Bangalore Pété walking tour: heritage and local culture

• Admission to all monuments

• Lunch and transportation are not included • Gratuities for the guide are not included

• Nearby public transportation options are accessible. • Not advisable for individuals with spinal injuries. • Pregnant travelers are discouraged from participating. • Those with poor cardiovascular health should not book this. • A moderate level of physical fitness is required for participants. • Guides who speak French, Italian, and German are available based on availability. • Attire should cover both legs and shoulders when visiting temples. Women should also bring a scarf.

To receive a full refund, cancellations must be made a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure time.

• After a greeting, a government-approved and licensed guide will take you to Tipu Palace, a 230-year-old structure made entirely of teak wood and designed in a traditional Islamic style, highlighting the diwas-e-am and diwan-e-khas. A brief overview of Tipu Sultan's life, including his interactions with the French, the Anglo-Mysore Wars, and his notable contributions and controversies, will be provided. A visit to the museum on-site will elaborate on his distinction as the Grandfather of Rocket Science globally. • Adjacent to Tipu Palace is a temple constructed in 1690 AD by Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar, featuring exquisite stone carvings of Indian mythological figures on its walls. The intricately decorated stone columns inside exemplify the high level of craftsmanship of local artisans. Hindu worshippers often need to schedule months in advance to perform the "Kalyanotsava" (the marriage ceremony of Lord Vishnu with Lakshmi) at this temple. It is said that the Garuda Gamba here protected Tipu Sultan from a cannonball fired by Cornwallis that would have struck his palace. The next destination is Bangalore Fort, located just a 10-minute walk away. • Founded by Kempegowda in the 16th century, the original mud fort was reconstructed in stone by Hyder Ali in the 1760s. Today, only about 5% of the fort remains, and it is open to visitors. This well-maintained and relatively unknown site is noteworthy for exploration. • This market is a prime spot to observe typical Indian daily life. The vibrant area is bustling with vendors, workers, coolies, hawkers, buyers, cows, dogs, bicycles, rickshaws, and scooters, all competing for space. Abundant piles of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and spices fill the surroundings, showcasing chaos that follows an underlying order. This lively Indian market presents an engaging experience of essential goods. • Jainism, one of the world’s oldest religions, originated in India and has a history of at least 2500 years. Coinciding with Buddhism, its fundamental principles include non-violence and vegetarianism. Although the Jain community constitutes under 0.4% of India's population, they contribute over 24% of personal tax revenues. Jains own more than 28% of Indian real estate and boast a literacy rate of 94%. Nearly half of India's stockbrokers are Jains, significantly impacting the success of Indian businesses. Access to Jain temples is subject to specific conditions and restrictions.