Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Bangalore: Best Places & Experiences | Shopaholic's Paradise in Bangalore

Bangalore or Bengaluru is the capital and largest city of Karnataka. Widely regarded as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of India because of its role as the country’s leading information technology (IT) exporter, this urban hub is also lovingly called the ‘Garden city’ because of its iconic parks filled with lush greenery. 

To get to the heart and soul of this city, its important to customize your list of things to sightsee in Bangalore. Apart from its thriving nightlife and shopping centers, the pleasant climate is perfect for things to do in Bangalore set in the enchanting outdoors. Swing by Lalbagh Botanical Garden and feast your eyes on colorful, vibrant blooms placed in creative structures. Sprawl on a picnic blanket on the soft grass of Cubbon Park and identify the trees that date back for decades. 

If you’re a history buff and you’re looking for sightseeing in Bangalore to satiate your love for stories through the ages, the city is home to beautiful temples, buildings and palaces that are rich with cultural heritage. Make your way to Karnataka’s best loved city and discover its thrumming pulse for a unique travel experience.                                                                          

Gokarna is the perfect weekend getaway. Not only is it replete with beaches, it is home to caves and temples with unique architecture that dates back to the 4th century. The serene backdrop of beaches, hills and greenery that this town offers helps forget about the city hustle and noise for a while. Sightseeing in Gokarna involves a whole lot of food by the beaches and treks to get there. All that you will see will be on foot and it makes this all the more delightful.  

Besides the beaches, sightseeing in Gokarna involves visiting many temples with 4th century Dravidian architecture, Caves and the Mirjan Fort that are an offbeat destination very close to Gokarna. It is one of those towns that is fairly easy to navigate once you’re there and has no complicated itinerary or checklists. Gokarna waves at you to come and bury your worries in the white sandy shores.  

It takes a great deal of planning, effort and vision to create difference and nurture originality in each structure that would essentially serve the same purpose. Badami, a town built by the Chalukya Dynasty in the 8th century, is synonymous with a grand exhibition of temple architecture, skill, history and art. Meticulously dug and carved out of stone, this town is home to many temples made of sandstone and serve as epicentres for conversations surrounding the Hindu and Jain faith.  

The Badami Cave Temples, Aihole, Bhutanatha Temples, Mallikarjuna Temples, Ravana Phadi Temple, Agastya Lake and Badami Fort are some places that must feature on your list while sightseeing in Badami. A trip to Badami is incomplete without temple visits where one spends time looking in all four directions, taking in the sight of splendour.  

By virtue of no two stones looking the absolute same, all temples here are built vastly different from one another in terms of the stories they tell and the sculptures contained within their walls. One might say that sightseeing in Badami tends to be monotonous with just temples on the list, when in reality, a large chunk of what Badami has to offer and their culture is this.  

As a beginner, the easiest way to start rock climbing is to register for a beginner’s rock climbing workshop. Bangalore has regular rock climbing workshops for beginners - almost every week. If you like the outdoors, sign up for the beginner's bouldering workshops which are conducted at Avathi every weekend. If you like the feeling of a high, sign up for the top rope climbing workshops that are conducted at Varlakonda regularly every month. In addition to the above, you could also sign up for the beginner's rock climbing course that includes a month long training on rock as well as in an indoor climbing gym.

The capital of Puducherry, Pondicherry was once a French colonial settlement and still bears the remnants of this mix of culture, from its language to the food and the architecture that decorates its lovely streets. Popular amongst tourists for its delicious French cuisines, delicate French influenced villas that are painted in cheerful yellows, oranges, soothing blues and greens and its carefully maintained heritage sites; Pondicherry is a great place to put on your bucket list of destinations to visit in South India. 

If you’re a history buff, sightseeing in Pondicherry is a sure delight, with history around every corner. 100-year old Bungalows invite you in, to take in the aged furniture, lush, green gardens and stories through the ages. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Pondicherry Botanical Garden and the Old Lighthouse are all iconic historical places that will fuel your love of the past.

Sightseeing in Pondicherry for foodies isn’t complete without visiting the quaint cafes that dot the region. Coromandel Café has enchanting Parisian interiors that make you feel as though you’re in the heart of France while Baker Street draws you in with the sweet smell of freshly baked bread. 

The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is a beautiful coastal city perched next to the majestic Bay of Bengal. With a rich history and culture, the ‘Detroit of India’, was added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network list for its rich musical traditions and walking through its long winding roads unveils houses boasting of traditional South Indian lifestyles that have been kept in place for decades. 

The heritage tours in Chennai takes you through the past of this vibrant city and its impact on its present. From touching upon food such as the Mulligatawny Soup which originated in Chennai and became a global favorite during the British colonial rule to taking you through Alamparai Fort, Valluvar Kottam, the Government Museum and more, the heritage tours in Chennai reveal the heart and soul of this urban hub in Tamil Nadu.

When we visit a region, we often enjoy things as they are rather than learning about how it came about. The heritage tours in Chennai offer you a chance to look below the surface of this enchanting seaside city so that your travel experiences are more satisfying and fulfilling. 

Bangalore is so much more than its vibrant city life. Amongst travellers and locals, the key draws of this urban hub seem to be its diverse shopping localities, rhythmic nightclubs and pubs with a laid-back ambience. However, if you love spending your days soaking up the sun in the midst of nature, trekking in Bangalore should be at the top of your list.

If you are a trekking connoisseur or simply a thrill-seeker, there are plenty of options for trekking in Bangalore. Make your way to the summit of spectacular rock formations that give you a birds-eye view of the city’s rich, vibrant landscape. Looking for a one-day trip out of the city? Trekking in Bangalore can be completed over the weekend with your loved ones. As a bonus, you could even pack a picnic and feast on home-made food in the enchanting outdoors.

Bangalore is a fast-paced urban hub that receives travelers from all over the world looking to sample its vibrant culture and beauty. With multiple 5-star hotels around the city and motels with luxury amenities, there are a variety of options for a comfortable stay within city limits. 
However, home is where the heart is, and finding a place to stay at that warms the body and soul can be tough. This is why we have curated a list of homestays in Bangalore that give you the dose of comfort you need combined with a heartwarming experience! 

The homestays in Bangalore are equipped to provide for every traveler. Discover sprawling rustic homestays near Bangalore to relax at with your pets or quaint villas fully furnished for your every need. Love the outdoors? Check into homestays that offer organic farming, delicious homemade food and a sparkling sky to pitch your tent under. Whether you’re a traveler or a city dweller looking for a change of scene, the homestays around Bangalore gives you a wonderful stay experience. 

When it comes to rest and relaxation, treating yourself to a stay at the resorts in Bangalore should be high on your list of self-care. It can be tough to find a resort that suits our expectations of a great stay. Some of us prefer low-key resorts with small luxuries, others prefer high-end resorts that come complete with swimming pools, spas, delicious cuisines made by expert chefs and a few of us are looking for resorts in Bangalore with adventure activities and sports to leave us with an endorphin high! 

With the wide variety of resorts in Bangalore, how do you choose the one you should stay at? Our list of resorts is handpicked to make sure your stay is memorable, comfortable and unique. Take a dip in a cool swimming pool, go ziplining across gorgeous vistas or get pampered with a massage. Love quirky resorts with creative décor? Some of the resorts in Bangalore are created on enchanting themes with interiors that will bring a wide smile to your face. 

A great holiday begins with a comfortable stay. Take your pick and start planning your vacation!