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Bangalore Culture & history

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Full-Day Private tour of Mysore from Bangalore

1. Full-Day Private tour of Mysore from Bangalore

The tour starts with a pick up and drive to Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace. Back in the 1700s, this palace used to be the summer residence of the Mysorean ruler, Tipu Sultan. Hear about Tipu Sultan and his rebellion against the British regime from your guide. Notice the Indo-Islamic architecture from up close before moving on to your next destination i.e. Mysore Palace. The Mysore Palace is the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty in present times. This palace is a mix of Indian and Saracenic design. From the royal wedding hall to the museum, your guide will show you everywhere around the publicly open palace. Next up, you will stop by Chamundeshwari Temple. It is believed that Goddess Durga, a fierce form of Shakti, slayed demon king Mahishasura on this temple's spot. After seeking blessings at the temple, you will be served lunch on a traditional banana leaf. Then for the last part, you will see St. Philomena's Cathedral which is a remarkable gothic-style Catholic church built by the old Wadiyar king. You will be sent back to your hotel as the tour ends.

Day Excursion of Belur, Halebeedu & Shravanabelagola

2. Day Excursion of Belur, Halebeedu & Shravanabelagola

Early morning around 6.30 am, the chauffeur and guide will pick you up from your hotel  for the tour. During this trip you will visit the Hoysala period temples of Belur, Halebeedu and witness Asia’s tallest monolithic stone statue of Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola, which is a prominent Jain pilgrimage center. After reaching Yediyur village, enjoy your breakfast. The you will drive to Shravanabelagola, famous for the greatest statue of Lord Gomateswara, situated at the famous Manjunath Temple in Dharmasthala. Visit the shrine of Lord Bahubali. The statue symbolizes renunciation, self-control, and subjugation of ego as the primary steps towards salvation. Afterwards, have a sumptuous lunch at a local restaurant, and then drive to Belur which is located in Hassan district. Visit the Chennakeshava temple which is a fine example of Hoysala architecture. It was consecrated by the famous Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana to mark his victories in 1116 AD against the Cholas.   Later, drive to Halebeedu, which was the ancient capital of Hoysala dynasty. 'Halebeedu' actually means 'ruined city' as it was ruined by the Moghul sultanate twice. Visit the famous Hoysaleshwara temple which comprises of two shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hoysaleshwara and Shanthaleshwara are the two deities in this temple. The walls of the temple consist of carvings of different deities of Hindu mythology and stories from Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas. Then it's time to drive back to Bangalore and your hotel. 

Bangalore: Mysore Tour with Lunch and Guide

3. Bangalore: Mysore Tour with Lunch and Guide

The first stop is at the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, often called the Tiger of Mysore for his valiant fight with the British. Dariya Daulat Bagh, the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, is built in Indo-Sarcenic style and has a few magnificent murals depicting the war of Tipu with the British. The next destination is the notorious Bailey's Dungeon. Colonel Bailey's Dungeon is the famous dungeon where Tipu imprisoned several British Officers during the war. Tales about this notorious location will also be told throughout the tour. The magnificent Mysore Palace beckons you next. The Palace is a 3-storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145-foot, five-storied tower. Your guided tour of the palace will take you through the Public Hall, Private Hall, Dolls Pavilion, and the Royal Wedding Hall. India’s first sand sculpture museum is the final destination on your tour. Conceived and built by Gowri, a leading sand sculptor, the sand museum took 4 months and 115 loads of construction sand to build. It is a unique museum where one finds the heritage of Mysore crafted into sand, and it is incredible to note that these marvelous pieces of art were made using just sand and water. After you have finished discovering this unique spectacle, you will be returned safely to your point of origin.

Bangalore: Full Day City Tour with Lunch

4. Bangalore: Full Day City Tour with Lunch

The first stop of your Bangalore day tour is the 240-acre Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Home to more than 1,800 species of plants, shrubs, and trees, see why the garden serves as the lungs of the city and what makes it such a prominent landmark. Escape the concrete jungle of Bangalore as you take refuge here before heading to your next destination. Continue on to Bull Temple, dedicated to Nandi Bull the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Admire the temple's architecture and presence as one of the oldest temples in Bangalore that draws devotees from all over the country. Enter the temple to see the huge idol of Nandi Bull and learn about its mythical origins.  After the temple, visit Vidhan Soudha, one of the most famous buildings in Bangalore. As it houses the legislative chambers of the state government and is a working office, be impressed by the massiveness of the building while viewing it from outside. Hear about its construction and fine architectural details from your guide.  Head to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangalore temple cultural complex and learn about this interesting branch of the Hindu religion. Then go to Bangalore Palace which belonged to the Wodeyar Kings of Mysore. Built-in the Tudor style, the palace has fortified towers, battlements, and turrets. Its interior houses elegant wood carvings, floral motifs, relief paintings, and furniture in Edwardian and Victorian themes. Take an audio tour of the palace and hear in rich detail about the lives and times of the kings. During your tour, enjoy a stop for lunch that is included.

