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The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
102 visitors take guided tour of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on opening day
A total of 102 visitors took the guided tour as Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru opened its gates for a Guided Walking Tour on Sunday and will happen every Sunday and second and fourth Saturdays in a month. Two tours were conducted in Kannada while two more were conducted in English. Bookings were open on the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) website for four slots with a maximum capacity of 30 members per slot. While 67 men and 53 women (120 in total) had initially booked the slots, only 102 participated in the tour on Sunday. The guided tour, which is a joint initiative of the Department of Tourism in association with the Speaker's Office – Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) and Vidhana Soudha Security Division, will take place every Sunday and second and fourth Saturdays of the month in designated time slots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The entry fee for the tour is ₹50 per person and free for children under the age of 16 years.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ever wondered what's inside Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha? See for yourself, now
Bengaluru's iconic Vidhana Soudha will now open its doors to the public, allowing visitors a unique glimpse into Karnataka's legislative heart and architectural grandeur. Starting June 1, this significant parliament building will host guided tours every Sunday from 9.30 am to 11 am, KSTDC employee Maheshwarappa told us. 'IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE PARLIAMENT' As the seat of the Karnataka State Legislature, the Vidhana Soudha is where key policies and decisions shaping the state are made, instilling the building with significant historical and political weight. 'This guided tour offers common and middle-class people a unique opportunity to witness the inner workings of the Parliament, something typically inaccessible on a regular day,' says Maheshwarappa. All you need to know about the guided tour Each guided tour will accommodate a group of 30 people for 90 minutes, allowing them to explore both the Vidhana Soudha and Vikas Soudha and understand the workings of the state legislature. The tour will be available in both English and Kannada. Tickets can be booked via the KSTDC official website. Tours will be conducted every Sunday of the month and occasionally on general holidays. 'AN INITIATIVE TO UNDERSTAND THE LEGACY OF VIDHANA SOUDHA' Vinay Parameshwarappa of Gully Tours, who trained the Vidhana Soudha's volunteer guides, shares, 'We curated this special guided tour so visitors can easily understand its history and architecture. Vidhana Soudha boasts a rich history as one of the largest legislative buildings in the country. I believe this tour is a great example of public participation in democracy, offering insight into the assembly's workings. ' He adds, 'The inspiration came from Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, which opened to visitors about 10 years ago and offered a phenomenal experience. Hopefully, Vidhana Soudha will receive a similar response from the public here.'
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Vidhana Soudha opens doors to public for guided tours from June 1
BENGALURU: For the first time, the public will get a guided tour of Karnataka's iconic seat of power — the Vidhana Soudha. Starting June 1, visitors can explore the grandeur of the State's legislative building by paying an entry fee of Rs 50. However, students up to Class 10 or under the age of 15 will get free entry, but registration is mandatory. Visitors can tour the building on all Sundays, as well as on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, as part of the initiative by the Department of Tourism, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) in coordination with Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speakers Office (KLASO) and others. Approximately 300 visitors will be allowed per day, divided into slots of 30 participants each. The guided tour, in Kannada and English, will begin at 8am and go on till 5pm. However, carrying and using single-use plastic items is strictly banned within the complex premises. Tickets for the guided tour that covers a distance of 1.5km are available at The organisers informed that the tour will not operate on days when the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council is in session, or when security advisories are in place. Inaugurating the guided tour on Sunday, Speaker UT Khader called the initiative unique, where the citizens can immerse themselves in the rich legacy of the state's democratic heritage. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said, 'Vidhana Soudha is the very heart of our democracy. By opening its halls and corridors for guided walks, we are giving the public a chance to witness history, architecture and governance.' The visitors will also need to carry a physical copy of their original Aadhaar card, while students will need a valid school ID along with Aadhaar. Foreigners should produce their original passports for verification. 'Kengal Hanumanthaiah, the architect of the majestic Vidhana Soudha, wanted to build something that reflected Indian identity — a building with Indian composition which did not carry the colonial imprint,' said tourist guide Septhar.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru to be open for guided tours from June 1
