Things To Do · Bangalore
Best Parks & Gardens in Bangalore (2025)
Bangalore’s parks are not tourist attractions — they are daily infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of people walk, jog, bird-watch and breathe in these spaces every morning. Here are the eight worth knowing.
Bangalore was once called the Garden City of India — and while rapid urbanisation has reduced its green cover significantly, the city still has some of the finest parks in South India. These are places Bangaloreans use daily: for morning walks, picnics, bird-watching, cycling and simply sitting under a tree.
The Parks
Lalbagh was commissioned by Hyder Ali in 1760 and completed by Tipu Sultan — making it one of the oldest botanical gardens in India. Its 240 acres contain 1,854 plant species including rare flora from France, Persia and Afghanistan. The iconic Glass House, modelled on London’s Crystal Palace, hosts the famous biannual flower shows (Republic Day and Independence Day) that draw thousands of visitors. Lalbagh Rock, visible inside the garden, is over 3,000 million years old. The lake inside attracts over 60 bird species. It is the most serene morning walk in the city.
Cubbon Park is Bangalore’s most accessible green lung — 300 acres of tree cover right in the centre of the city. Established in 1870, it is shaded by hundreds of mature trees and crisscrossed by walking and cycling paths. The park houses the Government Museum, Attara Kacheri (High Court), the Aquarium (Rs 10 entry) and the Cubbon Park bandstand. Morning hours see thousands of walkers, joggers and cyclists. The park is free, well-maintained and reachable directly by Metro (Cubbon Park Station). It is the most democratic space in the city.
Sankey Tank is the most scenic urban lake park in Bangalore — a reservoir built in 1882 that is now surrounded by a well-maintained walking and jogging track used by thousands of residents every morning. The 4 km track around the tank is flat, shaded and one of the best jogging surfaces in the city. Paddle boating is available on weekends. The area around the tank has several good cafes and a quiet atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the surrounding Sadashivanagar neighbourhood. It is particularly beautiful in the early morning light.
Bannerghatta is where Bangalore’s zoo meets a national park — the only place near the city where you can see lions, tigers, bears and leopards in a semi-natural setting on a bus safari. The Butterfly Park (one of the best in India, with over 20 species) and the Rescue Centre add to the experience. The Zoo section covers elephants, giraffes and large bird aviaries. It is about 22 km from the city centre but the drive on Bannerghatta Road is straightforward. Best for families with children and wildlife photography enthusiasts.
Bugle Rock Park in Basavanagudi is one of Bangalore’s oldest parks and one of its most atmospheric. The park is built around an enormous granite rock formation (the Bugle Rock itself) that rises dramatically from the green lawns. The adjacent Dodda Ganapathi Temple — home to one of the largest Ganesha idols in Karnataka — is open to visitors. The park is small, quiet and uncrowded, making it one of the best spots in the city for a reflective morning walk. The proximity to Gandhi Bazaar and Vidyarthi Bhavan makes for an ideal combined morning outing.
Hebbal Lake is one of the best birdwatching spots in Bangalore, attracting migratory birds between October and March. Spot painted storks, pelicans, cormorants, herons and kingfishers along the well-maintained lakeside path. The lake sits right off the Bellary Road flyover but the interior is surprisingly serene. The landscaped gardens and boating facilities make it a popular weekend outing for North Bangalore residents. Best visited early morning for birdwatching or at dusk when the colours are most dramatic.
JP Park is West Bangalore’s most beloved park — a large, well-maintained green space in Rajajinagar that serves as the primary exercise and leisure destination for the neighbourhood. The park has a good walking track, children’s play areas, a lake, a musical fountain and lawns perfect for family picnics. It is significantly less crowded than Lalbagh or Cubbon and has a genuinely local character. Weekend evenings see families, food stalls near the entrance and a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere.
MN Krishna Rao Park is one of Bangalore’s best-kept secrets — a compact, immaculately maintained park in Basavanagudi with colourful flower beds, a small lake, a jogging track and an almost zen-like atmosphere on weekday mornings. It lacks the scale of Lalbagh or the centrality of Cubbon but makes up for it with quality of upkeep and a genuine lack of crowds. Popular with elderly morning walkers and parents with young children. The proximity to Gandhi Bazaar makes it easy to combine with a good South Indian breakfast.