Seven Tourist Places In Bangalore Worth Visiting

Bengaluru (also called Bangalore), India’s Silicon Valley, is the capital of Karnataka and known for its parks and nightlife. If you are visiting Bangalore on business, extend your stay and if you are an expatriate, having recently moved to this city, mark your diary with the following tourist places in and near Bangalore that are a must-visit.

1. Bangalore Palace

The Majestic Bangalore Palace, reflecting Tudor and Scottish Gothic architecture holds testimony to heritage and beauty of an era gone-by. This regal palace was built in 1878 and spreads across 45,000 square-feet. The carvings on the walls in the interior and exterior of the beautiful wooden structure showcase tales of the extraordinary royal culture. The opulent ballroom, mesmerizing Darbar hall, innumerable exotic paintings, even the granite seats encrusted with blue ceramic tiles on the ground floor, vine-covered walls, transport you to the elegant splendour of a powerful dynasties of South India. Audio tapes in Hindi and English are available to understand its history.

2. Bannerghatta National Park

Located 22 km away from city-centre, Bannerghatta National Park is an asylum for a large variety of flora and fauna. Sprawling over 104.27 sq. km, this park includes the country's first butterfly park, an aquarium, zoo, Children's Park, Crocodile Farm, Snake Park, Prehistoric Animals' Park and a museum. You can spot elephants, leopards, jackals, foxes, wild boar, sloth bears, Indian gazelle, spotted deer, porcupine, cobras, Asiatic Lion and the Royal Bengal Tiger while doing the safari. There are several resorts in Bangalore, but if you are staying at the amazing Discovery Village, be assured that they will organise your local tours, bird watching, nature trails and jungle safaris.

3. Lal Bagh Botanical Garden

Renowned for its botanical artwork, this garden is a haven for nature lovers and a must visit for all tourists. Lal Bagh sprawls across 240 acres in the heart of the city and has nearly 1,854 species of plants including rare species of French, Persian and Afghani origin. The Lal Bagh Rock which is over 3000 million years old is found here and is a major tourist attraction. The garden also houses a number of birds such as Myna, Parakeets, Crows, Brahminy Kite, Pond Heron, Common Egret and Purple Moor Hen.

Source: Goibibo

4. Cubbon Park

Cubbon Park is 300 acres of dense green bliss, housing more than 6,000 trees and an ideal place for nature lovers and picnickers. In addition to being the perfect place to veg-out, you can also visit some of the major structures of the city such as the Attara Kacheri, Cubbon Park Museum, Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Park and the Bangalore Aquarium, the second largest aquarium in India here.

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5. Vidhana Soudha

Described by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as 'a temple dedicated to the nation', Vidhana Soudha stands 150 feet tall and boasts of an elegant and truly exquisite Neo-Dravidian style of architecture. It houses the State Legislature and the Secretariat of Karnataka and is one of the most popular attractions in the lively and colourful city of Bengaluru. It prides on being the largest state legislative building in the country sporting four entrances in all four directions and four floors above the ground level and one below it. It is counted as one of the most magnificent buildings in the city impressing and intimidating the beholder.

6. ISKCON Temple

Located in Rajajinagar, ISKCON Temple is a revered shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna. Apart from a religious shrine, ISKCON temple is a cultural complex known for its activities of engagement involving ardent devotees of Lord Krishna, where the temple community organises songs, recitals, lectures and prayer services. A must visit for the spiritually initiated.

Source: Goibibo

7. MG Road

One of the busiest roads in Bengaluru, MG Road is always abuzz with recreational and commercial activities and is a one-stop destination for shopping or hanging-out. Whether you’re looking for traditional handicrafts, silk saris, cutlery, bone china sets, jewellery, clothes or books, you can find it all here. Church Street that runs parallel to this road is a foodie’s paradise, with a plethora of restaurants and cafes offering varied cuisines. MG Road is a must visit when you're in the city, where you can shop by day and party by night, dancing till you drop in any of the high-end pubs in and around this street.

These and many more such attractions make Bangalore a coveted holiday destination. So next time you’re in the city, go ahead and mix business with pleasure, you won’t regret it.

