The days of traveling to all touristy places in every city one visits are long over. We understand that travellers of today have very specific interests, individual needs and preferences they want fulfilled in their journeys. The Bangalore a foodie wants to see is hardly the Bangalore a historian wants to, much less the place a shopper might be interested in. If you wish to see Bangalore, but have specific interests, you must consider one of Unhurried's city tours.
A city tour is not a package, it is not a pre-determined set of places to see with a few pit stops in between. Unhurried's city tour is a hand-crafted collection of places to see, food to eat, shopping areas and resting places, carefully customised for your preferences by some of the best planners in the travel industry. We'll give you a patient hearing, understand what you need, plan your trip with you and deliver an experience like none other.
If you aren't convinced, below are some tours we've delivered in the past for happy customers. Browse around and see if it inspires an idea or two!
A city tour is not a package, it is not a pre-determined set of places to see with a few pit stops in between. Unhurried's city tour is a hand-crafted collection of places to see, food to eat, shopping areas and resting places, carefully customised for your preferences by some of the best planners in the travel industry. We'll give you a patient hearing, understand what you need, plan your trip with you and deliver an experience like none other.
If you aren't convinced, below are some tours we've delivered in the past for happy customers. Browse around and see if it inspires an idea or two!
MEDIEVAL BANGALORE TRAIL
Culture, History, Architecture
Unhurried's Medieval Bangalore Trail is a heritage enthusiast's dream. It is one of the popular requests at Unhurried: a tour that unites all of medieval Bangalore, the dilapidated remains of Bangalore fort that stands as a testimony to its war history, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan, the ancient south Indian temple patronized by Hindu kings and Sultans alike.
Explore the remains of the Kempe Gowda fort while we paint you an enigmatic picture of what the place once was. Take a leisurely walk down Avenue Road and indulge yourselves in the assortment of items that line the shops. Today's version of the old city of Bangalore are the winding lanes off Avenue Road that sells a various things from silk to plastic bottles and a century old City Market where one can see on display— ironware, flowers, fruits, banana leaves, spices, etc. The colourful flower market with mounds of orange marigolds, yellow sevanthige, red roses, white jasmines, stringed and un-stringed is a sight for sore eyes.
After the buzz and chaos of the Pete(pay tay), head towards the city’s Botanical Park, Lalbagh; a royal garden of Mysore’s famous Islamic rulers, Haider(Hyder) and Tipu; a statement of power and extravagance. It has today acquired a large range of horticultural samples, a beautiful glass house and some unique trees from around the world. Today, it is not just a botanical garden but is also one of the few green spaces left in the increasingly polluted 'garden city'.
Unhurried's Medieval Bangalore Trail is a heritage enthusiast's dream. It is one of the popular requests at Unhurried: a tour that unites all of medieval Bangalore, the dilapidated remains of Bangalore fort that stands as a testimony to its war history, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan, the ancient south Indian temple patronized by Hindu kings and Sultans alike.
Explore the remains of the Kempe Gowda fort while we paint you an enigmatic picture of what the place once was. Take a leisurely walk down Avenue Road and indulge yourselves in the assortment of items that line the shops. Today's version of the old city of Bangalore are the winding lanes off Avenue Road that sells a various things from silk to plastic bottles and a century old City Market where one can see on display— ironware, flowers, fruits, banana leaves, spices, etc. The colourful flower market with mounds of orange marigolds, yellow sevanthige, red roses, white jasmines, stringed and un-stringed is a sight for sore eyes.
After the buzz and chaos of the Pete(pay tay), head towards the city’s Botanical Park, Lalbagh; a royal garden of Mysore’s famous Islamic rulers, Haider(Hyder) and Tipu; a statement of power and extravagance. It has today acquired a large range of horticultural samples, a beautiful glass house and some unique trees from around the world. Today, it is not just a botanical garden but is also one of the few green spaces left in the increasingly polluted 'garden city'.
KEMPEGOWDA TRAIL
Temples, Culture, History
“This town of Bingrul with its massive fort gates and strong fort walls is an impressive place. Deep ditches, full of water drawn from big tanks, which are existing in its close proximity, surround the fort walls. Within the town are fine buildings, the most prominent being the palace.”
- Description of Bangalore in 1600s
A chieftain who dreamt of a treasure, unearthed it and built a brand new fort city! A son who strengthened the fort and set up watch towers around the city to safeguard his kingdom – the Kempegowdas of Bengaluru & Magadi have many tales to tell.
However the image of the Gowdas is very distorted and takes a folksy populist route that glorifies the clan or just the first Gowda as a heroic folk chieftain who built the city of Bangalore that was sought after by everyone. Who is Kempegowda? How many were here of the same name? Where did they live? Why was Bangalore built? Which place do they come from?
