karnataka one state.Many worlds.

Hi everyone, my name is Monika Bendre , this is my first blog  where i thought to bring my passion of discovering popular tourist places in India into a blog where i could frame every tourist places in India,  as i said you about my passion of discovering India, the place where we get many culture and diversity. In my view "india is a land of Colors" , so i will start my journey of blogging from my own state my birth place Karnataka "The land of sandalwood" 

BANGALORE-A CITY OF GARDENS AND TECHNO PARL:-

so i am going to start my journey of blogging from bengaluru(also called bangalore) the capital city of karnataka.The center of India's high-tech industry ,the city is also known for its parks and nightlife.bangalore is nickednamed the Garden city and once called a pensioner's paradise...Bangalore is known as the silicon valley of india because of its position as the nation's leading IT exporter.

Bangalore is not only famous for IT(information technology) and BT (Bio technology )industries . There are many notable institutions located in the city such as Defense research and Development organization(DRDO),Indian space research organization (ISRO),Indian Institution of science(IIS),Indian institution of management(IIMB),National Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL) and National Law School

BENGALURU- A TOURIST'S HEAVEN

Now my favourite part in bangalore as a visiter is to see its tourist places. The city also has some wonderful tourist hotspots like the bangalore palace ,lal Bagh ,Bannerghatta National Park,Innovative film city and cubborn Park etc...

Bengaluru is blessed with a architectural marvels as well as spots of unparalleled natural beauty 

now not being so boring i will show you the  places and its history  

1.LALBAGH 

           lalbagh is my favourite place in bangalore which is having its scenic beauty and a wholesome picnic spot.one of the things about this park that adds to the exictement is the stalls that sell wooden jewellery,wooden toys ,hand made goodies, food and more.

Lalbagh Botanical Garden is located in Bangalore and is nationally and internationally renowned centre for botanical artwork, scientific study of plants and also conservation of plants. A heaven for all nature lovers, Lal Bagh covers an area 240 acres in the heart of the city and has nearly 1,854 species of plants. It was commissioned by Hyder Ali in 1760 and completed by his son Tipu Sultan. The garden features rare plants of French, Persian and Afghani origin and has attained the status of a Government Botanical Garden. The Lal Bagh Rock which is over 3000 million years old is found here and is a major tourist attraction. 

This botanical garden, a delight for photographers, also consists of the famous glass house where an annual flower show is held every year and is also a home to an aquarium and a lake. Tipu Sultan brought in imported trees and plants from countries all over the world and planted them here and today, Lalbagh Botanical Garden has one of the world's largest collection of rare plants. In addition to being rich in foliage, this garden also houses a number of birds such as Myna, Parakeets, Crows, Brahminy kite, pond Heron,common Egret and purpule Moor Hen.

History of Lal Bagh 

Referred to as Rose or Cypress Garden up till 1856, this garden was commissioned by Haider Ali in 1760 who was a big admirer of Mughal Gardens and wanted to set up one in his own city as well. He was influenced by his father who used to work for Dilawar Khan, a viceroy of the Mughals and was especially passionate about setting up gardens. The garden is modelled on another one that existed in Sira which was situated 120 km away from Lalbagh. Over the years, many species of rare plants, trees and shrubs were added to Lalbagh and most of these were added by Tipu Sultan himself.The garden area stood at 45 acres in 1874 with major additions done in 1889 (30 acres) and 1891 (94 acres). The foundation of the famous Glass House was laid down in the year 1898 and was further built by John Cameron in the image of London's Crystal Palace.

 2.Bangalore palace

Bangalore palace is the most beautiful palace.In my view its like a fairy tale castle.which is a combination of architectural beauty and the spice of old regal opulence.Currently the palace is the central attraction in Bangalore, the wooden structure of the palace along with the beautiful carvings both inside and outside showcases the royal culture in different ways.

Apart from being a major tourist destination, the palace is a host to different cultural events, rock shows, and marriages. As per beliefs, King Chamarajendra Wadiyar drew his inspiration for building the palace from the Windsor Castle of London. The granite seats decorated with fluorescent blue ceramic tiles on the ground floor, a fairy tale Ballroom, the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma's paintings, vine-covered walls, and the Durbar Hall on the first floor come together to form the prepossessing Bangalore Palace. 

