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Attara Kacheri A two storied building of stone and brick, painted red, Attara Kacheri literally means "The eighteen offices or departments". They originally comprise the general and revenue secretariat of the state government. It now houses the High Court of Karnataka state. Aquarium Located on Kasturba Road, the Aquarium is housed in a diamond shaped building. The aquarium has a variety of exotic cultivable as well as ornamental fish. Located at Cubban Park, Kasturba Road Bangalore 560001. Phone 577440. Open from 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs. Bal Bhavan Children's Park with its own theater and playground. Toy train and boat rides are added attractions. Closed on Mondays and the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Phone 564189, 561423. Banerghatta About 12 miles from Bangalore is this beautiful national park. The major attraction is the lion safari, which is a wild stretch of forest set apart for animals. A safari van is also available to tour the park. Tuesday is weekly off and this park is open from 0900hrs to 1700hrs on all other days. There is also an elephant ride available for children. Phone 3344686 (Forest Department) Bangalore Palace The palace was constructed in 1880 at the cost of Rs 1 million. Built along the lines of the Windsor Castle of the Tudors with battlement, parapets and fortified towers. Built by the Wodeyar King it covers an area of 45,000 square feet, having a garden all around almost giving it a fairytale setting. Bull Temple One of the oldest temples in Bangalore situated in basavanagudi and dedicated to Nandi, the mount of lord Shiva. This 4.5 meters tall and six meters long monolithic bull is supposed to be older than the temple housing it. It is believed that the source of the river Vishva Bharti originates at the feet of the statue. Cubbon Park 300 acres of verdant tranquillity, right in the heart of Bangalore. Cubbon Park - laid out by Lord Cubbon in 1864 - is highly popular with walkers, joggers and nature-lovers. This beautiful park is the haunt of the seeker of pleasure and tranquillity. Apart from its rich flora, Cubbon Park houses a number of institutions of significance like the Sheshdri Iyer Memorial Hall, Attara Kacheri, Museum, Century Club and the Press Club. Phone 564125 Gandhi Bhavan The teachings of Gandhiji are imparted by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, which is in the Gandhi Bhavan located on Kumara Krupa Road. An organized picture gallery depicting the entire life of the Great Mahatma have been maintained by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. Gavipuram Cave Temple A unique feature about this temple is that, on January 14th, a ray of sunlight filters through an arch between the horns of the bull and reaches the Shiva Linga. Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium Founded in the year 1989, to commemorate the birth centenary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Planeterium aims to instill an awareness of astronomy amongst students as well as the common public. The sky theater with a dome of fifteen meters in diameter has a seating capacity of 225. It also has an observatory with a professional six inch code refractor telescope. Timings : Daily two shows, at 1500 hrs and 1630 hrs except on Mondays. Phone 2203234, 2266084. Jumma Masjid The oldest mosque in the city is located on Old Poor House Road and was once called the Sangian Jamia Masjid. The mosque stands as the reminder of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s conquests in the south. The mosque’s raised prayer hall is adorned by granite pillars. Karnataka folk Museum The karnataka Janapadha trust manages this museum where many rare masks, artifacts and costumes are displayed. It also boasts of an impressive collection of folk music and videos of folk dances. It is located at Kumara Park West, Sheshadripuram. Kumara Park Kanyakaparameshwari Temple The Temple has a fascinating feature - Marble Mandira, murals of holy places and Darpana Mandira (Mirror Mandir) depicting Rishis, Bhagawada Gita and Vasavi history. Lal Bagh Started by Hyder Ali in 1740 and later completed by Tipu Sultan, this 240 acre landscaped park has some rare species of plants brought from Persia, Afghanistan and France. The Lalbagh Rock is one of the oldest rock formations on earth, dating back to 3000 million years. The Glass House here, inspired by the Crystal Palace in London, is the venue of an annual flower show. A Botanical Garden, it was laid out by Hyder Ali. The name was originally given because of the profusion of red roses. Phone 602231. Nrityagram Dance Village This dance village is founded and run by one of the finest odissi dancers of India - Protima Guari. She has built this unique village for classical dancers around the norms of a traditional gurukula, the system of education of ancient India. Here students from all over the world are trained in various Indian dance forms including Bharatnatyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi. Every year, in the first week of February, Nrityagram conducts the Vasantha Habba or the festival of