also hosts the purportedly 3,000-million-year-old Bugle Rock, on which Kempe Gowda, the city's founder, erected one of the four watchtowers that delineated the boundaries of Bengaluru in his time.
Visit Gandhi Bazaar, a bustling hub of commerce adorned with bursts of local color and flavor. On any given day, especially during major festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, the market transforms into a vibrant spectacle, teeming with street vendors, pushcarts, makeshift stalls, shoppers, tourists, pedestrians, and vehicles vying for space. The road, both delightful and clamorous, offers the season's freshest produce, including fruits, vegetables, banana leaves, and an eye-catching abundance of tropical flowers. Gandhi Bazaar Main Road hosts stores that cater to diverse needs, from silk saris and jewelry to incense, spices, snacks, sweets, ayurvedic medicines, herbal concoctions, and an assortment of puja articles.
Wrap up your day with a visit to Vidyarthi Bhavan, where you can indulge in the iconic masala dosa and coffee while immersing yourself in a small but significant slice of Bangalore's lore. Adorned with portraits of Kannada literature icons, the walls bear witness to the legacy, gazing down at loyal patrons who would go to great lengths to defend the delectable, ghee-soaked dosas. According to the seasoned locals, the taste has remained consistently perfect since the establishment's inception in 1938 on Gandhi Bazaar Road, Basavanagudi.
Day 3 – Parks and Recreation
Few places in the city rival the beauty of Lalbagh and Cubbon Park on a misty morning, being to Bengaluru what Central Park is to New York. The parks attract a diverse crowd, including runners, amblers, couples, families, amateur photographers, and birdwatchers, making them the perfect starting point for a day in Bangalore.
Lalbagh, situated in south Bangalore, is a 240-acre botanical garden commissioned by Hyder Ali in 1760 and completed by his son Tipu Sultan. Boasting over 1,800 plant and tree species, the park features shaded paths, formal gardens, a glasshouse, a bandstand, a nursery, and a lake that serves as a haven for migratory birds. Meanwhile, Cubbon Park, located in the heart of the city west of M.G. Road, spans 300 acres and offers a less manicured but equally captivating environment. Integrating natural rock outcrops, thickets of trees, massive bamboo clumps, grassy expanses, and flower beds, the park is partially motorable and houses notable buildings such as the Government Museum and the Seshadri Iyer Memorial Library. These buildings are elaborate neo-classical structures painted in a striking deep red hue. (Lalbagh is open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with free entry from 6-9 a.m. and 6-7 p.m., and a fee of ?10 at other times; Cubbon Park is open daily, 24 hours, with free entry).
