If you have got the travel bug, don't resist, give in! You couldn't have chosen a better place than Karnataka. Karunadu - the elevated land, blessed with beautiful locales is a delightful place with an amalgamation of various rich cultures, crafts, heritage centers et al., It has an enviable posterity and presents much to be discovered. Travel on…

Bangalore, located 1000 Mts. above sea level, this city was formed by Kempegowda. This city also is a gateway to Southern India. People on their way to Ooty, Kodaikanal, Madras, Kanyakumari, Mangalore etc., for that matter even Karnataka, stop here as it acts as a center point to all the other places and is well connected to other major cities. Today it has almost become the fifth metro of India and is fastest growing city in Asia. Its known as The Garden City of India & The Neon City. Bangalore is really a cool place to be in if you want to relax as well as enjoy your life. Details given here make a perfect guide for tourists and enrich the knowledge of local people about the city and state.

Bangalore Palace
The Bangalore Palace in the heart of the city is a unique edifice inspired by Windsor castle and built in the Tudor style in 1880 at the cost of Rs 1 million. A built-up area of around 45,000 sq. ft., this 110 year old monument is a popular tourist attraction. Built by the Wodeyar King it is surrounded by a garden all around, almost giving it a fairytale setting

Vidhana Soudha (2 kms from MG Road)
This imposing edifice built almost entirely of dressed Bangalore granite is a tribute to temple architecture. Located at the northern boundary of Cubbon Park, this majestic building, with a total plinth area of over 5,00,000 sq ft built in a neo-Dravidian style. This is one of Bangalore's most important buildings. Mr. Kengal Hanumanthaiah the then chief minister of Mysore decided to construct the Vidhana Soudha entirely along Indian style of architecture. There are four domes on all the four corners. The main entrance is overshadowed by the four headed lion,the symbol of Indian sovereignty. It houses 22 departments and 300 rooms. It houses the Secretariat, the State legislature and several other Government offices. The gleaming white domes, pillars and archways, resemble the architectural pattern of Mysore's old palaces. The huge, carved doors of the cabinet room are made of pure sandalwood. The entire building, when floodlit on Sunday evenings, presents a truly breathtaking picture

Cubbon Park (2 kms from MG Road)
In 1864, Lord Cubbon, the then viceroy of India, laid out 300 acres of verdant tranquility. Today, it remains an oasis of greenery in the heart of modern Bangalore. This beautiful park is the haunt of the seeker of pleasure and tranquillity and is highly popular with walkers, joggers and nature lovers. The imposing red Gothic structure within this park is Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, which houses the public library, worth a visit for its rare treasure of books. Also situated here are the High Court, the Government Museum, the Technology Museum, the Govt. Aquarium and the Jawaharlal Bal Bhavan. The illuminated “fairy fountain” and the elegant graeco – colonial style buildings, add to the beauty of this park. Apart from its rich flora, Cubbon Park houses a number of institutions of significance like the Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall, Ottawa Chatter, Museum, Century Club and the Press Club.

Lalbagh Gardens (4 kms from MG Road)
This 240 acre expanse of greenery forms one of India's most beautiful botanical gardens were laid out during the Muslim era (18 century) by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, 200 years ago. They contain the largest collection of rare tropical and sub-tropical plants brought from far off Persia, Afghanistan and France, century-old trees, fountains, terraces, lotus pools, rose gardens and a deer park. At the heart of the gardens is situated the Glass House. Its design was obviously inspired by the Crystal Palace, London. The Annual flower, fruit and vegetable shows are regularly held here. Lal Bagh also houses the offices of the Karnataka Horticultural Society that renders free advice to those interested in flowers and gardens. A giant Electronic Quartz Flower clock (diameter meters) is also in the garden.

Jawahar Bala Bhavan (1 km from MG Road)
An imaginatively planned children's amusement park and recreation center. The main attractions are the toy train, which chugs its way along a ¾ mile route in the Cubbon Park and Dolls museum. The park also contains a 20 million year old fossilized tree – a gift from the Geological Survey of India.

