A city catering to almost all the creature comforts of a metropolitan, pleasant year-round weather and a bustling shopping and culinary scene, Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is the perfect destination to mix work with pleasure. Once famous as an ideal city for senior citizens looking for a relaxed life after retirement, today it's popular as the Information Technology hub of India, drawing young technocrats from across the country. Lush green parks and well laid-out gardens rub shoulders with art galleries, pubs and restaurants, giving the city unique eclectic energy. From a sleepy cantonment area during the British era to a modern cosmopolitan, Bengaluru has had an interesting journey.

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Stop 1

Road trip map

Among the most popular global pilgrimage places, Tirupati is a stopover for those seeking spirituality and sanctity. Situated at the foot of Tirumala Hills, this lively pilgrim place attracts devotees all year round. Tirupati Balaji or the Lord Venkatesha Temple is the main attraction here. Said to be one of the richest temples in the country, it sees an estimated footfall of 60,000 every day. Devotees donate their hair and various riches in the temple in order to please the god.

Though the temple is an overwhelming presence in the town, Tirupati also houses one of the oldest and the rarest geological formations in the world – a natural stone arch. Lying in close proximity to the temple, the stone arch or Sila Thoranam (garland or festoon of rocks) has been categorised as Precambrian and is believed to be 1,500 million years old!

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Stop 2

Road trip map

Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple is the main attraction here. It is an ancient shrine, located close to Tirupati. Padmavathi Ammavaru is said to be the consort of Sri Venkateswara Swamy.