Bangalore
Known as the Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore is a 21st-century city moulded by rich cultural heritage.
With the advent of the Information Technology industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s Bangalore embraced, still does, millions of immigrants from across the world every year. This influx of migrants also brought upon infrastructural changes in the city. But, Bangalore made sure that it held on to its cultural heritage while taking leaps in technological advancements.
An important centre of art and culture in South India, Bangalore is one of the few cities to have the theatre culture still alive. It produces some of the most excellent Indian Classical dancers and Carnatic musicians. The heritage of Bangalore is evident through its architecture too. One can locate Dravidian, Hoysala, Islamic, and modern-corporate architecture styles while touring the city.
The tropical savannah climate makes sure that Bangalore remains warm to hot with frequent spells of rain throughout the year. Bangalore is famous for its lakes and gardens and once had lakes and vast forests covering every corner of the city. As they say, to gain something, something must be lost. In its way of becoming an IT hub, Bangalore has lost much of these green areas and lakes. None the less, the city still has 17 lakes and several gardens and small forests.
The IT industry brought nightlife too. Bangalore now boasts numerous pubs and cafes filled with millennials who work through the day and party at night. Also termed as the beer capital of India, Bangalore consumes more beer than any other Indian city. Bangalore lives through Oktoberfest all year long.
Are you planning to visit Bangalore? Here are a few things and tips you might want to read before you begin your journey into a cultural confluence that is Bangalore.
Weather
October to February
The best time to visit Bangalore is the winter months. With the temperature dipping to a minimum of around 10° C, the weather is pleasant throughout the day. Bright sunshine makes the days ideal for roaming around while night breeze will take all the tiredness away.
June to September
Bangalore experiences moderate to heavy rainfall during these four months, and it’s the perfect time to visit waterfalls and western ghats around Bangalore. The Western Ghats is a global biodiversity hotspot which extends through the west coast of India, also known as Sahyadri Range.
March to May
Very Hot. Temperature can soar up to 38° C.
Travel Tips
1
Learn the word 'Kannada Gothilla' It means 'I don't know Kannada' (regional language). English is well-spoken, and almost everyone can communicate in English.
2
Ask to be charged by the meter If travelling in an Auto Rickshaw, always ask the driver to charge you according to the meter. Do not let anyone overcharge you for anything.
3
Research local practices This may come in handy at some point and it's always good to be informed of the local culture!
4
Learn to say NO If you are a foreigner roaming in India, people will pop up on the streets trying to sell one thing or the other. People can offer cheap hotel rooms, artefacts, yoga session tickets, etc. The majority of the people will be harmless and genuine, but you need to be vigilant to identify who is trying to con you.
5
Enjoy every moment The more you offer yourself to India, the more it will open itself to you. Take away good memories.
Typical Costs When Travelling
Accommodation –
Bangalore offers hotel stays, homestays, bed & breakfast, and hostels. The industry caters to guests with all budgets and requirements.
While cheap hotel rooms are available from Rs 500 – Rs 1000 ( $7-$15 approx.) per night, there are also five-star accommodations available starting at Rs 15000 ($200 approx.) or higher.
With the corporate influence, there are several hotels chains across the city, providing an enjoyable stay experience in a well-secured environment for around Rs 2500 – Rs 3000 ($ 30 – $ 40 approx.).
Paytm Hotels is one such aggregator of hotels where one can avail suitable accommodation at a decent cost.
Food –
With people from different cultures and communities settled in Bangalore (and visiting executives from around the world), the food culture exploded in Bangalore in the second half of the last decade. Think of cuisine, and you have it all available in Bangalore- be it Chinese, Lebanese, Continental, Italian, or Indian of course.
Again, just like the rest of India, Bangalore offers food for every budget. One can easily find a South Indian meal in a decent restaurant for Rs 150 Rs – 200 ($2 – $4 approx.)
We would recommend Empire Restaurants- a chain of restaurants in South India if you want to try some authentic South Indian food in all its variants.
Transportation –
Travelling within the city is a bit of a hassle. With the ever-increasing population of Bangalore, roads are getting narrow day by day, increasing traffic in the town. The one thing that Bangalore is infamous for is its traffic jams, especially during the rainy season. So, yes, travelling can be tough. Uber or Ola do make it easy for one to travel, but if you believe in being local and using public transport, then Bangalore is the place for you.
The city is well connected internally via a bus network run by the government. For every route, there is a bus every 2 minutes ( AC or Non AC), and all routes are well connected. One can avail a daily pass for unlimited travel within the city.
If you want to experience the real Bangalore, we would recommend at least one ride in an auto-rickshaw. It is a different experience altogether. And if you are lucky enough, it can be a crazy one too.
Suggested daily budget – Rs. 3,000 ($39.56) per person
Highlights
1
Bangalore Palace Constructed in 1878 in the Tudor Revival style architecture, the palace has a floor area of 45,000 square feet. The Palace Ground adjoining Bangalore Palace has been host to many famed international artists including The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, and Mark Knopfler, to name a few. A fun world is the latest addition to the Bangalore Palace which include various joy rides, a water park and a snow room.
2
Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Lalbagh Lake The construction of Lalbagh Botanical Garden started in 1760. Located in the southern part of Bangalore, Lalbagh is a 240-acre sprawling garden with over 1000 species of plants. The Lalbagh rock dating back 3000 million years ago is an attraction of the garden. Every January - August, elaborate flower shows take place.
3
Kaikondrahalli Lake Forty-eight acres of a peaceful bio-diverse ecosystem hosting different species of birds and reptiles throughout the year. The lakeside area is a perfect place to spend your mornings and evening quietly. There are cycling tracks, walking and jogging paths, play area and park to meditate or to do some yoga in the mornings.
4
Cubbon Park Also called the ``lung`` of Bangalore, Cubbon Park is a 300-acre tranquil forest right in the middle of the city. With around 6000 plants and trees, Cubbon Park has various monuments of prominent personalities and houses the states most extensive public library. One of the oldest Museums of India, The State Archeological Museum, is also located within the park.
5
Brigade Road & MG Road Commercial and shopping centre of Bangalore. Well connected with the metro and other local transport in the heart of the city. Brigade Road is the hub of Bangalore's nightlife with pubs, discos and breweries lined up all along the street. One of the busiest areas of Bangalore, Brigade and MG road area has several malls and shopping centres where one can find anything under the sun.
6
Byg Brewski Brewing Company Asia's largest pub-club is a landmark of Bangalore. With a large man-made Koi pond in the middle of the pub, Byg Brewski covers around 65000 square feet. Byg Brewski also happens to be India's biggest microbrewery, and one can enjoy a freshly brewed beer while meeting different people from different cultural backgrounds.
7
Sunrise at Nandi Hills Nandi Hill is an ancient hill fortress about 60 KM from Bangalore near the town Nandi. It is one of the most popular destinations for Bangalore locals to enjoy the sunrise. The shape of the hill resembles a sleeping bull, aptly named on Nandi, a character with the head of a bull in Hindu Mythology.
There are two shades of Bangalore- one that moves at a rapidly fast pace between the tech industry and bustling nightlife while the other moves at a slower pace, more peaceful and well connected to the heritage.
Which shade would you like to see, or are you in favour of experiencing both together? Let us know in the comments!
Are you planning to check out other cities too? Check out our comprehensive destination guides on Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, and Goa as well!
May 26, 2020
abhimanyu
Very Informative 👍🏻👍🏻