HISTORY OF BANGALORE PALACE

The area where the palace now stands originally belonged to a school principal of the cantonment town, Reverend J Garrett. The British Guardians of the minor Maharaja purchased the area with Chamarajendra Wadiyar X's accumulated funds so that his education and administrative training could take place easily.

April 1874 marked the beginning of the construction of the palace. John Cameron, the artistic mind behind Lalbagh took the responsibility of landscaping. During 1878 AD the initial construction got completed. Following the initial completion, subsequent years called for many additions and improvements. Maharaja Jayachamaraja during his reign added portions outside the Darbar Hall. Renovations took place so that the Palace could have an essence of Windsor Castle of London that had bestowed the king.

The ownership of the Bangalore Palace has gone through many legal activities. Presently, it is under the ownership of the descendant of the Mysore Royal Family, Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar. The palace opened its doors to the public in 2005.

3 Cubbon Park 

Cubbon Park in the city of Bangalore is a major sightseeing attraction rich in green foliage. It is a green belt region of the city and is an ideal place for nature lovers and those seeking a calm atmosphere.It is home to more than 6,000 trees that support a vibrant ecosystem.

 In addition to being a natural sightseeing destination, some of the major structures of the city such as the Attara Kacheri, Cubbon Park Museum and Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Park are also situated here. Another famous attraction in the Cubbon Park is The Bangalore Aquarium, which is the second largest aquarium in India.

In the year 1927, the park was officially renamed as "Sri. Chamarajendra Park" to mark the Silver Jubilee of Sri. Krishnaraja Wodeyar's rule in Mysore State. At present, the Cubbon Park is under the control of the Department of Horticulture. The Deputy Director of Horticulture (Cubbon Park) is responsible for the administration and maintenance of the park.

Architecture of Cubbon Park

This park acts as a lung to the city of Bangalore and is one of its major green patches. In addition to being a major green area of the city, Cubbon Park also houses a number of important structures within its perimeter. Some of these include:- 

 Attara Kacheri: As the name suggests, the building accommodates the Karnataka High Court. The structure was built in the year 1864 A.D during British rule purely out of stone. Bright red in colour, this is an illustration of the Gothic style of architecture. 

 Museum: The State Archeological Museum which is also the oldest in the country is situated in the park as well. Built in 1876 by Colonel Sankey, it is similar in design to the Attara Kacheri in its appearance and structure. The museum houses antiques from Mohenjodaro period, specimens of Vijayanagara and Halebid architecture, ancient coins and stone inscriptions as old as 5000 years.

3. Seshadri Iyer Memorial hall: Built in the year 1915, this European - inspired hall is dedicated to Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hal who was Dewan of Mysore State from 1883 to 1901. The Museum also has a library which spans over an area of 300 km² and is the Apex of the Karnataka Public Libraries system. The library has an impressive collection of 2.65 lakh books which also include a Braille section.

Cubbon Park Aquarium 

 Perhaps one of the most popular attractions in the Cubbon Park is the Cubbon Park Aquarium, which is also known as the Bangalore Aquarium. It was established in the year 1983 and is situated in an octagonal building having three different floors dedicated to an assortment of water beings. The first floor itself has 14 large water tanks, while the second floor has a whopping 69 tanks. The water life on display here include Siamese fighters, catla, freshwater prawns, goldfish, red tail shark, angelfish, glowlight tetra, hockey stick tetra, red-tail shark, catla, Indian tiger barb, mahseer, freshwater prawns, blue gourami, pearl gourami, goldfish, moon tail and many others. A fascinating world of azure and kaleidoscopic water animals, you can explore the Bangalore Aquarium from 10 AM to 5:30 PM on all days except Mondays and alternate Tuesdays of the month.

4 Bannerghatta National Park

The people who are interested in wild life and animal lover  can visit bannerghatta national park ,it is a zoo,safari .It is 22 km away from bangalore the place is interesting where you can find variety species and animals.

