If you visit Lalbagh Botanical Garden and only see the Glass House, you have missed half the garden. I did the same on my first visit. On my second visit in January 2024 during the flower show, I saw a small board near the Glass House saying “Rose Garden – 200m”. I followed that mud track and I was shocked. There were rows of roses, more than I had ever seen in Bangalore.
Most people think Lalbagh Rose Garden is a small patch with 10-15 rose plants. It is not. It is one of the largest rose gardens in Bangalore and it is maintained separately from the main flower show.
Where is Rose Garden Inside Lalbagh?
Rose Garden is towards the south side of the Glass House. If you stand in front of the Glass House with your back to the main gate, take the left side paved road. Walk for 2-3 minutes. You will cross the cactus garden on your right and then you will see a fenced area with iron boards. That is the Rose Garden.
If you are entering from Gate No. 2 (Jayanagar / East Gate), it is even closer. Just 5 minutes walk straight. This is why I tell people to enter from Gate No. 2 if they want to see roses first, because morning light is best there.
The garden is spread in a circular design with small walking lanes in between. You can walk inside the lanes, but you cannot go inside the rose beds.
How Many Types of Roses Are There?
The Horticulture Department board at the entrance says there are more than 100 varieties of roses in Lalbagh Rose Garden. I counted only the name plates and found around 70-80 different names.
Some varieties you will easily find:
- Bangalore Rose – local variety, small and dark red, most common here
- Taj Mahal Rose – big white rose, very fragrant
- First Prize Rose – deep pink, this one wins prizes every year in flower show
- Dutch Roses – imported, yellow and orange mixed
- Miniature Roses – small pot roses, kept near the entrance
The roses are not from Bangalore only. Many are brought from Ooty, Pune and even Holland for the collection. Each plant has a small name plate with its botanical name.
Best Time to Visit Rose Garden
This is very important. If you go in August or September, you will see only leaves and thorns. I went in September 2024 and there were hardly 20-30 flowers.
Best time is December to February. Why? Two reasons:
- January is the main rose blooming season in Bangalore because of cold weather.
- Republic Day Flower Show happens in January inside Glass House, so the Horticulture Department maintains the Rose Garden extra well during that time. All plants are pruned and full of flowers in January.
Second best time is June to July, just after first rains. Roses bloom again lightly.
Best time in a day is 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Morning dew is still on the petals and there is no harsh sun. Photos come out really well. After 11 AM, sun is directly on top and roses start to look dull in photos.
Timings and Entry Fee for Rose Garden
There is no separate ticket for Rose Garden. Your main Lalbagh entry ticket covers it.
- Timings: Same as Lalbagh Garden – 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Rose Garden gate closes at 5:30 PM)
- Entry Fee: Rs. 30 for adults after 9 AM, FREE for morning walkers (6 AM – 9 AM) and for kids below 12 years.
No extra camera fee for mobile. If you have a DSLR for professional shoot, they will charge at the main gate (Rs. 4000 for pre-wedding, which I covered in my photography article).
The Rose Garden has its own small gate which is locked during flower show week to control crowd.
Photography Rules Inside Rose Garden
You can take photos with mobile freely. But there are 3 rules written on the board which most people ignore:
- Do not pluck roses. Fine is Rs. 500. I have seen a guard actually fining a person near the red rose bed.
- Do not go inside the fenced rose beds for photos. Stay on the walking track.
- Tripods are not allowed inside Rose Garden without permission. They block the narrow lanes.
If you want that perfect Instagram photo, stand at the center circle. From there, you get all rose beds in the background in a circular pattern. Early morning light from east side gives best results.
How to Reach Rose Garden Fast
- From Gate No. 1 (Double Road / MG Road side): 15 minutes walk. Go towards Glass House, then take left.
- From Gate No. 2 (Jayanagar / South Gate): 5 minutes walk, straight road.
- From Gate No. 3 (Siddapura / West Gate): 12 minutes walk via lake.
- From Gate No. 4 (Hosur Road / North Gate): 18 minutes walk.
If you are coming by metro, get down at Lalbagh Metro Station and take an auto to Gate No. 2. Tell auto driver “Rose Garden side gate”.
Check also: Lalbagh Botanical Garden Gates: Which Gate to Enter? Complete Guide
My Personal Tip
Most visitors rush. They go to Rose Garden, take 2 photos and leave in 5 minutes. Don’t do that.
There is a small bench near the white Taj Mahal rose bed, under a small gulmohar tree. Sit there for 10 minutes around 8 AM. You will see honeybees, small sunbirds, and the gardener watering the plants with a hose pipe. That 10 minutes will feel more peaceful than the whole Glass House crowd.
And one more thing – smell the Bangalore Rose. It has a very strong desi fragrance which you will not find in the imported Dutch roses. The imported ones look good but have no smell.
FAQ
Q. Is Lalbagh Rose Garden open today?
Yes, it is open all 7 days from 6 AM to 5:30 PM, same as Lalbagh Garden.
Q. Which month is best for Lalbagh Rose Garden?
January is best. December to February is rose season in Bangalore.
Q. Is there any separate ticket for Rose Garden?
No, no separate ticket. Main Lalbagh ticket of Rs. 30 is enough.
Q. Can we buy rose plants from Lalbagh Rose Garden?
No, you cannot buy from Rose Garden directly. For buying rose plants, go to Lalbagh Nursery near Gate No. 2. They sell rose saplings for Rs. 50 to Rs. 150.
Chavi Devi is the founder and author of Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Based in Bengaluru, she has been documenting Lalbagh for the last 2 years – from ticket prices and timings to hidden rules and photography permissions. She visits the garden regularly to verify information and creates simple, practical guides for first-time visitors.
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