GENRE: Features

Bangalore once had 117 lakes! Though in the recent years the number has dwindled, a few that are left add to the beauty and ecology of the city. Read more about Bangalore's lakes.1. HebbalDetails Adjoining Hebbal flyover, this lake provides vital lung space in an otherwise concrete jungle. Spread over an area of 150 acres, this lake is as old as Bangalore city. It is a natural lake maintained by the Forest department. The lake attracts migratory birds from Himalayan and Central Asian regions and is home to 70 species of water birds and a huge variety of aquatic vegetation.…

The best way to get acquainted with Bangalore is walk through it. Apart from the state-run tours, you can try the other conducted tours and walks suggested here. However, if you want to avoid going behind the usual backpacking crowd with a well-thumbed lonely planet book, try some of suggested walks given below.1. City SwapsDetails This is a guided bus tour modelled on London's open top double-decker buses. References www.cityswaps.in2. Bangalore WalksDetails The Bangalore Walks group organises walks in the city that aim at understanding the history and culture. Go for a walk on the MG Road and learn more…

Had a hectic week at office? Indulge yourself at Bangalore's spas and resorts.1. Angsana Spa & ResortDetails A perfect way to unwind and relax over the weekend after a hectic week. Angsana Spa & Resort is located on the Doddaballapur road near Rajankunte. This international chain is has an idyllic setting. The spa offers therapeutic massages and hydro therapy to rejuvenate your tired limbs. After a relaxing massage, you can indulge yourself on a sumptuous lunch that offers a diverse cuisine options. A pool, tennis and squash courts, yoga and aerobics, gym and a library are other facilities provided here.…

What can I see in Bangalore in a day? You'll be surprised at the number of places you could visit. Read on.1. Nandi HillsDetails Nandi Hills is a very popular weekend getaway for Bangaloreans because of its pleasant climate and location, just 60 kilometers from Bangalore. From the foot it is 8 kilometers to the top. Also called Nandidurg, this used to be a summer retreat of Tipu Sultan. You can see Tipu's fort here and get shivers down your spine looking down the Tipu's Drop, a steep precipice where Tipu apparently pushed criminals to death. There is also an…

For those with a penchant for museums, Bangalore has a collection of them. Admire the surreal paintings of yesteryear Bangalore or learn the principles of electronics or astronomy. Read on.1. Government Museum and Venkatappa Art GalleryDetails Situated in the verdant Cubbon Park, the Government Museum is one of the oldest museums in the country. Established in 1865, its main attractions are stone age relics from Mohenjodaro period. The museum also houses sculptures from Hoysala, Chola and Kadamba reigns that ruled over the state. Other artefacts are terracotta works from Bengal, water colours of old Bangalore and some fine wood carvings.…

The one thing that you would definitely find every two streets of Bangalore is a small green cozy park. Bangalore boasts of more than 500 parks in the city. Most of us would have memories attached with one of those parks and the play area there where we spent childhood playing on swings, slides, seesaws, etc. But if you happen to pass by Coles Park in Frazer Town now, you will see a different kind of play area, something like the picture below.If you thought these are made to make things more fun for children or is the creation of…

Is there a tannery on Tannery Road? Or where’s the church on Church Street? There’s usually more to a name. And in Bangalore, it’s usually something that fails to meet the eye. Or has turned into a blind spot. The Big Bull at Basavangudi. The temple was Built to appease an angry bull that used to damage the groundnut crops grown in this region. A quiet corner in the temple on BULL TEMPLE ROAD, Basavanagudi. This is the starting point of The Bangalore Karaga procession - Entrance to the temple on DHARMARAJA TEMPLE STREET. Not far from the mad traffic.…

‘Ananya’ is familiar to most music lovers of Bangalore, especially North Bangalore. It is located in a very peaceful corner of the city, off 4th Main Road, Malleshwaram between 12th and 13th Cross. An inconspicuous small board that hangs right opposite the Malleshwaram Boys’ High School identifies Ananya. Dr Raghavendra is totally publicity shy. He says he formed the trust not for people who craved for publicity, but “… to tap, encourage and nurture young and upcoming music artists and create a small music community that can entertain the masses”. R V Raghavendra. Pic: Ananya Trust. Raghavendra’s interest in music…

Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the waxing phase of the moon (shukla paksha) of the Bhadrapada month....’bhadrapada maasena chaturthyam/brahamanaadi poojitam’, as the great Carnatic music composer Muthuswami Dikshitar sings. In Bangalore, preparations for the puja start quite early.Here is the Lord in different shapes and sizes, all packaged and ready to be picked up by the devout and religious. (All pictures by the author.) Packed Ganeshas at RV Road.Posters in various localities announce the forthcoming puja and the puja karta (one who is conducting it) too. Ganesha pooja poster at Malleswaram.I met Shakuntala Jain, an artist who…

Tucked away in a narrow lane a little off the bustling MG Road, is the Indian Cartoon Gallery, the first of its kind in the country. An initiative of the Indian Institute of Cartoonists (IIC), the gallery was created as a space for both amateur and professional cartoonists to exhibit their work. Says V G Narendra, veteran cartoonist (with dailies like the Kannada Prabha), whose brainchild the IIC is, “we already had a Cartoonist’s Association for Karnataka, but through the IIC we wanted to promote interaction between cartoonists from across India.” He adds, “The gallery is a perfect space to…