From Bangalore: Taj Mahal 2-Day Tour with Flights and Hotel

5. From Bangalore: Taj Mahal 2-Day Tour with Flights and Hotel

Embark on a 2-day trip from Bangalore to the must-see Taj Mahal. Enjoy included private round-trip transportation, 1-night accommodation, flight tickets, entry tickets, and most meals. Visit Agra to explore a local market and Agra Fort. Day: 1The day begins with early morning pickup from your hotel in Bangalore, then head to the airport for your flight to New Delhi. Enjoy a meal on the flight and look out the window to admire views of the world below. Arrive in New Delhi where your driver will be waiting to pick you up. Travel along the Speed Expressway directly to Agra and have a packed lunch on the way there. On Arrival in Agra, meet your private guide and get help checking into your hotel. Explore the Agra Fort on a private tour, then visit a local market and marble shops in the evening. Later, head back to your hotel to have dinner and rest for the night. Day: 2Following early morning pickup, go to the Taj Mahal to see it at sunrise. As you follow your guide around the Taj Mahal, learn about this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the building’s architecture, of which every corner, wall, and detail is beyond imagination. After about 2 hours at the Taj Mahal, get driven back to your hotel for breakfast. Drive to Delhi in the evening for an approximately 2.5-hour return flight to Bangalore. Enjoy dinner during your flight. Upon arrival in Bangalore, your driver will be waiting to drop you back off at your hotel.

Bangalore: Full-Day Historical Guided Tour

6. Bangalore: Full-Day Historical Guided Tour

After hotel pick-up, stop at the ISKCON temple, a religious place known for its beautiful paintings and Vedic exhibitions. Do not forget to check out the artificial waterfall while you are here. Move on to the Tipu Sultan Palace to see the Indo-Islamic architecture, the famous painting of Tipu Sultan, and learn the history of the palace. Visit the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens to see 1000 species of trees, plants, and flowers, and the beautiful glasshouse, inspired by the Crystal Palace of England. Savor lunch at a local restaurant before your visit to Bangalore Palace, a Tudor-style architectural marvel, known for its graceful interior work. Check out the High Court, Cubbon Park, and the Vidha Sabha. See the highly popular Bull Temple dedicated to Nandi, believed to be a vahana (vehicle) of Lord Shiva, carved from a single rock. Visit the Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, a religious place dedicated to Lord Shiva, before you head back to your hotel.

Mysore: 2-Day Palace and Gardens Tour from Bangalore

7. Mysore: 2-Day Palace and Gardens Tour from Bangalore

Your driver and guide will pick you from your Bangalore hotel after breakfast at around 8:00AM. You will venture towards Mysore, stopping to see the sights of the Srirangapatnam City known as an old capital city at the ruling time of Tipu Sultan. Your visit to Mysore will begin with the Dariya Daulat royal residence known as the "Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan", embellished with Mysore paintings, floral wall designs and ceiling art. The next spot you will visit is Gumbaz Srirangapatnam, before moving on to the oldest Ranganathaswamy Temple and the Tipu Sultan Mosque. After this visit, you will have a delicious lunch at a neighborhood restaurant (lunch is at your own expense). Following lunch, you will drive to Mysore, where upon arriving you will check-in to your hotel and enjoy a small refreshment. In the evening you will be taken for a trip to the Vrindavan Gardens, where you can appreciate the music and bright fountain show which will leave you feeling entranced. At the conclusion of your evening, you will dropped back to your hotel where you can enjoy dinner before retiring for the evening. The following morning after breakfast and hotel check-out, your transport and guide will take you on a drive towards the Chamundeshwari sanctuary, situated on Chamundi hill. Here you will be able to witness a seven-story Gopura designed with sculptures and advanced works of art. The sanctuary is committed to the goddess Chamundeshwari, and you can see the whole Mysore city from here, a view found by all to be enormously delightful. Following this, you will head towards the royal palace of Wodeyer Maharaja known as the Mysore Palace or Amba Vilas. This royal residence has been changed into a historical museum, which is filled with illustrious, important things such as paintings, adornments, outfits, souvenirs and other depictive things. After that, you will go to Saint Philomena's Church, where you will be able to appreciate this building's Neo-Gothic design. At the conclusion of your tour, you will be transported back to your Bangalore accommodation.

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What people are saying about Bangalore

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 50 reviews

It was a lovely well paced day out. Starting in the beautiful botanical gardens was a wonderful way to start the day and ease you into the hustle and bustle of the city. Don’t be in a hurry… And enjoy every unique experience from drinking green coconut water and eating the insides to feeling the heat on the bottom of your feet while walking into an incense filled temple. All of your senses will be tingled on this learning about Indian culture experience.

Despite heavy traffic out and in to Bangalore, it was definitely worth it! Authentic Indian experience also thanks to my guide and my driver, for which I am grateful.

Wonderful tour guide. Very knowledgeable and helpful. The driver was wonderful as well and the car was clean and well maintained. highly recommend

All perfect. The driver was very professional and good. The clear guides in the explanations

Great experience. Guide really loves this city and it shows.