BANGALORE

Innovative Film City - photo from pxhere.com under CC0 Public Domain

Bangalore Travel Blog: Table of Contents

Where, How?
Bangalore on C&C
Best Time To Visit Bangalore
Personal Notes
Where to Stay in Bangalore
Let’s Eat!
Let’s Go For a Drink
What to See and Do
Tipping in Bangalore
Common Scams & What to Avoid
C&C’s Google Map of the City
Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Asia

Population: 8,443,675 (2011)

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

Airport(s)

Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)

Airport Notes: 

Kempegowda International Airport is the third busiest airport in India. It is located at approximately 40 kilometers north of the center of Bangalore. The airport has one terminal that handles both domestic and international flights. There is a new terminal currently being constructed. Carriers include Air Asia, Jet Airways, Indigo, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, Thai Air Asia, Air India, and more.

Transportation to-and-from the Airport: 

The airport has many options for connection to the city of Bangalore. Taxis are regularly available outside of the airport. Mega Cabs, Mira Cabs, and KSTDC are the official taxi services of the Kempegowda International Airport. Uber and Ola private car services can be ordered from your smartphone. A shuttle service is available via Vayu Vajra. The shuttle buses are air-conditioned and comfortable.

Bus routes through BMTC and KSRTC are available for transport between Kempegowda International Airport and cities like Bangalore and Mysore. The airport does not have a train station. There are several car rental options available on-site at the airport.

Bangalore Travel Blog – Inner-City Transportation

The most common mode of transportation in Bangalore is the bus. BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) offers the most comprehensive system. Bus stations can be found all over the city. The Kempegowda Bus Station, also known as the Majestic Bus Station, is the largest bus station in the city. One side of the station is specifically reserved for the BMTC routes within the Bangalore city limits.

The Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Station, more commonly known as Bangalore City Station, is the main railway station serving the city. It is located across the street from the main bus station. It has 10 platforms and two entrances. The station is operated by Indian Railways.

Sea Bird, Orange Travels, and Sam Tour and Travels are private tour companies that offer bus, bike, and shuttle tours around Bangalore. Renting a bicycle is another option for getting around to see the sights in the city.

Autorickshaws are also commonly found throughout the city. It is recommended to negotiate the fare for your destination with the driver beforehand. Autorickshaw drivers have a reputation for trying to overcharge their passengers.

A Note on Taxis:

Taxis and private car services such as Uber (Use invite code 9nyahp to get a free ride!) and Ola, are the quickest way to travel in Bangalore. Taxi services in the city are generally very safe and reliable.

Bangalore Travel Blog – Neighborhoods

Indiranagar is the trendiest neighborhood in Bangalore. It has become a shopping hub for the city. There are many shops, restaurants, and commercial plazas offering classes and services of all type. Indiranagar is recommended for travelers looking for some fun. The famous stretch of road is referred to as “100-Feet Road.” It is the best place in the area to go looking for activity.

Ulsoor (or Halasuru) is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Bangalore. It is one of the most popular tourist areas in the city due to its ancient architecture and popular landmarks. There are many scenic lakes, including Ulsoor Lake, one of the largest in the city. The neighborhood also features several prominent temples to visit. The Kempe Gowda Tower is located on the east side of the lake. It is home to a large inscribed bell, known as the Chinese Bell. The Halasuru Someshwara Temple and the Sri Subrahmanya Temple are two of the oldest and most prestigious found in Ulsoor.

Murugeshpalya is a neighborhood in Bangalore. There you will find the Kemp Fort Mall complex, which is home to the Shiva temple. The temple features a 65-foot tall Shiva cement statue and a large Lord Ganesha statue.

Mahatma Gandhi Road, better known as MG Road, is one of the busiest areas of the city. One side of the road is lined with shops, eateries, office buildings, banks, theaters and hotels where to stay in Bangalore. The Eponymous Metro Station and the Trinity Metro Station are located on MG Road. Brigade Road is another well-known commercial center in the city. It connects MG Road and Residency Road.