 The Bannerghatta National Park is a sanctuary for a large variety of flora and fauna. Spread over a massive area of around 104.27 sq. km, this national park was established in the year 1971. The park itself has a number of establishments within its confines, which includes the country's first butterfly park as well.

Other attractions here are ten Reserve Forests of Anekal Range of the Bangalore Forest Division, an aquarium, a zoo, Children's park, Crocodile Farm, Snake Park and Prehistoric Animals' Park. What's more, you can get up close and personal with the wondrous wildlife here by the means of a jungle safari, which is a popular activity to pursue here. The best part about Bannerghatta National Park is the small well-defined zones for animals that almost guarantees that you will spot the animals. People go in caged vehicles (buses/safari).

Flora and Fauna in Bannerghatta National Park 

Nature lovers and photographers are surely in for a treat in the Bannerghatta National Park. The varied species of wildlife here includes elephants, leopards, jackal, fox, wild boar, sloth bear, India gazelle, spotted deer, porcupine, Asiatic Lion, Royal Bengal Tiger, monitor lizard and cobras. Rediscover the botanist in you as you inspect and learn more about the sandalwood, neem, tamarind, bamboo, eucalyptus and many more trees that find a place here. The various establishments here such as the zoo and the aquarium provide a number of experiences with the endearing wildlife here. 

Jungle Safari in Bannerghatta National Park 

Perhaps one of the most popular activities in this destination is the Jungle Safari, where you get to observe the animals in their natural habitat. The Safari takes you on a beautiful trip where you can spot herbivores as well as big cats. The Grand Safari is 8 kilometres long one way, while Tiger and Lion Safari is around 11 km (to and fro). You can also choose from the options available such as the Zoo & Lion-tiger safari, Zoo & Grand Safari or Zoo only. On weekends tickets get sold out quickly, so it is advised to reach the park before 2:00 PM.

Attractions in Bannerghatta National Park 

The Bannerghatta National Park has a number of different sections that give an experience of the wild to each and every one of its visitors. Some of these include:-

 Elephant Sanctuary: The park has a dedicated elephant sanctuary, which is a fenced enclosure where elephants roam about freely without any restrictions. Designed by elephant expert Carol Buckley, it is spread over an area of 122 acres. You can interact with these gentle giants safely without harming them.

 Zoo: The zoo has a number of exhibits that display the wildlife in the park. A reptile park and small theatre are included here as well.

 Butterfly Park: On the 25th of November, 2006, India's first butterfly enclosure was inaugurated here by Union Minister Kapil Sibal. The park covers an area of 7.5 acres and has a museum, conservatory and an audiovisual room. The conservatory can house about twenty species of butterflies and has its own artificial ecosystem that provides the perfect conditions for them to thrive and flourish.

5 Nandi hills



"Hillocks borrowed from heaven"  
                                      

Located around 60 kilometres away from Bangalore, Nandi Hills is one such tourist spot that has gradually been discovered by visitors over the years and has now become a well-known weekend getaway.

Featuring beautifully carved arches and majestic pillars with intricately painted walls and ceilings, Nandi Hills is scattered with shrines and monument and is surrounded by mesmerizing views, making this place no less than a hidden paradise.  Situated at a height of 4851 feet above sea level, you can see a convoy of weekenders from Bangalore during early hours catching the glimpse of sunrise.

OTHER ATTRACTION AT NANDI HILLS:-

Once used as the summer retreat of Tipu Sultan, Nandi Hills finds its place in history as being reminiscent of the reign of Tipu Sultan, and the Tipu Sultan trail is a famous historical attraction of this place. 

Tipu's Drop 

The most well-known spot in this trail is Tipu’s Drop, a 600-metre-high cliff which was used during Tipu’s reign to hurl prisoners down to their demise. Another must-see attraction is Tipu’s Summer Residence, which was named by Tipu himself as the Tashk-e-Jannat, meaning ‘the envy of heaven’.

Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple 

Nandi Hills is home to quite a few temples, and one such temple that you must visit is the Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple in Nandi village. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consorts Nandi and Parvati, this temple is one of the oldest temples in the area and is a beautifully designed work of architecture.

