Bangalore:

          Immortalized as the Garden City of India, Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka has been classified as 'A' class city. It’s a well-planned city, with avenues lined with trees, a number of parks, gardens and lakes. It also called the Silicon Valley of India, because of the high concentration of IT industry. The founding of the city is attributed to Kempegowda who laid the foundations of this city around 1537 AD.

Aquarium :- Situated at the entrance of Cubbon Park, the aquarium is housed in an octagonal-shaped building and is the second largest aquarium in the country having a large varsity of aquatic life, exhibiting the largest number of indigenous and exotic, cultivable as well as ornamental pet fish.

Attara Kacheri :- Directly opposite to the Vidhan Souda is the State High court. This magnificent building was constructed in 1867 in the Gothic Style of architecture.

Bal Bhavan :- Imaginatively planned children’s amusement park and recreation center, attracting young children for the toy train, which chugs its way along a ¾ mile route in the Cubbon Park and Dolls museum. It also contains a 20 million year old fossilized tree – a gift from the Geological Survey of India.

Bangalore Palace :- Inspired by Windsor Castle in London, this Palace was built in the year 1887 by the Wodeyar dynasty, similar to medieval castles in Normandy and England, with the interiors boasting of elegant woodcarvings and Tudor-style architecture.

Bannnerghatta National Park :- About 21 kms. from the city, this lion and tiger safari park is an important place to visit. There is also a Crocodile and snake farm attracting many visitors. There are regular bus services from the city to this place.

Bull Temple :- This is one of the oldest temples in Bangalore situated in basavanagudi dedicated to Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva. Kempe Gowda built this temple in the 16th century. The magnificent Nandi, 15 feet tall and over 20 feet long has been carved out of single granite rock. Farmers offer the first groundnuts to the sacred bull.

Cubbon Park :- Laid out by Lieutenant General Sir Mark Cubbon this park is located near the Vidhan Soudha and has a number of neo-classical styled government buildings. Over 250 acres of this green park is a joggers & walkers delight.

Gandhi Bhavan :- Located on Kumara Krupa Road it is a comprehensive picture gallery exhibiting the entire life of the great Mahatma Gandhi. The Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, housed in the Gandhi Bhavan seeks to propagate the life and teachings of Gandhiji.

Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple :- This is another temple built by Kempe Gowda and is natural monolith carved cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It attracts thousands of devotees every year in January on Makar sankranti Day when the sunrays fall on the Sivalinga between 17.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs. passing between the horns of the Nandi.

Gavipuram Cave Temple :- This temple devoted to Lord Shiva is unique - on Makar sankranthi day in the month of January, a ray of sunlight penetrates through an arch between the horns of the bull and strikes Shiva Linga in the sanctorum.

Hassan :- About 194 kms. from Bangalore is the District Headquarters of Hassan. This is a convenient base to visit Shravanabelagola, Belur and Halebid.

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium :- This planetarium was founded in the year 1989 and is the second largest Aquarium in the country having a large varsity of aquatic life. The sky theatre with a dome of fifteen meters in diameter has a sitting capacity of 225. (Closed on Monday).

Jumma Masjid :- Located in the busy market area of Bangalore, K.R.Market, this is the city’s oldest mosque with tall ornamental granite pillars built by a Mughal Killedar.

Karnataka Folk Museum :- Karnataka Folk Museum: Located on the Kumara Park West, Sheshadripuram, this folk Museum is managed by Karnataka Janapada Trust and has an impressive collection of folk music and videotapes of folk dances.

Lal Bagh :- The Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, laid out by Hyder Ali is located on the southern fringes of the city. It holds a number of flower shows, especially during the Republic Day (26th January). They have over 1000 species of flora. The Glass House, modeled on London's Crystal Palace, is the center of attraction.

Mysore :- The capital of the Wodeyars (Mysore) is about 140 kms from Bangalore. Mysore is famous for Sandalwood and Silk. Countless lights decorate the city palace, which is compared with the Bunkingham palace in England. It also has a number of ancient Hindu temples and a few monuments built by the British.

