Welcome to Bengaluru—India’s “Garden City” turned tech powerhouse—where 16th-century forts and grand parks meet third-wave coffee, microbreweries, and a legendary breakfast culture. Founded by Kempegowda and later shaped by Tipu Sultan and the British, the city remains one of India’s most cosmopolitan hubs, wrapped in mild weather most of the year.

Expect mornings of crisp filter coffee and butter-laced dosas, afternoons among botanical marvels in Lalbagh, and evenings strolling Church Street’s bookstores and pubs. Day-trip west to Mysuru, the former Wadiyar capital with a dazzling Indo-Saracenic palace, bustling Devaraja Market, and nearby Hoysala-era temples.

Practical notes: Ride-hailing (Ola/Uber) and UPI payments are ubiquitous. Traffic can be dense; build in buffers, especially en route to BLR Airport. Dress modestly for temples, carry small bills for markets, and try to dine early on weekend nights—popular spots queue fast.

Bengaluru (Bangalore)

Bengaluru pairs leafy lungs—Cubbon Park and Lalbagh—with historic gems like Bangalore Fort, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, and the monolithic Nandi at the Bull Temple. The “darshini” eatery tradition fuels the city: stand-up counters serving idli, vada, and brimming steel tumblers of coffee.

• Top sights: Lalbagh Glass House, Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore Fort, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Basavanagudi Bull Temple, KR (City) Market, Church Street bookshops.
• Eat & drink: MTR (near Lalbagh) for rava idli roots; Brahmin’s Coffee Bar for crisp vada and filter coffee; Vidyarthi Bhavan for benne (butter) dosas; Nagarjuna for fiery Andhra meals; Karavalli for coastal Karnataka seafood; Byg Brewski or The Biere Club for craft beer.
• Shopping: Handloom and sandalwood along Commercial Street; indie titles at Blossom Book House on Church Street.

Stay in Bengaluru: Browse city stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com. For first-timers, MG Road/Church Street is lively; Indiranagar and Koramangala are café-rich and central.

Getting to Bengaluru: Fly into BLR with Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. Intercity trains within India can be searched via Trip.com (trains).

Mysuru (Mysore)

Two to three hours from Bengaluru on the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway or by fast train, Mysuru is regal and relaxed. The illuminated Mysore Palace evokes a fairytale after dusk; mornings hum at Devaraja Market with pyramids of marigolds, sandalwood soaps, and banana-leaf bundles.

• Don’t miss: Mysore Palace, Devaraja Market, Chamundi Hill, and day spurs to Somnathpur’s star-shaped Hoysala temple and Srirangapatna’s 18th-century strongholds.
• Eat: Vinayaka Mylari for cloud-soft dosas; Hotel RRR for biryani and spicy Andhra meals; Hanumanthu for famed mutton pulav; Guru Sweet Mart for buttery Mysore Pak.

Optional stay in Mysuru: If you decide to linger, compare stays on VRBO (Mysuru) or Hotels.com (Mysuru).

Bengaluru–Mysuru travel: By car: ~2.5–3 hours each way via the expressway (tolls apply). By train: ~2–2.5 hours on Vande Bharat, Shatabdi, or Intercity Express, typically USD $4–$18; search schedules on Trip.com (trains).

Day 1: Arrive in Bengaluru, Parks, Palaces, and Old Bengaluru

Morning: Fly into BLR; grab a quick South Indian breakfast if early—Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (idli-vada-coffee) or Mavalli Tiffin Rooms/MTR (near Lalbagh) for rava idli and kesari bath. Check into your hotel around MG Road or Indiranagar and refresh.

Afternoon: Ease into the city’s green heart at Lalbagh Botanical Garden. See the 19th-century Glass House and a 3,000-million-year-old granite outcrop with city views. Continue to Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace (teak pillars, floral frescoes) and Bangalore Fort for a window into 18th-century Mysore rule. If you prefer a guided overview, consider this compact city tour:

City tour of Beautiful Bengaluru - Half Day — Discover historic landmarks, a vibrant flower market, and key temples in a few hours; ideal after an arrival day.

Evening: Wander Church Street: browse Blossom Book House, then sit down at Karavalli (coastal Karnataka specialties like kori gassi and Alleppey fish curry) or Nagarjuna (Andhra thali with gunpowder and ghee). For craft beer, try The Biere Club off Vittal Mallya Road or the expansive Byg Brewski in Sarjapur/Hennur. Cap with a hot chocolate fudge at Corner House, a Bengaluru classic.

Day 2: Royal Mysuru, Srirangapatna, and Somnathpur (Day Trip)

Morning: Depart by 6:30–7:00 a.m. Breakfast stop on the highway for thatte idli and filter coffee at Kamat Lokaruchi (Ramanagara). In Mysuru, tour the opulent Mysore Palace—its marriage of domes, stained glass, and carved teak is unforgettable (allow 60–90 minutes; entry fees apply). Climb or drive up Chamundi Hill for breezes and views over the city.

