Better than most Indian Cities.... Review on Bangalore

'Namma Bengaluru' is Bangalore's equivalent to 'Amchi Mumbai'. Home to the software industries of India, IISc, Bangalore is also known as 'Pensioner's Paradise', 'The Garden City of India', ' Silicon City', 'Air Conditioned City', 'Pub Capital of India' and many more. Why is Bangalore so hyped? Why are some people so disappointed when they can’t see what they have heard so far about this city? The problems with people is that when they land in Bangalore, they expect to land in NY or Singapore. Trust me, it is still an Indian city with all its usual problems. So, don't expect PineSol cleansed roads with Corvettes, skyscrapers taller than the Empire State or anything of that sort.

However, after the brief warning, I must admit that B’lore is among the most vibrant and livable cities in India. What makes it so great? Its probably the only south Indian city that has more English and hindi speakers than the local language. So, when some north Indians crib about Kannada, please remind yourself, when was the last time you saw a auto wallah speak in English in Delhi or Bombay. I mean without the knowledge of hindi, you are branded an outcaste out there. On the other hand Bangalore is definitely the city that welcomes people of all sorts alike.

Tech Capital of India

Okay, techno and geek is in. You do actually feel it when you take a round through the city about the intellectual level of the auto drivers and the cops are definitely more helpful than in say Delhi. I was once surprised to find an auto-wallah who claimed to check email regularly to keep in touch with his son, who was studying in an engineering school in a 'Regional Engineering College'. Most of the mutinationals barring Microsoft have their headquarters in Bangalore. Some names that I can think of are Sun, Texas Instruments, GE, Intel, Motorola etc. A great way to get a feel of the tech culture would be to drive to 'Electronic city' or the 'International Tech Park, Ltd'. There are also many companies in Koramangala, Airport Rd and Indiranagar.

Hungry, Kya?

Bangalore is also one of the best places to tantalize those taste buds. You can find the best of north-indian, south-indian, Andhra, Irani, Italian and tradional Kannadiga food out here. Try out Fanoos on Brigades(leave hygeine behind), Imperial (Shivaji Ngr), Lazeez (Koramangala), Woodys (Commercial St), MTR (near Lalbagh). Tradional Kannadiga favorites include Bisibele bhaath, Upma, Holige, Kundapur Chicken and Neer dose.

Water, Water Everywhere and lots to drink

You don't have to be an alcoholic to witness the Pub culture in the city. Most pubs close by midnight and it would be advisable to reach there by say 7:00 pm to spend some quality time with your friends and collegues. 'Purple Haze' on residency road is a haven for rock fans and is a sure visit. Be forewarned that it would be impossible to strike a decent conversation as the decibel level inside is deafening. 'Guzzler's inn on Rest house road is another loud one. For a decent evening, try out Pecos on the same road. You may find time to say hello to your neighbor in between songs. 'Pub World' on residency road is based on a British pub and is more classier for an evening with more distinguished company. Also don't miss out Styx, The Underground (MG Road), The Cellar (Brigades), Bunker (Residency) and the infamous Madans (Koramangala. Make sure you try out the Pork Pepper fry out there). But be warned that the cops are pretty strict these days on drunk drivers. Make sure you have a designated river along with you.

Max your Mastercard

Shopping in Bangalore is more than M G Road and Brigades. Check out Commercial Street. Most shops accept credit cards, though have some cash handy for some road side shopping. Also check out Jaynagar Shopping complex, Majestic, Chikpet, Avenue Road among others places where you can splurge. Best things to buy in Bangalore are the south-indian handicrafts, silk sarees and sandal wood products.

Garden City of India:

Bangalore was known as the 'Garden City of India'. These days it is home to most floriculture industries, the weather being one of the main reasons. Within the city, do visit Cubbon park and Lalbaugh. They are located in the heart of the city and are ideal places to just relax. However, don't try that on weekends or evenings. The crowd is sure to drive you insane. Atleast, it did to me. Visit the Vidhana Soudha, which is house to the offices of the state cabinet of Karnataka. It is an impressive structure. You can catch the red building opposite to it, which is the High Court.

Moving around:

Public transport is not too much to talk about in the city. The Radio taxis that were introduced a few years back, are available at most locations and are just a phone call away.Auto rickshaws are also available aplenty and are metered. However, you may need to pay the driver 1.5 times the fare, if you are travelling at night after 11:00 PM. The blue buses run by BMTC are mostly crowded but are the best bet for budget travel.

Getaways:

Bangalore is surrounded by great locations. Bannerghatta National park is around 30kms away and though the lions evoke pity, it is still a great weekend destination. Check out Nandibetta, which is the closest hill station around. There are good amusement parks around the city, which are good getaways as well. Bandipur National park is also closeby and is one of the best wildlife destinations in the country, primarily known for 'Project Tiger'. Do try to visit Mysore, another interesting and vibrant city known for parks and Palaces.

Bangalore used to be called 'The Pensioner's paradise'. I doubt if the title still holds, but is still a peaceful city that works at a decent pace. You don't have to get at 4:00 am in the morning to get to work as in Bombay or plan a week ahead to get to the other end of the city. It is also called the “Air conditioned city', and the weather is among the best of all Indian cities. In short, it is a nice smallish city though it may not be the case, say five years from now. It is after all India's fastest growing city.

--damo--