Places to visit in Bengaluru

The palace is open daily to visitors from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (ticket counters close around 5:00 PM). General entry tickets cost approximately ₹240 for Indian nationals, ₹460 for foreign tourists, and ₹120 for children. An official audio guide device is available for an additional rental fee of roughly ₹230 (or accessible via mobile apps). Additional charges apply for photography: smartphone photography typically incurs ₹100, while DSLR still cameras cost approximately ₹300, and video cameras cost ₹500. Commercial film shoots and drone flying require written sanction from the palace private trust. Details are subject to revision by the royal trust.

Located in Vasanth Nagar near Sadashivanagar in central-north Bengaluru, the palace is roughly 3.5 km north of Vidhana Soudha and 4.5 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). Auto-rickshaws, app-based cabs, and BMTC buses drop passengers at the Palace Road / Mount Carmel College gates. The Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha metro stations (Purple Line) are approximately 3.5 km away. A vast paid parking ground accommodates hundreds of vehicles within the Palace Grounds.

Cubbon Park is open daily from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Entry to the park grounds is completely free. Dedicated attractions inside carry separate nominal charges: Bal Bhavan entry is approximately ₹10 for adults (toy train tickets cost roughly ₹20 for children and ₹30 for adults). Commercial photography, fashion shoots, and drone operations require prior written authorization and payment of prescribed permits to the Deputy Director of Horticulture; casual personal smartphone photography is freely allowed. Motor vehicle traffic inside the park is prohibited every Sunday, on second and fourth Saturdays, on public holidays, and daily between 5:00 AM and 8:00 AM.

Bordered by Kasturba Road, Ambedkar Veedhi, and Raj Bhavan Road, Cubbon Park is centrally located right next to Vidhana Soudha. The park is served directly by two major metro stations on Namma Metro's Purple Line: Cubbon Park Metro Station and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Station Vidhana Soudha. Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) is just 2.5 km west. Ample paid parking bays for cars and two-wheelers are available near Queen's Road, Bal Bhavan, and the High Court periphery.

The garden is open daily from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Admission is free for early morning walkers (6:00 AM to 9:00 AM) and evening walkers (6:00 PM to 7:00 PM). During regular tourist hours (9:00 AM to 6:00 PM), entry tickets cost approximately ₹25 to ₹30 for adults (Indian nationals), ₹200 to ₹300 for foreign visitors, and are free for children under 12 years. During the special biannual Flower Shows, entry tickets are revised to approximately ₹80 on weekdays and ₹100 on weekends for adults, and ₹30 for children. Battery-operated buggies cost roughly ₹100 per person. Personal photography on mobile phones and basic cameras is permitted; professional shoots, drones, and tripods require prior written clearance from the Department of Horticulture.

Situated in Mavalli, approximately 4.5 km south of Vidhana Soudha and 5 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic), Lalbagh has four major gates (North Gate on Subbaiah Circle, West Gate on Krumbiegel Road, South Gate near Ashoka Pillar, and East Gate near Double Road). The West Gate is served directly by the Lalbagh Metro Station on Namma Metro's Green Line, providing effortless transit without road traffic. Dedicated multi-level and surface parking facilities for hundreds of vehicles are available at the Double Road (East) Gate and West Gate.

The exterior public promenade along Ambedkar Veedhi is accessible freely 24 hours daily. There is no ticket fee for viewing or photographing the building exterior from public roads. Photography from the street and public sidewalks using smartphones and casual cameras is permitted; using tripods on the security perimeter or attempting to fly camera drones anywhere near the legislative complex is strictly banned under counter-terrorism security regulations. Official interior access is granted only to authorized government staff, accredited media, or school delegations with advance written permission from the Secretariat Administration Department.

Located on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi in the central administrative district of Bengaluru, Vidhana Soudha is directly adjacent to Cubbon Park. It has its own dedicated underground metro station on Namma Metro's Purple Line - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Station Vidhana Soudha - whose exits open directly onto the public promenade outside the building gates. Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) is just 2 km west. Ample paid public parking is available nearby at the Cubbon Park Queen's Road parking lots and High Court peripheral bays.

