In the decade I’ve spent in Bangalore, I have visited the picturesque Bangalore Palace (click here for location) around 6 times already. I love taking my visitors there especially if they like palaces, too. A couple of months ago, I went again with a friend who surprisingly did not visit the Palace despite being born and brought up in Bangalore. This time, it was a little different with all the COVID protocols having to be followed. But it was still lovely.
They have done up the enormous front garden and the whole place is mesmerizing; even better than it looked when it was initially built. This Palace is smaller than the Mysore Palace as, they say, it was built for the Mysore Maharaja (Chamarajendra Wadiyar), in 1800s, as he did not have a place to study and train in Bangalore! Royals, I tell you!
Entry ticket is Rs 230/- for Indians and Rs 460 for foreigners (as of the year 2022). You can always check the updated fees here. Except for Mondays, the Palace is open every day from 10 00 hours to 17 00 hours.
After you buy your ticket, you can opt for the audio tour where they will hand over to you a device attached to headphones. In return, one of us had to keep a valid government ID with them. My kids enjoyed the audio tour silently. But half-way there, my son’s device stopped working. They do exchange it but we had to go all the way back to the entry point to do that.
The place is amazing. I love old architecture and the intricate detailing of every wall and ceiling. You can see some of it in the pictures below but a visit, and view with your own eyes, is a must!
The external front gives you aesthetic pleasure. Adorned with greenery and bricks, these walls make a grand background for a great memory. But yes, you can enjoy the huge garden only if the weather permits. The day we visited, it was so hot that we had to escape to the car and turn on the air conditioner immediately.
Did you know Fun World and Snow City are also located on the palace grounds? They have a separate entrance altogether.
Well, after the architectural tour, everyone was hungry. So, we went to have some steaks at Millers 46 (click here for location). Yeah, you can enjoy local food, too, around the area but I needed some steak with mashed potatoes and the works to satisfy my hunger.
Yes, there is more. After lunch, we did not go home, we decided to check if the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium was open (Click here for location). To our luck, it was. Plus, they added an extra session because many people were waiting in line that day. Yay!
Oh, even I was excited! We could read all about the galaxy while we waited in the queue to get into the auditorium. We could check our weight on the various planets of the solar system. When we finally entered, it was amazing. The sky theatre was something I had experienced only when I was a kid. I had been wanting to get my kids here forever. I was glad that my 5.5-year-old son also enjoyed it. He did not want to go home. After the informative and educational session at the planetarium, we finally decided to call it a day!
Have you visited the Palace and the Planetarium with your young kids? If not, you should! They will love it.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge
‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
7 Comments
I visited the palace in the year 2018 and what a treat it is. Especially the verdant lawns. But that reason for its construction takes the cake!
Seriously! I was amused about that, too!
I love palaces. They are such a wonderful nugget of our history. it is always interesting to visit and learn about the palace and its people. This one looks lovely from the outside and inside – i am sure it has many an interesting tale to tell.
I had never been to banglore but heard a lot about this city. picturesque Bangalore Palace sounds like an amazing place with impressive infrastructure. would love to visit this palace with my family, when come India next time. thanks dear for sharing all details.
I have been to Bangalore so many times but have never been to the Palace or planetarium. Had taken the kids to Bannerghatta though. I miss the growing years of my kids. Enjoy every second you have with them, Cindy. They will soon fly the nest.
True, Harjeet! Let me know next time you are here, will take you there myself, if you’re interested! :))
I have never been to Bangalore but heard and read that it has many good spots to visit. Picturesque Bangalore Palace seems one such perfect spot. That last picture from the front is beautiful. I love to visit such places.When I was in 12th grade, I have been to a Planetarium in Kolkata and those memories are still there.