Lalbagh Botanical Garden: 5 Things To See In Bangalore’s Largest Garden

A long time has elapsed since this particular adventure but I still look back at it with nostalgia. I loved Bangalore as child but today it’s a big dusty city and lacks a lot of the green cover that it was once famous for. One place however persists in remaining an oasis in this expanding concrete jungle: Lalbagh Botanical garden!

It may not be the only park in Bangalore but it most certainly is one of the largest. The name quite literally can be translated to ‘Red Garden’ where ‘lal’ means ‘red’ and ‘bagh’ means ‘garden’. While I have visited Lalbagh numerous times over the past couple of years, I’m going to take you to my most recent adventure.

Did I mention that the garden is one of the top things to do in Bangalore?

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Lalbagh Botanical Garden Timings

The Lalbagh botanical gardens are usually open year round. The usual timings is between 6am to 7 pm. Early mornings are a popular time at the garden since people from all around come here to walk and exercise. Since it is the largest green space in the center of the city this should not come as a surprise.

Lalbagh Botanical Garden Entry Fee

The garden has a nominal entrance fee. Adults are charged INR 10 and children below the age of 12 can enter the park for free. The entry for everyone is free during the early morning hours (6-9am) and the late evening hours (6-7pm)

Visiting The Lalbagh Botanical Gardens

My partner in crime!

A Dutch friend of mine wanted to have a picnic lunch to cheer me up since Shawn had gone off on work to Salym in Russia. She suggested heading out to the garden. At first I winced. We live in Whitefield. Lalbagh is around 20 kilometers away and in the center of the city.

Now in most countries heading off to a place that is 20 kilometers away is not much of a problem. In Bangalore the traffic is so crazy that it definitely makes people think twice. Even as I write (5 pm on a Friday evening) Google maps tells me that it will take around 1 hour 20 minutes to reach my destination.

Nevertheless we planned to head out to a Starbucks on the way and grab a to go bag so that we could munch on our food in the calm interior of the garden. Luckily for us, we had a driver and we did not have to worry too much about the traffic.

Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Is Bigger Than You Probably Imagined

I always love the towering ancient trees that you can see everywhere in Lalbagh botanical garden.

When you drive around Lalbagh Botanical gardens it seems like nothing more than a wall with a couple of trees within. Don’t let that fool you. Lalbagh botanical gardens is huge!

It houses a large collection of plants and even a lake. Me? I’m directionally challenged and even though I’ve been to Lalbagh Botanical gardens so many times I had no idea where I was going. My friend Janet however could find her way anywhere at any point of time. I think she has an internal compass!

One of my favorite photographs which was taken many years ago on date night.

It has a couple of interesting landmarks that you can’t forget (even though like me you may forget where they are!).

1. The Glass House/Dome

The glass house where the flower annual flower exhibitions are held. FYI: They are held on the 26^th of January and the 15^th of August every year. So if you are in town during that time make sure you put Lalbagh on your list.

2. The Rock Formation

The rock formation. I remember the first time I visited Lalbagh my brother was really young and both of us pretended that we were climbing up a tall steep mountain. It’s not high and it isn’t steep but if it rains I’m sure it gets slippery!

3. The Lake

The lake is another popular attraction. We sat and ate our lunch around that area. Just make sure that you carry mosquito repellent because those pesky creatures feasted on our blood!

4. The Bonsai Garden

The bonsai garden was my favorite as a child. The idea that a huge tree could actually be compact baffled me. I remember spending a long time marveling over them. Went back home to Goa couldn’t stop talking about it. My poor dad had the patience of a saint!

The enormous trees that reside within the gardens have watched time unfold and the city grow.

Lalbagh Flower Show

Every year on Republic day (26th January), there is a spectacular flower show that is put up. The whole of the garden has displays scattered around. The thing that you need to understand is that the place is super crowded. By that I mean elbow to elbow in crowds.

My tip is to come a day or two after the 26th. Now the flowers may not be freshest but you will actually get a chance to see the displays properly.

There was a time when I thought of Lalbagh as a tourist attraction. Today it’s more than that. There is an emotional connection that I have forged with the place because of the memories linked to it.

Running and admiring the gardens as child, holding hands and walking on a date, a picnic lunch with a very good friend, a discussion of what the future holds… Lalbagh makes me feel warm within because it always reminds me of good times!