Bengaluru's Hidden Heritage Tour

We had a wonderful day exploring Bangalore with Ashwini. What I really loved about her approach is that even though the trip was Bangalore-specific and we visited many places within the city, her storytelling was never limited to just Bangalore. Through her narratives, I actually got a much broader orientation — from understanding the Wodeyars and their role in Karnataka, to British history, and even larger connections to Indian history as a whole. It was incredibly enriching and gave me a much deeper context than I expected from a city tour. If you are truly a history lover, then Ashwini is the best! I highly recommend her!!

Ashwini is a wonderful knowledge bank, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Bangalore with her. As someone who is not originally from this city, I learned so much that I had never known before. One insight that really stayed with me was her explanation of how Bangalore, despite being geographically disadvantaged compared to coastal cities like Bombay, still evolved into such an important and thriving city. The way she connected geography, history, and decision-making over time was fascinating and gave me a completely new perspective. I would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone who wants to know Bangalore well.

One of my friends suggested we try this heritage experience with Ashwini, and we immediately jumped at the idea. I’m so glad we did. As women, our usual outings are often malls or potlucks, so this felt genuinely different and a little adventurous. Despite living in Bangalore for many years, I had never visited places like Tipu Sultan’s Palace or Bangalore Fort. The fort may be small, but it’s incredibly significant—and the way Ashwini narrated its history felt less like a lesson and more like a human story. That’s what I appreciated most: it never felt academic, it felt alive. Tipu Sultan’s Palace was beautiful, especially the teakwood interiors and arches, and we got some lovely photos there. Even places we thought we knew well—Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, and the High Court—felt completely different when seen through her stories and perspective. I genuinely feel I understand my own city better after this experience. I truly hope she extends these tours beyond Bangalore—if she ever does a Hampi tour, I’d happily join with my family and kids.

I’m a history enthusiast myself and follow several historians on Instagram, including Ashwini. So, when I finally got the opportunity to explore Bangalore with her, I was curious to know a lot more about the places that i heard about and had a lot of questions. Ashwini really impressed me by patiently and passionately answering my every single question. Her knowledge, warmth, and genuine love for the city really stands out. I wish her all the very best and would definitely recommend this experience to anyone looking to explore Bangalore with meaning and depth. Looking forward to explore more places with Ashwini!

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Ashwini is extremely knowledgeable and a wonderful host. She has a very warm way of engaging with people, and her depth of understanding really stands out. I’ve been following Ashwini on Instagram for a while, but what surprised me most was the way she notices and explains small nuances on site. While walking through Bangalore Fort, she pointed out differences in architectural styles — identifying Mughal influences linked to Hyder Ali and contrasting stonework that suggested earlier rulers. She even explained Hoysala carvings, like the Sala motif, with such clarity and ease. We visited Tipu Sultan’s Palace, Bangalore Fort, Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, and Vidhana Soudha, and every place came alive through her storytelling. You can truly sense how much she has read, observed, and absorbed over the years. It was a day very well spent, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to understand the pulse and living history of Bangalore beyond the usual sightseeing.

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Ashwini is deeply passionate about Bengaluru, and that passion comes from a place of lived experience. She has been born and brought up here, and during our walk she shared that Lalbagh was quite literally her backyard growing up. Hearing the city's stories from someone so authentically rooted in Bengaluru adds a rare and meaningful dimension to the experience. Her knowledge of the city's history is extensive, especially her understanding of Tipu Sultan, Kempegowda, and how Bengaluru evolved over time. One of the most striking moments for me was standing at the watchtower inside Lalbagh and learning how Kempegowda once imagined this as the city's boundary — and then realising how vastly the city has expanded beyond that today. It was a powerful way to visualise Bengaluru's growth. Ashwini has a wonderful ability to draw connections across places and eras. She explained the distinction between native Bengaluru and British Bengaluru in a way that felt immediately obvious once pointed out — how areas like KR Market, Basavanagudi, and surrounding neighbourhoods carry local names, while crossing Cubbon Park leads into Langford Town, Cox Town, Residency Road, and other colonial-era names. Having lived in Bengaluru for over ten years, I was surprised that I had never consciously noticed this before. The way Ashwini explained these transitions was thoughtful, clear, and engaging. It didn't feel like a lecture, but a conversation that made the city slowly reveal itself. We enjoyed the experience so much that when my sister mentioned she would be visiting from Australia next month, I immediately booked Ashwini to host our entire family. I'm very much looking forward to sharing this experience with them as well. If you want to understand a city through history, geography, and lived stories — rather than just seeing landmarks — Ashwini offers something truly special.