Nandi Hills

It’s located about 60 kms north of Bangalore, off Hyderabad Highway. Once you get out of snail moving Bangalore traffic (that is you reach Hebbal flyover) you can zoom through till you reach the left turn where you deviate from main highway. You really need to be vigilant as the sign board is dull. There are good chances that you may miss this left turn.

Road after left is not so bad. You pass through grape yards and will often see people selling grapes on slower corners / patches of the road. Nandi hill is the highest point in Karnataka; roads however are not so tough to drive up.



On top it’s a guest hours (not operational) surrounded by really bad garden and a ring road to this garden. Mountain is rocky and has a peripheral wall sort which is broken and most places. You also see a Ganesha temple, again not maintained well, police post and a post office. Place is full fruit vendors. You don't really have good food options on top so better carry your own tiffins.



Travel Time – Maximum of 1 hour from Hebbal flyover
Stay Time – Anything between 2 to 5 hours
Preferred hours – Try reaching early. This way you can avoid city traffic. Generally at noon, temperature on top is not so pleasant. Try reaching latest by 10:00 AM, have fun followed by food then start back after noon.

Funtertainment –

Keeping your eatables and belonging safe from monkeys. Walking around the hill, on rock is good. Views from top are good. You can take a walk along peripheral wall. If religious you can visit temple.


Approximate Budget - Around Rs 300 for a family of 2 + 1

What can be added – lots. Professional rock climbing and tracking can take this hill to new heights. Few good restaurants and cleanliness is badly needed.

Suggestions – carry your food do not depend on local eatables. Be careful of monkeys especially if you have infants or young kids. Carry a mat, drinking water along with food. Prefer a group of 4 and more.

Avoid – When in bad mood or when climate is not so good, i.e. its raining or its hot.

Overall rating 2 out of 5

Lumpini Park - Bangalore, North

Lumpini Park is located on outer-ring road very close to Hebbal flyover (North Bangalore). If you are travelling from MG Road, take right on Hebbel flyover (don’t take the fly over). After you take this right, you need to drive for about 2 to 3 kms and then you see car parks on left for lumpini park.

If you stay anywhere in and around sarjapur road, koramangala, outer ring road, ITPL / Whitefield area, I would say east or southern east Bangalore than prefer outer ring road (via Maratha to reach Lumpini Park. In this case, lumini park will be on your right. You need to take right on fourth signal from KR Puram flyover (old madras road) and turn immediately left on the service road. If you miss this turn then you need to travel till Hebbal flyover and then take a roundabout (not u turn, it’s not allowed) to come to lumini park.

Travel Time – 30 mins from MG Road, 20 mins from Old Madras Road (heavily depends on traffic conditions)
Stay Time – 4 hours ( can be longer if you have more kids in your group)

Preferred hours – Evening, try reaching by 4:00 / 4:30 PM and stay till 8:00 PM. Park has good lighting.Travel Plan – depends where you stay in Bangalore

Funtertainment – Boat ride, you have options to choose from regular boat or pedal boat. Variety of kids rides to choose from. For adults, try your luck with shooting and hitting. You can also chose for wall climbing (for amateur), water pool and limited land rides. Best thing I like about the park is that people of all age group will like it.

Food is Average to Good depends on what you like and buy.
What can be added – rides (horse, came), puppet show…..
Do not miss – boating and wall climbing
Avoid – when it’s raining

Rough idea on how much you need to spend (per head)
Entry fee – 30
camera fee – 50
boating – 40 / more for paddle boat (don’t remember though)
Kids ride – 10 per ride
food for 2 – approx 200 bucks
budget approx 500, family of 2 +1 (excluding travel)

Overall rating – 4 out of 5

Ranganthitu Bird Sanctuary

It is located about 130 Kms from Bangalore on Bangalore-Mysore highway. You need to take right after you cross Srirangapatnam. Road till this point is probably the best in road in the state of Karnataka. From this deviation, it’s less than 10 kms and as the distance is less you really need not worry about roads, they are ok.

Read more about Bangalore Mysore highway on http://growingindianroads.blogspot.com/

As you enter Bird Sanctuary, you need to pay entry fee and camera fee at check post. Bird Sanctuary has ample of well maintained parking space. It’s green and wet.

Travel time – At least 3 hours one side from Bangalore.
Stay time – 2 to 4 hours based on group size and travel plan.
Preferred hours – Morning, as evening can be planned for Brindavan garden (avoid noon)
Travel plan – Start early from Bangalore, try and club few more places in this visit (srirangapattnam, Brindavan garden)

Funtertainment – Boating along with alligator (close relative of crocodile family). You sail very close to these reptiles. Maintain silence, if they get disturbed your are in big trouble.If lucky, you will see beautiful birds. You can also walk around in garden and along lake for some distance. Food is average.

Avoid – when it’s raining or hot
Budget – 500 for a family of 2 + 1 (excluding travel)
Suggestions – Pack your food along with. Do not forget on your camera and mats.

What more can be added – hmmm, tough one, at least some shades to have food

Overall rating – 3 out 5

Welcome

Namaskar.

Hello and Welcome to my blog on places to visit in and around bangalore. I always love to move around like most of you but after marriage and then a lovely kid, I really need to plan my trips thoroughly.

In this blog, I am putting down my suggestions of few places in and around bangalore from a family men's perspective. So if you are new to Bangalore and planning a short trip, then you have landed up in right place.

Please post your feedbacks and experiences to make this blog rich.

Happy Touring.