BANGALORE: UP THE GARDEN PATH

WIDE ANGLE: The imposing Vidhan Soudha (Pic: Jagdish N.V)

While walks are typically tied to seasons in most cities, in Bangalore they are not. Bangalore Walks, set up in 2005, has so far taken over 10,000 people on walks, says Arun Pai, founder of the group. “Our aim is not to be a club, or a small group of regulars, to whom we offer different walks every month or season, but to reach out to more people by offering the same walks every weekend at the same time and place,” he says.

Unlike in other cities where walks are more of an incidental leisure activity, here they are bonafide cultural activity and are priced at Rs 495 per person. Tickets are available online and have to be booked in advance.

The three walks on offer are the Victorian Bangalore walk, the traditional Bengaluru walk and the Green Heritage walk. Of these, the Green Heritage walk, conducted in the city’s Lalbagh Botanical Garden, boasts of participation of prominent Bangaloreans such as actor Girish Karnad.

All these walks culminate in a special breakfast to complete the cultural treat. For corporate groups, there is provision for beer walks, through the city’s various pubs. Pai also conducts the Coffee Walk to give a taste of the regional variety of the brew.

GREEN VIEW: The glass house in Lalbagh is inspired by London’s Crystal Palace (Pic: Jagdish N.V)