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Lalbagh, the flower show and plant shopping in Bengaluru
The botanical garden, the January and August shows, and the nurseries around the city worth a weekend visit.
Bengaluru has a long history as a garden city, and for plant lovers there is no better start than Lalbagh. If you are new to the city or just starting a balcony garden, here is a short guide.
Lalbagh Botanical Garden, in the south of the city, covers about 240 acres, with old trees, a large lake and the glass house built in the 1890s. Go early, from 6 am, when walkers fill the paths and the light is soft. The rock at the centre, one of the oldest in the world, gives a good view. Entry costs a small fee and the main gates are at Lalbagh Main Road and Double Road.
The flower shows, held twice a year around Republic Day in January and Independence Day in August, fill the glass house with displays built from lakhs of flowers. They are crowded, especially on weekends, so go on a weekday morning. Stalls outside sell seeds, saplings, pots and gardening tools, and many government nurseries set up counters with plants at reasonable prices.
Cubbon Park in the centre is another green space worth a walk, with bamboo groves and old rain trees. For buying plants, the nurseries along Hosur Road and Kanakapura Road sell in larger quantities. Our shop on Sarjapur Road is open every day from 8 am to 7 pm. If you buy elsewhere and want advice, bring a photo and we will tell you how to care for it, wherever it came from.