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A Trip to Shirdi with my extended family

Most people confuse a trip to a holy destination as a pilgrimage. While it might or might be true some times, a visit to a temple town can also be defined as an experiential trip. Like the one, I recently made to Shirdi with my parents, grandparents, and aunts. It was my first trip to Shirdi and the first ever with my grandparents.

The first hurdle of traveling in a big group is to find an economical transport solution, particularly, when you have elderlies traveling with you. After a lot of online searching, I found the Tempo Traveller price in Pune to be quite cheap.

The road to Shirdi

Shirdi lies at 186 KM from Pune city. We left Pune before daybreak, so we could reach the Sai Baba Temple before noon. After crossing Hinjewadi, we followed NH 60 for about an hour and a half (roughly 140 KM). From this point, the landscape completely changed. The cityscape was far behind and we were passing through the rural interiors of Maharashtra. Although the views would have been much better, had it been monsoon, the pre-summer landscape was quite scenic. We were on the Sangamner – Kopargaon Road and had to exit the highway and take the country roads. The red, dusty tracks were lined with sugarcane fields and sparsely foliaged trees, which was a beauty in itself. I had mostly traveled around the coastal regions of the state and this was a very different view of Maharashtra for me.

We finally reached Shirdi after nearly four and a half hours. We checked into a small hotel near the main temple area and freshened up before heading for the darshan. My aunt had managed to do online registration for the viewing so we could avoid the long queues and make it easier for my grandparents. Fortunately, it was a weekday morning and there was much lesser crowd than what would be on a weekend (or Tuesdays) or any other festival day. But it was not empty either. It was remarkable to see devotees and pilgrims from different parts of the country, traveling all the way to get darshan. Faith is indeed a magical thing.

A tour of the temple

The Sai Baba Sansthan Temple is the main attraction of the town and is what defines Shirdi. The huge complex spread across 200 square meters. The overall structure was quite simplistic in nature but had a very warm vibe about it. Once we entered the premise, it was a stark contrast. The interior walls, pillars, and even the ceilings were covered in gold, with a grand chandelier handing right over the main altar. In the middle of a small marble enclosure sat the stone idol of the holy saint. The shrine was off-limits to visitors but one could get a view up close from about an arm’s distance. With our online booking, we could skip the mainstream queue but had to wait nevertheless to reach the priest who was doling out prasad and blessed the offerings given by devotees. I couldn’t stop marveling at the grandeur of the place. As we drew closer, to the altar, I saw the Samadhi in front of the shrine, also cordoned off from the visitors. It is said that this was where Sai Baba took his last breath and left for the heavenly abode. It was carved out of marble and covered with bright orange cloth.

Soon, we finished our darshan and moved to explore the temple complex.

We headed to the Gurusthan – a marble enclosure built under a Neem tree on the premise. Gurusthan, or ‘the seat of the teacher’ was where Sai Baba was first seen. He would sit under the neem tree and share his teachings with his very first followers. Around the corner from that site, was the sacred fire or Dhuni. It is believed that the fire was lit by Sai Baba and is so miraculous that it never dies.

The sun was getting hotter and we decided to head back to the hotel for lunch and some rest.

A divine ending to the day

Later in the evening, we came back to the temple to view the aarti session. This prayer session is said to be one of the most divine experiences at the temple. And when it happened, I could see why. It was followed by a puja and ended with offering prasad to the devotees.

Throughout the trip, my grandfather told me fascinating stories about Sai Baba and his life, and the experiences of people that he had heard of. I was truly awed by the anecdotes, the sight of the temple and the overall energy of the place.

When it comes to visiting such holy places, every season is a good season, and every time is a good time. We had no particular objective but to experience a holy place as a family, which gladly, we could successfully achieve.

Travel tips:

• If you are traveling solo or with a lesser number of people, you can book a dependable Pune to Shirdi cab, which you can keep with you for the day or overnight stay.

• The best time to visit Shirdi is either late winters or after the monsoon.

