Local sights  The Bangalore Palace & Fort :The Bangalore
Fort was built by Kempe Gowda and expanded by Tippu Sultan. Within its walls is the well
preserved 16th century Ganapathi Temple.
The Bangalore Palace was built by a Wodeyar king in 1887. Inspired by the Windsor castle,
this palace was built in the Tudor style, complete with Gothic windows, the foiled
windows, battlements and turrets resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam,
this summer palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for it's carving and
paintings.
Lal
Bagh :Hyder Ali laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added
horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries. The
garden today houses over 1000 species of flora which include rare and enchanting
collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. The Glass House, modelled along London's
Crystal Palace, is the center of attraction in this 2400-acre park. Bi-annual flower shows
attracting participants from all over India is held in the Glass House.
Cubbon
Park :This wooded and beflowered park was laid out in the heart of the cantonment
in 1864. Since then, fairy fountains, an august bandstand and a wealth of atatury have
been added. But the most important aspect of Cubbon Park is its newer buildings that have
added beauty and cultural wealth. Lush green lawns, shady flowering trees, vibrant flower
beds, make Cubbon Park an ideal place for morning joggers and alike.
Government
Museum
One of the important
buildings, the Government Museum is one of the oldest in India(1886). A special attraction
here are the antiquities from Mohenjodaro period. Situated nearby the museum is
Visveshwaraya Industrial and Technological Museum named after the great
engineer-statesman.
Next to the VITM is the
Visveshwaraya Industrial Trade Center, the first of its kind in India. In addition to its
trade promotional activities, the Center has two exhibition floors housing a permanent
display of all that is manufactured in Karnataka.
Near the Museum is the
K.Venkatappa Art Gallery which has a permanent exhibition of the works of the great
artist, K. Venkatappa. The Gallery does much to encourage art in the state.
Also in the Cubbon Park
are the Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, which houses the public library, the High Court and
the Jawahar Bal Bhavan. The Bhavan, with its toy train, fairgrounds and theatre, is a
recreational, hobby and educational centre for children.

The
Bull Temple
This temple, built by
Kempe Gowda, houses the magnificent stone statue of the sacred bull, Nandi. It stands over
15 feet tall and is over 20 feet long . In Nov/Dec every year, when the groundnuts have
been harvested, a groundnut fair is held near the temple. The first groundnuts are offered
by the farmers to the sacred bull.
The Gangadhareshwara Temple
Known for its four
monolithic pillars and rare idol of Agni, the God of fire, this temple was built by Kempe
Gowda. A unique phenomena is witnessed here on Jan. 13/14th every year when the rays of
the setting sun enter through the window, pass between the horns of the Nandi and shine on
the Shivalingam.
The
Dharmaraja Temple
Located at Nazarethpet
in the suburbs of Bangalore, this temple is the starting point of the annual Karaga
procession. The revered idols of this temple are the Shri Dharmaraja Swamy, hero of the
Mahabharata and Lord Krishna.
Dargah
Hazarath Tawakkal Mastan
This Muslim
shrine,located in Cottonpet, a suburban locality, is associated with the Hindu Karaga
festival too. The procession annually visits the Dargah of this Sufi Saint, Tawakkal
Mastan. His tomb attracts both Muslim and non-Muslim pilgrims.
Jumma
Masjid
The Jumma Masjid is
probably the oldest mosque in the city. It is an imposing structure with tall ornamented
granite pillars adorning the elevated prayer hall. Scores of devote Muslim worshippers
throng this masjid during the annual festivals of the Muslims. It is located in the busy
market area of Bangalore, K.R.Market.
Ravindra Kalakshetra
The Kalakshetra, built
to commemorate Rabindranath Tagore's centenary, promotes cultural activity in the city. It
has a superb theatre and houses the Cultural Akademi Offices. Next to it is the Gothic
styled Puttannachetty Town Hall whose huge auditorium can easily accommodate over 1500
persons.
ST.
Mary's Church
Established by a French
missionary Abbe Dubois in 1811, St.Mary's church is the only church in Karnataka state to
be elevated to the status of a minor Basilica. Every September, The Virgin Mary's festival
is celebrated with a procession that attracts people of all faiths. The church is situated
near the Shivaji Nagar Bus Terminal.

Indian
Institute Of Science(IISc)
Also known as the Tata
Institute, is one of the country's finest research institutions, specializing in advanced
science and engineering studies.
Gandhi
Bhavan
The Gandhi Smarak
Nidhi, housed in the Gandhi Bhavan, houses a comprehensive picture gallery and other
exhibits of Gandhiji which depict the life and times of Gandhiji. The Bhavan is open on
weekdays(10:30 Am to 5:00 PM).
Ulsoor
lake
A picturesque lake with
several tree-shaded islands in it, is an ideal picnic spot. You can go boating or go for a
swim in the nearby swimming pool that is part of the recreational complex near the lake.
You can also go to the nearby Gurdhwar, the largest Sikh Shrine in Bangalore.
Vidhana Soudha :This splendid neo-Dravidian granite
building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon park, is the home of the State
Legislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door of the Cabinet room is a
spectacular feature of this imposing building. The Vidhana Soudha is bedecked in
illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight worth viewing.
The
Bangalore Race Course
The Bangalore Race
Course is one of the finest in India, with racing events almost all year round (May to
June and Nov to Mar). Some of the biggest field stakes in the country can be witnessed
here.

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