Lalbagh is one of the oldest botanical gardens in India and is also a major tourist attraction in South India. Located in South Bengaluru, the Lalbagh Botanical Garden is not only one of the largest botanical gardens in India, but also the first of its kind, with planned routes, glasshouses and ornamental flowers growing throughout the property.

The garden itself is spread over an area of 240 acres and its construction was commissioned by the famous ruler Hyder Ali. It was finally completed by his son- Tipu Sultan- who designed the gardens keeping in mind the beautiful gardens of Sira in Tumkur District in Karnataka.

Lalbagh is home to exotic flowers that were imported by the Sultan from countries like France, Persia, Arabia, Afghanistan, etc. Therefore, flowers that were previously never seen in India were first witnessed in this historical garden. Trees that were imported by Tipu Sultan from all over the world can still be found growing here.

Apart from the exotic trees, visitors can also catch sight of some rare birds such as the Myna, pond heron, purple moorhen, parakeets, Brahminy kites, the common egret and much more. Apart from the stunning flora and fauna of the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, it has another striking attraction, which is the Lalbagh rock. This rock, which is said to be over 3000 years old, is one of the oldest rocks in the world and can be found in the center of the garden.

The palace perfectly represents the luxury and splendor dominated by India's most resilient dynasties. Famous for its luxurious architecture and fun activities, the palace is visited by several visitors every day. The huge palace boasts a vast courtyard, bright interiors, majestic grounds, magnificent spiral staircases, stately towers, and lush gardens with proud exhibits of the noble royal family. Anyone who admires classic architecture and craftsmanship will be pleased to see them up close at this palace. 

“A Temple Dedicated to The Nation,” is what Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore, which houses the State Legislature along with the Secretariat of Karnataka. In addition to being amongst the top tourist places to visit in the city of Bangalore, it is also the largest Legislative building in the entire country. The conception and construction of Vidhana Soudha was done by the then Chief Minister of Mysore, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, with Nehru laying down its foundation stone on July 13, 1951. Subsequently, the iconic structure was completed in 1956, with a total cost of almost INR 1.84 crore.

The place was previously used by the famous ruler Tipu Sultan as a summer retreat, and several traces of the Sultan’s life and legacy can be found in the area. His summer residence can still be found in Nandi Hills. 

The house was called Tashk-e-Jannat, whose painted walls, intricate archways, high pillars and artfully crafted ceilings attract tourists and visitors even today.

Nandi Hills is also home to some famous temples and shrines such as the Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and his companions- Parvati and Nandi. 

This temple is also an architectural wonder and pilgrimage spot because it is one of the oldest temples in the area. 

Skandgiri is a beautiful hill town near Bangalore, which is famous for trekking and sightseeing and is also known as Kalavara Durga among the locals. Surrounded by the Nandi Hills, it lies at an elevation of 1450 metres.

The trek to the hilltop location is a thrilling one with a moderate to high level difficulty for trekkers. It is known that people often spend the night under the stars at the hilltop which provides a splendid view of the surrounding hills.

It is known that Skandgiri was once home to a majestic fort built by Tipu Sultan, who was the ruler of the kingdom of Mysore in the eighteenth century. When the battle between his kingdom and the Britisher’s was lost, there was a shift in the power to the British officials.

The fort did not manage to thrive under their administration. Today, only a few walls of the fort remain erect while a major portion of the fort is now in ruins. Notable among the landscape are two temples, one at the bottom of the hill and another at the top, which did not come to any harm, while everything else lies in rubble today.

This summer residence of Tipu Sultan was built in the year 1791. The ceilings and walls of the palace have a floral touch with Islamic carvings and decorations. 

The uniqueness of this two storey building is that it is entirely made of teak wood with wooden pillars supporting the foundation of the palace. It is said that Sultan used the eastern and western balconies to conduct the mass and state affairs. 

The intricately carved wooden balcony and the majestic staircases are great examples of architectural marveling and the size of the palace is not magnanimous yet it gives a rustic touch to the state of Karnataka. It is one of the Bangalore tourist places which is included in almost all the itineraries.

If you remember the classic Sholay scenes then you will be amazed to see the rocky mountains of this town that is situated around 50 KM from Bengaluru city and Sholay was originally shot here. 

From Silk farming to Mysore-Pak, from leading into the huge Hanuman statue entrance to the Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary; Ramanagara is one of the places to visit in Bangalore to enjoy heaps of activities like camping and trekking, and also an abundance of sightseeing option. 

The iconic rock elevations where the dacoit Gabbar was filmed in the cult classic Sholay can be visited during the day where you walk and climb some steep elevations of approximately 400 staircases to reach the top where you will find a temple as well. 

These rock elevations are of Ramadevara Betta Hill which is a part of Ramadevara betta Vulture Sanctuary.