Bangalore

From Wikitravel
Central Karnataka : Bangalore
Contents

Bengaluru [1] (http://kstdc.nic.in/frames3.htm) (Kannada: ), formerly known as Bangalore, is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka.

[+] Understand Talk [+] Get in [+] Get around [+] See [+] Do [+] Learn [+] Work [+] Buy [+] Eat [+] Drink [+] Sleep Stay safe [+] Contact [+] Cope Contact Get out

Understand
Once called the "Garden City of India" and the "Pensioner's Paradise", these epithets no longer apply to Bengaluru, which is today a large cosmopolitan city with diminishing green spaces and a large working population. Bengaluru is the major center of India's IT industry, popularly known as the Silicon Valley of India.

History
The earliest records of a place named 'Bengaluru' are found in a 9th century temple in an area that is now known as 'Old Bangalore'.
Vidhana Soudha

Legend has it that the feudal lord Kempe Gowda was once hunting in this area, a rabbit turned and attacked his dog. This made a great impression on Gowda and he gave the place a title of gandu bhoomi (the place of heroes) and in 1537, with the assistance of the local king, he constructed three districts protected by a walled fort on the site.

During the next three centuries, Bengaluru existed very much in the shadow of its neighboring city Mysore, and control of the town changed hands many times. The year 1831 marked a major turning point for the city. Claiming misrule by the king Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, the British took control of the Mysore Kingdom and, possibly influenced by the city's salubrious climate, moved the administrative capital to Bengaluru. New telecommunication systems were laid, rail connections built, fine government buildings constructed, and the city's famous parks and gardens established. After independence, Bengaluru maintained its position as the Karnataka state capital, and continues to flourish. For many years, Bengaluru was known throughout India as the most green, liberal and forward-thinking city. In recent years, these attributes have propelled Bengaluru to the forefront of the high-tech industry boom in India, and it currently ranks as India's most developed city and one of the world's fastest growing urban areas. The name Bangalore appears to come from an Anglicisation of the native name "Bengaluru" - an adaptation of the earlier name in Kannada: Benda Kaalu Uru (The Town of Boiled Beans). Apparently this rather humble name was bequeathed to the city by King Vira Ballala. Once while lost in the area, he was offered boiled beans by an old woman, and it was out of gratitude that he named the area after this simple offering.

Sobriquets
Garden City of India Silicon Valley of India Pensioners' Paradise IT capital of india Pub city

Climate
Unlike other parts of India which are extremely hot in the summer months, Bengaluru enjoys a relatively mild climate year round. Summer - February to May (peak temperature is during April and May) Monsoon - June to October (the heaviest rains are typically between June and August) Winter - November to January (with December being the coldest month) Summer temperatures can reach upto 36C (97F) and early morning temperatures in the winter hovers around 12C (54F).

Talk
Being the capital of Karnataka, the official language in Bengaluru is Kannada. However, most educated people are also able to speak English. Other languages such as Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil are also spoken natively by the various migrant communities. Also, Bengaluru being the cultural hub that it is, has a smattering of Tulu and Konkani speakers. Most retail and entertainment transactions in the city center are conducted in English, as are most signs written in English alongside Kannada. Although autorickshaw drivers understand English numbers, a basic knowledge of Kannada will help in ensuring that you are not overcharged.

Get in
By plane
Bengaluru International Airport (IATA: BLR), (ICAO: VOBL) [2] (http://www.bengaluruairport.com/) is located in Devanahalli, 40 km (25 mi) from the central business district of Bengaluru (MG Road) and 30 km (19 mi) from the Bengaluru City Railway Station. The airport, open since May 2008, is among India's busiest and most modern. The airport is host to 10 domestic airlines and 21 international airlines connecting the city to about 50 destinations across India and the rest of the world. The airport serves as a hub for Kingfisher Airlines and a focus city for Jet Airways [3] (http://www.jetairways.com) , JetLite [4] (http://www.jetlite.com/) , IndiGo [5] (http://www.goindigo.in) , SpiceJet [6] (http://www.spicejet.com/) and GoAir [7] (http://www.goair.in/) . Notable international flights: Air India [8] (http://www.airindia.com/) flies from Dubai, Male and Muscat;