The monument is open daily to visitors from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Entry tickets cost approximately ₹20 for Indian citizens and SAARC/BIMSTEC visitors, and ₹200 for foreign tourists (free for children under 15 years). Still camera photography permits cost a nominal ₹25. Ticketing is entirely digital via Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) QR codes and online portal booking at the gate; paper cash counters are generally phased out. Touching the ancient wooden pillars, climbing railings, or entering roped-off chambers is strictly prohibited under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

Located on Albert Victor Road in Chamrajpet near the Kalasipalya bus stand and KR Market, the palace is approximately 3.5 km southwest of Vidhana Soudha and 3 km south of Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro station is Krishna Rajendra (KR) Market Metro Station on the Green Line, situated an easy 600-meter walk away. City buses and auto-rickshaws frequent Albert Victor Road continuously. A small paid municipal parking area for cars and two-wheelers operates adjacent to the garden entrance.

Bangalore Fort is open daily to the public from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Entry is generally free (or occasionally carries a nominal ASI ticket of ₹20 during special archaeological exhibitions). Casual photography using personal mobile phones and cameras is permitted on the lawns and around the stone gate; commercial shoots and drone flights require formal clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India (Bengaluru Circle). Visitors must refrain from carving graffiti onto the ancient granite blocks or defacing the historic mortar.

Located on Krishna Rajendra (KR) Road opposite the Victoria Hospital campus in Kalasipalya, Bangalore Fort is approximately 3.2 km southwest of Vidhana Soudha and 2.5 km south of Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The Krishna Rajendra (KR) Market Metro Station on the Green Line is situated just 250 meters away, making metro travel the fastest and most convenient approach. Autos and city buses pass the fort continuously. Dedicated vehicle parking is not available on site; visitors using cars should park at the nearby KR Market multi-level parking facility.

The museum is open daily from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM (ticket counters close at 5:30 PM). The museum remains open on all 365 days of the year, except on Ganesha Chaturthi and Deepavali. General entry tickets cost approximately ₹100 per person (organized school groups with institutional letters pay a concessional rate of ₹40 per student). Additional nominal fees apply for special attractions: 3D film shows (₹30 - ₹40), Science on a Sphere shows (₹25 - ₹40), and the flight simulator (₹50 - ₹100). Tickets can be purchased at the counter or booked online via the official VITM portal (vismuseum.gov.in). Personal photography with smartphones and handheld cameras is permitted across all open galleries.

Situated on Kasturba Road directly adjacent to Cubbon Park, VITM is roughly 1.5 km south of Vidhana Soudha and 3 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro access is via Cubbon Park Metro Station or Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Station Vidhana Soudha on the Purple Line (both within 1.2 to 1.5 km). Dedicated visitor parking is limited on Kasturba Road; visitors arriving by car should park at the nearby Cubbon Park Queen's Road or Kanteerava Stadium paid parking facilities.

The museum building exterior can be viewed from public sidewalks daily from dawn to dusk. Prior to its restoration closure, the museum operated from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed on Wednesdays and general holidays) with nominal entry tickets of ₹10 for adults and ₹5 for children. Public reopening dates for the interior galleries will be notified by the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage upon completion of structural conservation. Casual exterior smartphone photography from Kasturba Road is permitted; drones and tripod photography are restricted.

Located on Kasturba Road directly adjacent to Cubbon Park, the museum is approximately 1.5 km south of Vidhana Soudha and 3 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro access is via Cubbon Park Metro Station on the Purple Line (1.2 km away). Auto-rickshaws and city buses stop along Kasturba Road outside the museum gates. Parking on Kasturba Road is heavily restricted; motorists should park at Kanteerava Stadium or the Cubbon Park Queen's Road parking lots.

NGMA Bengaluru is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The gallery is strictly closed on Mondays and on gazetted National Holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti). Entry tickets cost approximately ₹20 for Indian citizens, ₹500 for foreign visitors, and are free for school children and students up to Class XII (valid school ID required). Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online via the official NGMA portal (ngmaindia.gov.in). Non-flash photography with personal smartphones is permitted in the open courtyards and permanent galleries; flash photography, tripods, selfie sticks, and videography inside exhibition halls are strictly forbidden.