Vasanth Nagar is an upscale neighborhood in the center of Bangalore. It is one of the busiest commercial districts in the city. Many luxury hotels where to stay in Bangalore can be found in Vasanth Nagar. The area features plenty of things to do in Bangalore like restaurants, bars, cafes, and nightlife. Koramangala is another neighborhood with similar characteristics. The Forum and Oasis malls found in the district make it a popular destination for locals on weekends.

Navigation Tips:

You know one thing? Bangalore’s quite difficult to navigate. Everything’s been built in a concentric circle, with the old town and main train station at its core. And so I don’t have any navigation tips for you… Keep your smartphone in hand at all times!

More About Bangalore on C&C

Bangalore Travel Blog – Best Time To Visit Bangalore

Average Monthly Minimum And Maximum Temperatures

Average min and max temperatures in Bangalore, India Where to stay in Bangalore
Average min and max temperatures in Bangalore, India Where to stay in Bangalore

Average Monthly Hours Of Sunshine

Average monthly sunhours in Bangalore, India Where to stay in Bangalore

Average Monthly Rainfall Or Snowfall

Average precipitation (rain/snow) in Bangalore, India Where to stay in Bangalore

Bangalore Travel Blog: Personal Notes

I’ve detailed my personal first encounter with Bangalore in this blog post: BANGALORE AND ITS LAYERS. As I write in this post, the old town, next to the main train station, is dirty, chaotic, intense. I have to admit that I didn’t feel comfortable there at all. However as soon as you step out of the old town and into the suburbs, it’s totally different experience: modern India is right there for you.

This also means that I strongly suggest that when looking where to stay in Bangalore, you take a hotel in the outskirts and not right next to the train station. Don’t make the mistake I made!

Bangalore Travel Blog: Where to Stay in Bangalore

There are very few good hostels where to stay in Bangalore. The only ones I would recommend are Electric Cats Bed & Breakfast and The Little Blue Window Hostel; they are cheap, clean and comfortable.

For mid-range prices, St. Mark’s Hotel and The Gateway Hotel Residency Road are both four-star hotels where to stay in Bangalore with a reasonable price.

Ramada Encore Domlur Bangalore, The Leela Palace Bangalore and Sterlings Mac Hotel Bangaluru are located inthe newer neighborhood Indiranagar, represent amazing options where to stay in Bangalore.

One of the largest lakes in Bangalore, the Ulsoor Lake is a enormous lake that is sprawled over an area of 50 hectares and you can find nearby places where to stay in Bangalore, options include Ute Suites Bangalore and Lemon Tree Premier Bangalore .

M. G. Road is also one of the busiest roads in the city and is lined on one side with retail stores, food outlets and restaurants. Also, it has many options where to stay in Bangalore Vivanta by Taj Bangalore, The Park Bangalore and WelcomHotel Bangaluru.

Numerous hotels where to stay in Bangalore exist in and around Koramangala area, most on the expensive side though. These include Davanam Sarovar Portico Suites, Octave Studio Hotel and OYO 5379 White House Hotel.

OYO 7654 The Palladium Hotel and Holiday Inn Express and Suites Bengaluru Racecourse are luxury and amazing places where to stay in Bangalore.

Of course, there are also the major chain hotels where to stay in Bangalore: JW Marriott Hotel BengaluruThe Ritz-Carlton Bangalore, and Shangri-La Hotel Bengaluru.

Just like everywhere, Airbnb is a very interesting option. If you’re not already a  member, you can use this Airbnb link to get $40 off your first reservation.



Booking.com

Bangalore Travel Blog – Let’s Eat!

Bangalore Travel Blog – Famous Foods and Specialties

The southern sector of India is best-known for its spices, coffee beans, and fine wines.