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Top Flawless Rakhi Gifts to Amaze Your Loving Brother

The remarkable event for strengthening a bond of affection between brothers and sisters is just around the corner. It is the right time for all ages siblings to make each other feel loved. Raksha Bandhan means a lot in the pious relationship among siblings. They love to cherish some beautiful moments on this memorable occasion. The day starts by following some essential rituals of the Rakhi festival. On this religious event, brothers promise to protect their sisters by giving some unusual rakhi gifts.

On the other hand, sisters also amaze their brothers by providing their favorite items to mark the grand celebration. Sisters never forget to send Rakhi and gifts to their distant brothers. It is the special day for siblings to celebrate their immense bond of affection. Raksha Bandhan also helps to vanish the distance between siblings and give them a chance to spend some quality time together. It is essential for both brothers and sisters to celebrate the Rakhi festival with new energy and enthusiasm at home. Most of the sisters know their brother’s choices in particular items.

Following are some ideal rakhi gifts to delight your dear brother on Raksha Bandhan

Stylish Accessories for Him:

You have an excellent chance to make your brother feel special. If you know his taste in particular accessories, then you should buy for him on Raksha Bandhan. Select top accessories like cufflinks, sunglasses, and a tie, etc.to win his heart. You can even buy online rakhi and his favorite accessories to mark the special occasion. Try to choose stylish accessories by checking his wishlist to give him surprising moments of the day. It will be a perfect Rakhi gift to show your undying love for your dear brother.

Fresh Flowers and Lucky Plants:

When you are in a dilemma of searching beautiful gifts for someone special, then you can give preference to fresh flowers. You can make an attractive bouquet with blooms of his choice. The flowers can be like carnations, gerberas, roses, and orchids, etc. to express your heartfelt emotions for your brother. Another idea is to go with some lucky plants like bamboo sticks, bonsai, and many more to recognize him. A combo of flowers and plants can be the best option to give him some happy moments of the day.

A Personalized Backpack:

Most of the boys are travel lovers and like to explore new destinations with their friends. A traveling backpack can be the right choice for them. You can also buy a personalized bag to delight your younger brother on Raksha Bandhan. There are varieties of sports bags available at online stores from where you can choose the best one for him. It should be his favorite colored bag that he can regularly use for his journeys. Try to engrave his name on the bag to give a personal touch to your brother.

Make A Rakhi Card:

Most of the sisters try to impress their brothers with some unexpected gifts. If you want to show your deep affection for your brother, then you can design a beautiful rakhi card for him. Use some raw material to decorate an attractive greeting for your dear brother. You can even attach a pious thread of Rakhi on the card followed by some meaningful quotes for him. It would be helpful to create a lovely display of your eternal emotions towards your loving brother.

A Fitness Band for Him:

When it comes to buying gifts for the fitness lovers, then you have different options to make them feel special. You can try something unique for your fitness freak brother on this Rakhi festival. He may require some essential items to keep a record of her health and track on his daily activities. A fitness band can be the right choice which you can dedicate to your brother. It could be one of the unique raksha bandhan gifts for brother to improve his fitness level regularly. He would be able to know how much you care for him.

Delight with A Cake and Chocolates:

When you are commemorating a remarkable day of Raksha Bandhan with your brother, then you should prepare a delicious cake for him. It is one of the essential sweet elements to spread real happiness at the party. You can design a beautiful cake, adding his favorite flavors to give some pleasuring moments of the day. The best idea is to create a Rakhi themed cake to celebrate your siblinghood. Enjoy the cake cutting ceremony and distribute chocolates to your siblings. It will be great fun for everyone having a tasty treat on Raksha Bandhan.

There are many things which make this Rakhi festival memorable for your dear brother. But, all of these rakhi gifts can be flawless for bringing happiness in your brother’s life on Raksha Bandhan.

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Best 3 beautiful flowers origins and their uses

The Earth is a planet which provides the best natural environment for the all living things. Earth is the only planet which is suitable for every species. The Earth is decorated with the high mountains, thick forest, and long rivers. All these make this planet more beautiful to live.

