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?