The Bhavan has a boating facility, a small fair ground, with a children's park, it also organizes hobby classes such as painting, arts and crafts. Children's film shows and theatre performances are held at the Vijayaranga Theatre. Closed on Mondays and the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Attara Katcheri (2 kms from MG Road)
A two storied building of stone and brick, painted red, Attara Kacheri literally means "The eighteen offices or departments". Built in 1867 to house the secretariat, it now houses the high court and several lower courts. It is a two-storied structure with a spacious front and elegant, fluted lonic columns.

Aquarium
Located on Kasturba Road, the Aquarium is housed in a diamond shaped building. The aquarium has a variety of exotic cultivable as well as ornamental fish. Located at Cubbon Park, Kasturba Road Bangalore 560001. Phone : 577440. Open from 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs.

ISKCON Temple Complex
This temple is an exquisite blend of modern and traditional south Indian temple architecture. The building houses a multi-vision cinema theatre, ten mini computer aided presentation theatres, vedic library and a preaching library. The temple has varieties of accommodations to house various types of people, like bramacharis, members, devotees and people taking short term courses offered here. Finally we would like to say that this structure is on of the most beautiful buildings one can ever see. You really have to see it to believe it. So just say Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare and look forward to a visit to this place.

St. Mary's Basilica
This Church situated opposite the Russel Market Square was built as a small chapel in 1818 by Abbe Dubois, but was later converted into an ornate Gothic style Church by Rev. L.E.Kleiner. By 1882 a fairly large number of stained glass windows from Paris adorned the Basilica, but were removed during World War II. These were re-restored with great care in 1947. The Church was given the status of a Basilica (then the Sixth in India) in 1973 through a Papal order by Pope John Paul VI.

St. Marks Cathedral
This cream coloured Cathedral founded in 1808 and completed in 1812, was consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta in 1816. This Cathedral is a beautiful colonial structure having a graceful dome over a semicircular chancel that transports the visitor almost immediately into traquility. Roman archers along the walls are the features of the Cathedral.

The Fort and Tipu Sultan's Palace
Only parts of the fort remain, standing in mute testimony to the struggle of Tipu Sultan against British domination. Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. The fort is noted for its beautifully carved arches in Islamic style and for the well preserved Ganapati temple. Originally built by Kempe Gowda in 1537. It was extended and fortified by Tipu Sultan. Hyder Ali, Tipu's father had imprisoned David Baird along with a number of British army officers here. Tipu Sultan's Palace close to the fort is now a museum. The palace was started by Hyder Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791 it took ten years of planning and construction. This was one of Tipu Sultan's summer retreats. It is a two-storeyed ornate wooden structure with pillars, arches and balconies flanked by gardens on either sides leading to the palace. The eastern and western projecting balconies of the upper floor contained the seat of state from where Tipu conducted affairs of the state. An inscription on the wooden screen describes the palace as the "Abode of Happiness".

Karnataka Folk Museum
The Karnataka Janapadha trust manages this museum where many rare masks, artifacts and costumes are displayed. It also boasts of an impressive collection of folk music and videos of folk dances. It is located at Kumara Park West, Sheshadripuram.

Government Museum
A beautiful 1877 structure with Corinthian columns. Being one of the oldest museums in the country, this museum boasts an exquisite collection of coins, sculptures, inscriptions, old paintings and excavated items. The Venkatappa Art Gallery adjacent to the Museum is named after Late K. Venkatappa, a noted artist. You will find a selection of his famous paintings, Plaster of Paris works and wooden sculptures. Also on view are works of various contemporary artists.

Ulsoor Lake
The lake is centrally located, over a space of 1.5 sq. km. A place of prominence in the early years of the century, the lake was then known as "Halsur" or "Alasur". It extended over an area of 125 acres and was constructed by Kempe Gowda during the second half of the second century. It is a major tourist attraction with a boat club where you can hire out cruises with stops at some of the tiny islands that dot the lake