Bangalore is one of the greenest capitals in India, and it is also nicknamed the ‘Garden City’. The moniker traces its roots back to the early 1920s when a plethora of gardens and parks were built to commemorate the 25th year of the rule of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. Today, this sprawling metropolis has a great number of gardens and parks where you can walk, jog or simply take a breather. They offer a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of city life, as well as provide a chance to connect with nature. While ebullient all day long, showing up early morning before 7 am will give you a glimpse into the everyday life of the Bangaloreans. So take your pick among the top 5-star hotels and serviced apartments in the city for your accommodation needs. Here’s our list of the best parks and gardens in Bangalore, India.
1. Bannerghatta Biological Park (from USD 6.0)
Wildlife enthusiasts should head to Bannerghatta Biological Park that is home to a great variety of wildlife. A safari ride through the park guarantees encounters with species such as Indian tigers, bears, lions, the spotted deer, panthers and elephants. The park also happens to be the country’s first biological park to have a fenced forested elephant sanctuary, thus making safe interaction between visitors and elephants.
Pondicherry Self-Guided Audio Tour
Duration 1 to 24 hours
2. Cubbon Park (from USD 42.0)
Need a refreshing break from the bustling Bangalore? Then head to Cubbon Park that will surely give your lungs a boost of energy. Also known as Sri Chamarajendra Park, it is located right in the middle of the city and spread across 300 acres (121.4 hectares), which makes it the largest green lung area in the city. It offers well-maintained paths, which are perfect for peaceful walks or run. There are also plenty of natural features to enjoy at this sprawling park, from 6000 indigenous and exotic plants to picturesque water features such as a lotus pond, musical fountain and an aquarium. Beyond nature, there are numerous century-old historical buildings and statues that are worth checking out. Notable ones include City Central Library, Vidhana Soudha (the seat of Karnataka’s state legislature), Attara Kacheri (State High Court), and statues of Queen Victoria, Chamarajendra Wodeyar, Major General Sir Mark Cubbon and King Edward VII. From time to time, there are many events and activities held here, especially photo walks.
Insider tip: If you happen to be in the city between November and February, do visit the park as it gets dressed in a blanket of pink trumpet, or Tabebuia Rosea, which is perhaps one of the most spectacular flowering trees in the world.
Cubbon Park
Address: Kasturba Road, Behind High Court of Karnataka Ambedkar Veedhi, Sampangi Rama Nagara, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6am - 7pm; Sun: 6am - 7:45pm
Bangalore City Tour (Pick up from hotel)
Duration 6 to 8 hours
3. Chinnapanahalli Lake Park
One of the best parks in Bangalore, Chinnappanahalli Lake Park is a popular area in Marathahalli for jogging and sunset watching. It is regularly visited by fitness enthusiasts for their jogging routine as the park features a paved track ideal for walking and running. The park is also a great location for a laid-back family stroll with adequate trees and seating thoughtfully placed around the area. Several swings can also keep the kids entertained. Visitors usually cap off their day by viewing the glorious sunset over the lake.
While presently known as a place for leisure, the lake was once in poor shape. It is because of the recent development and rehabilitation efforts that made it a real green zone in the suburb.
Chinnapanahalli Lake Park
Address: XP85+29P, Sri Nivasa Reddy Layout, AECS Layout, Marathahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560037
Opening hours: 5am - 10am, 4pm - 6pm (daily)
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4. Freedom Park
This cultural hub in central Bangalore is amusingly a depiction of both freedom and captivity. Freedom Park, previously known as Central Jail, holds historical significance and was prominent in the political scene of the nation during the mid-70s. It is now a public museum that harks back to the park’s jail era, with the watchtower, gallows, and prison barracks and hospital in the complex still left intact for viewing. Major renovations were made in the lot but it remains a great venue to reinforce a deeper understanding of correctional life.
The park was inaugurated in 2008 and has become a recreational center in the city where various public meetings, protests, and rallies are held.
Freedom Park
Address: Seshadri Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560009
Opening hours: 5am - 8pm (daily)
5. Lalbagh Botanical Garden
Literally meaning The Red Garden, this flower garden in Bangalore is a horticulture paradise, with more than 2,500 species of native and exotic flora, including plants from France, Afghanistan, and Persia. Not to mention, it has a fair number of bird species. It is one of the things Bangalore is famous for. Keep an eye out for Indian Cormorants, Spotted Owlets, Brahminy Kites, and Parakeets. The star attraction of the garden, however, is the 19th-century glasshouse, built out of iron and glass and inspired by the Crystal Palace of England. It hosts flower shows twice a year - on 26th January (Republic Day) and 15th August (Independence Day) - which are often centered around a theme. The fanciful show concludes with a musical event. Other striking features of the garden include fountains, lotus pools, lawns, a lake, and an ancient rock dating back to some 3000 million years.