Cycling in Nandi Hills 

Nandi Hills is a haven for cyclists, and the lofty altitude coupled with the fantastic terrain and the spectacular landscape makes cycling at Nandi Hills a complete adventure in itself. Paragliding is also very famous in Nandi Hills and is a must-do activity for adventure lover's

6 ISKCON Temple

In my personal opinion, Iskcon temple attracts global tourists giving its cosmopolitian nature and the management of temple having an outstanding as well as magnetizing experiances  for the visitors.

Located in the Rajajinagar area, ISKCON Temple is a revered shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple, under the guidance of Madhu Pandit Dasa, was inaugurated in the year 1997 by Shankar Dayal Sharma. Apart from a religious shrine, ISKCON temple is a cultural complex accommodating dedicated deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, Sri Srinivasa Govinda and Sri Prahlada Narasimha.

ISKCON Temple is known for its activities of engagement involving ardent devotees of Lord Krishna. The temple enrols members for life and arranges programs in their community centres for Krishna consciousness and awareness of the Lord. The temple community also organises songs and recitals admiring and praying to Krishna in public processions. Lectures and prayer services are regularly conducted here as well. In addition, the ISKCON temple community conducts a wide variety of activities directed towards rediscovering spirituality on an individual level as well as creating a spirit of harmony in the community.

7.VIDHANA SOUDHA

Vidhan Soudha is an iconic building of Karnataka located in Bengaluru. It  is a seat  of the state legislature of Karnataka and a ballpark for political discussions and assemblies

Described by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as 'a temple dedicated to the nation', Vidhana Soudha houses the State Legislature and the Secretariat of Karnataka and is one of the most popular attractions in the lively and colourful city of Bengaluru. It also proudly boasts the title of being the largest state legislative building in the country. With four entrances in all four directions and four floors above the ground level and one below it, we surely don't doubt the title. Popularly known as the 'Taj Mahal of South India', it is counted as one of the most magnificent buildings in the city and is sure to impress the onlooker with its sophisticated poise and glorified grandiose. The entire monument is illuminated on Sundays and public holidays and is a sight for sore eyes.

Then Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru along with then Chief Minister K.C. Reddy laid down the first brick of this establishment on 13 July 1951 and initiated the construction of a monument that symbolizes the legislative sovereignty of the people of the country. Its construction took a good five years and it was finally inaugurated in 1956 to become the largest legislative building in India. The Vidhana Soudha stands 150 feet tall and boasts of an elegant and truly exquisite Neo-Dravidian style of architecture. 

Vidhana Soudha Lighting

The entire structure of the Vidhan Soudha is lit up with a million colourful lights on Sunday evenings and on special occasions. Thousands of tourists flock to witness this remarkable light show, a show with numerous vibrant lights enlightening the structure and colourful spotlights shooting across the sky. This spectacular sight can only be witnessed during evening time between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM

The city has proposed to light up the Vidhana Soudha for two hours every day since it is such a popular attraction that draws the attention of many tourists around the year. Bearing in mind the power shortages faced by many parts of the country, the light show is planned to be run entirely on solar energy!

8.BULL TEMPLE

The Bull Temple, also known as Nandi Temple, is one of the oldest temples in the city of Bengaluru. The temple is popularly called as 'Dodda Basavana Gudi' by the locals and is the biggest temple dedicated to Nandi in the world. Nandi, the bull, is the mount or 'vahana' of Lord Shiva and the guardian deity of Lord Shiva's abode, Kailashagiri; according to Hindu traditions. This temple is every Shiva devotee's must-visit destination because Nandi holds great importance to Lord Shiva.

The architectural style of the Bull Temple is mainly Dravidian and was constructed by Kempe Gowda. It is believed that the origin of the river Vrishabhavati is at the feet of Nandi. The entire sculpture of the bull is carved out of one single granite rock. The statue is 4.5 meters high and 6.5 meters long. Coconut oil, butter and 'benne' are regularly applied to this statue. This had led to the originally grey statue to turn black.

