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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
First week of Cubbon Walks sees full bookings in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: The newly launched guided tour programme 'Cubbon Walks' got off to a strong start with all 90 slots for the first day booked and registrations for the next weekend — Aug 2 and 3 — already full. Priced at Rs 200 per adult, the initiative offers curated walks through Cubbon Park, showcasing its ecology and heritage. The horticulture department, which is conducting the walks, said the response has exceeded expectations. "The numbers are speaking loud, and this is indeed a huge success for the programme," said Kusuma G, deputy director of the department. On launch day, participants were split into Kannada, English, and mixed-language batches to accommodate preferences. The concept was originally proposed by the tourism department but was later implemented by the horticulture department, following a planning meeting in June involving ecologists, historians, and citizen groups. The aim is to highlight Cubbon Park as both a lung space and a living archive of the city's past. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Three batches completed the tour Sunday, guided by subject experts who pointed out historical monuments, native trees, and ecological features. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cargo Ship Meets Pirates - Watch What the Captain Does Next! Tips and Tricks Undo The department currently limits participation to 60 people per day, but plans to scale up depending on demand. A dedicated website has been created for online registrations and payments. Organisers expect the walks to become a recurring feature, aimed at encouraging responsible tourism and environmental learning. The Cubbon Park Walkers Association welcomed the initiative, but recommended a few additions, including providing refreshments after the walk, discounted rates for students, and group discounts for bulk bookings. The horticulture department has said these suggestions are under consideration.


Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Guided walks to help you discoverhidden wonders of Bengaluru's Cubbon Park
Bengaluru: Come Sunday, visitors can discover the verdant Cubbon Park with a fresh perspective with the launch of Cubbon Walks. The new series of guided nature walks, launched Wednesday, is similar to the one conducted in Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. During the 90-minute guided walks, to be held every Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am to 9am, visitors will be taken around the park uncovering the hidden biodiversity and ecological stories tucked behind the more familiar colonial structures and statues that dot the green landscape. The walks, a joint initiative of the horticulture department, The Naturalist School (TNS) and Bangalore Walks, invite people of all ages to experience the park as a living museum of nature. Led by trained guides, the walks aim to reveal unknown details even regular visitors might have overlooked in Sri Chamarajendra Park, as the green space is officially known. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Tickets are priced at Rs 200 for adults and Rs 50 for those aged 10–17 years, while children below 10 years can join for free accompanied by an adult. Participants will walk through scenic paths while learning about heritage trees, native and exotic plant species introduced during the British era, rare birds, and curious insects. With stories rooted in history and ecology, the walks promise a deeper appreciation of the park's layered natural heritage that has evolved with the changing times. Deputy director of horticulture (Cubbon Park) Kusuma G said, "We have taken up the initiative to let people understand the uniqueness and importance of Cubbon Park and to protect the park at the same time. The more people understand the history, the more they protect this green space." Naturalist School founder Priya Venkatesh said: "Cubbon Walks offers a chance to discover hidden gems and fascinating stories and offers a chance to connect with nature. " Arun Pai, founder of Bangalore Walks, explained, "The walk has something for everyone... If you're curious and want to discover something remarkable in the heart of Bengaluru, you must join the walk." Ashish Patel, from TNS said, "It's not just about knowing facts—once people get to know the stories behind the trees, the ants, or even the termites in the park, their perspectives change. You may forget the exact details, but you walk away with a deeper connection. Whenever there is an attempt to replace greenery with concrete, people are more likely to stand up and say, 'Let's not do this'." Visitors can join the walks by booking online at or by emailing horticulturecubbon@


New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Go on guided 90-min tour of Cubbon Park from July 27
BENGALURU: Starting July 27, Bengalureans can go for a 90-minute guided walk through Cubbon Park every weekend. Called Cubbon Walks, the tour will delve into the lesser-known ecological life of the park — from stories about ants and spiders to reptiles, birds and flowers that bloom across seasons, apart from the park's history and its wide range of trees and botanical species. What makes these walks special is that each walk will begin from a different gate of Cubbon Park — sometimes from the Hudson Circle side, or the High Court gate, or from the BSNL office entrance. Officials said this is to ensure that even repeat participants discover new corners and stories of the park each time. 'Each group will be led by a retired expert with deep knowledge of Cubbon Park and supported by an officials from the department. People can start online bookings starting this Monday (July 21), and each walk will be limited to 30 participants. Tickets are priced at Rs 200 for adults and Rs 50 for children,' Kusuma G, Deputy Director of Horticulture Department, Cubbon Park, told TNIE, highlighting that the goal is to raise ecological awareness among citizens and help them appreciate the big lung space in the city. The 90-minute tour will be conducted every Saturday and Sunday, starting at 7.30 am. Up to two batches will be accommodated during one slot and depending on demand, more batches will be allowed in the following hours. The trained naturalists leading the walks will be equipped with microphones to explain the ecological layers of the park. Participants will be introduced to a variety of species and phenomena — from the ants that form long networks underground, to reptiles, seasonal flowers, rare trees, bird calls, and even urban wildlife conservation efforts. This is being rolled out as part of the horticulture department's effort to raise awareness about Bengaluru's urban biodiversity and to reconnect people with one of its largest lung spaces. The model will be expanded to Lalbagh as well in August. Four trials for the same were conducted by the department recently to understand the routes better and plan the walk.