Flights to Bangalore

City of Gardens and Palaces

Nicknamed the 'garden city', Bangalore is known for its historic palaces and temples. It also has an array of high-tech facilities, making it India's answer to Silicon Valley. The varied cuisine and nightlife are other attractions for visitors to the capital of Karnataka.

Good times to visit

The climate of Bangalore is at its best between October and March. Temperatures are lowest here in December, with an average of 15C. Summer is between February and May, with high temperatures of 36C in April. Anyone visiting between June and October should be aware that this is the monsoon season. 

One popular celebration is Bangalore Karaga, a festival held in March or April which is dedicated to Draupadi, a Hindu Goddess. There is also a public holiday on November 1st to commemorate the founding of the state of Karnataka and a biannual flower show held in August.  

Key information for travellers

Any British passport holders travelling to India will need a visa. Information on this is available from the Indian High Commission's website and in some cases an e-Tourist visa may be an option. Vaccinations against typhoid and hepatitis A and B will also be needed, in addition to a polio booster.

A restaurant meal in Bangalore is likely to cost ca. Rs 300, with budget-priced thali starting at around Rs 100 INR. Although Kannada is the official language in the city, many people also speak both Hindi and English.

Local details: hotels and transport

When booking accommodation in Bangalore, you will need to budget from around Rs 700 for a cheap hotel bed to Rs 4,000 for a night in a luxury hotel. There is a 20% tax added to the prices advertised by hotels. 

Transport options from the airport include buses, with fares of approximately Rs 50 to 250 to different areas of the city or metered AC taxis at around Rs 700 to 1,000. There are also counters in the airport terminal where you can book a pre-paid taxi ride at about Rs 1,200. Buses within Bangalore offer a day pass for around Rs 40, although this can't be used on Vajira buses. Alternatively, metered taxi rides, booked in advance, cost about Rs 150 to anywhere within the city. Auto rickshaws are also metered, with a minimum charge of about Rs 25.