ULSOOR HERITAGE WALK

This was truly a highlight of a two week trip to India. Praveen brought Bangalore to life and really opened our eyes to the depth of history and culture that the city has to offer. His knowledge of the history of the city and its people has changed the way we look at a big Indian city and he has left us with memories that will come to the fore whenever we think of India. We had a full day excursion which included the gardens, market, food, government buildings and religious buildings -a really broad mix but each element was well covered. Thank you for an amazing day.

I spent a wonderful morning with Praveen touring various Hindu and Sikh temples and a British colonial military chuch, strolling through old markets, and admiring beautiful architechture and trees around the Ulsoor area. Praveen was extremely knowledgable, flexible with scheduling, and customized the tour based on my interests. Highly recommended for solo travelers, families, or business people while working or visiting in the area.

Praveen did an amazing job of, what I thought would be just a tour of Ulsoor but turned out to be, an immersive experience of the history of Bangalore (over 4000 years!), with the vibrant colours, sounds, tastes and smells of different communities that have migrated to this region over different eras and for different reasons. In a span of around 3 km, we encountered bungalows, 150+ years old church and many remnants of the colonial era, bylanes with bustling markets, a mosque, centuries-old temple with stunning sculptures and a gurudwara, where their evening prayers seemed only an extension of their celebration of life. Not to mention the mouthwatering sweets from an unassuming sweet shop (Sri Guru Sweet Mart) round a corner.A treat for all the senses in a leisurely pace! Highly recommended!

Awesome tour of Bangalore--would highly recommend! Comfortable, relaxed and full of city highlights. Thank you!

Praveen's Ulsoor Heritage Walk was wonderful. Full of insights into the local area, its history and its development. Praveen was cheerful and full of interesting conversation. I'd recommend this not only to tourists but also to locals such as myself who want to know more about their city!

On a lazy Saturday noon I joined a group of History Buffs, to accompany Praveen on a Walk down memory lane. The name 'Ulsoor Heritage Walk' makes one wonder as to what does this part of city offer. The rich cultural heritage and the striking facts about religious and cultural harmony and co-existance, the hallmark of Indian values, is what one experiences. Praveen has immense knowledge of Bangalore city over the eons. His ability to describe the state of culture, religion, architecture and way of life over the years, transforms visitors into that era and really makes one's heart swell with pride. Interesting tid bits shared by Praveen about Sri Aurobindo Ashram (not many would be aware that it exists in the city) ,the 1000 year old Sri Someshwara Swamy temple (chola period) with its beautiful yet arcane architecture, the Holy Trinity church (a military church), the trading community in Ulsoor (a Military tailor, a Flour Grinding Mill with British era equipment), the busy Milkman Street, the gurdwara and the harmonious co existence of different religious communities, was the best part of the heritage walk. Did I miss something? For those with a sweet tooth, the visit to a local sweet shop is bliss (yummy kala Jamuns). We were also lucky to taste the rare Bael/Wood apple chutney near the temple. A must try for people interested in history and culture of Bangalore. Planning to try the other tours too.

I could see such hidden gems in Bengaluru including very old English style houses, one of the oldest Hindu temple, Sikh Church, Sweet shop in Ulsoor Market and many more. Our guide Mr.Praveen was very knowledgeable and care members, even he took me to the main road and booked a cab as it's dark.Me and others fully enjoyed and I'm specially thanking to his professionalism.

Was one of the most fun and unique Saturday evenings walking around Ulsoor, listening to stories and fun facts that spanned from Bangalore during the British Raj till today. We started our walk at the Aurobindo Aashram, past the British quarters to the old Garrison church( holy trinity church) and then towards the poorer Indian quarters at Halasuru market, discovered an ancient 11th century temple - the oldest and biggest in Bangalore-tucked away in the bazaar ( who knew?) and then ended the walk at the Ulsoor Gurudwara. The best part of the experience was Praveen, whose passion for history and story telling really comes through. My husband and I are definitely going to join him again!

I really enjoyed the Ulsoor Heritage Walk with Praveen tonight. There were six of us, three Bangaloreans and two of us from abroad. Praveen was extremely welcoming (knew my name and addressed me by it during the tour); the walking path was clearly well thought-out and a good ratio of walking to talking (if you had any questions, he was eager to answer them but didn't launch into 20-min history lessons that stopped us from experiencing the sights ourselves). We got to see a few remaining signs of old colonial Ulsoor, but the best part was heading into 'Indian' Ulsoor and being guided through a a Hindu temple, a Sikh gurdwara, as well as one of the local market streets (where we got to sample some treats). I feel like after today I have a better idea of what it means to be Indian, and a greater appreciation for all there is to learn and experience in India!

It wasn’t a tour, but an experience that we will never forget. Embarking on a day tour with a complete stranger can be a bit daunting, but Praveen our companion’s friendly approach and genuine interest in us put us at ease immediately. His historical knowledge of the places we visited was beyond compare, but what truly set him apart was his ability to understand what we would be interested in, and tailor not only the itinerary, but his delivery of information for the best possible experience. His charm, humor and genuine friendship all added up to an experience we will cherish. If you're looking for a tour of "places," look elsewhere, if you're looking for a personalized experience that will leave you laughing, touched, and at times in awe of the beauty of Bangalore–give Praveen at Bangalore running and walking Tours a call. You will not be disappointed.