Old Bangalore Street Food & History Walking Tour: 12+ Tastings

KR Market is one of Asia's busiest flower markets, and you walk straight through it at the peak of the day.

A three-hour walking tour of old Bangalore starting at Chickpete Metro, moving through centuries-old market lanes, a Jain temple, and the historic KR Market flower district, then ending at VV Puram Food Street where you taste 12+ street foods stall to stall as locals do. The guide speaks English and leads a small group. Admission, metro rides between stops, water and all tastings are included. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or during pregnancy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore old Bangalore and street food

• Start at Chickpete market lanes
• Visit Shwetambar Jain temple
• Walk along Avenue Road
• Explore Krishna Rajendra Market
• Pass Bangalore Fort remains
• Take metro to VV Puram Food Street
• Taste local snacks and street food

The experience

Three hours starts in Chickpete, one of Bangalore's oldest quarters, laid out in the 16th century when Kempe Gowda founded the city around its central market wards. The narrow lanes still hum with the wholesale silk and textile trade that gave the area its name. A working maze that has defied every attempt at a straight line. You wind through it with a guide who knows the history and the traders, then step into a Shwetambar Jain temple tucked into the din: marble interiors, cool stone underfoot, soft light, and the quiet devotion of a community that has worshipped here for generations. The contrast with the market outside makes it all the more striking.

From there, Avenue Road becomes your spine: a single thoroughfare packed shoulder to shoulder with booksellers, jewellers, and century-old sweet shops. The smell of jasmine and frying snacks drifts from side lanes as you walk toward KR Market, the beating heart of the old city and one of Asia's busiest flower markets. It stands where Tipu Sultan's forces once clashed with the British, and today it's pure colour and negotiation: mountains of marigold and rose, porters balancing impossible loads, vendors' calls filling a space that never truly sleeps. You take your time through the flower, fruit, and wholesale sections for a slice of daily life few visitors see up close. A short metro ride then carries you south toward the evening's final stop, passing the remains of Bangalore Fort: the stronghold Kempe Gowda first raised in 1537, later rebuilt in stone by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.

VV Puram Food Street is where the tour becomes a feast. As evening settles, the lanterns glow and the griddles start hissing. You ease in with congress buns (soft rolls hiding a punch of spicy peanuts), and wash them down with fresh avocado or sitaphal juice. Then the fryer: bajji in four avatars (pineapple, banana, chilli, potato). Gossamer-thin dose slicked with butter. Pav bhaji in a cloud of butter and spice. A tall jalebi, coiled and syrup-soaked, with cool rabdi and a soft kesar jamun. The finale is unhurried: a spongy rasgulla and a kulfi melting faster than you can finish. You taste 12+ dishes stall to stall as locals do, with bottled water included throughout.

What’s included

• Admission to all sites.
• a live English-speaking guide and food expert.
• metro rides between Chickpete, KR Market, and VV Puram.
• bottled water throughout.
• and 12 or more street food tastings at VV Puram Food Street, tasted stall to stall as locals eat them.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 17:30

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “Our guide will meet you at entrance of Chikpet Metro Station”

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hidden Gems Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and leads a small group, so anyone comfortable with a three-hour walk through crowded market lanes and standing while tasting street foods can follow the full history and the food story without needing to arrange transport between stops.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is Chickpete and why does the tour start there?

Chickpete is one of Bangalore's oldest quarters, laid out in the 16th century when Kempe Gowda founded the city around its central market wards. Its narrow lanes still hum with the wholesale silk and textile trade that gave the area its name, and the tour begins there to set the historical foundation before moving through the rest of the old city.

How many street foods do I actually taste on this tour?

You taste 12 or more dishes stall to stall at VV Puram Food Street, starting with congress buns and fresh juice, moving through bajji, dose, pav bhaji, jalebi, and finishing with rasgulla and kulfi. Bottled water is included throughout.

What is KR Market and what will I see there?

Krishna Rajendra Market, KR Market, is one of Asia's busiest flower markets and the beating heart of old Bangalore. You walk through mountains of marigold and rose, watch porters balancing impossible loads, and hear vendors' calls filling a space that never truly sleeps. The market stands where Tipu Sultan's forces once clashed with the British.

Does the tour include the metro rides between stops?

Yes, metro rides between stops are included in the tour price, along with admission fees, bottled water, and all 12+ tastings. A short metro ride carries you from KR Market south to VV Puram Food Street for the evening feast.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

The minimum age is 2 years, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Specialized infant seats are available. The tour involves three hours of walking through market lanes and food stalls, so comfortable footwear and dress are important for all participants.