Take the bus not only for work or as the last resort, ride it to take in the unique history and sights of your city on this Bus Day

There's more to Bangalore than just monstrous IT parks, glitzy malls and flyovers. The city is steeped in history, with old temples, forts and palaces along with grand parks and green spaces from colonial times.

Apart from walking, public transport is perhaps the best way to see the city with its unhurried pace, several stops and the generally peering out of your bus window. So if you have a day in hand, ditch your cars and two wheelers, instead take the bus and rediscover your city.

Meera Iyer, coordinator of the Bangalore chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a non-profit organisation that helps conserve and restore India's architectural and cultural heritage, helps you peep into Bangalore's cultural and historical past.

Koramangala
If you know that Kempegowda, a chieftain from Yelahanka, founded the city of Bangalore, you've probably heard of the tragic tale of sacrifice associated with its establishment. The story goes that in 1537, when construction of Kempegowda's fort was nearly complete, the king ran into a problem. Each time the southern gate was constructed, it would collapse at night. Astrologers advised Kempegowda that a human sacrifice, especially of a pregnant woman, would solve the issue. But Kempegowda found this idea repugnant. Knowing her father-in-law's predicament, Lakshmamma, Kempegowda's pregnant daughter-in-law, decided to take matters into her hand and sacrificed herself to appease the gods. A distraught Kempegowda raised a temple dedicated to the courageous woman.

You can see this temple and a memorial dedicated to Lakshmamma in Koramangala, 6th Block, near the Parikrama School. The temple has undergone extensive renovations and little remains to indicate its past history. The temple opens only on Friday mornings. The memorial lies in the pocket-sized Lakshmamma Park, half a kilometre from the temple. The BBMP-maintained park is also used as a burial ground.

Bus Number: 411 K
From Bannerghatta National Park
Destination Marathahalli Bridge
Passing through HAL Main Gate, Koramangala 80 ft Road, Hulimavu Gate