5 Natural Spots to Visit in Bangalore, the Garden City of India
India is a beautiful country that has so much to offer in terms of culture, food, and travel. Out of all the places that it has to offer, one of the top travel destinations in South India is Bangalore. Along with being the Garden City of India, it is also the technology hub of India. True to its name, there are a lot of natural spots in the city. However, a lot of people do not know about them and tend to stick to the usual routine of malls and restaurants.
This guide about the natural beauty that the city has should be your go-to the next time you plan to visit the place. It will show you a completely different side of the city and give you unique experiences that you will revel in for a long time.
- Cubbon Park – dating back to 1884, Cubbon Park is also known as the lung of the city. It was created by Major General Richard Sankey who originally named it Meades Park after Sir John Meade who was the acting commissioner of Mysore in 1870. However, it was then changed to Cubbon Park after Sir Mark Cubbon who was the longest-serving commissioner of the time. This park is home to around ninety-six species of plants, sixty-eight genera and has a total of about 6000 plants and trees! Apart from this, it also houses the High Court of Karnataka, the Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall and The State Archeological Museum. Every morning you can see hundreds of locals jogging or walking around the park or simply just sitting back and breathing in the fresh air.
- Lal Bagh Botanical Garden – also known as The Red Garden, this botanical garden dates back to 1760 when it was created by Hyder Ali. It is famous for its floral diversity as it has over 1000 different species of flora and is also home to the largest collection of tropical plants in India. It hosts an annual show every year which attracts tourists from all over. Apart from this, this botanical garden is also home to a lake, an aquarium, a glass house and the famous Lal Bagh Rock which is said to be more than 3000 years old. It is a great place to take the kids while on vacation and educate them about flora beyond what they see in textbooks.
- Ulsoor Lake – spread over 123 acres Ulsoor Lake is one of the biggest lakes in the beautiful city of Bangalore. It has several islands and is the perfect place to witness the sunrise or the sunset while boating. If boating is not for you, it is also a good place to just come and unwind at after a long day of work. It comes complete with fountains and a play area for children which makes it the perfect place to spend some quality time with the family.
- Hebbal Lake – if you are someone who loves birds, then Hebbal Lake is the place to go to when you are in the city. Dating back to 1537 when it was created by Kempe Gowda, this area has since known to spot about 350 species of birds. Not all can be found today but out of them at least 60 species of birds can easily be spotted here. This is why this place is a regular meeting place for the Bangalore Bird Watching Club. This makes for a great place to spend some time with family and also educate the kids in the process.
- Bannerghatta National Park – located a little far away from the center of the city, this national park is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts. It is home to lions, tigers, elephants, leopards and deer among other animals. It also offers safaris for the ones who want to get a little closer to the animals. Apart from this, it also houses a butterfly park making it the perfect place to spend an entire day with the family, especially if you have kids.
There are a number of good resorts in Bangalore where you can have a comfortable stay whenever you are in the city.