A first-of-its-kind experience, the Guided Walking Tour of Vidhana Soudha was inaugurated on Sunday. The tour of Bengaluru's iconic landmark will be open to the public from June 1. Speaking at the inauguration, Minister of Tourism, Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil said that these tours should not be thought of as recreational. 'Vidhana Soudha is not just any other building but one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is also the temple of democracy. Whoever finishes this tour should be able to identify their role in democracy. We want visitors to dream and aspire to become a Chief Minister or a Speaker or an Opposition party leader and represent people. We want to bring out a sense of pride about Karnataka.' 90-minute tour The tours developed by Department of Tourism and Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) in association with the Speaker's Office – Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) and Vidhana Soudha Security Division will take place every Sunday and second and fourth Saturdays of the month in designated time slots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Each tour group will consist of 30 people and will take approximately 90 minutes and will be supervised by a Tour Guide, Tourist Mitra and Vidhana Soudha security personnel. 'We aim to accommodate 300 people in a day in these tours. We also plan to have separate slots for tours in English,' said Rajendra K.V., Director of Tourism Department and MD of KSTDC. Entry fee Entry for the tour will be given at Gate 3 of Vidhana Soudha and will then cover seven points of interest spanning approximately 1.5 kilometres. The entry fee for the tour is fixed at ₹50 per person. However, for children under the age of 16, the tickets are free, but registration is mandatory. 'We see this as a transformation programme to showcase the beauty and legacy of democracy. Only those who understand history can create history. We want every student to understand democracy and create that kind of history. That is why we have decided to make the tour free for students,' said U.T. Khader, Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Online booking Those interested in booking tickets for the tour can do so on KSTDC's website While currently there is an option to send an email to KSTDC and then get a controlled link for booking, soon there will be a designated ticket booking portal on the website. Limited tickets may also be available at the KSTDC helpdesk on site. The visitors will also need to carry a physical copy of their original Aadhar card (digital copies will not be accepted) while students will need to carry a valid school ID along with original Aadhar. Foreign nationals should produce their original passports for verification at the entry point.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Now, a guided tour of Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha for public six days a month
A first-of-its-kind experience, the Guided Walking Tour of Vidhana Soudha was inaugurated on Sunday (May 25, 2025). The tour of Bengaluru's iconic landmark will be open to the public from June 1. Speaking at the inauguration, Minister of Tourism, Law and Parliamentary Affairs H. K. Patil said that these tours should not be thought of as recreational. 'Vidhana Soudha is not just any other building but one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is also the temple of democracy. Whoever finishes this tour should be able to identify their role in democracy. We want visitors to dream and aspire to become a Chief Minister or a Speaker or an Opposition party leader and represent people. We want to bring out a sense of pride about Karnataka.' A 90-minute tour The tours developed by Department of Tourism and Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) in association with the Speaker's Office – Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) and Vidhana Soudha Security Division will take place every Sunday and second and fourth Saturdays of the month in designated time slots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Each tour group will consist of 30 people and will take approximately 90 minutes and will be supervised by a Tour Guide, Tourist Mitra and Vidhana Soudha security personnel. 'We aim to accommodate 300 people in a day in these tours. We also plan to have separate slots for tours in English,' said Rajendra K.V., Director of Tourism Department and MD of KSTDC. Entry fee of ₹50/person Entry for the tour will be given at Gate 3 of Vidhana Soudha and will then cover seven points of interest spanning approximately 1.5 kilometres. The entry fee for the tour is fixed at ₹50 per person. However, for children under the age of 16, the tickets are free, but registration is mandatory. 'We see this as a transformation programme to showcase the beauty and legacy of democracy. Only those who understand history can create history. We want every student to understand democracy and create that kind of history. That is why we have decided to make the tour free for students,' said U. T. Khader, Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Online booking of slots Those interested in booking tickets for the tour can do so on KSTDC's website While currently there is an option to send an email to KSTDC and then get a controlled link for booking, soon there will be a designated ticket booking portal on the website. Limited tickets may also be available at the KSTDC helpdesk on site. The visitors will also need to carry a physical copy of their original Aadhar card (digital copies will not be accepted) while students will need to carry a valid school ID along with original Aadhar. Foreign nationals should produce their original passports for verification at the entry point.
