About Bannerghatta
Bannerghatta is a small town in the outskirts of Bangalore, about 22 km away from the city centre. It is primarily known for Bannerghatta National Park – a wildlife haven that spreads across a sprawling area of 260.51 sq. km. The region is also dotted with numerous temples, mosques and churches.
The namesake road (also a state highway) that passes through Bannerghatta is lined with prestigious colleges like Indian Institute of Management (IIMB) and Christ University and hospitals like Fortis and Apollo. Owing to its location and the presence of a major tourist attraction, many homestays, resorts and hotels in Bannerghatta have come up, besides the jungle lodges around the national park.
Shopping and Dining in and around Bannerghatta
While there are a few shops in the area selling clothes, toys, electronics, etc., tourists can visit any of the malls on Bannerghatta Road for a fulfilling shopping experience. Royal Meenakshi Mall (9.4 km), Gopalan Innovation Mall (13.6 km) and Vega City Mall (13.6 km) are all within a 30-minute drive.
Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) runs a restaurant, Mayura Vanashree, in the area that serves snacks, food and beverages. A popular eating joint within the zoo is the Hill View Restaurant. The zoo also has many refreshment kiosks like Nandhini. Other places to eat near hotels in Bannerghatta, Bangalore are Diletto, Hotel Annapurna, Hotel Sapthagiri and Hotel Rajalaxmi.
Places to Visit in and around Bannerghatta
Those staying at Bannerghatta hotels should have the famous Bannerghatta Biological Park on their itinerary. There is a lot to see within the park, including India’s first Butterfly Park and a zoo. A safari park, elephant sanctuary, reptile park, aviary, aquarium and an animal rescue centre are other parts of the national park open to visitors. There are also some age-old temples within the park, besides a number of trekking and hiking trails that attract adventure seekers.
There are many religious centres around the park like Khatu Shyam Temple (500 m), Burhani Masjid (7.8 km), NLF City Light Church (9.1 km), Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (9.3 km), Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple (9.6 km), Santhome Parish Church (9.6 km), St. Mary's Orthodox Church (9.7 km), Sri Chowdeshwari Devi Temple (9.9 km), Holy Trinity Church (10.6 km), and Sri Ayyappa Swamy Temple (12 km). Thottikallu Falls (9.8 km), Hulimavu Lake (9.8 km) and Begur Fort (12 km) are a few other popular attractions near Bannerghatta that are worth visiting.
How to Reach Bannerghatta
Owing to Bannerghatta Road (State Highway 87) passing through it, the area enjoys easy accessibility from many major localities of the city. The highway intersects with many arterial roads of Bangalore such as Outer Ring Road and NICE Road, improving the connectivity of the location. Transit hubs like Kempegowda International Airport (72.2 km) and KSR Bengaluru City Railway Junction (24.7 km) also offer easy access to Bannerghatta by bus and taxi. Private rickshaws and BMTC buses plying on SH 87 make it easier for travellers to commute from the city to Bangalore hotels in Bannerghatta.