Situated at 49 Palace Road in Vasanth Nagar, NGMA is approximately 1.5 km north of Vidhana Soudha and 3 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro stations are Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Station Vidhana Soudha and Cubbon Park Station on the Purple Line (approx. 1.5 km away). Auto-rickshaws and app cabs drop passengers directly at the main entrance gate. The campus features limited on-site parking for two-wheelers and passenger cars along the driveway; on busy weekends, motorists may need to find street parking along Palace Road.

The museum is open all days of the week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (entry ticket counters close at 4:30 PM). General entry tickets cost approximately ₹50 for adults, ₹30 for children (aged 4 to 18 years) and students with valid institutional ID, and are free for children under 3 years and senior citizens above 70. Additional nominal charges apply for flight simulators: the basic simulator costs roughly ₹40 to ₹50, while the motion simulator costs approximately ₹100 per ride. Still camera permits cost ₹50, and video cameras cost ₹75; casual mobile phone photography is generally permitted. Drones are strictly banned due to the proximity of the active HAL military airfield.

Located on Old Airport Road near the Marathahalli intersection in eastern Bengaluru, the museum is approximately 11 km east of Vidhana Soudha and 13 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). It is easily reached via private taxis, auto-rickshaws, and numerous BMTC buses plying the Old Airport Road / Varthur corridor. The nearest metro access is via the Indiranagar Metro Station on the Purple Line (roughly 5.5 km west), from where connecting autos and buses run frequently. A managed on-site parking area accommodates passenger cars and two-wheelers.

The temple is open daily: morning darshan operates from 4:15 AM to 5:00 AM (Mangala Aarti) and from 7:15 AM to 1:00 PM; evening darshan runs from 4:15 PM to 8:30 PM. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the temple remains open continuously from 7:15 AM to 8:30 PM without afternoon closure. General entry is completely free. Dedicated special darshan queue passes can be purchased for nominal donations (typically ₹100 to ₹250). Footwear must be deposited at the free organized shoe counters at the entrance. Photography is strictly prohibited inside all deity sanctum halls and queue areas, though casual photography in the outer courtyards is permitted.

Located on West of Chord Road in Rajajinagar in northwestern Bengaluru, the temple is approximately 7 km northwest of Vidhana Soudha and 5 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The temple is exceptionally well served by public transit: the Mahalakshmi Metro Station and Sandal Soap Factory Metro Station on Namma Metro's Green Line are both within an easy 500-to-700-meter walk. Ample multi-level car and two-wheeler parking is available within the temple's dedicated parking complex on Chord Road.

The temple is open daily from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM (morning aarti typically takes place at 7:30 AM; evening aarti around 7:00 PM). General admission is completely free for all devotees. Footwear must be deposited at the shoe storage counter outside the main entrance for a nominal fee (₹5 to ₹10). Base parking fees typically range from ₹10 for two-wheelers to ₹30 for passenger cars. Photography inside the inner sanctum of the Bull Temple and Dodda Ganapathi is strictly prohibited, while outdoor photography of the temple gopuram and Bugle Rock gardens is permitted.

Located on Bull Temple Road in Basavanagudi in south-central Bengaluru, the temple is approximately 5.5 km south of Vidhana Soudha and 5 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro access is via the National College Metro Station or South End Circle Metro Station on Namma Metro's Green Line (both roughly 1.2 to 1.5 km away). Auto-rickshaws, city buses, and app cabs reach Bull Temple Road directly. A designated municipal surface parking lot for two-wheelers and cars is available opposite Bugle Rock park.

The park is open daily in two sessions: from 5:30 AM to 1:00 PM, and from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Admission to the park, rock formation, and watchtower is completely free. Casual smartphone and camera photography is unrestricted. Commercial video filming and drone usage require prior written authorization from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Horticulture Department. Visitors must not climb on unprotected vertical rock edges, litter, or disturb the roosting fruit bats.