Bangalore is also home to many vegan restaurants. Recommendations for a few must-try dishes include…

  • Masala Dosa – a dosa is a thin, crisp pancake made from fermented batter. It is a staple of Indian cuisine. The masala dosa recipe is stuffed lightly cooked potatoes, chilis, onions, and spices.
  • Sambar Idli – Idli is a savory rice cake made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented lentils and rice. Sambar is a lentil-based vegetable stew cooked with a tamarind broth and South Asian spices. The cakes pair well with the Sambar flavor profile.
  • Akki Roti – is a rice-based dough made with vegetables and spices. It is cooked crispy and flat. It is typically served with coconut chutney. It is a popular breakfast dish in the state of Karnataka.
  • Mutton Biryani – a one-pot dish consisting of South Asian spices, marinated mutton, yogurt, and rice as the main ingredients. Mutton is similar to lamb meat. It can often be referred to as Beriani or Kachhi
  • Payasam – a popular dessert dish made with rice noodles, toasted cashews, and sweetened milk.

Other popular dishes to try in Bangalore include Korri Gassi, Kundapura, and Koli Saaru.

Bangalore Travel Blog – The Best Drunk Food

  • Thail – a large platter consisting of rice and several savory side dishes served in small bowls. The idea is that thali should incorporate flavors from all six tastes of food. The main ingredient is usually chicken curry or a vegetable mix depending on your preference. Great for sharing!
  • Mangalore Bun – a slightly sweet fluffy bun baked with banana on the inside. It is often served with curry or a spicy chutney for dipping.
  • Chicken Ghee Roast – chicken breast marinated and cooked in a sauce made from jaggery, curd, spicy chilis, tamarind paste, and various spices.

Our Suggestions – Dishes and Restaurants:

Some of the best locations in Bangalore to try authentic and eclectic cuisine are Truffles, 99 Varieties Dosa, Matteo Coffea, Vidyarthi Bhavan (<- must-go!), The Permit Room, CTR (Shri Sagar), and Karavalli at the Gateway Hotel.

Note: The Permit Room has closed its doors.

The best-rated restaurants in Bangalore are still its brewpubs! They (obviously) serve burgers and beers they make themselves. It’s still an interesting place to visit and see what modern India looks like! Try Toit, ABC India and The Biere Club – but there are more than a dozen options!

And don’t forget to try the street food! Bangalore even has a street food street. Check it out, especially at dinner time.

Bangalore Travel Blog – Let’s Go For a Drink

Bangalore Travel Blog – What Do the Locals Drink?

Beer is popular throughout Bangalore. Kingfisher is the number one selling brand in India. As I was saying in the restaurants section, the city has a growing micro-brew scene, with many small-batch brewing facilities that have opened in the city in recent years. United Breweries is the largest brewing facility in the country.

Banglore is home to several vineyards. Grover Zampa Vineyards and Bangalore Soma Vineyards are two of the most well-known in the area. Both feature wine tasting tours available for purchase.

Rum and Palm wine (also known as toddy) are popular spirits in India. Kakkara Paisthi is an Indian liquor prepared from fermented barley, rice, wheat, and ragi. Handia is a rice beer made with ranu tablets and many herbs.

Drinking in Public

The legal drinking age is 18 in Bangalore. Having an open container of alcohol in the streets is illegal. Tons of people do it, but remember that you’re a foreigner and that the police in India is quite corrupt. Don’t give them a reason to bother you…

Bangalore Travel Blog – Our Suggestions – Bars and Pubs

There are a lot of good bars in Bangalore… But the youth of the city is in love with its clubs.

The brewpubs suggested in the restaurant section also double as bars.

Purple Haze is a strange place where they serve cheap beer and show music videos of the best contemporary rock & roll music. How authentically Indian is that? Well… It’s 100% modern India!

Skyye, located in the UB City district, is an upscale rooftop bar recommended for its lively atmosphere, eclectic cuisine, and tasty cocktails.

High Ultra Lounge, is a trendy cocktail bar located at the top of Bangalore’s World Trade Center in the Malleshwaram district. It offers a full view of the city and regularly has popular DJs supplying the music.

As regular readers of this column know, I don’t know anything about clubs… Yet the last 2 suggestions clearly are! Listen, Bangalore is a clubby city, there’s no 2 ways about it.

Bangalore Travel Blog: What to see and do

Bangalore is commonly known as the “Silicon Valley of India.” It is the technology center of India. Many eastern and south-eastern neighborhoods are home to the headquarters for large IT companies including Infosys, ISRO, and Wipro. For this reason, many expats have chosen to call the city home.

