Lalbagh Botanical Garden

Lalbagh Botanical Garden is Bangalore's crown jewel of green spaces, originally commissioned by Hyder Ali in 1760 and later expanded by Tipu Sultan. Spread over 240 acres, the garden houses 1,854 species of plants including a rare collection of tropical, sub-tropical, and medicinal varieties. The iconic Glass House, modelled after London's Crystal Palace, hosts the famous biannual flower shows during Republic Day and Independence Day, attracting over 5 lakh visitors each. The garden also features a 3-billion-year-old peninsular gneiss rock formation — one of the oldest exposed rocks on Earth. With its serene lotus pond, century-old trees, dedicated bonsai section, and heritage bandstand, Lalbagh serves as both a scientific institution under the Horticulture Department and the city's most beloved public garden.