Bengaluru

Visitors come for the gardens, Bangalore Palace and a cafe and bar scene in a city known as India's tech hub.

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Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka in southern India and the country's main technology hub, home to software firms and startups. It was renamed from Bangalore in 2006. The older center holds Bangalore Palace, built by the Wodeyar dynasty, and Vidhana Soudha, which houses the state legislature. Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, two large public gardens, are a big reason the city is called the Garden City.

Visit for gardens, museums, markets and a cafe and restaurant scene. Two to three days covers the main sights, and the city works as a base for a day trip to Nandi Hills or a longer Karnataka route. The best months are November to February, when days are mildest. Traffic is heavy at peak hours, so keep each day to a few areas and allow extra time between them.

Bengaluru in five

Buy a Namma Metro card for the core linesThe metro covers much of the central city and is often faster than a car at peak hours. Buy a smart card or a single-trip QR ticket at the station counter before you go through the gates.Getting around
Book app cabs and check the auto meterRide-hailing apps such as Uber and Ola show the fare before you book, which avoids haggling at the curb. For an auto-rickshaw, agree the fare or insist on the meter before you get in.
Set up mobile data before you landMaps, cab apps and payments need a connection from the airport onward. An eSIM bought before the trip is the quickest route, since buying an Indian SIM requires passport and visa paperwork at a shop.Phones and eSIM
Carry your passport and visa to every check-inHotels ask foreign guests for the passport and visa at check-in and record the details. A photo on your phone is not enough, so carry the original documents on every day trip.
Carry small rupee notes for autos and stallsStreet food stalls, small shops and some autos work in cash, and small notes make change easier. Use cards at larger hotels, restaurants and shops.Money and costs

Things to do in Bengaluru

See all attractions in Bengaluru

a red building with a green fence around it

Museum · BengaluruNational Gallery of Modern Art (Bengaluru)

Temple · BengaluruISKCON BangaloreGo on a weekday if you can. Weekends, evenings and festival days are crowded.

Theater · BengaluruOpera House Open Theater

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to BengaluruPut the places you like in Bengaluru on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
Entry: Visa needed by most; e-Visa for many passports, apply online first Read more
Emergency: 112 for all emergencies, 100 police, 101 fire, 108 ambulance
Tipping: Not expected at street stalls; rounding up or about 10% at sit-down restaurants
Time: UTC+5:30, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low16°Cool, pleasant
FebruaryClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low18°Pleasant, dry
MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low20°Hot, dry
AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh35°Low22°Very hot
MayRain17 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Hottest, storms
JuneRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Monsoon rains
JulyRain24 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Monsoon rains
AugustRain22 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Monsoon rains
SeptemberRain21 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Rainy, green
OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Post-monsoon rain
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Mild, pleasant
DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Cool, holidays

Average daily high and low in Bengaluru, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Nov Kadalekai Parishe · Dec Kadalekai Parishe

Right now in Bengaluru

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 29°
Humidity: 60%
Wind: 3 km/h
Chance of rain: 69%

Bengaluru

10:33 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+5:30

Today29°20°69%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 69%.
Wed29°19°78%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 78%.
Thu28°20°86%Thursday: Rain. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 86%.
Fri27°20°88%Friday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 88%.
Sat27°20°92%Saturday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 92%.
Sun28°20°76%Sunday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 76%.
Mon27°17°49%Monday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 49%.

Updated 10:31 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 94.93 INR

Amount

Converted to

INR · Indian Rupee

Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Bengaluru

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Nov–DecKadalekai ParisheBengaluru

Day trips by train

Mysuruabout 2 to 3 hours by train or carPalace, markets and a slower pace than Bengaluru.
Nandi Hillsabout 1.5 hours by carA hill viewpoint for sunrise, reached on a good road out of the city.
Ramanagaraabout 1 hour by carGranite hills and a short half-day trip out of the city.

Before you go to Bengaluru

eSIM for BengaluruData for maps and cab appsRead the guide

Travel insurance for IndiaMedical cover and trip cancellationRead the guide

Money and cards in IndiaCash, cards and small notesRead the guide

Where to stay in BengaluruCompare areas before you bookRead the guide

Rules for Bengaluru, checked

Check visa and e-Visa eligibility before you book flights, on the official portal indianvisaonline.gov.in.Source
Carry your passport and visa at all times, since hotels and police checks ask for them.
Narcotics are illegal to possess, and penalties are severe. Do not carry anything for someone else.
Declare foreign currency and gold above the limits on the arrival form. Check current limits with Indian customs before you travel.
Remove your shoes before entering temples, and carry socks, since many temples do not allow footwear inside.

Plan around Bengaluru

All of India

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for an India trip

Read the guide Karnataka

The state around the city, with routes and day trips

Read the guide Visas and entry

Visa and e-Visa rules, plus what to declare on arrival

Read the guide Getting around

Metro, buses, cabs and the airport transfer compared

Read the guide Where to stay

Neighborhoods and budgets for a Bengaluru base

Read the guide Festivals

Major festivals and how visitors can join in

Read the guide

Bengaluru FAQ

Is Bengaluru worth visiting?

Yes, for its gardens and museums, its cafes, and as a base for Mysuru and Nandi Hills. Give it at least two full days, since the city is spread out and cross-city trips take time.

How many days do you need in Bengaluru?

Three days covers the center, one garden or palace visit and an evening out. Add a day for Mysuru or Nandi Hills. Fewer stops per day work better because cross-city trips take a long time.

What is the best time to visit Bengaluru?

November to February, when days are mild. March to May is hot, and the monsoon brings rain from June to September.

Is traffic in Bengaluru as bad as people say?

It is often slow at the morning and evening peaks on main roads. Plan one area per day, and use the metro for longer trips across the center.

Do I need to speak Kannada or Hindi in Bengaluru?

No. Many hotel staff, drivers and shop workers speak English. Learning dhanyavada, the Kannada word for thank you, is a polite touch.

Can I visit Mysuru in a day from Bengaluru?

Yes, but it is a long day, about 2 to 3 hours each way by train or road. Two nights suit the palace and Chamundi Hill better.