Introduction
Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, isn’t just a hub of technological marvels; it’s a city teeming with historical opulence, lush gardens, and untold stories. While most travel itineraries focus on the well-trodden paths, Hidden Gems Tours likes taking the paths less taken. With an expert guide constantly at your side, you are not confined to the monuments or within the walls of a vehicle; the tour transforms into a dialogue—a cultural exchange and educational foray. This all-inclusive escapade takes you through the heart of the city in air-conditioned comfort, with authentic local meals, and spares you the minor annoying inconveniences.
A tour we think you'll love
British Heritage LandmarksThink of Bangalore, and a high-tech industry might come to mind. But Hidden Gems Tours shows you a different layer— the British layer, complete with grand promenades and timeless architecture. Your guide doesn’t just point and narrate; they connect the dots between a colonial past and the modern city you see today. Ever wondered why cricket is so popular here? Or what’s the story behind those imposing, British-era buildings? You’ll get answers and insights, deepening your connection to Bangalore. It’s more than sightseeing; it’s like piecing together a fascinating puzzle of culture and history.
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TripAdvisor Review – Best tour we could have taken Praveen is a phenomenal tour guide. He’s a native of Bangalore, which adds a ton of color to the tour, but on top of that, he’s well-read, and he loves studying history. For example, when talking about the influences of the various empires of the world throughout history, he went on a tangent about Japanese history, and I learned things I never knew about Japan. Praveen’s intellectual curiosity was immediately obvious from the start of the tour when I got in the cab, and he and my colleague were talking about the Indian space program. He’s very skilled at answering questions in a way that makes it understandable for someone who knows almost nothing about India (me). He elaborated on local and national politics, where India sees itself in the world, the effects of British rule and how it shaped modern India, the struggles with poverty and corruption in India, how more modern political changes such as demonetization and the new GST have affected commerce locally, how Bangalore has changed over the past few decades as he has seen it, and so much more. He talked about all of that in between the detailed historical descriptions of a local Christian church, a Hindu temple, a local favorite sweets shop (that place was amazing), and the massive historical botanical gardens of Bangalore. He has clearly studied these places in great depth. Also, he’s a marathon runner, so if you (the reader of this review) like to run, you should probably drop everything and do his running tour. I have no doubt it would be fantastic. Don’t be afraid to ask him questions – he can probably answer them. – Dane L |
Holy Trinity Church
One might wonder about the significance of visiting a church when on a city tour of Bangalore. Step into the Holy Trinity Church on MG Road and discover the significance of this landmark set in the heart of Bangalore. Once constructed exclusively for the British Regiment stationed in Bangalore, the church now serves the local population with mass conducted in the Tamil language!
The church was built in 1851 by the East India Company. It was the second Anglican church they built to accommodate the swelling English regiment. Some of the statues and other fixtures you will see here were built in England. As you walk further into the church, you will notice the various pews earmarked by military rank. Take a seat in one of the pews marked for officers, and it is highly likely that you are sitting in the same spot where the young Officer Winston Churchill once sat! While you’re in the section, guess why the benches have upturned hooks in the back- and no, they are not for umbrellas! Your Hidden Gems guide will share numerous such bits of fascinating information throughout the tour.
Steeped in history, the church offers a glimpse of what life was like for the English church-goers. Don’t miss the plaques on the walls that tell about the lives and death of the families that once worshipped there.
