Bengaluru Double Decker Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Service Brings London-Style Tours to City

Double-decker buses have returned to Bengaluru after nearly 27 years, with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) launching a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing service from Wednesday, January 21. This marks the first such service in the city since 1997, offering residents and visitors a structured way to explore central Bengaluru.

KSTDC has deployed three Ambaari double-decker buses for the pilot phase. Each bus can carry 40 passengers, split evenly between an air-conditioned lower deck and an open-top upper deck that provides unobstructed city views. The service is focused on tourism rather than daily commuting, distinguishing it from earlier experiments by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation that were eventually discontinued.

The sightseeing circuit begins and ends at Ravindra Kala Kshetra and moves through key civic and heritage zones of the city. The route passes Corporation Circle, Hudson Circle and Kasturba Road, covering landmarks such as Visvesvaraya Museum, Chinnaswamy Stadium, the General Post Office, the High Court and Vidhana Soudha. Passengers can board or exit at designated stops, allowing them to plan their visits based on interest and time availability.

Initially, the service is being run on a shorter loop, but tourism officials said there are plans to expand the route to include up to 26 tourist locations, extending as far as Trinity Circle. The buses being introduced in Bengaluru are currently used for city tours in Mysuru, especially during the Dasara season.

The hop-on, hop-off buses will operate every day between 10 am and 5.30 pm. A full-day pass costs Rs 180 and can be booked online through the KSTDC website or purchased directly at Ravindra Kala Kshetra. The ticket allows passengers to use the service multiple times along the loop during operating hours.

Tourism department officials said the initiative is designed to make sightseeing simpler in a city where attractions are spread across busy administrative and commercial zones. The buses also feature audio commentary that provides brief information about prominent locations as the route progresses.

The Ambaari double-decker buses carry exterior artwork highlighting Karnataka's culture, wildlife and tourist destinations, adding a visual identity to the service. Officials believe the combination of fixed routes, flexible boarding and open-top seating will appeal to both first-time visitors and Bengalureans looking to rediscover the city.

The service was formally flagged off at Ravindra Kala Kshetra by Tourism Minister H.K. Patil, signalling a renewed push to strengthen organised urban tourism in Bengaluru.