In every spring, Bengaluru blushes, blossoms, and bathes with pink. A city otherwise known for its horrific traffic and crowds suddenly turns into a living canvas painted with different shades of pink. Fuchsia, bubblegum pink, strawberry pink, hot pink, baby pink. All sorts of pink. However, the most striking color is the baby pink of fully bloomed pink trumpet trees. You will find them in parks, gardens, beside roads, everywhere. You do not need to even look up at the higher branches. You can even spot a blanket of fallen pink petals on the road.
We all know Japan is the most popular spring destination in the world for the abundance of Sakura Cherry blossoms. And, people from all over the world flock to Japan to witness the phenomena. It is crowded and quite heavy on the pocket. Let’s do something different and more pocket-friendly this spring. I will take you to Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, to witness the color riots, often called Pink Bengaluru.
Here is your only guide to know how/where to find Bengaluru’s version of cherry blossom.
A bit about Pink Trumpet, the plant first
Often confused with cherry blossoms like in Japan, the pink in Bangalore is actually from a tree named Tabebuia Avellaneda. It is popularly called Pink Trumpets. If you look closely, the shape of the flower looks exactly like a trumpet, a musical instrument. Thus, it is popularly called pink trumpets. Tabebuia Avellaneda or pink trumpet is a neotropical tree from Central America.
Not only baby pink of Tabebuia Avellaneda, but you will also spot yellow from Tabebuia Argentea and fuchsia of Tabebuia Rosea across the city’s landscapes.
How does Bengaluru turn into a pink heaven every spring?
Are you wondering how the pink trumpet is sweeping Bangalore with colors, a city so far away from its native Mexico? Well, this started with a king’s obsession with these flowers.
ln the late 19th century, the British made military settlements in and around Bengaluru. They wanted to decorate their houses with exotic plants and flowers. So, they brought pink trumpets and many other exotic plants and trees from their native and other colonies. Back then, Bengaluru was under the rule of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the king of Mysore. He took a fancy to these flowers so much that he ordered planting hundreds of pink trumpet trees in the Lalbagh Garden, the royal garden, and across the city. He even hired renowned horticulturists John Cameron and Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel from Europe as the economic botanists and supervisors of the Lal Bagh Garden to oversee the entire project. I do not blame him for the obsession. These flowers are very pretty.
In 1980, SG Neginhal, a renowned horticulturist, decided to plant Tabebuia Avellaneda as avenue trees across Bengaluru. Thus, turning Bengaluru into a pink paradise every spring.
Best season to spot Pink Blossoms of Bangalore
The bloom starts in late December and lasts till the end of March. However, the peak season is the Mid-March. During this time, all trees will bloom to their full capacity and shade their leaves. So, all you can see is pink.
Not only baby pink of Tabebuia Rosea, but you will also spot yellow from Tabebuia Argentea and fuchsia of Tabebuia Rosea across the city’s landscapes.
How to reach Bangalore
Bengaluru by Flight
Kempegowda International Airport serves Bengaluru. It has two terminals and has frequent flights to many domestic and international locations. The airport is 30 KM outside the city limits. Free shuttle buses run frequently between the two terminals.
Airport to City Center
You can take a taxi, bus, or train from the airport to different parts of the city.
By Taxi
Different cab aggregators like Uber, Ola, and some private cab operators are available. Each has separate pick-up zones just outside the terminal.
~ 12-25 USD or 1000-2000 INR
1-2 hours
By Bus
BMTC runs AC Volvo buses from both terminals across different parts of the city. The service is 24*7 but the frequency and route options reduce significantly from midnight to 5 am.
~ 1.25-4 USD or 100-300 INR
1-2 hours
By Train
Recently, the Kempegowda International Airport Halt railway station (station code: KIAD) has started operating. However, only 4-5 trains run on this route that connects all major railway stations in the city. The station is 3.5 KM away from the terminals. A free shuttle bus runs between the terminals and the station.
~ 0.36 USD or 30 INR
1 hour
Bengaluru by Train
Bengaluru is one of the major cities in India and is well-connected from every corner of the country. 5 major railway stations serve the city. They are
- Bangalore City Railway Station (Station code: SBC), officially known as Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru Station, commonly known as KSR Bengaluru Station. It is the busiest one.
- Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station (Station code: BNC)
- Yesvantpur Junction Railway Station (Station code: YPR)
- Krishnarajapuram Railway Station or KR Puram Railway Station (Station code: KJM)
- Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal commonly known as SMVT (Station code: SMVB).
Bengaluru by Road
Bengaluru is well connected through highways and expressways with other cities in India. Road conditions are mostly good. You can easily drive from any part of Southern India.
By Bus:
Govt and private operators run AC Volvo/ non-AC seater/sleeper buses to/from all major places in the southern part of India, even from Goa, Pune, and Mumbai. Buses will have multiple pick-ups and drops across the city.
If you are searching for more options for one-day trips from Bangalore, you can visit Mandaragiri Hills or Muninagara Dam.
Getting Around in Bengaluru
Bangalore is a huge city. A lot of infrastructure projects are going on across the city. Gone are the days, when Bengaluru was the most cycle-friendly city. Now most roads either do not have footpaths or have broken ones. Sadly, it is not a walkable city anymore.
By Metro
Bengaluru is infamous for its traffic, and narrow roads. So, your best bet is to utilize its metro line. Currently, it has two operating routes from north to south and east to west, coinciding at the Majestic station. Majestic is a major hub for intercity trains and bus services. The metro operates from 5 am to 11 pm with a frequency of 5-15 minutes. You can buy coins (single rides), smart cards (multiple rides), or use an app. Day passes are available.
By Bus
Both AC Volvo and non-AC buses are available across many routes within the city. Most buses are crowded. Fare ranges from 25 – 100 Indian rupees.
By Cab
Cab aggregators like Uber, and Ola are easily available throughout the city. Use them for your transport from/to the airport, railway stations, and sights located outside the metro route. Use day rentals to avoid the hassle of booking multiple times.
By Auto
Well, riding an auto in Bengaluru is not for the faint-hearted. Most auto drivers will drive harshly and break traffic rules. It is impossible to catch an auto on your own with fair value. You can book it through Ola, Uber, and the Namma Yatri app.
Places to see Pink Trumpets in Bengaluru
Honestly, you do not have to go to a dedicated point to see the fully bloomed pink trumpet trees during the peak season, say mid-February to late March. Just roam around the city, and you will spot them in abundance.
However, a few places in the city have the highest concentration of these trees. Here is the list of places in Bengaluru where you can spot pink trumpets easily.
- Cubbon Park
- Beniganahalli Lake
- AECS Layout, Marathalli
- Outer Ring Road
- Madiwala
- Yelahanka
- KR Puram Bridge
- Domlur crossing and 100 ft road from Domlur towards Koramangala
Watch Videos
Have some more time in hand? Watch the video.
Where else in India, you can spot spring blossoms
If you happen to travel to India during spring and seeing pink trumpets in Bengaluru makes you long for more spring blossoms, here is your list of spring blossoms in India other than the pink trumpets of Bengaluru.
- Cherry Blossoms in Himachal
- Tulips, apples, apricots, and pear blossoms in Kashmir
- Palash blossoms in Purulia, India
