Lalbagh: A Complete Guide to the Iconic Botanical Garden of Bengaluru

About the place :

Namma Bengaluru is also popularly known as “Garden City of India” – thanks to the green patches and parks that the city has. Of the gardens, Lalbagh is definitely the pride of Bengaluru. 

This sprawling garden that is spread across around 240 acres is not just a haven for nature lovers but also has a historical and cultural significance. Lalbagh has several interesting spots of which a 3000 million years old rocky – Peninsula Genesis that houses a watchtower built by Kempegowda, the founder of Bengaluru is a must-visit.

Also, the park around the watchtower was nurtured by Hyder Ali to form the Lalbagh or “Red Park” and later expanded by his son, Tipu Sultan. 

Spots to visit/things to do in Lalbagh Botanical Garden:

From the moment you enter Lal Bagh, you will be greeted by the tweets and chirps from the varied bird species found here including Parakeets, Crows, Pond Heron, Myna, and Purple Moor Hen, among others. With the birds chirping, make sure you explore the sprawling garden, check out below places:

• Walk up to the Watchtower – Lalbagh Heritage Trail. You can enhance your taste buds here with the local bhel puri sold near the tower.
• Visit the Glasshouse, where the annual events are also hosted.
• Walk around Lalbagh Lake, and make sure you spot the tiny island that’s home to exotic birds. Be careful not to feed the ducks – they have plenty of food in the lake that they can hunt for themselves
• Enjoy the bliss around the rose garden
• Take pictures in the Bandstand.
• Pay your respect to Jaychamaraja Wodiyar.
• See the Fossil tree and the giant Cotton silk tree.
• Shoo off the pigeons near the bird tower (Fun activity)

Annual Events hosted at Lalbagh:

• Lalbagh hosts several events throughout the year of which the flower shows during Republic Day & Independence Day are a must visit as the entire place is “themed” to a specific agenda. The theme is different each year, for example, the 2025 theme is “Flowers, poets & Ramayana” and the theme for 2024 is “Life & Times of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.”

• The foodies must visit the “Jackfruit-Mango mela” that comes up during the summer where farmers around Bangalore sell their fresh produce of jackfruits/mangos and related products in Lalbagh.

Visiting Hours:

• Lalbagh Botanical Gardens is open daily between 5 AM to 7 PM. 
• Entry is free for walkers/joggers in the early morning and late evening (5 AM to 8 AM and 5 PM to 7 PM). 
• A nominal fee of Rs. 30 applies during the daytime – tickets can be purchased at the entrance gates in each direction for Lalbagh (East, west, northeast, and south).

How to Reach Lalbagh:

Lalbagh is present in the heart of the city, bordered by Basavangudi-Gandhibazaar, Jayanagar, and Shantinagar areas is well connected by:

• BMTC Buses
• Metro – alight at the “Lalbagh” stop in green line
• Plenty of Auto/cabs services

Lalbagh Botanical Garden is located at a distance of 38.8 km from the Kempegowda International Airport , Bangalore. You can take a public bus or  book a taxi or hire a car which will take you to Lalbagh after a short 1 hour  drive through the city of Bangalore.

Restaurants near lalbagh – 3 kms radius:

Lalbagh is located approximately 2 kms from the most famous Basavanagudi, that is famous for its food & shopping, and this place is also a home to local bangaloreans. There are plenty of famous eateries that serve local kannadiga delicacies within 2 kms radius of Lalbagh. Check out few  famous local eateries below:

• Vidyarthi Bhavan
• Dwaraka Hotel
• Mahalakshmi Tiffin room
• VV Puram food street
• Brahmins coffee bar
• North Indian restaurants

Check out the maps below for more details on restaurants that serve amazing local food. For more personalised recommendations/guided tours contact us.

Attractions near Lalbagh – 3 km radius:

Lalbagh Botanical Garden is definitely a prime attraction in Bangalore and it is surrounded by various interesting spots. Here’s a list of nearby attractions worth visiting:

• Dodda Basavangudi
• Dodda Ganapati Temple
• Karanji anjaneya temple
• Gandhi Bazaar for shopping
• Temples like bande mahakali, Gavi Gangadhareshwara, 
• Historic sites such as Tipu Sultan Summer palace

Check out the attached maps for more details on attractions near Lalbagh.  For more personalized recommendations/guided tours contact us.

Tips/Kindly note:

• Digital cameras are not allowed inside the park.
• The park is home to several snakes, including cobras, so make sure not to step off the marked paths.

Places to stay near Lalbagh

Budget and luxury hotels are available near Lalbagh, Jayanagara, Basavanagudi and KR Market area which are within walking distance from Lalbagh.