Old Bangalore Walk: Palace, Fort, Market & Temple

The Maharajas, Sultans and Gowdas who built Bangalore walk these lanes with you.

This guided walk through old Bangalore covers Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, Bangalore Fort, the Jamia Masjid, KR Market and a Jain temple in 2.5 km over two to three hours, led by a native Bangalorean guide who connects the city's layered history to every carved pillar and shadowed corridor. Entry to the palace and fort, traditional filter coffee, and all local taxes are included. Groups stay under eight travelers, and modest dress is required at places of worship.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bangalore's historic landmarks

• Visit Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace
• Walk through Bangalore Fort and Delhi Gate
• Explore Jamia Masjid mosque
• Experience the bustling KR Market
• Visit the serene Jain temple
• Pause for traditional filter coffee

The experience

Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace opens the walk: scalloped arches frame light like a painting, and fluted teak pillars have stood through centuries of power shifts. The painted Islamic motifs have faded, but lean in close and you'll catch their whisper. Your guide doesn't recite facts. They conjure the city, placing Tipu Sultan himself in those ornate halls, then fast-forwarding to the colonial administrators who claimed the same space decades later. Empires come and go. The pillars stay.

Bangalore Fort is a fragment of what it once was: a teardrop-shaped stronghold that sprawled nearly a square mile as the beating heart of the Kingdom of Mysore. Step through the Delhi Gate and you're actually stepping through three gateways in succession, each one a deliberate trap for invaders. Those teak doors are iron-spiked, built to stop charging war elephants cold. The layers reveal themselves as you look closer: stucco Islamic artistry on the archways, Hindu relief carvings on the walls, a quiet Ganesha temple tucked inside. In 1791, cannons roared on these grounds as Mysore's forces met the East India Company in a clash that would shape everything that followed.

The Jamia Masjid rises five stories of white Rajasthan marble above the market's bustle: delicate jali screens, graceful arches, slender minarets dedicated to Tipu Sultan. Step inside and the city falls away. Pigeons flutter through the minarets, an ablution pool stills the courtyard, and somewhere below, children drift up from a school running in the basement, where a School of Calligraphy preserves the art of Urdu script. It stands as a quiet testament to Bangalore's long tradition of faiths coexisting, not just tolerating each other, but genuinely sharing space.

KR Market doesn't ease you in. It pulls you straight under. Two hundred years old and still roaring, this was once a quiet waterbody. Step into its winding gullies and the city you thought you knew disappears. Jasmine garlands perfume the air, towers of marigolds glow like little suns, vendors call out in rhythmic tones above the clang of brass and the shuffle of handcarts. This is old Bangalore, thriving and unapologetic, just steps from the city's steel and glass skyline. At some point along the walk, you'll pause for a traditional filter coffee: strong, frothy, served in the old way. The final stop is a Jain temple, where intricate carvings and delicate inlay work frame a marble sanctuary that feels like it exists in its own quiet dimension. Soft lamplight and the gentle rhythm of chants ask you, very politely, to slow down.

What’s included

• Entry to Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, Bangalore Fort and Jamia Masjid.
• traditional filter coffee or local tea served the old Bangalore way.
• expert native guide with stories and insights no guidebook contains.
• all local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 14:30

AgesAdult (6 to 75 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

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 and greet you at the main gate of the Tipu Sultan Summer Palace”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hidden Gems Tours

Is this one for you?If you're staying without a car in central Bangalore, hotel pickup is available for a small additional fee, or you can meet the group near public transit: either way, the walk itself is 2.5 km at a moderate pace, so comfortable shoes and a moderate fitness level are what the day asks of you.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

31 verified traveler reviews

5 ★30

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What is Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace like inside?

Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace holds scalloped arches that frame light like a painting and fluted teak pillars that have stood through centuries. The painted Islamic motifs have faded with time, but the upper balconies still carry the weight of history: Tipu Sultan once rallied officers and commanded the room from those ornate halls, and colonial administrators later claimed the same space.

How does KR Market feel different from the rest of Bangalore?

KR Market is old Bangalore thriving and unapologetic, just steps from the city's steel and glass skyline. Jasmine garlands perfume the air, towers of marigolds glow like little suns, and vendors call out in rhythmic tones above the clang of brass and the shuffle of handcarts. It was once a quiet waterbody two hundred years ago and still roars today.

What happens at the Jain temple on this walk?

The Jain temple is a marble sanctuary with intricate carvings and delicate inlay work where soft lamplight and the gentle rhythm of chants ask you to slow down. Your guide brings alive the Jain tradition of ahimsa (nonviolence in thought, word and deed), and the community's contributions to trade, education and philanthropy alongside its spiritual depth.

What should I wear for this walk?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and pack an extra pair of socks, as you'll remove footwear at sacred sites. Dress modestly: ankle-length trousers for men. Ankle-length dresses or trousers for women with covered shoulders (avoid spaghetti tops and halter-necks). Scarves for women are required at some sites. If you don't have one, the guide can arrange one at the temple.

How many people walk together on this tour?

Groups stay under eight travelers by design, so the stories from your native Bangalorean guide reach you clearly and the experience stays with you.

Can I arrange pickup from my hotel?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are available on request for a small additional fee. Public transportation options are also available nearby.