1500 1500 1018 1200 1600 1500 1500 1800 3360Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru, is often referred to as the ‘Garden City’ because of the numerous parks and gardens that dot the localities of the city. It is also considered as a major information technology (IT) hub of the country and thus called the ‘Silicon Valley of India’. Kempe Gowda, a feudal ruler affiliated to the Vijayanagara kingdom, first established a mud fort, which turned out to be the foundation of the present day city. The city passed through a myriad of rulers ranging from the Marathas, Mughals and Mysore rulers before becoming a part of independent India.
Budget Hotels in Bangalore
There are a couple of good budget hotels in the city. Some of the options which are worth a try are Suntrupthi Residency (Tariff – Rs. 950), Citizen Lodge (Tariff – Rs. 850), The Royal Nest (Tariff – Rs. 900), Vijaya Residency (Tariff – Rs. 900) and others.
Language
The official language of Bangalore is Kannada. Hindi, English, Telugu and Tamil are also understood and widely spoken.
Events in Bangalore
The important festivals of the area are Pongal in January, Karaga in April, Ganesh Chathurthi in August-September, Diwali in October-November, the fasting month of Ramadan, the two Eid(s), Easter and Christmas.
Places to See in Bangalore
Some of the places worth trying out in Bangalore are Bangalore Palace, Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park, Bannerghatta National Park,Vidhana Soudha, Seshadari Iyer Memorial, Tipu Sultan’s Palace, Bull Temple, ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple, Meenakshi Sundaram Temple, Holy Trinity Church and St. Mary’s Basilica. Wonderla Amusement Park at a distance of 28 km is popular with youngsters and children looking for a break on weekends.
How to Get There
Air:
The nearest airport is the Kempegowda International Airport at a distance of 36 km.
Rail:
Bangalore City Junction Railway Station is the major railway station in the city.
Bus:
There is bus service running from almost everywhere in south India to Bangalore city. State transport buses as well as private operators ply their buses to and fro the city. SRS Travels, Kallada Travels and SRM, Travels are some of the major operators in the city as well as the region. Do away with standing in ticket counters and opt for online bus reservation facility instead.
A princely state before Independence, Kolhapur is today one of the fastest growing cities in Maharashtra. According to Hindu mythology, Kolhapur came into being after the demon Kolhasura was killed by goddess Mahalakshmi. In order to honor the demon’s dying wish, subsequently Kolhapur evolved. The place is well-known for its foundry units which yield exports as well as film festivals that are hosted annually. Kolhapur is quite famous for Kolhapuri chappals (hand-crafted buffalo leather slippers), culinary spices, Kolhapuri jewels and tobacco. Engineering, art and medical colleges make Kolhapur the pride of Maharashtra.
Budget Hotels in Kolhapur
There are good budget hotels in Kolhapur. Some of them are Hotel Landmark (Tariff – Rs. 800 onwards), Raj Hotel (Tariff – Rs. 550 onwards), and Mahalaxmi Yatri Niwas (Tariff – Rs. 550 onwards).
Language
The official language of Kolhapur is Marathi. The other languages spoken here are Hindi and English.
Events in Kolhapur
The important event of Kolhapur is Kolhapur Rankala Mahotsava held in January-March.
Places to See in Kolhapur
There are several places of tourist attraction in Kolhapur. Some of the places include Rankala Lake (4.3 km), New Palace Museum & Zoo (4.5 km), Shalini Palace (4.7 km), Siddhagiri Museum (11.8 km) and Panhala Fort (23.7 km).
How to Get There
Air:
The closest airport to this place is Kolhapur Airport at Ujalaiwadi which is approximately 9 km away.
Rail:
Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus is the closest railway station and is about 1.9 km away.
Bus:
From Kolhapur travelers can reach places such as Pune, Bengaluru, Goa, Mumbai and other major cities. Some of the bus operators that offer good, reliable services include VRL Travels and Neeta Travels. Get your tickets from online bus ticket booking sites like Ticketgoose.com and travel tension free.