On the premises of the Bull Temple, there is also a beautiful temple of Ganesh, the beloved son of Lord Shiva. An interesting fact about this temple is that the statue of Lord Ganesh is made entirely of butter! It takes about 110 kilos of butter to make this artistic statue, and a new statue is made every four years. What is really astonishing and noteworthy is that in the four-year tenure of each butter sculpture, the butter doesn't melt or change shape even once. The butter that makes the statue of the deity is then distributed to the devotees as prasad.

HISTORY OF BULL TEMPLE

The area in which the Bull temple is constructed was very fertile for growing rice, peanuts and groundnuts. The rich cultivation of these products was the source of living for the many farmers who had fields here. However, during harvesting season, a mighty bull would rampage through the fields and consume the produce of groundnuts. The farmers were terrified of the bull but also tired of the constant damage it was causing.

One evening, all the farmers gathered together to fight the bull when it arrived. A farmer, in his adrenaline rush, hit the bull on the head with a stick. Instead of running or panicking, the bull sat down still and turned into a statue! However, the statue started growing day by day. Intimidated by this, the villagers prayed to Lord Shiva to help them with his. Lord Shiva placed a metal plate on the head of the bull, and since then, the statue stopped growing.

9.SHIVA TEMPLE

This temple at Kemp Fort is considered as one of the most beautiful Shiva temples around the country. The beautiful statues of Lord Shiva and Lord Ganapathi are a major attraction for all the devotees visiting the temple. The temple is known for its well-maintenance and regular festivities being organised for the devotees for them to indulge in the worship of Lord Shiva, who is considered as one of the major gods in Southern India.

Marked by a 65ft tall figurine of Lord Shiva carved in white marble, and placed in an artificial pool of water symbolising Lord Shiva's natural habitat, this place is a beautiful pilgrimage centre for all the devotees of Lord Shiva. Lord Ganapathi is also worshipped in the premise of the temple and regular aarti and chanting of mantras are done by the priests.

10.Innovative Film City

The Innovative Film City in Bengaluru is an Indian movie theme park located at Bidadi, just 40 kilometres on the outskirts of the city towards Mysore. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Bangalore, the place covers almost 58 acres of land of fun-filled experiences. Whether you like to shop, eat, simply walk and explore or experience your childhood again; there is something unique that Film City has to offer you.

The Innovative Film City is broadly divided into three parts and is large enough for you to spend at least half of your day here- to walk around and enjoy all that the city has to offer. Step into the Innovative Attractions to enjoy amusement park rides and museums and enjoy the countless sections, such as Wild West Wind and Cartoon City; and the Innovative Studio to witness the world of movies and glamour. Visit the Innovative Style in between to enjoy shopping and gorge on cuisines from all around the world. A high-quality amalgamation of different themes, the Innovative Film City beckon to both: kids as well as grownups. So make sure that you visit this attraction with your family or friends when you visit Bangalore.

Main Attractions of the Innovative Film City

The Film City boasts of many attractions, which guarantee the visitor a day full of fun and frenzy.

1. Cartoon City: Cartoon City is a hot favourite amongst kids. Its flamboyance and vibrant theme are especially appealing for them, but they manage to charm adults too. The fun rides from a variety of famous cartoon characters as well as the iconic series of star wars recreate the childhood magic beautifully and make you never want to leave.

2. Aqua Kingdom: The Aqua Kingdom is a great place to spend some quality time with friends and family, or indulge in a little romance, in the wave pool and the sandy beach. The water slides, children's play area and dance floor with an in-house DJ are a wonderful retreat from the handrum life.

3. Dino Park: The Dino Park has a marvellous collection of life-size dinosaurs, including a centrally hoisted 40 feet tall T-Rex skeleton and an impressive 60 feet high animatronics controlled dinosaur. A mere walk through this park is a guaranteed thrilling experience!

4. Mini Golf: The perfect place for all golf enthusiasts, this 12-holes mini golf course is ideal for all those who miss the sport even when on their vacation. Do not forget to check out the authentic golf merchandise sold here.

5. Haunted Mansion: There is no haunted house like this in Bangalore. Filled up with over 250 props including scary skeletons, horrifying zombies and half-bearded men; this dirty and dingy 

mansion.

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