Attractions The Oberoi, Bengaluru

Cubbon Park was built in 1870 by the then Acting Commissioner of Mysore, Sir John Meade. The vast landscape was conceived by the then Chief Engineer of the State, Major General Richard Sankey.

The park was initially named Meade’s Park, in honour of John Meade and later renamed as Cubbon Park after the longest serving commissioner of the time, Sir Mark Cubbon.

The National Gallery of Modern Art is an art gallery in Bangalore. It was inaugurated in the year 2009. It showcases modern Indian art and houses paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil, Rabindranath Tagore and a large number of modern and contemporary artists.

Lal Bagh is a famous botanical garden which was designed by Hyder Ali. His son Tipu Sultan further augmented this beautiful space in 1760 and later developed by the British as well. Later, during the 19th century, the British added several beautiful features, giving it a modern look. It got its name because of a variety of red flowers that bloom in this garden. Lal Bagh is famous for its flower shows which are held on important occasions, during the Republic Day and the Independence Day. You can also find trees imported from across the world like Persia, France, Afghanistan and China. Some of them being more than a century old.

This beautiful palace served as a summer retreat for the famous ruler, Tipu Sultan. The construction of this palace was commenced by his father, Nawab Hyder Ali Khan in 1781 and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791.

The palace was constructed to house the durbar or court, which would administer the happenings in the territory, while also serving as a summer retreat. This palace is a celebrated destination for Islamic architecture. Tipu Sultan called it an ‘Abode of Happiness’ and ‘Envy of Heaven’.

This lush, green oasis of a park in central Bengaluru offers shaded canopies, rippling waterfalls, three temples and meandering pathways. At its heart, a huge natural rock formation believed to date back 3 million years, gives the park its name. Points of particular interest include Bull Temple, a disused water tank now decorated with hand painted murals of historical figures and the healthy population of fruit bats whose song resonates through the trees.

The ISKCON Temple in Bangalore is among the larger ISKCON complexes in India. Its architecture features tall columns and shrines and it hosts religious festivals, daily pujas and community services including food programs.

This vibrant museum of art, culture and history is located on Kasturba Road in Bengaluru, close to Cubbon Park, MG Road and Vidhana Soudha. The museum spans five storeys and showcases collections of photography, paintings, sculptures, textiles, popular prints, craft and design objects from the 12th century to the present day.

Located opposite Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha is the seat of Karnataka’s Legislative Assembly and the largest state legislature building in India. It stands 53 metres tall and spans 213 metres from north to south. Its magnificent façade includes granite columns measuring 40 metres tall and a vast stone staircase with 60-metre-long steps. A central dome crowns the building with the leonine emblem of India. Guided tours take place here throughout the week. Please contact The Oberoi, Bengaluru for more information.

Bengaluru’s state central library is one of the oldest and grandest in the State of Karnataka. With European architecture, a striking red façade and high domed ceilings, it is home to a vast repository of literature and provides a quiet note of calm in the heart of the city. Located in Cubbon Park, close to The Oberoi, Bengaluru, it is open every day except Monday and its resources are largely free to use.

This striking scarlet building stands in marvellous contrast to the lush greens of Cubbon Park, where it stands as the Karnataka High Court’s principle bench. Named after the 18 government departments it originally housed, Attara Kacheri’s neo-classical architecture features tall columns, collonades and a wide façade that glows like fire in the sunlight. Attara Kacheri is a magnificent landmark but visitors are not permitted inside.