Bangalore- A City Full of Surprises: Busting Common Travel Myths

Bangalore gives you the impression of a modern new city, yet if you scratch the surface, you will uncover a storied past dating back over 1000 years.

In this tightly paced tour, we will visit interesting sites of different eras – Historical Temples, Palaces, Heritage Buildings, Markets, Statues, a Fort, a Museum, a lush Park, and more and learn about their significance and contribution to the making of Bangalore.

It’s a tour of the story of Bangalore – from its modest origin in pre-medieval times; to the era when it was just another place compared to its more illustrious peers, now long faded into oblivion, to the fascinating times when the city was traded, and gifted like a commodity; then fought over and retained like a shining possession; right down to the times when it reached an inflexion point and came into its own as a modern mega city.

This is by no means an ordinary sightseeing trip, but a true journey of exploration with engaging commentary sprinkled with interesting facts and anecdotes. A tour is sure to stimulate your mind and invigorate your senses.

An action-packed day tour where the journey is as exciting as the destinations.

Typical itinerary:

Stop At: Ramanagara

We believe food is an integral part of an Indian cultural experience; hence we start our tour early and detour from the highway to visit a traditional eatery serving authentic local breakfast. Here our accompanying guide will take you through a sumptuous culinary experience.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Silk Cocoon Market

We visit India's largest silk cocoon market - a sight to behold. From our accompanying expert guide, learn the history of the famed Mysore silk and the complex stages of creating a silk garment from scratch.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Keshava Temple, Somnathpur

We get off the highway for an extended detour through lush countryside to reach this stunning Hindu temple( a ruin) from 1268 AD. It is nominated as a UNESCO heritage site and awaiting accreditation. Some of humankind's most exquisite stone carvings and sculptures are here. Our accompanying expert guide will introduce its history, Hinduism, its pantheon of gods, and the context of each beautiful carving.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Mysuru/Mysore Palace

We explore this bejeweled palace, among the most visited sites in India and the home of one of the wealthiest individuals in the world in its heyday – the Maharaja of Mysore. From our accompanying expert guide, learn about the Wodeyar rulers and their incredible contributions to putting this region on the global map as we leisurely survey and explore the interiors & exteriors of this dazzling palace.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Devaraja Market, Mysore

Our accompanying expert guide will take you through a stroll inside an 1880s market stuck in a time warp. As you take a walk back in time, marvel at the sights, smells and sounds of the shops & people in the bazaar selling the choicest fruits, flowers, vegetables, bangles and local produce such as Jaggery, Attar, Masalas etc.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Srirangapatna

From Mysore, we drive to the historic river island of Srirangapatna. Here we break for a relaxed and sumptuous lunch at a picturesque setting by the gurgling waters of the River Cauvery.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Dariya Daulat Palace - Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, Srirangapatna

Our final stop is the exquisite 1780s wooden palace of Tipu Sultan, where every inch of its interiors has delicate frescoes and murals of evocative battle scenes, floral and geometric patterns and portraits. Our accompanying expert guide will provide context to each hand painted artwork and regale you with stories of the valiant efforts of this ruler, the Tiger of Mysore, against the colonial powers of the time.

Duration: 45 minutes

In this awe-inspiring journey, you will discover that stone was clay in the hands of a breed of legendary sculptors, the likes of which are no longer around.

We will visit one of the ancient world's tallest free-standing sculptures created over a millennia ago, then gaze at idyllic countryside scenes that will invoke the meaning of life and such thoughts.

We will move on to marvel at the best collection of stone works not seen anywhere else in the world.

At an ancient temple that doubled up as a dance platform with exquisite statues of voluptuous maidens, surely inspired by the dancers themselves.

And at a 12th-century temple whose walls are covered with hundreds and thousands of exquisite carvings of gods, animals, flowers, mythical beasts, and patterns, sure to leave you speechless

A fascinating day trip exploring an array of cultural, historical, and natural wonders of India

Our first stop is for a sumptuous South Indian breakfast. We then quickly make our way to a quaint town to explore an amazing medieval temple having India’s biggest Nandi bull; Snake sculpture and the largest hand-painted fresco. It is the home of a few mysterious hanging pillars too

We then move on to watch skillful workers create silk thread out of silk cocoons at a cottage sericulture workshop. Get to know the various stages in the creation of fine silk cloth that this region is historically famous for. The next stop is a pottery workshop where you can try your hand at making a custom urn or a pot of clay. A visit to a quaint century-year-old train station stuck in a time warp, follows.

We then move on to explore a remarkable 9th-century Hindu temple frozen in time. It is the oldest one in the Bangalore region. Learn about the fabled empires of South India that have left their marks within its boundaries.

The region is home to one of India’s handful of Biodiversity Heritage sites. We explore his remarkable 800-year-old Tamarind trees grove. The gnarled tree trunks and extraordinary root suckers propping the old trees are a botanical marvel.

Our final stop is a visit to the ramparts of a couple of forts from the 16th and 18th centuries. Get to know about the valiant 18th-century warrior and statesman, Tipu Sultan and his indelible impact and contributions.

