5 Fun Things You Can Do When You Are In Bangalore

Breezy pubs with delicious craft brews, bustling markets filled with vibrant knick knacks, and stunning historical monuments there’s plenty of things to see and do in Bangalore. Whether you’re new to the city or keen on rediscovering it, here’s our pick of the best, local-approved experiences to add to your itinerary.

The country’s garden city or IT hub if you will – is most known for its perennial pleasant weather and crisp, ghee-laden dosas. However, there’s plenty more where that came from. In fact, while in the city, you could go from kissing your diets goodbye at a vintage ice cream shop to perusing poetry by Keats at a charming bookstore – within the same hour.

Add to this, Bangalore’s string of bustling shopping destinations, historical monuments, modern art houses, and stunning weekend getaway spots and you’ve got yourself quite the long list of things to do. Few other cities can claim to have such a diverse set of experiences on offer. Here’s our little itinerary to one of South India’s most popular metropolitan destinations.

# Grab a steaming-hot South Indian breakfast at Vidyarthi Bhavan

Good mornings in Bangalore come with piping-hot South Indian breakfast foods. And an iconic spot to partake in this phenomenon is Vidyarthi Bhavan – which has been serving customers for over 80 years now. The menu’s most popular option is the fluffy, golden dosa that comes with potato or sagu filling.

Additionally, service staff navigating the room with a tower of dosa plates is a delightful part of the experience of dining here. The medu vada, kesari bath, poori sagu, and rava vada are popular as well. Don’t miss out on the filter coffee – especially considering how coffee is near synonymous with the culinary culture of the city. Be sure to head to the spot early to beat the crowd and have the time to savour every bite and sip.

# Take a walk through Cubbon Park

The city’s famed year-round pleasant weather is best enjoyed at this landmark spot that’s often seen as a forest in the heart of the city. Cubbon Park – or Sri Chamarajendra Park – spans about 300 acres and is brimming with the most diverse set of flora and fauna. While weekdays see it catering to a large set of joggers and dog walkers, weekends are all about picnics, leisurely strolls, art parties, yoga sessions, and book clubs.

If you’re new to the city, you could sign up for these clubs and groups online. However, if you’re just popping by for a visit, be sure to walk through the bamboo plantations, stop by the State Central Library and the State Archeological Museum, one of the oldest in India, and walk by the Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall and the Karnataka High Court. Best time to head here is the spring, when the famed cherry blossoms, a.k.a pink poui, are in full bloom. Don’t forget to bring your cameras to this spot.

# Dig into Death By Chocolate at Corner House

If there’s one spot every person who’s studied in the city can attest to having done – it’s heading to Corner House every other afternoon. That said, the ice-cream joint is often packed with both young and old visitors alike and has been this way since it was first set up in the 1980s. Affordable prices aside, the quality of each bite has remained consistent over the years – a testimony to their high standards of production. The menu’s most popular feature is the Death By Chocolate – a sundae that features layers of chocolate sauce, creamy vanilla ice cream, decadent chocolate brownies, nuts, and cherries. The salted caramel ice cream, peach melba, and litchis and cream are quite popular as well. Best part? It’s all quite affordable.

# Shop for books at Blossom’s or The Bookworm

Bangalore has a thriving community of literature aficionados. Most head to Blossom’s Book House on Church Street – which has two branches just a few steps away from each other. The original is tucked into a little corner, featuring large wooden shelves of second-hand books of every author and genre imaginable. Crime, horror, romance, fantasy – you name it, they’ve got it, at affordable prices to boot. The other is larger, newer, and more likely to host titles you’ve not managed to find at its cousin store. The other popular spot – The Bookworm – is expansive, with plenty of space to browse, sit down for a minute, and peruse chapters. Known for the hospitality of the owner, this one’s found quite the cult following in the city.

# Spend an evening appreciating art at the National Gallery Of Modern Art

Art and history aficionados, this one’s for you. When in the city, don’t miss out on a visit to the National Gallery Of Modern Art (NGMA) – a stunning space surrounded by verdant green cover. Inside is an eclectic collection of art – by international and homegrown creators. This includes the likes of Amrita Shergill and Rabindranath Tagore – permanent parts of the exhibition. Often, artists set up dedicated installations exploring the physical and metaphysical. Guided walks and workshops are common. As are film screenings, dance performances, and seminars. Most people spend a good few hours exploring the property, before grabbing a bite at the cafe and buying souvenirs at the in-house store.