Bangalore is one of those few cities of India that is known by its multiple taglines – ‘the Garden city’, IT Hub, Silicon Valley, Pub City, India’s International city, etc. These taglines truly reflect the multifaceted nature of this megacity. The best thing about Bangalore is that it can be whatever you want it to be – a party hub, nature’s retreat or a historical destination.
Although not much is talked about the rich heritage of the city, Bangalore boasts of a rich historical background. Founded in the year 1537 by Kempe Gowda, a feudatory ruler, Bangalore was part of several south Indian kingdoms and the British rule, remnants of which can still be found in various parts of the city in the form of forts, ancient temples, and palaces among others.
So, if you are a history buff and don’t know what to see and do in Bangalore then here is a list of some of the prominent and must-see historical attractions of Bangalore that can help you have an exciting day outing in Bangalore.
- Bangalore Palace – The first and foremost historical and architectural wonder of Bangalore is the Bangalore Palace. Built in the Tudor Revival architecture, the palace draws its inspiration from England’s Windsor Castle. A visit to this palace is bound to captivate your senses with awe-inspiring gothic windows, wood carvings, floral motifs, relief painting on the ceiling and beautiful gardens.
Entry to the palace is open on all days from 10:00 am to 05:00 pm. The entry fee for Indians is Rs 230 while foreigners need to shell out Rs 460 to enter the palace.
- Bangalore Fort – A popular tourist attraction located in the heart of the city, Bangalore Fort today stands testament to its glorious past. It was originally built as a mud fort by Kempegowda in the year 1537 and was rebuilt in stone by Hyder Ali in the year 1761 and Tipu Sultan made further changes to it. The Bangalore Fort was attacked and captured by the British in the year 1791 during the Third Mysore War.
Sadly, today only the Delhi Gate of the 9 magnificent gates of the Bangalore Fort remains and remnants of two bastions. In addition to that, the old fort area also holds Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace and his armory. There is also a marble plaque commemorating the spot where the British breached the fort’s wall. With such a glorious past, the Bangalore Fort is a must-see attraction for all the history buffs out there.
Source: Maps of India
- Tipu Sultan Summer Palace – Tipu Sultan’s summer palace is another architectural marvel that is a must-see attraction in Bangalore. Originally built to be used as a summer palace for Tipu Sultan the palace is a fine example of Indo – Islamic architecture. Such is the beauty of the palace that Tipu Sultan called it ‘Tashk-e-Jannat’ meaning envy of heaven.
This fascinating palace features wood carvings, intricately carved arches, and pillars and floral motifs. The rooms on the ground floor have been converted into a museum showcasing various personal artifacts and achievements of Tipu Sultan. With such an interesting display of the life and achievements of Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace is another must-see attraction for all.
Source – Goibibo
Besides these three historical attractions, some other prominent places of historical significance include the Vidhana Soudha, Mayo Hall, Attara Kacheri, Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, Halasuru Someshwara Temple and more.
With several forts and other historical monuments waiting to be explored in this part of the country, we strongly advice historical buffs and other explorers to visit Bangalore at least once in a lifetime. Being a populated metropolitan, the city offers various accommodation options right from budget hostels to star rated hotels and relaxing resorts near Bangalore. One particular resort that deserves a special mention here is the Discovery Village luxury resort. The sheer location, facilities, and services offered here are remarkable and you can be assured to have an utterly relaxing stay here either solo or with your family.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and prepare to be amazed by the sights and sounds of Namma Bengaluru.
