As most of you may know already, I have definitely spent more than one week in Bangalore however; I haven’t spent much time actually exploring the city like I should have. This week I have dedicated my time to seeing and experiencing the most of Bangalore I possibly could with the help of locals, previous volunteers and interns from Leave UR Mark and colleagues from the office.

To help you plan your trip to Bangalore, India here is my well experienced guide to the best of Bangalore in 7 Days.

Day 1: Introduction to Indian Cuisine

Indian cuisine is one of the best reasons to come visit a place like Bangalore. Known for their South Indian food and delicious curries, there is so much that is not to be missed!

• Cooking Class
  You really dont understand the love and dedication that goes into each Indian dish until you have tried to cook it yourself. I learned how to make chapatti, paneer butter masala and aloo curry – all which I now have gained a huge appreciation for Indian cooks.
• Walk around Street Markets
  Though I will advise you to be traveling with a partner, exploring the streets of Bangalore is a great way for you to immerse yourself in the culture. There are so many wonderful snacks to try:
  • Coconut Water
  • Idly and Lentils
  • Paneer Butter Masala
  • Fruit juices

Day 2: Rickshaw Riding & Sight Seeing

Each district in Bangalore is known for one or two things and the best way to get your eye on each district before diving in is to take a rickshaw through the city and get a glimpse at what you would like to return back to.

• Malleshwaram
  A beautiful district with gorgeous nature and Sampige Road where you will find lots of great local deals on local items. This is where a lot of the interns from Leave UR Mark have choice to purchase sarees, henna and much more!
• Indiranagar
  Though this is one of the most expensive districts in Bangalore, it is well known for their incredible restaurants and commercial shops.
• Whitefield
  A little out of the heart of the city, but a nice change of scenery. Whitefield is home to many of the tech parks across Bangalore and just across the road it is still home to many small villages and settlements.
• G. Road
  This is where most of us refer to as the ‘bar area,’ a lot of the popular bars among expats are located in this area including Hard Rock Café, Church Street Social and The Thirteenth Floor.

Day 3: Tour of Temples & Exploring

You’re in India, you must see them! My two personal favorite temples in the Bangalore area are the Shiv Mandir Temple and the Bull Temple. You may not be able to make it to all of the temples listed below but it is definitely in your interest to visit a few of them while you’re here!

• Dodda Ganapathi Temple
• ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra Temple
• Surayanarayana Temple
• Bull Temple
• ISKCON Bangalore, Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple
• Shiv Mandir Temple

Day 4: Culture, Music & Dance

There is so much history behind Indian music and dance, it must be explored! After a few long days in Bangalore, heading out to Nrityagram Dance Village is a breath of fresh air. Instead of roaring traffic sounds, and the hustle and bustle of the city, you hear birds chirping and the quiet sound of nature.

• Half Day Trip to Nrityagram Dance Village
• Afternoon Meal: South Indian Thali
• Dinner and Drinks
  • Thirteenth Floor
  • Church Street Social

Day 5: Bangalore Knowledge

I’m not planning this day to bore you with knowledge but to educate you on the city you’ve been in for the past 4 days. Bangalore Palace is a great place to start. Despite the knowledge you will gain by entering the Bangalore Palace and following an audio guided tour, the structure alone will have you in awe. Explore a few more historical places while you’re at it if you can!

• Bangalore Palace
• Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
• National Galley of Modern Art
• The Heritage Centre & Aerospace Museum

Day 6: Shopping, Shopping, Shopping

Well, it’s been fun but 5 days likely flew by pretty fast. It’s time to start your souvenir shopping before you depart!

• Commercial Street
  Cheap and touristy but well worth it. Make sure you keep your belongings safe and get ready for an overwhelming shopping experience. Stall after stall of Indian bangles, kurtas and sarees… you will have your day cut out for you if you’re planning on visiting Commercial Street.
• Sampige Road
  Sampige is a more relaxing way to shop but won’t sell many touristy items. If you’re looking for local items and wanting to shop where the locals shop, take a stroll down Sampige Road and hit up PSR and Mantri Mall while you’re at it!
• Bangalore KR Market
  If you’re looking to explore the fresh fruits and veggies that Bangalore has to offer, it’s a good idea to get up early and venture off to KR Market. The sights, the sounds, the colors, the smells… they will all overwhelm you with both positive and negative emotions. It is truly a unique cultural experience.

Day 7: Rest & Relaxation

Well we’re on the last leg of the journey and we’ve just about seen and done it all. Here you may want to take advantage of the cheap ways to get rest and relaxation in the city of Bangalore. I know from experience watching all the interns from Leave UR Mark come and go; booking a beautician for the last day of your trip is a wonderful idea. For less than $20 you can pamper yourself head to toe. Waxing, facials, pedicures, massages and more! Other places to visit which provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere are the following:

• Lal Bagh Botanical Garden
• Cubbon Park
• Indira Ghandi Musical Fountain

Another incredible way to experience Bangalore is through volunteering. I am currently sponsored through Leave UR Mark, an Indian based company who hosts interns from across the world on weekly and monthly experiences in Bangalore. Though you can master Bangalore tourism in one week, it’s a place where you’ll need to stay a little longer to get the real local experience!

If you’re interested visit www.leaveurmark.com for more information.

Enjoyed the read? Check out my blog post on the 25 Things I’ve Realized not to take for Granted