Located on Bull Temple Road directly adjacent to the Bull Temple and Dodda Ganapathi temple in Basavanagudi, Bugle Rock is roughly 5.5 km south of Vidhana Soudha and 5 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro access is via the National College Metro Station or South End Circle Metro Station on the Green Line (both within 1.2 to 1.5 km). Public buses, auto-rickshaws, and app-based cabs serve the park gates directly. Dedicated on-street and pay-and-park municipal facilities operate opposite the entrance.

The temple is open daily in two sessions: from 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM, and from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM (special extended timings operate on Makara Sankranti and Maha Shivaratri). Admission is completely free for all visitors. Footwear must be deposited at the outer shoe stand for a nominal donation (₹5 to ₹10). Photography is strictly prohibited inside the subterranean cave sanctum and inner deity chambers; casual photography of the monolithic stone discs and pillars in the open outer courtyard is permitted. Details can change during solar eclipses.

Located in Gavipuram near Kempegowda Nagar in southwestern Bengaluru, the temple is approximately 5 km southwest of Vidhana Soudha and 4.5 km south of Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro access is via the National College Metro Station on the Green Line (roughly 2 km east). City buses, auto-rickshaws, and app-based cabs reach Gavipuram directly. Street parking for cars and two-wheelers is available along the temple approach lane, though it can become congested on festival days.

The park is open daily: morning fitness hours operate from 5:00 AM to 8:30 AM (free entry for walkers); general tourist hours run from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. General entry during daytime hours is typically free (or carries a nominal BBMP civic fee of approximately ₹10 to ₹20). Paid parking is available in the multi-level underground parking structure at standard civic hourly rates. Casual smartphone and camera photography is permitted throughout the grounds; professional video shoots or rallies require prior administrative permits from the BBMP and City Police Commissionerate.

Situated on Seshadri Road in Gandhinagar, Freedom Park is approximately 1.5 km west of Vidhana Soudha and just 1 km east of Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) and KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station. The nearest metro station is Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station (Majestic) on the interchange of the Green and Purple Lines (approx. 1 km walk or short auto ride). City buses running along Seshadri Road stop directly at the Freedom Park gate. A modern multi-level underground parking facility operated by the BBMP accommodates hundreds of cars and two-wheelers.

The market operates 24 hours daily, but different sections peak at different hours: the wholesale flower auctions run from 4:00 AM to 8:30 AM; general vegetable, fruit, and spice trading continues until 8:00 PM. Entry is completely free and open to all. Photography on personal mobile phones and cameras is permitted and widely practiced; however, visitors should be respectful of busy traders actively unloading heavy headloads, and always seek polite permission before taking close-up portraits of vendors. Watch personal belongings and wallets carefully in dense crowds.

Situated at the intersection of Mysore Road, KR Road, and Avenue Road in the Kalasipalya area, the market is roughly 3 km southwest of Vidhana Soudha and 2.5 km south of Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The Krishna Rajendra (KR) Market Metro Station on Namma Metro's Green Line is located directly across the street, providing the cleanest, fastest, and most traffic-free transit. Attempting to drive a private car into KR Market is strongly discouraged due to extreme vehicular congestion; travelers using taxis or autos should ask to be dropped directly at the metro station entrance.

The street is a public civic thoroughfare accessible freely at all times. Most retail shops and boutiques operate daily from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM (some food outlets and apparel stores stay open until 9:30 PM or 10:00 PM). Personal photography of street scenes and shopfronts on mobile phones is generally accepted, though individual private boutiques may restrict interior photography of exclusive designer garments or jewelry collections. Maintain basic caution with personal purses and bags during crowded peak evening shopping hours.

Situated in the Tasker Town / Shivajinagar area of central Bengaluru, Commercial Street is approximately 2 km east of Vidhana Soudha and 4.5 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro access is via Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Road Metro Station and Cubbon Park Metro Station on the Purple Line (both roughly 1 to 1.5 km south), easily bridged by a 5-minute auto-rickshaw ride. Parking on Commercial Street itself is heavily restricted to maintain pedestrian flow; visitors arriving by car should park at the nearby Kamaraj Road multi-level parking facility or the Shivaji Nagar bus station complex.

