There are two parts of Bengaluru city which have functional as well as sightseeing interest to visitors - Gandhinagar to the west and MG Road 4km (2.5 miles) to the east.  Gandhinagar has the central bus stand and the main railway station. Known locally as ‘Majestic', it is crowded, bustling and full of shops, cinemas and budget hotels. MG Road has mid-range accommodation, banks, restaurants and tourist information. In between is Cubbon Park, Bengaluru's equivalent of Central Park in New York. Round the northern fringes of the park are the British-era buildings, the High Court, a golf course and a racecourse.

At the eastern edge of Cubbon Park are the Government Museum with its stone carvings and ancient relics and the Venkatappa Art Gallery with paintings by Indian artists. Nearby is the Government Aquarium. The most ‘Indian' part of the city lies to the south, starting with the City Market with fruit and veg, spices and garlands, and going on to Tipu's Palace, the old Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and the Bull Temple. The Iskcon Temple is 8km (5 miles) northwest of town.

Government of India Tourist Office
KFC Building, 48 Church Street
Tel: (080) 2558 5417.

Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation
49 Khanija Bhavan, West Gate, Racecourse Road
Tel: (080) 2227 5883.

Karnataka Tourism
Old Exhibition Building, Irwin Road
Tel: (080) 2235 2828.
Website: www.karnatakatourism.org

Maps are free at the above agencies and Gangaram's Book Bureau at 72 MG Road has a wide range of travel books and maps.

There are free passes to many of the tourist sights and reduced-price passes for others and the many museums. They are available from KSTDC.