“What do you do on weekends?”

“There is nothing to do, yaar! We visit malls and children play in the play area there”

This is a conversation, almost all of us must have had with our friends. It is true that in new areas, you will find no parks and at least 4-5 malls within 5 kms radius. I live in Bengaluru, but this is true for most of the metros across India.

In this situation, most of us end up visiting shopping malls, eating in food courts or restaurants there or catching a movie weekend after weekend.

 

I recently read an article about “Things to do in Mumbai” and that inspired me to do this post regarding Bangalore. There is so much to do in our lovely city. It only takes a little planning to make the weekend memorable for your children and also give them a more wholesome way of deviation and rejuvenation after the school week.

I have personally visited all these places with my daughter barring one or two, so I can give first-hand experience of most of these and few that I have not visited, I have got great feedback from others.

 

1) Lalbagh Botanical Gardens

The first place that comes to my mind is “Lalbagh Botanical Gardens”. Spread over 240 acres, it is a must visit. My daughter just loves the expansive parks, huge trees some of which are hundreds of years old. You will find hundreds of people walking, running, families having a picnic. The lotus pond, lake with its ducks and fishes are a special attraction. You may also plan your trip around the events like flower shows, fruit  melas etc.

 

2) Visit Cubbon Park

Cubbon park is another huge garden and landmark of Bengaluru.

 

3)  Bal Bhawan

For children though, a visit to Bal bhawan is a must, which is located within the premises of Cubbon Park. It has a toy train, loads of swings and water bodies, horse rides, a doll museum and even planned activities.
There is also an aquarium within the premises.

 

 

4)

Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum

Yet to visit this, but it is supposed to be a family-friendly technology & science museum with exhibits on engines, space, biotechnology & more. Waiting for my daughter to grow up, so we can visit this place.

Address: Beside Karnataka State Government Museum, Kasturba Rd, Sampangi Rama Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

Phone: 080 2286 6200

 

5) Visit Lumbini Gardens

Another garden with a beautiful lake, boating activities, food court and rides.

Website: http://www.lumbinigardens.com/

 

 

 

6) Visit Fun World

Fun World is a amusement  park located near Palace grounds. We have visited it a couple of times and daughter enjoyed the rides very much. You may also visit Water world which is water park within Fun World.

Website: http://www.funworldblr.com/

 

 

Visit Ulsoor lake/ Madiwala lake and do boating

7) Ulsoor Lake:

Location:     Near M.G. Road
Main Attractions:     Boating and sightseeing

 

8) Madiwala Lake:

Location: Underpass at Madiwala at the junction of Hosur Road and Inner Ring Road, Bangalore.   
Main Attractions:     Boating and sightseeing

 

9) Innovative film city

Visit Innovative film city on the outskirts of city. It has loads of things for children of every age as well as adults from wax museum to dino parks to rides. We even spotted emus there once.

Website: Innovative Film City

 

10) Bangalore Palace

Visit Bangalore Palace and take its guided tour with older kids to help them learn about the history of the city.

Address: Near Mount Carmel Institute of Management, Palace Rd, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052

Phone: 080 2336 0818

 

 

11) Visit Bannerghatta National park

We love the Park safari and the zoo and have visited it many times. Visit the Butterfly Park and your children will never forget the life-cycle of a butterfly ever.

Website: http://bannerghattabiologicalpark.org/

 

12) Take a metro ride on weekend

There is no rush over weekend and children get a kick out of travelling in the metro.

 

 

13) MG Road Boulevard

Visit MG Road Boulevard for a nice playarea and activities like story-telling and theatre for children. Do not forget to have some piping hot delicasies at Dasaprakasa there.

Address: MG Road Boulevard, beside MG Road Metro Station, near Anil Kumble Circle, MG Road, Shivaji Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

Phone: 080 2296 9265

 

14) Jawahar Lal Nehru Planetarium

Yet to visit this, but have heard rave reviews about it.

15) Indira Gandhi  Musical Fountain

Visit Indira Gandhi  Musical Fountain for 30 minutes long beautiful musical show to the tune of patriotic songs with fountains water play.

Address: Opp to Jawahar Lal Nehru Planetarium, Raj Bhawan Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

Phone: 080 2286 4125

 

16) HAL Aerospace Museum

 Awesome  place for children to visit to see aircrafts and helicopters firsthand as well as learn about Indian aviation history.

Hours:9:00 am to 5:00 pm

 

17) The Martin Farm

Visit Martin’s Farm with your children for a picnic with farm animals. Kids will love spending a couple of hours meeting and interacting with animals, while you take the opportunity to escape from the humdrum of the city and reconnect with nature.

Address: 33, Sarjapur Road, Carmelaram Post, Chikkabellandur, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560035

Phone:098457 79666

 

18) Hamsha organic farm

Visit Hamsha organic farm for mango picking and an experience of the farm life.

Facebook: Hamsah Organic Farm

Address: Kodathi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560099

Phone:097390 97356

 

 

 

19) RangaShankara

Keep a lookout for theaters for kids in Shankar Nag’s RangaShankara. They organize theatre festivals for kids where plays in various Indian languages as well as International production are staged.

Facebook: RangaShankara

 

20) Go for a nature walk within your apartment or outside

One weekend, do not go anywhere. Just explore the vicinity of your apartment or house. I was so surprised to see almond trees growing on roadsides. Try to locate butterflies, birds and various trees and plants with kids. No lesson in science can teach them better.

 

21) Picnic with friends

Plan with a few other friends who have kids of similar age and plan a picnic to any park or lake mentioned above.

 

22) Have a baking/ cooking day

Involve your children in some cooking one weekend. It could be something simple as popcorns or maybe muffins or a cake.

 

23)Have a crafts day

Keep one weekend for crafting activity with kids. Use all the pamphlets your get with newspaper to make boats, aeroplanes and fans. Find some great craft activity ideas on kidsactivitiesblog and schedule some for your crafts day.

 

24) Festival Pandals

When in season, visit festival pandals like Ganesha and Durga Puja

 

25) Library/  Bookstore

Visit a library or a bookstore close to your place

 

26) Visit friends, relatives at their homes

Keep one weekend for socializing by inviting friends and relatives over or visiting their homes.

 

27) Go for a drive to Kolar

If you live in east Bangalore,drive out to kolar. The road to Kolar has rose and marigold fields on both sides and is very scenic.

 

28) Visit a haat, open market like HAL market, Whitefield market or madiwala market

 

29)  Visit a temple/ church/ gurudwara/ dargah near your place. A nice change for them.

 

30) Visit Nandi hills

Drive out of the city with your family to Nandi Hills. The sunrise is supposed to be beautiful, but even a visit to the place in evening is good fun for children.

 

31) Srirangapatna

Visit nearby historical places –We love visiting Srirangapatna and Tipu Sultan’s Summer palace. These are outside Bangalore but you can drive out and have a fun day trip with your family and come back the same evening

 

32) Visit Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary

 

Close to Srirangapatna, is the beautiful Ranganthittu bird sanctuary also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnatak. You can see hundreds of storks and other birds near the water body.

 

 

 Pics source: Wikipedia

 

Further Read:

Top 5 places to Shop for Kids in East Bangalore

5 TV shows you can let your toddlers watch

 

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