The public promenade and parks are generally open daily in two sessions: from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (some park sections stay open continuously). Admission to the lake promenade and gardens is free. Casual smartphone and camera photography of the landscape, birds, and sunsets is permitted; photographing military installations or training personnel belonging to the Madras Engineer Group on the southern bank is strictly restricted. Boating operations on the lake are operated periodically by the tourism department or defense personnel; swimming and recreational fishing are strictly banned by civic regulations.

Located in Halasuru in eastern-central Bengaluru, the lake is approximately 3.5 km east of Vidhana Soudha and 6 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The lake is easily accessed via two nearby Namma Metro stations on the Purple Line: Halasuru Metro Station and Trinity Metro Station (both approximately 1 to 1.5 km away). Auto-rickshaws, city buses, and app-based cabs readily reach the multiple entrance gates along Kensington Road and Sivanchetti Gardens. Dedicated paid parking for two-wheelers and cars is available near the Kensington Road public park gate.

The lake promenade and public parks are open daily in two primary sessions: from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Admission to the walking track and gardens is completely free. Casual smartphone and camera photography of the landscape, birds, and sunsets is permitted; commercial video shoots, drone flights, and high-decibel music are strictly restricted by BBMP lake regulations. Bathing, washing clothes, and recreational fishing are strictly banned to maintain water quality and ecological balance.

Situated at the intersection of Sadashivanagar and Malleshwaram in north-central Bengaluru, Sankey Tank is approximately 4.5 km north of Vidhana Soudha and 4 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The nearest metro stations are Srirampura Metro Station and Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (Majestic) Station on the Green Line (both roughly 2.5 to 3 km away). Regular city buses and auto-rickshaws drop passengers directly outside the Sadashivanagar Gate or Malleshwaram 18th Cross Gate. Managed on-street and dedicated parking bays for two-wheelers and cars are available near the Sadashivanagar entrance.

The lake park is open daily in two primary public sessions: from 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM, and from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM (closing around 7:00 PM in summer). Entry tickets cost a nominal fee of approximately ₹20 for adults and ₹10 for children, collected at the Forest Department gate. Casual smartphone photography is permitted; serious bird photographers using super-telephoto lenses and DSLR cameras may be charged a nominal camera fee (₹50 to ₹100). Commercial filming, fishing, and drone flights are strictly prohibited under wetland conservation regulations.

Situated along Bellary Road (NH 44) adjacent to the landmark Hebbal Flyover in northern Bengaluru, the lake is approximately 8 km north of Vidhana Soudha and 9 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). It is located directly along the primary airport transit corridor leading to Kempegowda International Airport. Numerous BMTC Vayu Vajra airport buses and city buses stop at the Hebbal Bridge / Hebbal Lake bus stop. Dedicated parking for two-wheelers and passenger cars is available outside the forest department park entrance.

The park is open from Wednesday to Monday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (Grand Safari operates from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM). Critical weekly closure: The entire biological park (including zoo, safari, and butterfly park) is strictly closed every Tuesday for veterinary maintenance and grounds upkeep. Ticket options are packaged:

• Zoo + Non-AC Bus Safari Combo: Approximately ₹350 for adults, ₹200 for children (6 - 12 years), and ₹250 for senior citizens.
• Zoo + AC Bus Safari Combo: Approximately ₹600 for adults and ₹400 for children.
• Zoo Only (without safari): Approximately ₹110 for adults and ₹60 for children.
• Butterfly Park Entry: Approximately ₹50 for adults and ₹30 for children. Tickets can be booked online in advance via the official portal (etickets.bannerughattabiopark.org). Personal camera permits cost approximately ₹50 to ₹100; professional video equipment and drones require formal forest department clearance.

Located at the terminus of Bannerghatta Road (SH 87) in southern Bengaluru Urban district, the park is approximately 22 km south of Vidhana Soudha and 24 km from Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic). The drive takes about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes by car or taxi. The park is exceptionally well connected by public transit: regular BMTC air-conditioned and standard city buses (including Route 365 from Majestic and Route G-4 from Brigade Road) terminate directly at the Bannerghatta National Park bus stand. A massive multi-level and surface parking plaza operated by the park accommodates hundreds of cars, buses, and two-wheelers.