Bangalore Rounds

Happy days of Diwali are still continued as Mom and Dad are there in Bangalore to accompany me. Both of them have their own interests to come down here. Mom has come here to accomplish her mission of feeding me and make me look as round as football. and dad has come to explore the city. Last 15 days I have truly helped my mom achieving her GOAL/GOOOOOL, by eating whenever it is served (Irrespective of what and how much...). I dint even try to resist her, yummmmmn food dint allow me to. Now time was to fulfill dads wish to roam around the city.

BMTC(Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) initiative of 'Bangalore Rounds' to take tourists around the city was sorted out as an option. It requires seats to be reserved prior to journey day, and due to time and distance constraint I could not reserve seats. So I decided to go directly and try journey on same day, else Back up plan was to take the responsibility on my shoulders and take them around the city.

Unfortunately my shoulders dint get an opportunity of executing the back up plan, and we settled down for BMTC 'Bangalore Rounds' Starting from Kempegowda Bus Station.

Mom, Dad and Myself did hard work of getting early in the morning 6 AM to reach the desired bus stop around 7:45 AM. Actually they woke up easily, I had to try hard to open my eyes and get ready. So finally we reached the Bus stop around 8 AM on Thursday 22nd Nov 2007 to take tour of this Hi-tech city. I'll keep using these type of adjectives about city and places as I have heard recently from the tourist Guide of BMTC while taking the tour.

So here we go......
'Bangalore Round' as this tour popularly known started around 9:20 in the morning from Kempegowda bus station with Shri ganesha Video played in kannada. First place of sight seeing was Iskcon Temple towards north of the Bangalore around 8 Kms :-) Good temple, biiit commercialized and I dont like much going to commercialized temples. We stopped there for 35 mins and moved to next place. Guide Deena provided us valuable information about the initiative, bus and some places on the way to Iskcon temple and I certainly would like to share.

Mr. Bhupendra Tripathi an IAS officer from Bangalore once visited Mexico and saw a similar service there, He inspired by a thought and decided to execute it for Bangalore. That's how BMTC took the project in hand and 'Curitoba' Model air-conditioned buses with Well cushioned, reclining seats having ample legroom, with LCD monitor put up in front of each seat and FM radio to listen to music with a total capacity of 35 seats were on roads

On the way we saw Sanky Tank one of the beautiful boat club, well planned yashwantpur area, IIsC and many places. Next we went to see 'Vidhan Soudha', it houses the state legislature. It is the marvel of dravidian architecture looks really majestic. Near to that is 'Mini Vidhan Soudha' known as 'Vikasa Soudha'which is newly constructed replica of Vidhan Soudha. and opposite to that is beautiful, red High Court building. Photography was not allowed in Iskcon temple, from Vidha soudha photographer inside me did not stop exploring colours of Bangalore.

Moving on to next place which is in Kavipuram, one temple whose it was? I dont remember, but temple is in a small cave. I was much amazed by the cave than the temple. They say there are two caves inside main cave, one cave has temple inside it and other cave takes you to directly to Kashi. Entrance to other cave was restricted, but architecture of the temple inside rock caves and one cave leading to distant location amazed me a lot. Next we moved to Bull Temple, temple has 12 feet high and 20 feet wide bull statue made in one rock. Guide Deena kept telling story behind temples and places all the way.

Next sight seeing was Tipu's Palace which is known as tipu's summer palace. Hyder Ali started constructing the palace in 1781 and Tipu finished constructing it in 1791. This beautiful wooden palace, again assures Tipu's interests towards discovering technologies. The wood used for this palace was dipped in Kavery river for 3 years and then used so that it will be cool always and wont damage further. One of the mentionable thing from palace is the 3-D painting of Tipu Sultan made in his time. After spending half an hour there we headed for lunch break.

After having lunch break we went to Lalbagh garden, which is well planned 240 acres of area. Till then photography was on its high, and along with Mom and dad, flowers, leaves, trees, insects in the garden all enjoyed standing in front of me for a magic click.

Now time was for shopping, we were dropped at Karanatak Emporium for shopping, Its a famous place for silk sarees. But till then most of us were tired, Ladies were tired but excited about sarees as usual. Dad and I accomapny Mom for shopping but due to earlier day saree shopping mom also got tired and left the plan. Dad came out very happy from store.

By the time we started for next place, all were really tired so some classic songs were put up to keep us entertain. Some real classics from 80's starting from Na koi umang hai, na koi tarang hai, meri zindagi hai kya.....ek kati patang hai..., Tumhi devta ho, tumhi something, tumhi puja ho.....(Nutan AND Sunil Dutt), Apno pe zulum gairo pe sitam aye janewafa ye zulm na kar, ye zulm na kar....., then started classics from early 90's aur late 90's I am not sure Hun huna re hun huna, hun huna re hun huna....dekha hazaraon ko pyar ke liye tujko chuna....., Main gaon ki gori babu rang lahiri, jara mujko toh padhna sikha de tu......and tu ruru tu ruru tu ruru turu kahan se karu main pyar shuru...... :-) Awesome. I was tired, but couldnt take a nap while laughing.

Then we roamed around Brigade road, M G road, Commercial street(Shopping places in Bangalore), Chinnaswamy stadium and came to our final visit place which is Vishveshwarayai Museum, Venkatappa Art Gallery and Cubbon Park. Here we were given an option to go back on own if possible. Mom and Dad were that much tired they were ready to go without seeing these places, But I made sure that they see Art Gallary and Cubbon park and also give me an opportunity to do some photography. Museum I dint even dare to convince them. Did some sight seeing, art seeing, tree seeing there and left home around 5:15 PM. and our much exciting Bangalore tour came to an end.

Good initiative which BMTC has taken for tourists. I would certainly like to suggest 'Bangalore Rounds' for those who have interests towards Palaces, Museums, Temples and Gardens and also who enjoys real classics from bollywood.
All of us enjoyed the round around the 'Floriculture capital of India'. Mom and Dad truly enjoyed the tour and completely satisfied with the experience. They also suggested me to not to take them anywhere in this visit, they would like to visit other places in next visit.

Photographer inside me got satisfied in this tour, I want Model inside me to get satisfied as well. So guys and girl what are you waiting for? I am ready to take you around the city.

I guess next time when I am riding the 'Bangalore Round' guide Deena has much less work to do :-)