Afternoon: Lunch at Hotel RRR (simple, fast, and spicy) or Old House (casual courtyard, wood-fired pizza if you’re craving Western fare). Stroll Devaraja Market: chat with flower sellers, sniff sandalwood, and watch banana-leaf bundling. Time permitting, head to Srirangapatna for Tipu’s Summer Palace (Dariya Daulat), Gumbaz (Mausoleum), and the island’s crumbling ramparts with Kaveri River vistas.

Evening: Detour to Somnathpur’s 13th-century Chennakesava Temple (carved soapstone, star-shaped plan)—a Hoysala masterpiece. Drive back to Bengaluru (2.5–3 hours). Or make logistics effortless with an expert-led, all-in-one experience:

Best of Mysore, UNESCO Somnathpur Temple & Srirangapatna Day Tour — See the region’s three essential sites with a dedicated guide in one day.

Dinner back in Bengaluru: If you’re not too late, seek a comforting plate of ghee roast dosa at Vidyarthi Bhavan (earlier evening is best) or a late biryani at Meghana Foods (Koramangala or Indiranagar).

Day 3: Nature Morning—Choose Nandi Hills Sunrise or Bannerghatta Safari, Then Depart

Option A: Nandi Hills & Temple Heritage

Morning: Pre-dawn drive (60–90 minutes) to Nandi Hills for sunrise over rolling vineyards and lakes. After the viewpoint and Tipu’s Drop, head to the nearby Bhoga Nandishwara Temple (9th–13th centuries), a serene Dravidian complex with intricate mantapas and stepped tanks. Breakfast at Indian Paratha Company (rustic parathas near Devanahalli) or Nandi Upachar (classic idli–dosa).

Afternoon: If time allows, pop into Grover Zampa Vineyards in the Nandi Valley for a late-morning winery tour and tasting (advance booking recommended). Return to your hotel by noon to check out and transfer to BLR for your afternoon flight via Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com.

Lunch: Quick, tasty send-off options near the airport corridor: Tiffin Room-style meals, biryani takeaways, or a final round of filter coffee at a darshini along NH44.

Option B: Urban Wildlife at Bannerghatta

Morning: Prefer fauna to fog? Choose a guided wildlife experience with hotel pickup to Bannerghatta Biological Park. Expect close-up sightings on safari drives and a walkthrough of the butterfly park.

Explore Bangalore’s Wild Side – An Exclusive Bannerghatta Safari! — A naturalist-led outing with transfers; great for families or animal lovers.

Afternoon: Return to your hotel by midday, pick up bags, and depart for BLR. Typical city–airport drive time is 60–90 minutes; add more if traveling during rush hour.

Where to Eat and Drink (Shortlist to Bookmark)

• Breakfast/coffee: Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (crispy vada, chutney), Vidyarthi Bhavan (benne dosa), Indian Coffee House on MG Road (retro charm), Third Wave Coffee Roasters (specialty pours).
• Lunch: Nagarjuna (Andhra meals), CTR Shri Sagar (Malleshwaram benne dosa), Truffles (burgers, quick service), Meghana Foods (Hyderabadi biryani).
• Dinner: Karavalli (coastal, refined), Oota Bangalore (regional Karnataka plates), Toast & Tonic (modern Indian—seasonal menu), The Biere Club or Byg Brewski (craft beer + grills).
• Street-food fix: VV Puram Food Street—try thatte idli, paddu, and holige in the evening buzz.
• Mysuru bites: Vinayaka Mylari (soft dosas), Hotel RRR (biryani), Hanumanthu (mutton pulav), Guru Sweet Mart (Mysore Pak), Devaraja Market for spices and produce.

How You’ll Get Around

• Airport transfers: Ride-hailing and airport taxis are reliable. Leave 2–2.5 hours before departure from central Bengaluru.
• City travel: Auto-rickshaws for short hops, ride-hailing for cross-town trips. The Namma Metro aids MG Road–Indiranagar runs.
• Day trips: For Mysuru, trains via Trip.com (trains) or a private car (2.5–3 hours each way). For Nandi Hills, a pre-dawn car is best (60–90 minutes each way).

Optional extra guided experiences in Bengaluru (if you add time):

Bengaluru Pété Walk: Tipu Palace, Fort, KR Market, Temples — A deep-dive into the old city’s history, aromas, and color.

In three days you’ll taste Bengaluru’s filter-coffee mornings, wander its parks and palaces, and step into Mysuru’s regal past—while squeezing in either a hillside sunrise or a wildlife safari before wheels up. Karnataka rewards unhurried travel; consider returning for Coorg’s coffee estates or Hampi’s boulder-strewn ruins when you have more time.