Bangalore India – Top 10 Thrilling Things to Do

Bangalore is a city meant for everyone – the adventure seeker, the wildlife enthusiast, the theatre lover, the party-goer… and it is next to impossible to get bored here. Need ideas on the most thrilling things to do in Bangalore? We have carefully chosen the best ones for you. You will be spoilt for choice for sure!

Taste Indian wine at The Grover Zampa Vineyards

This is for the wine lover in you. The Grover Zampa Vineyards are well known for their collection of Indian wines. If you’re lucky enough to pre-book it (at INR 500 per person), you’ll even get to stomp grapes while you’re at the facility. At the end of the 3-hour tour, you will be lead to the cellar for wine tasting, which we thought was an absolutely amazing experience!

The visiting hours from Tuesday to Friday are between 10.30am to 1.00pm and 1.00pm to 4.00pm. You have the liberty to choose the time whether you prefer a morning tour (starting at 10.30am) or an afternoon one (starting at 1.30pm). As for the cost, you will have to spend INR 850 per head, which we thought was a decent price for the amount of time you get to spend there. Just confirm your reservation once before going, that’s it.

Picnic at The Cubbon Park

Whether you are looking for a (romantic) spot for a quiet day out with your partner or your family, The Cubbon Park located right in the heart of the city is the place for you. In the morning it is an absolute heaven for joggers, yoga and sports buffs, but you won’t feel any lack of peace and quiet there any time of the day.

The park is, however, closed on Mondays and 2nd Tuesday of every month from 5.00am to 6.00pm. There is also a paved road that goes through the park but it is only for very light vehicles. Between 5.00am and 8.00 am every day this road is closed for traffic for the safety of visitors.

Camping at the Savandurga hills

This has to be one of the most amazing things you can do while you’re in Bangalore. Savandurga Hills are the ultimate weekend getaway for the youth here. The Hills are located just a little over 30 km from the city. If you are an adventure junkie, then you have to try the Savandurga nighttime trekking, which is a little challenging though. We were lucky enough to be in the company of great trekkers and ended up having some of the best experience witnessing the most scenic natural beauty.

For the best experience we would recommend to book your trek with a private company which should be approximately INR 1500. Ask what is included – they normally have different programs on offer. It is also possible to go independently at no extra cost.

Early morning cycling around Nandi Hills

Another activity in our personal top of favourite things to do in Bangalore was cycling around Nandi Hills. Although you can also consider cycling there in the daytime we would strongly recommend to opt for early morning or night-time cycling. A word of precaution for the night-time, though – always keep close to the left shoulder of the road because you may be riding at your leisure, but there will be 4-wheelers who won’t respect the speed limits. Based on our experience, we’d advise you to get a few friends along and start your bike ride around 4.00am (the more friends you gather, the more fun it is) and you should be able to witness the beautiful sunrise by the time you reach the Hills.

Learn the Art of Living

If you are looking for spiritual bliss and a silent day off in solitude, then you must visit the Art of Living International Centre on top of the Panchagiri Hills (approximately 35 km southwest of the city). It’s a very beautiful place that never ceases to give you inner peace. If you feel like giving away something to the centre, nothing could be better than volunteering or sewa. Although we did not really volunteer when we visited the asharam, but whatever time we spent there was absolutely worth it and that’s why we highly recommend this place to you.

Shopping at UB City

If you’ve ever been to Bangalore, you know what we are talking about! If you happen to have an itchy hand, then the most happening and luxurious mall in the city awaits you. Well, not that it only has luxury brands! From some of the best eating joints to massage services, UB city has everything for you if you feel a bit in a shopping mood. One place definitely worth checking out is the rooftop bar – Skyee (open from 5.30pm to 11.00pm). Although a pit pricey, the absolutely stunning view from atop compensates (especially at night)!

Hit the pubs

When in Bangalore, you just cannot miss out some of the most happening pubs the city has to offer. To name a few – ABC, Toit, District 6, Fenny’s… These are only some of the best ones out there. Not only the idea of pub crawling is appealing, but the menus are quite pocket friendly with a pint of beer costing around INR 250. While you’re choosing the right pub for you, don’t miss out beefy loaded potatoes and chicken wings at Toit (Drooling just at the thought of it!).

Mysore Saree Udyog

Saree, anyone? Bring one back home or just wander around to take in the multicoloured bright beauty. One of the best places to do that is definitely the Mysore Saree Udyog. It’s a bustling store in Mahavir Mall (K Kamaraj Road) which has the most amazing variety of silk sarees along with a wide choice of men’s fabrics. You must be wondering how much a saree would cost you – well, there are actually different types to suit every budget. It is a great destination for pashmina lovers, too, as they stock 100% authentic pashminas as well. The quality of the stuff on offer is certified by Silk Mark Organization so you can be sure you are buying a real thing. So what are you waiting for? Buy one and then buy some more!

Have a treatment in some of the best spas

When it comes to spa services, it would be crazy if we haven/t mentioned White Mantra Spa Salon. Open from 10.00am to 8.00pm, this spa has a very extensive list of treatments on offer – from their signature packages to traditional massages, there’s a lot to choose from. The average duration of a treatment is 60 minutes and after an hour spent there you’ll definitely feel rejuvenated. Probably the best thing about White Mantra is that you can customize your spa treatment.

Besides White Mantra, some of the other great spa centres include The Oberoi Spa and Fitness Centre, The Spa (in Leela Palace) and 4 Fountains de-stress spa.

Visit the National Gallery of Modern Art

Last but not least, a visit to the National Gallery of Modern Art is a must when in Bangalore. What we loved about this gallery is that it is housed in the vacation home of the former Raja of Mysuru. The building, along with the gallery, is a piece of art. It houses a collection of hundreds of inspiring paintings. An important thing to note: do check with the gallery what they have available at the date of your visit as some halls and rooms can close for temporary exhibitions. Another slightly annoying thing about the national gallery is dual pricing policy: the entry fee for the Indian nationals is INR 20 while for foreign nationals it is INR 500.