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TripAdvisor Review – The complete origin story for Banglore Honestly my best ever tour experience hands down. Perfect English, air conditioned car, extremely knowledgable guide. I’m from Ireland, a country where our television was British, and we got to see how their glorious empire subdued the savages, while at the same time hearing stories in our history classes about how we were their savages not too long ago. Travelling to India was an opportunity to really see how another nation experienced those same people. I used to find history kind of boring and depressing, Irish people being killed by people with bigger guns until I started to hear the details that won’t be on the exam. Like when people fought in the war for our independence the grandparents of those soldiers survived the famine. They probably heard the stories. So when I saw this tour I leapt at the chance, I really wanted to understand what it was like for Indians to be ruled by the same people that my grandparents fought. I couldn’t have been luckier with my choice, Praveen has a real gift for making history come to life. In particular when we visited Trinity Church in Bengaluru, the place the British Soldiers worshipped. Some boy from Ipswitch gets on a boat, comes to India to make his fortune, lives in a bungalow with servants which he gets as part of the job making sure the natives don’t interupt the wealth extraction, and that’s where he put his rifle. There is the placque that commemorates his death, in a church where now Indian people still come to worship. At the end of the tour we went for some food, and omg South Indian food is the best 🙂 After this trip I cancelled my other tours and booked the rest of my free days with Praveen. Best business trip ever. – Eva L |
KR Market
KR Market isn’t just stalls and vendors; it’s the pulse of Bangalore at its most authentic. Imagine walking through aisles overflowing with vibrant flowers, their aroma filling the air. With Hidden Gems, you get the opportunity to snap unique photos and dive into the stories behind each petal. Your guide untangles the market’s complex history and its daily hustle, all in a language you’ll easily understand. It’s less of a visit and more of an experience, offering you a slice of local life that few tourists get to taste.
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TripAdvisor – Fantastic day exploring Bengaluru highly recommend 🇮🇳 Me and 8 other colleagues had a great day with Praveen as our tour guide sightseeing in Bengaluru. All of us having never visited India before, we were in safe hands with a minibus fitting us all in to visit the 8 different sights. Praveen was a great guide, very knowledgeable and interesting! All the sights were great to see. I especially enjoyed going to the KR market and seeing the flowers on display. Highly recommend going there with a guide, as it’s very busy and overwhelming! Praveen even treated us all to a flower wreath and a bunch of beautiful glass bangles, which I will treasure. The tiffin room restaurant was also a highlight; very delicious lunch! – Hatty Atkins, Seattle, WA |
Ulsoor Heritage Walk
Ulsoor isn’t just a place; it’s a timeline. Take a walk with Hidden Gems, and you won’t just see ancient temples and lakes—you’ll hear their stories. Ever wondered why that watchtower stands by the lake? Your guide will tell you. And it’s about the big sights and the small details too. From the etchings on the temple walls to the merchants in hidden bazaars, every element has a backstory. Hidden Gems gives you the inside scoop, making you a temporary local, not just a visitor.
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TripAdvisor – Excellent historical, botanical, political, societal, and cultural walking tour all rolled up into one! I spent a wonderful morning with Praveen touring various Hindu and Sikh temples and a British colonial military church, strolling through old markets, and admiring the beautiful architecture and trees around the Ulsoor area. Praveen was extremely knowledgeable, 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. – GlobalGirlAlways, Seattle, WA |
Food Experience
In Bangalore, food serves as both sustenance and storytelling. Hidden Gems takes you to trusted local eateries where you can savor local cuisine like idli, medu wada, and bisibele bhat. There’s no need to worry about safety; every dining venue is vetted for quality and hygiene, catering to international palates. Your guide adds depth to the meal, sharing tidbits about local culinary traditions, from how a tandoor oven works to the origin story of the humble uttapam. The aim isn’t just to satisfy your hunger but to weave food into the overall narrative of your Bangalore experience.
A Distinctive Perspective
Why settle for the same old Bangalore tour everyone else is doing? Hidden Gems Tours offers you a unique, all-inclusive experience. Just click here and book. From the moment an air-conditioned vehicle picks you up to the time you’re dropped off, it’s all sorted. You’ll eat at carefully selected local eateries, safe and authentic, without the long waits (meals, entry fees, and admission tickets are all included in your package). And your guide won’t just show you places; they’ll immerse you in the stories that make those places matter.
You’re taken care of from start to finish. In short, Hidden Gems isn’t another tour—it’s your doorway to a deeper, richer Bangalore experience.