spring. Leading musicians and dancers from all over the country participate and this brings the students as well as the connoiseur and common man in touch with the best musical talents in the country. You can also stay here overnight to get the feel of this rustic Indian charm. It is situated at Hessarghatta Bangalore rural district, approximately 19 miles from Bangalore on the national highway no 4. Phone 8466312 , 8466313 , 8466314. Ramohalli The famed Big Banyan tree spread over nearly four acres is located here. The tree has an awe inspiring appearance and consists of a vertical root system forming a pleasant complex. This four hundred year old tree is around 12 miles from Bangalore on the Mysore Road. St. Marks Cathedral This cream coloured Cathedral founded in 1808 and completed in 1812, was consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta in 1816. This Cathedral is a beautiful colonial structure having a graceful dome over a semicircular chancel that transports the visitor almost immediately into traquility. Roman archers along the walls are the features of the Cathedral. St. Mary’s Basilica This Church situated opposite the Russel Market Square was built as a small chapel in 1818 by Abbe Dubois, but was later converted into an ornate Gothic style Church by Rev. L.E.Kleiner. By 1882 a fairly large number of stained glass windows from Paris adorned the Basilica, but were removed during World War II. These were re-restored with great care in 1947. The Church was given the status of a Basilica (then the Sixth in India) in 1973 through a Papal order by Pope John Paul VI. St. Andrew’s Kirk The only Scotish Kirk in Bangalore, situated on Cubban Road parallel to MG Road contains stained glass windows depicting Lord Jesus and his eight apostles. A pipe organ was also installed here in 1881. The walls are adorned with polished brass plaques. There is also a plaque of John Cook, the Principal of Central College in Bangalore in 1915. Sri Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple Every year on 14th/15th January (Makara Sankranthi day) a ray of sunlight passes precisely through the horns of the stone bull outside the temples to illuminate the deity inside the temple. This unique phenomenon attracts a large number of devotees. Tipu Sultan's Fort In the busy, crowded City Market area lie the remnants of Tipu's Fort - a mute testimony of his struggle against British domination. The fort is noted for its beautifully carved arches in Islamic style and for the well preserved Ganapati temple. Originally built by Kempe Gowda in 1537. It was extended and fortified by Tipu Sultan. Hyder Ali, Tipu’s father had imprisoned David Baird along with a number of British army officers here. Tipu's Palace The palace was started by Hyder Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791 it took ten years of planning and construction. This was one of Tipu Sultan’s summer retreats. It is a two-storeyed ornate wooden structure with pillars, arches and balconies flanked by gardens on either sides leading to the palace. The eastern and western projecting balconies of the upper floor contained the seat of state from where Tipu conducted affairs of the state. An inscription on the wooden screen describes the palace as the "Abode of Happiness". Vidhana Soudha. Built in 1956 in Dravidian Style, Vidhana Soudha houses the State Legislature, and Secretariat. This is one of Bangalore's most important buildings.Mr Kengal Hanuman Thaiah the then chief minister of Mysore decided to construct the Vidhana Soudha entirely along Indian style of architecture.It is not only the secretariat but also is the prime edifice of the city,symolising in it`s very appearance the seat of government.It houses 22 departments and 300 rooms.There are four domes on all the four corners.The main entrance is overshadowed by the four headed lion,the symbol of Indian sovereignty. Visveswaraya Industrial and Technological Museum It is named after M. Visveswararaya the Dewan of Mysore from 1912 to1918,who was responsible for advancing the technology in the state. One of the specialities of the museum is the mobile science exhibition which tours the state the whole year round.It displays an aeroplane and steam engine in its compound. There is a comprehensive range of exhibits on electronics,motor power and the uses and properties of wood and metal.Visitors who have a deep interest in popular science can work on some of the exhibits here. Seminars, demonstrations and film shows on scientific subjects are organised periodically.The highlight of the museum are the five galleries : Engine hall, Electronic Technology Gallery, Kimbe Paper Metals Gallery, Popular Science Gallery and Childrens' Science Gallery. It is located on Kasturba Road Bangalore 560001 Phone 564014. Ulsoor Lake A place of prominence in the early years of the century, the lake was then known as "Halsur" or "Alasur". It extended over an area of 125 acres and was constructed by Kempe Gowda II during the second half of the second century. It is a major tourist attraction with a boat club where you can hire out cruises with stops at some of the tiny islands that dot the lake. Phone 573114.