Located on the Deccan Plateau in South India, Bengaluru, also referred to as Bangalore, is the capital of Karnataka state. Bengaluru offers a striking blend of regal opulence, lush natural landscapes, and a thriving high-tech industry. From the office buildings of Indiranagar to the more serene, temple-filled Ulsoor, the city buzzes with hip cafes, restaurants, and quirky shops. In the evenings, tantalizing music pours out of nightclubs in neighborhoods like Koramangala and Bannerghatta, and microbreweries serve up award-winning craft beer.

Despite being India’s technological hub, Bengaluru preserves its charm in historical buildings, lively markets, and lush parks and gardens. Spend several days wandering around architectural gems such as the Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace and Vidhana Soudha palace, which offer a glimpse into Bengaluru’s past, or take a break from the urban hustle and bustle in green spaces such as Cubbon Park, Jaya Prakash Narayana Park, or the Lalbagh Botanical Garden.

The city’s high altitude creates different conditions from lowland south India. March through May makes up the summer season, when the daytime heat can be uncomfortable. The monsoons arrive in June and stay through September, when you’ll experience short, sharp downpours, but you can still expect outdoor events to take place — just make sure you have suitable footwear. Winter is marked by pleasantly warm days and cool nights, so you’ll need a light jacket.

Bengaluru’s packed cultural calendar provides exciting opportunities to experience the city’s beloved traditions and festivities. Falling either in March or April during the Kannada New Year, the city is flooded in a sea of colorful rangolis and decorations. Diwali, a festival of lights, takes place in November, where vibrant fireworks and lanterns illuminate the sky after sunset. At the end of the year, the city celebrates Habba, a festival featuring food and drink, craft exhibitions, and music and dance performances.

Bangalore Palace

The Bangalore Palace, built in 1878 for the Maharajah of the Kingdom of Mysore, is an architectural gem spanning 45,000 square feet. Modeled after Tudor and Scottish Gothic architecture, the facade of the two-level granite structure is covered in intricate details, many of them swallowed up in the vines that blanket its bottom half. The interior is equally ornamented in carved wood. You can meander through the landscaped gardens after admiring the interior.

Lalbagh Botanical Garden

The Lalbagh Botanical Garden, an internationally renowned center for botanical work, spans 240 acres in the center of the city. The garden features more than 1,800 plant species from Europe and Asia. Its most striking architectural feature is a glass house with a steel-lattice frame; the building serves as the venue of the annual flower show. The garden is home to many bird species, including mynas, parakeets, and purple moorhen.

Cubbon Park

Three hundred acres of lush green foliage in the center of the bustling city, Cubbon Park is a tranquil haven for nature lovers and a cultural and civic gathering point. The park is home to some of the city’s iconic structures, including the red-brick Attara Kacheri, the Civic Court of Karnataka, and the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, whose exhibits on science, automotive vehicles, and space are designed for kids as well as adults.