 Qatar Airways [9] (http://www.qatarairways.com/) flies from Doha; Emirates [10] (http://www.emirates.com/) and Indian Airlines [11] (http://www.indianairlines.in/) fly from Dubai; Etihad Airways [12] (http://www.etihadairways.com/) flies from Abu Dhabi; SriLankan Airlines [13] (http://www.srilankan.lk/) flies from Colombo; Thai Airways [14] (http://www.thaiair.com/) fly from Bangkok; AirAsia [15] (http://www.airasia.com/) and Malaysian Airlines [16] (http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/) fly from Kuala Lumpur; Singapore Airlines [17] (http://www.singaporeair.com/) , SilkAir [18] (http://www.silkair.com/) , [Indian Airlines [19] (http://www.indianairlines.in/) and Tiger Airways [20] (http://www.tigerairways.com/) fly from Singapore; Dragonair [21] (http://www.dragonair.com/) flies from Hong Kong; British Airways [22] (http://www.britishairways.com/) flies from London; Air France [23] (http://www.airfrance.com/) flies from Paris; Lufthansa [24] (http://www.lufthansa.com/) flies from Frankfurt. Sometimes the airport is subject to operational restrictions due to fog from 15 Nov-15 Feb, between 3AM (IST)- 8:30AM (IST). Flight delays and diversions may occur on some mornings due to the morning fog. The airport operator has an enquiry number to check on weather related delays. +91 80 66782255, +91 80 66782251 or call the airline's call centre. The airport has an international and a domestic terminal. There are ATM's and bureaux de change at the airport. From the airport to Bengaluru City Buses Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)[25] (http://www.bmtcinfo.com/site/BSBusServicesDetails.jsp?bsserviceid=1) operates buses from various points of the city every 15 min to the Bengaluru International Airport (BLR). A total of 156 buses ply to and from the airport. 40 of these buses are air-conditioned Volvo buses, called Vayu Vajra. The cost for each trip in these buses ranges between Rs 50-250 depending on the distance. This is the cheapest and an extremely convenient way to get to the airport moreover, this service is available everyday, day and night. While taking this mode be aware that you will need some one to pick you up from the bus stop or you will need a auto rickshaw ride for the last mile. Post-paid taxi BLR has selected Meru and EasyCabs to provide basic taxi services. The taxi operators will have basic A/C cars, all equipped with tracking devices to ensure safety and transparency. Both operators have professional call centres. Hence, guests traveling to the airport can call the cab call centres and a cab will pick them up and drop them at the airport. Meru Cabs have been reported to be highly un-reliable by users.They have been known to cancel the appointment at the last hour leaving the customer high and dry. The Meru Cab drivers do this if they find a better deal from a street pick up while they are on their way to an airport pick-up. For travellers arriving at the airport, there is a dedicated taxi holding area. The post paid taxi facility will be available on meter charges @ Rs 20/- per km (subject to Govt regulation). These are by far the best and most convenient mode of transport from the airport. It may cost you approximately Rs 600 to get to Bengaluru's CBD. About Rs 700 to Koramangala. Share Taxis are operated by Airlift. As soon as you exit the airport terminal, look for the bus stand with the bright red Volvo buses. The share taxis are yellow and red Toyota Innovas parked just next to the buses. These are very convenient and cheaper than a regular taxi as a one way drop to Bengaluru's CBD will cost around Rs 300. These are air conditioned and offer each passenger a personal television screen. (Dis-functional as of now) This service has ceased to operate. Pre-paid taxi Hertz and Akbar Travels provide pre paid Limousine and car rental facilities through counters at the terminal building. These cost above Rs 1,200 to CBD Self drive cars will also be available on self drive basis. There will be three ranges of self drive cars - the compact category (Suzuki Swift), the intermediate range (Ford Fiesta), the standard category (Toyota corolla), Multi Utility Vehicles (Toyota Innova) and Sports Utility Vehicles (Ford Endeavour). These cars will be given to the renter with a full fuel tank and the car has to be returned with full fuel tank. A flexible pick up and drop off facility in town and at the airport will be offered. The renter can pick up the car at the airport and then drop it off anywhere in the city or in Hyderabad or Chennai. Similarly, the car can be picked up at any of these cities and dropped off at the airport. Conditions apply (the renter must be over 21 yrs of age and possess a valid Indian license). In India it is not as easy as in the west. One needs to to do a lot of paper work and depending on the company and type of car you want to rent a large deposit will be required. Please check well in advance before making plans. Much easier to rent a chauffeur driven taxi. Hotel pick-up Another option is to arrange with your hotel in Bengaluru to have a driver pick you up at the airport. Some hotels, especially the higher-end ones, provide this service for free if you are staying with them. If it's your first time traveling to Bengaluru, this is the recommended way to get from the airport to your hotel. The driver will be found outside the airport with a card bearing your name, the only difficulty being that about 100 other drivers will also be waiting outside the airport, all vying for your attention. Luckily there is a short fenced walkway that separates the drivers from those leaving the airport, giving you ample time and space to find your ride into Bengaluru. Taxi (other) You can still find a ride into Bengaluru City in your own taxi at a much cheaper rate than the above options, if you are willing to take the risk involved. Taxi drivers not approved by the airport will attempt to negotiate with you a much lower fare than the approved EasyCabs and Meru cabs, and may come down to as much as Rs 200 -300 for a ride to Bengaluru's CBD. One really has to bargain very hard or you will be taken for a ride. These drivers can be found just beyond the terminal plaza at the covered walkway that leads to the parking lots. Once you leave the walkway, some drivers may become fairly aggressive, and might try to take your bag without your permission. The best thing to do is to keep track of, and be in control of, your belongings. Even the most aggressive taxi driver or tout will leave you alone if you stand firm and make it clear that you do not want their help. It is recommended to fix the price before you enter the cab and no tip is necessary once you arrive at your destination. Do not opt for this mode if you are not familiar with rates. If you are in a hurry and have a lot of money, helicopter services are offered by Deccan Aviation and Birdie. There are eight helipads across Bangalore and a ride from the international airport sets you back by about Rs 5,000. A high-speed electric train is planned to connect the airport with the city, cutting travel time to about 22 min, but no date of completion has been announced. A new express toll road is also planned to connect the airport to the city's ring road at Hennur.