This planet is also a home for different species of plants and flowers. The flowers are known for their special and attractive appearance in the world. There are more than 3 lakh species of different flowers present in this world. Most of the flowers are used for the decoration of the different occasional places. Some beautiful flowers are dedicated to specific feelings of the human. The flowers are best to express the hidden emotions and feelings of the person. You can get beautiful bouquet of flowers for all the occasions to make it more special from many online portals. You can get bouquet of birthday flowers for birthday person, lovely mother’s day flowers for your mom, valentine’s day flowers for your lover, and flowers for many special occasions to send to your loved ones.

Here are top beautiful flowers with their origins and uses in the world.

1. The roses:

The rose plant is from the family of Rosaceae, it is a flowering plant which lives more than two years. The rose species are more than hundred and other hybrid varieties of this beautiful plant. The rose flowers vary in different sizes and shapes. There is also a variation in different colors like white, red and yellow. Asia is the topmost continent of rose cultivators in the world. This beautiful flower has different cultural advantages. The origin of this rose name comes from French name Rosa.

Uses of roses

The rose flowers are basically used for the decoration purposes. Rose flower is used to make some mixed perfumery products, which are used by humans. The other use of rose flower is to make some medicine.

• The roses are also used as cut flowers, which means the flowers top can be removed from the plant for the decorative use with other flowers.

• Rose perfumes are made with the attar of roses. It is basically rose oil taken from the crushed petal of roses. The rose water is also the best product used for cooking, medicine, and cosmetics.

• The roses are best to express feelings of love and happiness with special ones.

2. The Carnations:

The origin of the carnations came from the Dianthus species. The meaning of Dianthus is also defined as the flower of the God. It is one of the oldest flowers which has been cultivated from many years ago. There are also some traditional meanings of rose flowers like love and affection to the particular community. The white carnations are used to give the good luck and happy wishes. The purple carnations are used to dedicate the loving partner.

This beautiful flower is also a symbol of some organizations. The national flower of Spain is carnation. It is the most popular flower as rose, lilies, and tulips etc.

Uses of carnations:

• This flower is used to make the medicine for the skin rashes and allergies.

• The carnation is used to express the feelings of admiration and enthusiasm.

3. The Tulips:

The Tulip flower is also a historical flower. The origin of this flower has been measured from the 13th century. This flower is basically large and symmetric in size. The Tulip flower life is around 5 to 7 years. The Tulip flower symbolizes the royalty and immortality in life. A flower with the splendid beauty is treated to regard people. This beautiful flower can be in different colors like red, white, yellow etc.

Uses of Tulip:

• The best use of tulip flower is to express some enduring and perfect love between family members.

• This beautiful flower is used for the home decoration with the colorful designs.

• Tulip flower is also used to make edible items.

All these flowers are beautiful with their unique qualities in nature. You can also get beautiful and unique gifts for every occasion like birthday gifts for your near ones, anniversary gifts for your parents, mother’s day gifts for your lovely mother, valentine’s day gifts and many more like these. Make every occasion special for your loved ones with special flowers and gifts.

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The 10 Best Healthy Foods You Should Be Eating

What’s for dinner is one of the most used phrases by many people each and every day. Do you know what you are making for dinner? How do you make your decision about what you will be making for dinner? Is it whatever is easiest to cook or will you be ordering fast food? Whether you are a health fanatic or a junk food eater you should really pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth because you are what you eat. It is not easy to find heathy food that actually tastes good, or is it? 

According to an article on Fitness here are the ten best healthy foods that you should be eating:

1. Broccoli: also helps to prevent cancer cells from developing.

2. Lemons: help to prevent the growth of cancer cells.

3. Potatoes: helps fight off cancer.

4. Salmon: help fight off heart disease, cancer, depression, memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

5. Avocados: lowers cholesterol and reduces your risk of heart disease.

6. Beans: lowers your risk of heart disease and breast cancer.

7. Garlic: inhibits the growth of bacteria and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.

8. Spinach: boosts the immune system and good for your eyes as well as a great cancer-fighter.

9. Dark Chocolate: reduces blood pressure.

10. Walnuts: helps to reduce cholesterol and fights off cancer as well as shields you from sun damage.

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