Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, has always held a special place on the tourist circuit. Still referred to as the garden city of India, even though now it is also known as the Silicon Valley of the country, the mega-city of Bengaluru is now the third most populous city in India. And its populace looks forward to, with great anticipation, the annual flower show hosted by the Department of Horticulture at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden. This year, the Lalbagh Flower Show will be held from January 18 to 28.
The flower show in Lalbagh is held in and around its beautiful glass atrium, built in 1989, and is modelled on the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom. Lalbagh boasts of having India's biggest collection of tropical plants. The garden's sprawling 240 acres houses India's most extensive collection of tropical and sub-tropical plants, including several centuries-old trees. A permanent highlight of the garden is the watchtower built by Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru. This watchtower is perched atop a 3,000-million-year-old rocky outcrop, a National Geological Monument.
The theme for this year's flower show is, 'Philosopher, Poet and Saint Basavanna and Vachana Literature.' It will highlight the contribution of the 12th-century social reformer and Lingayat saint Basavanna. Visitors can see a huge floral replica of Basavanna’s statue, along with various arrangements of flowers and plants inspired by his vachanas or poetic sayings.
During the flower show, the 1,500-year-old history of the city will be depicted via various tableaus, set up in eight sections, based on historical periods of Bengaluru. Exotic flowers from various countries, will be on display. The floral arrangements will feature flowers from Karnataka as well as from the other states of India, such as the cymbidium from Darjeeling, ornamental flowers from Pune, and the rare flowers of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Every year, the Lalbagh Flower Show is held twice -- once in January (close to Republic Day) and again in August (close to Independence Day). Both shows have different themes. The show in August 2024 will be a tribute to the late actors Dr Rajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar, who were icons of Kannada cinema and culture.
Apart from the Lalbagh annual flower show, the garden also conducts shows on Republic Day and Independence Day. In addition to these, there are mango/jackfruit festivals during the summer. You can also visit Lalbagh regularly, enjoy the bonsai and hibiscus gardens, or pick up fruits, vegetables, fruit juices, etc., from the shops run by the Department of Horticulture and a few private vendors.
When: January 18 to 28 (7 am to 7 pm)
Where: Lalbagh Botanical Garden
Ticket Prices
Adults (Weekday) INR 70, (Weekend & Holiday) INR 80; Children (Weekday & Weekend) INR 30, Children in School Uniform (Free on both weekdays and holidays).
Lalbagh Botanical Garden is seven kilometres south of the city centre, the Majestic area, and 38 kilometres from Bengaluru airport. To travel within Bengaluru, you can take advantage of Namma Metro, an intra-city rail network by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation. Buses, autorickshaws, and taxis are readily available to reach Lalbagh.
By air: Bengaluru is well-linked by frequent flights to and from New Delhi, Mumbai, and most other major towns in India. Bengaluru International Airport is situated about 40 kilometres from the main city.
By railway: Bengaluru City Railway Station, and Yeswantpur Junction, are the two major railway stations of Bengaluru. Both stations have regular trains running from New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and other major cities.
By road: Bengaluru Urban is well-connected to all the cities within Karnataka, as well as to Goa, Mumbai, Pune, etc. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has various bus options, from regular to air-conditioned Volvo buses.