Vidhana Soudha Opens Doors for Guided Walking Tours Starting June 1

In a landmark initiative to bring citizens closer to the heart of Karnataka’s democracy, a first-of-its-kind Guided Walking Tour of Vidhana Soudha was inaugurated on Sunday.

Starting June 1, the public will be able to explore Bengaluru’s most iconic and architecturally stunning structure, long revered as the "Temple of Democracy."

Developed by the Department of Tourism and Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), in collaboration with the Speaker’s Office, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), and the Vidhana Soudha Security Division, the tours will operate on Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Each 90-minute tour will accommodate 30 participants, with the capacity to host up to 300 visitors daily. A Tour Guide, Tourist Mitra, and security personnel will accompany every group. The ₹50 entry fee covers a 1.5 km route through seven key locations within the Vidhana Soudha complex. Children under 16 can join for free, though prior registration is mandatory. Notably, special slots in English will be introduced for non-Kannada speakers.

This is more than a tour—it’s a transformational programme to showcase the beauty and legacy of democracy, said officials. Special emphasis has been placed on student participation to foster civic understanding among youth, with free entry for school students carrying a valid ID and Aadhaar.

Interested visitors can book their slots through KSTDC’s website https://kstdc.co/activities/. While email-based booking is currently active, a dedicated online ticketing portal will launch soon. Limited walk-in tickets may also be available at the KSTDC helpdesk onsite. All participants must present original physical ID documents at entry; digital copies will not be accepted.