Nrityagram  :- About 30 kms. from Bangalore in the rustic village of Hesaragatta is the Nrityagram village, founded by one of the finest odissi dancers of India - Protima Guari. It is dedicated to furthering the classical dance styles and martial arts of India. In the first week of February, every year Nrityagram conducts the Vasantha Habba or the festival of spring.

Ramanagaram :- About 49 kms from Bangalore city this beautiful landscape spot is popular with rock-climbers. It is also an important silk cocoon-marketing centre.

Ramohalli :- The picnic spot is located about 28 kms from Bangalore and is famous for its 400-year-old Banyan Tree. The giant tree spreads over an area of 3 acres. Another attraction here is the KSTDC restaurant.

Shivaganga :- Shivaganga is about 56 kms from Bangalore and is also known as Dakshin Kashi. It has two famous shrines dedicated to Lord Gangadeshwara and Goddess Honnadevi. There is also a fresh water spring called Pathala Ganga. KSRTC buses are available from Tumkur (20 kms) and Bangalore.

Mysore:

Mysore is the second biggest city in the State of Karnataka lying 130 kms from the State Headquarters, Bangalore. Mysore is said to have derived its name from this the demon-king, Mahishasura, who once lived here and was vanquished by Goddess Chamundi. It is a city of palaces, gardens, and sacred temples. The city is famous for its silk and is also a thriving sandalwood and incense centre.

Brindavan Gardens :- The tranquil ornamented gardens are laid out below the Krishnaraja Sagar dam and are a popular picnic spot illuminated in the evenings. The musical fountains and colourful lights turn this place into an enchanting fairyland in the evenings.

Chamundi Hill :- Chamundi Hill overlooks Mysore and is a popular tourist and pilgramage centre, which is topped by the huge Chamundeswari temple. The stairway is guarded by the famous 5m high Nandi (Sivaps bull) carved out of solid rock. It is the presiding deity of Mysore and the family Goddess of the Maharajas, Chamundeswari.

Mysore Palace :- The Mahrajahps Palace is a magnificent three-storied structure with a five-storey tower designed by the English architect Henry Irwin, built out of local material. The colourful Dasara procession starts from the precincts of the Palace.

Nagarhole National Park :- Located in Kodagu and Mysore districts, deriving its name from Kannada, "Naga" meaning snake and "hole’ meaning streams, Nagarhole is truly a delightful spot, bubbling with the activity of some of the most magnificent animals and trees.

Shivsamudra :- 85 Kms from Mysore, where the river Cauvery cascades down in two picturesque waterfalls, is Shivsamudra. These falls are best during the monsoons; nevertheless their beauty mesmerizes tourists throughout the year. It has Indiaps first Hydro-Electric Power Station, set up in 1902 by the then Maharaja of Mysore.

Srirangapatnam :- 14 kms. northeast of Mysore is Srirangapatnam, an island fortress and the capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu’s summer palace, Daria Daulat, has now been turned into a museum. Made of teak, this Indo-Saracenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescoes. The fort holds within it, a mosque and the Ranganatha Swamy Temple.

St. Philomenas Church :- Located about 3 kms from the city bus stand is a famous landmark of Mysore. It houses the relic of 3rd century saint, Philomena, in the beautifully arranged catacomb, below the main altar. Built in Gothic style, it is the largest Cathedral in South Asia and has beautiful stained glass windows.

The Jaganmohan Palace :- Jaganmohan Palace is one of the oldest buildings in Mysore and is over a century and half old. Built in 1861, it housed the royal family when the old wooden palace was gutted in a fire in 1897.

The Mysore Zoo :- Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar, one of the architects of modern Mysore, established The Zoological Garden being a lover of nature. The Zoo Garden was created in a portion of the Summer Palace in the eastern part of Mysore City. It is about 3 kms from the City Bus Stand.