Lalbagh Botanical Garden
Address: Mavalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 56000
Website: Lalbagh Botanical Garden
Opening hours: 6am - 6pm
Price: 0.29 USD (20 INR)
6. Butterfly Park
Located within the Bannerghatta National Park, the butterfly park is the first green space of its kind in the country. The park has a 1 km (0.6 miles) butterfly trail that leads to a dome-shaped greenhouse, which is home to about 70 species of butterflies. Additionally, it is packed with a landscape of different varieties of plants, tall trees and an artificial waterfall to keep the butterflies well-fed. There’s also an audio-visual dome, where visitors can watch a documentary on butterflies and learn a great deal of information about them.
Butterfly Park
Address: Biological Park, Bannerughatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560083
Website: Butterfly Park
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm
Price: 0.44 USD (30 INR)
7. Lumbini Gardens
When the temperature spikes in Garden City, Lumbini Gardens is the place to go. This famous garden in Bangalore is named after a Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal. It is a public park with a lot of water-themed fun for the entire family. There are kiddie rides and a wave pool for younger visitors that love to splash around; plus there is a decent selection of amusement rides for all ages. For relaxation, you can also take an eco-friendly boat ride or laze the day away at the artificial beach. If you’re feeling peckish, there’s a floating restaurant on site, which is perhaps the first of its kind in the city.
Lumbini Gardens
Address:Ring Road | Nagawara Lake, Hebbal, Bengaluru 560034, India
Website: Lumbini Gardens
Opening hours: 11am - 7pm
Price: 0.73 USD (50 INR)
8. Bugle Rock Garden
Built around a 3000 million-year-old rock, called Bugle Rock, this garden is one of the finest green spaces in the city. It has a tree-lined park, which is ideal for lazy walks and energizing run. Within the precinct also lies fountains, waterfalls, an amphitheater, and two famous temples - a Ganesha temple and a 16th-century Bull temple, also called as Dodda Basavana Gudi.
Bugle Rock Garden
Address: Bull Temple Rd, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560019
Opening hours: 5am - 10am, 4pm - 9pm
Price: No entry fee
9. Jaya Prakash Narayana Park (JP Park)
The JP Park spans across 85 acres (34.39 hectares) and is among Bangalore’s loveliest parks. There are well-maintained lush green lawns and pathways for walking or jogging. But the biggest attraction at this park is the acupressure walkway, where walking barefoot offers a relaxing experience. Besides, there are several statues, four lakes where visitors can spot exotic birds, plus more than 250 kinds of trees under which you can relax.
JP Park
Address: 22/1, Tank Bund Road, Brindavan Nagar, Bandappa Garden, Mathikere, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560054
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 5am - 9am, 4pm - 8pm; Sun: 5am - 8pm
10. M.N. Krishna Rao Park
Founded in the 1940s, M.N. Krishna Rao Park was once a lively space for cultural events. But today, it is much quieter and serene, surrounded by tall trees and shrubs. Adults use it as a space for walking, jogging and yoga, while children play, run around and chase one another. There’s also a basketball court and a few fitness equipment on the premises. It is buzzing with visitors in the evening.
M.N. Krishna Rao Park
Address: Dewan Madhava Rao Rd, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004
Opening hours: 5am - 12pm, 3am - 9pm
Price: No entry fee
11. Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park
Located smack dab in the middle of the city, the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park includes landscaped gardens, several tree species (like Silver Oaks, Cypress, Peltophorums and Eucalyptus), shrub varieties, creepers and rosaries. The biggest attraction of the park, however, is the dancing and musical fountain, complete with dramatic lights. It is one of the largest artificially created fountains in the country, and is known for its formation of different patterns, which are projected on a big screen - a treat to the eyes!
Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park
Address: Opp to Jawahar Lal Nehru Planetarium, Raj Bhawan Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052
Website: Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park
Opening hours: Tues - Sun: 10am - 4pm, 5pm - 8:30pm
Price: 0.44 USD (30 INR)
12. Cariappa Memorial Park
Cariappa Memorial Park is relatively small compared to other parks on this list, with its total area of 22 acres (8.90 hectares), but it is every bit worth a visit. It is dedicated to Field Marshal K M Cariappa, and also possesses a 7-foot (2.13-meter) tall monolith statue of Cariappa. It consists of a play area for kids, grassy dunes which are ideal for resting on, tracks for walking and jogging, a man-made waterfall, a pond that attracts different varieties of birds, and a bandstand where six military bands perform every two weeks. The park also exhibits 3000 varieties of plants and trees, making it a nature lover’s paradise.
Cariappa Memorial Park
Address: Cubbon Rd, Shivaji Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001
Opening hours: 5:30am - 9pm
Price: No entry fee
Explore the garden city of India
This wonderful city has plenty to offer, including historical places and the famous Ulsoor Lake. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful place to relax, walk or enjoy some time with family and friends, there is a green space for everyone in Bangalore.