Bangalore Pété Walking Tour: Five landmarks in one morning

A 230-year-old teak palace sits next to a temple that nearly saved a sultan from a cannonball.

The Bangalore Pété walk is a guided tour through five historical and cultural sites in the old city (Tipu Palace, Koté Vishnu temple, Bangalore Fort, KR Market and a Jain temple) with entry fees included. The route takes two and a half to three hours on foot. Dress covers legs and shoulders. Ladies bring a scarf for temple entry. The guide speaks English and can arrange hotel pickup for an additional fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bangalore's historic and cultural sites

• Meet guide and start tour
• Visit Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace
• Explore adjoining Koté Vishnu temple
• Walk to and visit Bangalore Fort
• Experience KR Market's vibrant atmosphere
• Visit Jain Temple with dress code

The experience

What does a walking tour of Bangalore's old city actually show you? Start at Tipu Palace, a 230-year-old structure built entirely in teak wood and designed in Islamic architecture with the formal halls (diwan-e-am and diwan-e-khas), where Tipu Sultan held court. The guide walks you through his history: his alliances with the French, the Anglo-Mysore wars, his role in early rocket science. A museum on the grounds fills in the details. From there, the route moves to Koté Vishnu temple, built in 1690 by Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar and adjoining the palace. The temple's stone columns and carved walls show the craftsmanship of the period, and there's a local story: the Garuda Gamba (a sculptured pillar) supposedly deflected a cannonball from Cornwallis that would have hit the palace instead.

A ten-minute walk brings you to Bangalore Fort, built as mud by Kempegowda in the 16th century and rebuilt in stone by Hyder Ali in the 1760s. Only about five percent remains, but it's maintained and open to visitors. Then comes KR Market, where the sensory overload is the point: vendors, workers, cows, cycles, rickshaws, and heaps of vegetables, fruits, flowers and spices fill the space in what looks like chaos but functions as order. This is where you see how the city actually moves. The final stop is a Jain temple, where you'll learn about Jainism: a 2,500-year-old religion with principles of non-violence and vegetarianism. The Jain community makes up less than 0.4 percent of India's population but contributes over 24 percent of personal tax collections and owns more than 28 percent of Indian property. Entry has certain restrictions, which the guide explains.

The whole walk runs two and a half to three hours. Entry to all monuments is included. Lunch and transport are not. Wear clothes that cover your legs and shoulders: a requirement for the temples. If you're a woman, bring a scarf for the Jain temple. The guide is a licensed, government-approved English speaker who can also help with recommendations for other sights or shopping after the walk ends. Hotel pickup is available for an additional fee if you arrange it in advance.

What’s included

• Entry to Tipu Palace, Koté Vishnu temple, Bangalore Fort, KR Market and the Jain temple.
• a licensed English-speaking guide who can recommend other sights and shopping in the city after the walk ends.

Before you book

Lasts 2h 30m–3h, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 32 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 16:00

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Bangalore and Beyond

Is this one for you?A single morning walk through Bangalore's markets, temples, and layered history. Your guide handles both the stories and the logistics, you just walk and absorb.

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Top questions

What is Tipu Palace and why does it matter in Bangalore's history?

Tipu Palace is a 230-year-old structure built entirely in teak wood in Islamic architectural style, with formal halls where Tipu Sultan held court. The guide covers his alliances with the French, the Anglo-Mysore wars, and his contributions to early rocket science, which earned him the title Grandfather of Rocket Science. A museum on the premises provides further detail.

What will I actually see at KR Market?

KR Market is a working produce market where vendors, workers, cows, cycles, rickshaws and heaps of vegetables, fruits, flowers and spices fill the space. It's designed to show how the city functions in everyday life. The apparent chaos that actually has order underneath it.

Why is Koté Vishnu temple next to Tipu Palace?

Koté Vishnu temple was built in 1690 by Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar and sits adjoining the palace. Local history says the Garuda Gamba (a sculptured pillar) of the temple deflected a cannonball from Cornwallis that would have otherwise struck the palace during conflict.

What do I need to know about visiting the Jain temple?

The Jain temple has entry restrictions. Dress must cover your legs and shoulders. Women should bring a scarf. The guide will explain the conditions and the principles of Jainism: a 2,500-year-old religion centered on non-violence and vegetarianism.

How long does the walk take and what's included in the price?

The walk takes two and a half to three hours. Entry fees to all five monuments are included. Lunch and transport to the starting point are not included, though hotel pickup can be arranged for an additional fee.

Can I get a guide who speaks a language other than English?

French, Italian and German-speaking guides are available but subject to availability. Book in advance if you need a guide in one of these languages.