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My Way On Highway: Day 44, Cubbon Park, Nandi Hills And White Tigers

Saba Shaikh

Last updated: Apr 10, 2017

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[button path="my-way-on-highway-day-43/" color="theme" size="medium" padding:"14px" target="_blank"]DAY 43[/button][button path="my-way-on-highway-day-45/" color="theme" size="medium" padding:"14px" target="_blank"]DAY 45[/button]

Bengaluru aka Bengaluru has many epithets to its credit – Garden City of India, Pensioner’s Paradise, Pub City and, the most famous being, Silicon Valley of India. But to the husband and me, it will always be the city where life finds the delicate balance between moving ahead yet always finding time to sit back and introspect.

Day 44 of MyWayOnHighway was spent in this amazing city in the company of friends, new and old. You can well imagine with all that catching up to do, the two nights here were too short to go exploring. But the good news is, I travelled the length and breadth of this fabulous destination along with hubby dearest back in 2012. Here’s our list of the Top Things to Do in Bengaluru.

1. Take a walk in Cubbon Park

Often referred to as the lung of Bengaluru, this 140-year-old park offers a brilliant green respite that too in the heart of the city. The 300 acre area creatively integrates flowerbeds, grassy stretches, massive bamboos and thickets of trees along with motorable roads and walking paths. Go there any time of the day and you will be charmed by the bounty that Mother Nature offers. Important monuments like the Vidhana Soudha are a short walk away. It is hard to not be impressed by this imposing building with its remarkable Neo-Dravidian architecture. Unfortunately, the Vidhana Soudha is not open for public viewing.

2. Breakfast At Koshy’s

This quaint restaurant with its old world charm is often regarded as the most stylish place to dine at in Bengaluru. Centrally located at St Mark’s Road, Koshy's is a favourite with thinkers, artists, journos and the likes. It is believed that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and even Queen Elizabeth II have dined here. I was impressed by the prim and proper staff dressed in crisp white complete with turbans. Best part? Eating here does not even cost a bomb. Go there for a Sunday breakfast if you can. The appam and mutton stew combo is to die for!

3. Meet the Beasts Of Bannerghatta

The Bannerghatta National Park is several things at the same time. It is a zoo, an aquarium, a butterfly park (presumably the first in the country), a snake house, a safari park, a pet corner and an animal rescue centre all packed in one. My favourite part was sitting inside an old and rickety bus traversing the roads within the park as majestic beasts like lions, tigers and white tigers roamed around. When at the Butterfly Park, request the keeper and he happily plants a butterfly on to your cheek. That’s a photo opportunity not to be missed.

4. Soak in the beauty of Lal Bagh

Literally translated as the red carpet, Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens draw locals and tourists in hordes. Originally commissioned by the ruler of Mysore – Hyder Ali, it was finished by his son Tipu Sultan. It is best known for being home to a gorgeous glass house teeming with exquisite plants, lush fauna and several examples of bonsai. A long leisure walk through its precincts will bring you face to face with massive banyan trees and even a lake. Try telling time not looking at your watch but decades old sundial placed in the middle of the park.

5. Get Vowed By Aircraft

Take your kids to the HAL Aerospace Museum, India’s first aerospace museum, because that’s a great way for both you and them to learn about the history of aviation in India. The museum is home to not just different types of helicopters and aircraft but also flight simulators and even a mock Air Traffic Control Tower. There is a souvenir shop too from where you can pick up aircraft models. The museum stays open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.

6. Nandi Hills

We woke up at 4 am in the morning to make it to Nandi Hills in time to witness the sunrise. Nandi Hills aka Nandidurga are small hillocks located some 65 kilometres from Bengaluru. Being 1,478 meters above sea level, the terrain was the site for ruler Tipu Sultan’s summer home. The walk uphill is an exciting one but my favourite was the viewpoint from where you get to witness a gorgeous panorama. You will notice the trees here are mostly covered with water in the mornings. Well, that’s because the forest surrounding the hills act as a substratum for cloud condensation.

7. Witness the grandeur of Shivanasamudra Falls

About a 3 hour drive away from Bengaluru, Shivanasamudra Falls will wow you! Better known as the location of one of the first Hydroelectric Power Stations in Asia (1902), the falls is really the Kauveri River making way through the tricky rocks of the Deccan Planteau and creating a dense mist of vapour along the way. So what you get is not one but twin waterfalls – Gaganachukki and Bharachukki – that are located a 15-minute drive apart. The waterfalls are experienced best from close when you walk down the umpteen number of stairs to get there. The more adventurous one can take the round Coracle Boat Ride that spins like how! Don’t worry it is safe is still used by the locals.

my way on highway

Bring a glorious end to your day by enjoying dinner in of the open air restaurants at the plush UB City or go pub-hopping. The hands down favourites include Toit, 13^th Floor and Hard Rock Café!

Tomorrow we set out for Hampi. Come back for more from the heritage heartland!

(Pictures courtesy Tariq Khan) [button path="my-way-on-highway-day-43/" color="theme" size="medium" padding:"14px" target="_blank"]DAY 43[/button][button path="my-way-on-highway-day-45/" color="theme" size="medium" padding:"14px" target="_blank"]DAY 45[/button]

Comments

Kusum | on 24 June 2014

Hey very nice blog on Nandi hills. Me and my sister are also planning to ride our activa to Nandi hills. Wondering if you guys went on a two wheeler thr and if it is safe to ride on hills roads thr? Did you guys switch off the engine on downhill there? Need some tips, Regards, Kusum