One-Day Bangalore Local Sightseeing Tour

Duration: 9–10 hours
Mode: Private cab (exclusive)
Pickup & Drop: Your Bangalore hotel or residence
Highlights: ISKCON Temple, Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Tippu’s Palace, Bull Temple, Cubbon Park, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Vidhana Soudha, Venkatappa Art Gallery, Vishweshwaraiah Technological Museum

Bangalore serves up a delightful mix of historic palaces, lush gardens, imposing museums and striking monuments. This private one-day tour whisks you through the city’s top landmarks, giving you a thorough glimpse of its rich heritage and contemporary charm.

1. ISKCON Temple

Nestled atop Hare Krishna Hill, this serene sanctuary—dedicated in 1997—welcomes devotees and sightseers alike. The Sri Radha Krishnachandra complex boasts shrines to Radha Krishna, Krishna Balarama, Nityananda, Srinivasa Govinda, Prahlada Nrsimha and Srila Prabhupada. Its most eye-catching features include a 56-foot gold-plated flagstaff, a 28-foot golden shikhara and an elegant glass-wood façade. Inside, a Vedic museum and a theatre screen devotional films.

Must Do: Sample the temple’s famous Srikrishna prasadam

2. Lalbagh Botanical Garden

Spread across 240 acres, Lalbagh (“Red Garden”) was laid out by Hyder Ali and later enhanced by Tipu Sultan. Home to over 1,800 plant species—from Araucaria cookii to the ancient “Lalbagh Rock”—the garden greets visitors with a floral clock at its entrance. Stroll past fountains, lotus pools and sprawling flowerbeds, then step inside the glasshouse (modeled on London’s Crystal Palace) to admire seasonal orchids and tulips.

Must Do: Seek out the 20-million-year-old tree fossil

3. Tippu’s Palace

Within the old Bangalore Fort stands this teak-and-stone summer retreat of Tipu Sultan, often called Rash-e-Jannat (“Abode of Bliss”). Its Indo-Islamic design features carved wooden pillars, floral-patterned ceilings and private zenana chambers for the Sultan’s family. Look for the ornate arches and carefully crafted balconies that frame its airy central hall.

Must Do: Marvel at the intricately carved pillar brackets

4. Bull Temple

On Bungalow Hill, the Bull Temple showcases one of the world’s largest monolithic Nandi statues—15 feet tall and over 6 meters long. Legend says Shiva placed an iron plate on Nandi’s head to halt its growth. Carved from granite in 1537 by chieftain Kempe Gowda, the bull faces a Shiva lingam in the temple’s inner sanctum.

Must Do: Admire the butter sculpture of Lord Ganesha, weighing around 110 kg

5. Cubbon Park

Also known as Sri Chamarajendra Park, this 300-acre green haven is dotted with 96 tree species and a charming toy train. Stop by the musical fountain and three-story Bengaluru Aquarium, home to angelfish, pearl gouramis and more. Statues of Queen Victoria, Sir Mark Cubbon and other notable figures add a historic touch to the shady avenues.

Must Do: Relax by the serene lotus pond

6. Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium

This dome auditorium—run by the Bangalore Association for Science Education—offers daily shows in English and Kannada on our solar system, nebulas and space exploration. “Dawn of the Space Age” charts humanity’s journey from satellite launches to lunar missions, while the “Know Your Stars” programme and telescopes let you observe celestial wonders firsthand. An adjacent outdoor science park features whispering dishes, sundials, DNA models and a giant kaleidoscope.

Must Do: Explore the interactive Outdoor Science Park

7. Vidhana Soudha

Hailed by Nehru as “a temple of democracy,” Vidhana Soudha is India’s largest state legislative building. Crafted from granite and porphyry, it blends Dravidian and Indo-Saracenic styles across four main floors and a basement. Admire the 60-foot dome crowned by the national emblem, the carved sandalwood doors in the cabinet chamber and the grand 45-step staircase.

Must Do: Spot the national emblem atop the central dome

8. Venkatappa Art Gallery

Established in 1974 to honor painter-sculptor K. Venkatappa, this two-story gallery houses some 600 works—including sunrise vistas of Ooty, scenes of Nilgiri Hills and even prehistoric Indus-Valley artefacts. You’ll also find paintings by K. K. Hebbar, sculptures by Rajaram and ancient weaponry and musical instruments.

Must Do: Examine the 2,000 BC-era artefacts from the Indus Valley

9. Vishweshwaraiah Technological Museum

Dedicated to Bharat Ratna awardee Sir M. Visvesvaraya, this interactive museum celebrates engineering and industry. Highlights include vintage engines, industrial models and a life-size moving replica of a Spinosaurus. The Fun Science Gallery experiments with perception, sound, math and optics, while the 3D theatre screens films on ocean depths and brain science.

Must Do: Catch a show in the 3D theatre

Hop into your private cab and let Bangalore’s blend of tradition, nature and innovation unfold before you—one landmark at a time.