Bangalore is also known as the “Garden City of India.” The nickname stems from the many parks and gardens found throughout the city. The Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park, Bannerghatta National Park, and Bugle Rock Park are popular destinations for nature lovers visiting the city. Ulsoor Lake and Hebbal Lake are two of the cities many lakes where travelers can enjoy nature and spot wildlife.

Bangalore enjoys moderate temperate throughout the year. September marks the beginning of the high season for tourism, which generally lasts until February.

The city has a very vibrant underground music and nightlife scene with a log of things to do in Bangalore. The city has grown a reputation for being the rock music capital of India. Pubs and lounges in Bangalore often feature live music acts, karaoke, and DJs on weekends. The Humming Bird Tree, Take 5 (permanently closed as of August 28, 2018), and the Indigo XP are well-known destinations to enjoy live music.

In Mathikere, you will find the Jai Prakash Narayan National Park, also known as JP Park. It is an 85-acre park located in the north-west sector of the Bangalore. It features a 25 acres lawn and four lakes. There is also a nature center, an exhibition plaza, and an amphitheater. The park closes at 8:30 pm daily.

Nandi Hills is an ancient hill fortress located near the airport in Bangalore. It is over 4,850 feet above sea level. Popular tourist attractions located on the hill include the Gavi Veerbhadra Swamy Temple, Tipu’s Summer Palace and Fort, Tipu’s Drop, and Horse Way. There are also many rivers and temples to browse at Nandi Hills. It is a popular destination for cycling and is the only place in Karnataka that offers paragliding.

Shivasamudram Falls is a beautiful system of segmented waterfalls. It makes for a fun day trip for travelers looking to escape the city for a day. The waterfall area is located approximately 135 kilometers outside of Bangalore. The ancient Sri Someshwara Temple and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple can be found here. Tour companies in the city offer transport and guides available to book in advance.

Wonderla is one of the largest amusement parks in India. It is located approximately 30 kilometers outside of Bangalore. It features an assortment of rides, shows, and attractions. It is a great destination for children.

Bangalore also has a lot to offer for visiting history lovers. Popular educational destinations include Bangalore Fort, the HAL Aerospace Museum, and the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum.

Bangalore Palace and Mayo Hall are well-known landmarks worth visiting to get a sense of the history and culture of the city of Bangalore.

Tipping in Bangalore

Just like in most of India, it’s not expected to tip but you are free to do so as a nice gesture. At restaurants, if there is a service charge, you can tip a small amount such as 5% of the bill or not tip at all. However if there isn’t a service charge, 10% of the total cost is a good amount to tip.

Bangalore Travel Blog – Common Scams & What to Avoid

Common Scams

Listen… This is India. There are plenty of scams, they are very elaborate, and even the most wary traveller might fall for them. So be aware when looking where to stay in Bangalore.

In India (Bangalore included), when arriving at the hotel you’ve reserved, always ask to see the room before paying. You never know what you’ll find when you open the door of your room.

There are plenty of fake AirBnb’s. Fortunately their customer service is very responsive and you’ll get a refund if you call them right after noticing a possible problem.

Hotels where to stay in Bangalore and India might be the hardest thing to get right. Be double-careful.

Watch out for kids who want to have a conversation with you, randomly, on the street. Always ask yourself, “what’s in it for them?”

Pickpockets

There are plenty of crowded spaces in Bangalore, especially at the train station. I haven’t had any problems, but I’ve witnessed a few incidents.

Taxis

Just like everywhere else in India, taxis and autorickshaws can be aggressive, will frequently refuse to use their meter (they’ll always say it’s broken) and if they do turn it on, they’ll give you the runaround as soon as it’s turned on. Always negotiate a price ahead of time, be ready to pay more than the locals, and stay patient.

Problematic Neighborhoods

Stay away from Chickpet.

How to Stay Safe: Tips and Tricks

READ MORE: Travel Canada Advisory for India

Bangalore Travel Blog: C&C’s Map