Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium Raj Bhavan Road , Tel : 2226 6084 , Web : taralaya . org The planetarium came up in 1992 , and is a major draw for kids and space buffs . On display are permanent galleries on outer space – exhibit halls display photographs of stars , galaxies and astronomical phenomena . However , it is the sky theatre that is the piece de resistance – a host of shows explaining the mysteries of the universe are screened here . A state of the art projector beams a life-like view of the entire night sky across the planetarium ' s 15-metre dome . The theatre can seat 225 people at one go and there are two daily shows to choose from . Star-gazing sessions for amateur astronomers and educational lectures for students are also organised . Check the daily schedule of programmes before you head here – there are no shows on Mondays and second Tuesdays .
of Nandi ( bull ) that it ensconces , which teeters at 15 feet , and stretches across 20 feet . This sacred bull is carved out of a single stone of grey granite , which is then polished with groundnut oil and charcoal to give it a black sheen . Built in the Dravidian style , the Bull Temple is still a bustling and energetic place of worship , especially during puja times . The tradition of venerating the Nandi still holds , and an annual groundnut fair is held every November . Called the ' Kadalekai Parishe ', the event is a colourful one that spills onto the streets . Worshippers are known to propitiate the Nandi with groundnut garlands during this time . Near the Bull Temple is the Dodda Ganesha Temple , another ancient city landmark .
Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain
Raj Bhavan Road , Closed on Mondays and second Tuesdays Bang in the middle of Raj Bhavan Road is an unusual attraction – a multimedia show featuring lights , music and dancing fountains . With the backdrop of a park , these gushing fountains powered by a thousand nozzles move to the riffs of Western and Indian music , making fifteen formations in all . Two shows
are put up everyday , from 7pm to 7.30pm , and from 8pm to 8.30pm .
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple Gavipuram Guttahalli This over-five-hundred-yearold Shiva temple was built in Kempegowda ' s time . Today , it is a protected monument and an active temple still in worship . The remarkable thing about this ancient temple is that the Shiva linga that is worshipped here is set in the heart of a natural cave , or ' gavi ' as it is called in Kannada . Other sculptural highlights are granite monoliths carved with discs of the sun and moon , a stone umbrella , Shiva ' s trident and an idol of Agni , the Vedic god of fire . Every year , a rare spectacle can be witnessed at this cavetemple – on the day of Makara Sankaranthi ( a harvest festival in January ), the sun ' s rays passes through the horns of the stone bull seated in front of the linga and spotlights the inner sanctum for an hour or so . A must-see for temple architecture buffs , it is also believed that sage Gautama , one of the ' Saptharishis ' or ' seven great sages ' in Indian lore , meditated here .
ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill , West of
Chord Road , Rajajinagar , Open from 7am to 1pm and 4pm to 8.30pm Built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness , this temple dedicated to Krishna and Radha , fuses modern architecture with traditional elements . Perched on the top of the ' Hare Krishna Hill ', the temple complex soars over the surrounding landscape with trademark towering ' gopurams '. One of the biggest Iskcon temples globally , the campus is large and airy with the main hall featuring a medley of deities from Balarama to Prahlada Naramsimha . An open theatre , a bakery and a Vedic Museum are also part of the temple ' s offerings .
Someshwara Temple Ulsoor This ancient temple in Ulsoor has a history of over five hundred years . Built by the chieftain of Bangalore , Kempegowda , the Someshwara Temple is a wonderful instance of Chola architecture . Dedicated to the deity Someshawara and his consort Kamakshi , this temple like so many Bangalore temples , has an icon of the sacred bull Nandi flanking the sanctum sanctorum . There are also visible influences of Vijayanagara architecture , as seen in a hall with 48 carved pillars and the massive ' gopuram ' or pyramidal tower at the entrance .
Jamia Masjid
KR Market This beautiful mosque looks almost otherworldly in the midst of crowded jumble of KR Market . The all-white , fivestoried Jamia Masjid has striking architectural features including carved latticed windows , floral motifs , and capacious interiors replete with Rajasthani white marble . Jamia Masjid was built in 1940 and is still a prominent mosque in the city , sometimes holding up to 10,000 worshippers at a time .
St Mark ' s Cathedral 1 MG Road , Tel : 2221 3633 A prime historical address from Bangalore ' s Cant era , St . Mark ' s Cathedral stands regally at 1 , MG Road . Its 200-year-old life is rife with historical gems . The cathedral was built exclusively for the British Army posted in Bangalore as far back as 1808 . th
Built in the style of 17 century English churches , and modelled after St Paul ' s Cathedral , this cream-coloured cathedral ' s dome infuses the city ' s skyline with a touch of old-world drama . High Roman arches , exquisite stained glasswork , and intricately carved woodwork make the church among Bangalore ' s best-kept heritage buildings . There ' s more — the cathedral houses one of the biggest church bells down south and a must-see German pipe organ . Go to St . Mark ' s to witness a chapter of the British Empire ' s rule in Bangalore . For instance , the brass tablets on the wall offer touching tributes from the city ' s colonial days , including one of an English officer who was drowned in the Cauvery after saving an Indian workman ' s life .
St . Patrick ' s Church
15-K , Brigade Road , Tel : 2559 9863 There is more than a sprinkling th
of 19 century British churches in and around the erstwhile South Parade ( present MG Road ). The rose-pink St . Patrick ' s Church , with its tall twin belfries beckon from a distance as you make your way through Residency Road . This church was not built for the British , but the Irish soldiers posted in Cantonment Bangalore . Built by a military chaplain in 1844 , its best features include a sloping Mangalore-tile roof , fluted pedestals and circular ventilators with floral grazing . The church is a prominent centre of worship in the city .
St Mary ' s Basilica Shivajinagar , Opp Russel p 16 whats around ?