We are back in Bangalore by about 6 pm.

Bangalore gives you the impression of a modern new city, yet if you scratch the surface, you will uncover a storied past dating back over 1000 years.

In this tightly paced tour, we will visit interesting sites of different eras – A lush park, A historic temple, the oldest Market of the city, and the centre of state government to learn about their significance and contribution to the making of Bangalore.

It’s a tour of the story of Bangalore – from its modest origin in pre-medieval times; to the era when it was just another place compared to its more illustrious peers, now long faded into oblivion, to the fascinating times when the city was traded, and gifted like a commodity; then fought over and retained like a shining possession; right down to the times when it reached an inflexion point and came into its own as a modern mega city.

This is by no means an ordinary sightseeing trip, but a true journey of exploration with engaging commentary sprinkled with interesting facts and anecdotes. A tour is sure to stimulate your mind and invigorate your senses.

The legacy of over 150 years of British presence in Bangalore is hard to miss if you are in the city. For example, The broad roads laid out over 200 years ago for horse carriages, bullock carts, and horsemen do a fine job of carrying the chaotic traffic of this day.

The British brought to Bangalore promenades, parks, churches, schools, hospitals, pubs, clubs, shopping centers, dance halls, race courses, golf ranges, cricket, etc where there was none before.

In this specially curated tour, we will explore in detail many of the fascinating landmarks of that era as well as sneak a peek at a few more that have left an indelible mark on the cityscape of Bangalore

You will also learn how events of that era have shaped a modest town to become one of the largest cities in India in a few generations; how the capital of an unknown state has become the outsourcing capital of the world.

Join us as we take a walk back in time exploring the rich history hidden in the hedges and araucarias of the lush garden of Cubbon park.

Get to know the significance of the magnificent British-era buildings in its precincts – a beehive of activity to this day.

Who are these 5 people with their statues in the park? Learn about their history and contribution.

Stroll through the main British-era thoroughfare, past a garrison church as we wrap up the walk with a splendid South Indian breakfast.

Join us for an invigorating walk and talk in the largest man-made work of art in Bangalore.

For a few centuries, the Lalbagh Botanical Garden has acted as the lungs of the city, providing a refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life for residents and tourists alike.

The park is a treasure trove of delights with astonishing layers of history associated with it which we uncover in the walking tour.

We will walk along the neatly manicured greens, enjoy the exquisite architectural details of the fine structures within it, and marvel at stories of its glorious trees and plants.

The tour ends at the famed food street of Bangalore where you will eat till you drop a dazzling assortment of vegetarian delicacies unique to the place.

Join us as we walk the neighbourhood often referred to as the cultural heart of Bangalore.

Having been home to Nobel laureates, Diwans, artists, and scholars it has a vibrant atmosphere unique to itself.

Visit a placid lake with expansive views and lovely walkways, filled with the laughter of children.

Explore a delightful temple complex dating back to the 1600s with its majestic gopuram, lush garden, and stepped water pool.

Meander through colourful bazaars filled with the heavy scent of jasmines, tuberoses, fresh fruits, and sweet incense.

Marvel at a way of life unique to the locality.

Stops also include a center for culture, beautiful homes of a bygone era, and more.

We pause midway for some hot South Indian snacks and wrap up the walk with fine-filter coffee under a canopy of tall trees in a charming heritage site.

A fascinating walk tracing the evolution of Bangalore from its origin in the medieval ages.

This is an area of Bangalore like no other. You will be pleasantly shocked and mesmerized at every nook and turn as we snake our way through colorful bazaars, markets, ancient temples, a fortification and more.

Learn about the early denizens of the densely populated labyrinthine streets of this once walled city. What are their contributions and heritage as well as that of their rulers and overlords over the ages – the Kempegowdas, Marathas, Mughals, Rajas and Sultans of the kingdom of Mysore and also the British?

Visit sites of the British assault and capture of the city, a brutal event that claimed the lives of thousands of valiant defenders – a turning point in our history

This invigorating stroll of about 2.5 kms with multiple stops along the way includes a stop for filter coffee.

Come take a stroll through quaint bazaars and by lanes of one of the oldest localities of Bangalore.

Watch a way of life frozen in a time warp.

Explore a magnificent ancient temple of unknown origin with its tall juggernaut and Gopuram.

Get to know the layered history of a centuries-old lake; a watch tower with stories of its own and a magnificent memorial fit for a king.

Lose yourself inside a leafy British regiment church with murals and memorials which tell a tale of another era.

Join us on a leisurely walk in what was known as the Civil and Military Station during the reign of the British.

Stops will include Landmark buildings, Memorials, Statues, etc on MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road & Museum Road.

Our tour explores the fascinating history of this area from its origin as a British army garrison; blossoming into a full-fledged township larger than the original town; to its transformation as the Central Business District of Bangalore.

We wrap up the walk with breakfast in one of the oldest remaining eateries in this part of town.