One Day itinerary of Gandhi Bazaar

Gandhi Bazaar which is the cultural capital of South Bangalore offers a perfect mix of heritage, greenery, and vibrant shopping markets. This one-day itinerary ensures a great experience of what the city has to offer, from its delicious local goods to its rich cultural heritage. 

1. Breakfast at Vidyarthi Bhavan (VB)

• Time: 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
• Location: Gandhi bazaar
• Description: Start your day like a king/queen with a hearty breakfast at Vidyarthi Bhavan, famous for its crispy Masala Dosa, Upittu, and Maddur Rava Vade, and finish off with the filter coffee.

While waiting for your turn, make sure you take a quick look at the flower market of Gandhi Bazaar – which sells a variety of vibrant & fresh flowers! Soak in the sweet flower seal and enter the aromatic VB.

A great alternative for Vidyarthi Bhavan is the lesser-known Mahalakshmi Tiffin Room (MLTR) which is located within 500 meters from Vidyarthi Bhavan. 

2. Visit Lalbagh Botanical Garden

• Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Location: Lalbagh Road
• Description: Lalbagh Botanical Garden is one of Bangalore’s most iconic and picturesque landmarks and spending your morning exploring the sprawling Lalbagh Botanical Garden can be exciting for nature lovers. Take a leisurely stroll through the gardens enjoying its beautiful flora and do not miss the iconic Glass House, and the rock formation and tree fossil that dates back to 3,000 million years.

3. Explore historical temples – Dodda Basava Temple, Dodda Ganesha Temple, Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, Bande Mahakali Temple

• Time: 11:00 PM – 1:00 PM
• Location: Basavanagudi
• Description: After the peaceful lalbagh visit, Head to the historic neighborhood of Basavanagudi. 

• Visit the big bull Temple (Dodda Basavana temple) to see the massive Nandi statue, that gives the name Basvan-gudi ( Bull-temple) to the entire area. The big bull temple is also home to other famous temples like Dodda Ganesha and also houses a temple complex with Anjaneys, Renukayellama, Mahakaleshwara, etc. 
• After the dodda Basavana temple head to the ancient cave temple of Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple also popular as “Dakshina Kashi”). 
• Another ancient temple near the Gavi Gangadhareshwara is the Bande Mahakali temple, which is very famous among the locals. The idol of Devi is carved on a big stone, and a big stone is called “Bande” in Kannada, hence the name Bande Kalamma. 

4. Lunch at Udupi Krishna Bhavan

• Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
• Location: GandhiBazar
• Description: Enjoy a delicious South Indian  Kannadiga meal on a plantain leaf at Udupi Krishna Bhavan, one of GandhiBazaar’s most iconic restaurants. Don’t miss the Obbattu (traditional sweet).

Alternatively, you can also try iconic MTR for lunch, where lunch is served in “Silver” plates/Thali. MTR is situated on Lalbagh Road and is very famous for “rave idli” and coffee.

Afternoon

5. Explore historical sites – Tipu’s summer place and Bangalore Fort

• Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Location: KR Market
• Description: After the heavy lunch visit, Tipu’s summer place and the Bangalore fort in the City Market area. The Summer Palace built by Hyder Ali is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture and was the summer residence of the Mysorean ruler Tipu Sultan. The Bangalore Fort built by Kempe Gowda stands as evidence of the struggle of The Mysore Empire against the Britishers. 

6. Take a Coffee Break at Brahmin’s Coffee Bar:

• Time: 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
• Location: Shankarapura
• Description: While in Basavangudi, do not miss the coffee at Brahmin’s Coffee Bar. Along with the coffee do taste their Kharabath and soft idli’s, along with the chutney.

7. Visit the vibrant Gandhi Bazaar market 

• Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
• Location: Basavanagudi
• Description: After coffee, head to Gandhi Bazaar and take a leisurely stroll around the bustling vibrant market known for its flower stalls, fresh vegetables, traditional shops that sell pooja items, and delicious street food. It’s a great place to experience the local culture and also pick up some souvenirs – especially sari’s. The market also sells plenty of accessories for women like bangles, chains, anklets, etc, You may also visit the famous Bhavani Kangan and Mahila stores for a great shopping experience for cosmetics & accessories. 

8. Dinner at VV Puram Food Street:

• Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
• Location: VV Puram
• Description: Popular as Food Street, Thindi Beedi, and Chaat Street, VV Puram is Bangalore’s only food street that serves everything pure vegetarian. Known for its diverse range of street food offerings, it’s a paradise for food lovers. Begin with South Indian classics like benne dose, Akki roti, and Paddu, and then move on to savor chaats and street snacks like masala puri/pani puri and Bhel puri. Then try the south Indian rice items like Chitranna and Puliyogare. Finish with cool drinks & dessert – drink badam milk like the locals. During the winter season, do not miss the local favorite “Avrebele” or flat beans sold in Vasavi condiments.  A word of Caution for Food Street – 

The food street is hugely popular and hence can also get extremely busy, so do not be disappointed you won’t find space to sit down and eat. Arrive early in the evening to avoid the crowds. Start by taking a leisurely walk down the street to get a feel for the various stalls and their offerings. Come midweek for guaranteed space to roam around

Tips : 

Wear Comfortable Footwear: As there will be a lot of walking, comfortable footwear is a must, but avoid sneakers /shoes as you may have to take off your footwear in the temples.

Stay Hydrated: Advisable to always carry a water bottle, especially when visiting parks and markets.

Gpay works everywhere – Don’t worry about Cash: Almost all places accept digital payments, including cart vendors, so don’t worry about cash – make sure your phone has digital payment apps.

Plan for Traffic: Bangalore traffic is unpredictable, so plan your travel time accordingly. You can alternatively take the metro – alight at “National College” on the green line. Gandhi Bazaar is a 1 Km walk from the metro station- you may walk or consider Autos that charge you around 50 bucks.

We hope you enjoyed your day exploring the rich heritage and delicious food of South Bangalore! This is just an itinerary, but south Bangalore has many more feathers to its nature, history, and food. Connect with us to explore more or help you chart out a more personalized itinerary.