Let’s explore the life and times of this family, their earlier settlements, origins, the bits and pieces of Bengaluru and even earlier times of the Gowdas. From the early capital of Yelahanka, the trail takes one through some of the watch towers, the old city of Bengaluru which is a wholesale market area today and winds its way through a city museum that is a dedicated effort to know the city of that times, the lifestyles & achievements of the family in m edieval India.
In general, a peep into the life of a chieftain of medieval times in this part of the world.
THE TIPU TRAIL
Art, History, Culture, Food
Historians and common people alike have a love-hate relationship with Tipu Sultan. One's travel to Bangalore would never be complete without tracing the foot steps of our Sultan, who has left many a mark on the city's future, seen even today.
Tipu’s Summer Palace is the most popular of his heritage, though what remains is only a portion of a bigger complex. As we explore the precincts, we journey two hundred years back through the photographs and relics from late 1700s to early 1800s, the remains of the original palace, and most importantly the exhibition of Mysore rockets that became the foundation for modern Rocket technology!
Just outside is the centuries-old temple of Lord Venkataramana, with whom Tipu himself had a unique relationship. Close by is the Bangalore fort, which Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan defended until their last breath. At the far edge of Bangalore is a medieval fort in Devanahalli, surrounding a thriving town and a few ancient temples. A small enclosed pillar close by marks the birthplace of Tipu Sultan.
The interesting part of every controversial figure's life is that of stories, myths and anecdotes. This trail is similar too. While the physical remains of Tipu Sultan's life are dilapidated, the tales remain, as lively as it can ever be.
THE SOUTH INDIAN CULTURE TRAIL
Art, Temples, Culture, Food
One of the oldest suburbs in Bangalore, Malleshwaram was also one of the earliest planned extensions of Bangalore city. The area welcomed educated, upper class and middle class, predominantly Brahmin immigrants to the city, who made it their home and brought to it the flavours of South Indian food, hindu culture and the distinctly South Indian open flower and vegetable markets.
Among its celebrity inhabitants have been famous personalities from all walks of life, including scientists like C. V. Raman, Sports personalities like Prakash Padukone, Artists such as Doraiswamy Iyengar, Saroja Devi and many more.
Malleswaram was home to textile mills, Science Institutions, Educational Institutes and hub for South Indian classical music & dance. The area became a foodie’s home over the years too, especially for simple South Indian snacks like soft idlis, crispy dosas and crunchy vadas.
Iconic in Malleswaram is Veena Stores, a hole-in-the-wall shop serving mouth-watering idlis with spicy coconut and mint chutney, served over the counter to be eaten on the walkway and washed down with authentic filter coffee.
Also to explore is the temple street that has many temples of various eras including the one that lent its name to the area. Sampige road and 8th Cross are the area’s busiest places and once can see an amazing range of items on offer—a colourful mélange of colour, fragrance and sounds. Bangalore's best dosa is from CTR, an old world hotel just off the market area.A leisurely walk through the broad lanes of Malleswaram gives you a slice of south Indian life & lifestyle.
TOWNS OF BANGALORE
History, Culture, Food
The urgency of the streets and the buzz of constantly flowing traffic hides from view the beautiful old Bangalore Cantonment’s Suburbs – the ‘Towns’ of Bangalore.
Bengaluru's 'Bangalore' has many towns - Richmond Town, Benson Town, Cox Town, Fraser Town etc.- with an English past. Admire the architecture of the ancient cathedrals, the monkey tops and the trellises of tiled tall roofed bungalows, a lifestyle far more relaxed than the modern world.
The Towns of Bangalore, beyond the English, were a mix of diverse cultures and communities, bound by businesses and trade. Largely residential, these have today unified into ‘Bruhut Bengaluru’ and have been ‘Indianised’ in some areas & roads. The pretty yesteryear laidback lifestyle and cottages have given way to a more busier lifestyle, matched by traffic and little apartment blocks.
However, there’s still many places that seem to have rooted to an era. Walk with us down the memory lane as we visit an Anglican era through the streets of Cleveland Town, Fraser Town and Richards Town in an area called ‘Bangalore East’.
SCHOOL PROGRAMMES
All our tours can be customised as an age-suitable service for school children. As part of a trip, or independently as an outdoor history lesson, each of our tours can be taken.
Unhurried also offers in-class seminars and workshops on history and heritage in schools.
Please write to poornima@unhurried.in or reachus@unhurried.in for more details.
Unhurried also offers in-class seminars and workshops on history and heritage in schools.
Please write to poornima@unhurried.in or reachus@unhurried.in for more details.