By train
Bengaluru has two major railway terminals. The Bengaluru City (IR station code: SBC) railway station is situated in the heart of the city, opposite the Majestic Bus stand. Most trains, both local and long-distance, arrive and depart from here. The other terminal is Yeswantpur Junction (IR station code: YPR) located on NH-4 (Tumkur Road). A few (mostly longdistance) trains arrive and depart from here. Two smaller railway terminals are Bengaluru East (IR station code: BNCE) and Bengaluru Cantonment (IR station code: BNC).Of late Krishnarajapuram (KJM) has become an important stop owing to proximity of IT companies and the ring road just passing close to the station and well connected by buses to major parts. It also forms the 1st stop for majority trains leaving Yeshvantapur towards Jolarpettai. Bookings can be done at either the railway stations or at the Indian Railways booking counters located in major commercial residential areas. Booking can also be done online [26] (http://www.irctc.co.in) . Note that if you are booking at Bengaluru City and are traveling to Mysore, there is a separate counter for travellers to Mysore. This is to cater for the large amount of travelers between Bengaluru and Mysore. If travelling to Mysore on a Sunday afternoon, arrive early as there is usually a long line for buying tickets. As with all Indian railway travel, have some patience for delays. Trains are usually on time (within 20 mins of scheduled time), but can sometimes be late. A digital departure board in the station will tell you what platform your train is on and what time it leaves. Train travel is usually fairly cheap. For example, a ticket to Chennai, about 360 km (5-6 hr) away, costs anywhere from Rs 125 for the lowest class to Rs 1,105 for the highest class.

For train arrival/departure and PNR status inquiries at various railway stations at Bengaluru, call 139. Travelling from Mumbai to Bengaluru by train takes a long time (24 hrs or so). Buses are comparatively faster and take 18-20 hrs, provided there are no traffic jams in Mumbai and Pune enroute. Effective travel time by both train or bus is long. Air travel is recommended for traveling between Mumbai and Bengaluru, the duration of which is about 90 min. Low cost airlines charge the same fare as A/C train or Volvo bus. However, sleeper class (non-A/C) train travel from Mumbai to Bengaluru is economical and you can have a view of some lush evergreen forests and river valleys across Western India. Also see Rail travel in India

By bus
If you have difficulty in arranging a plane or railway ticket to your next destination, or you prefer a little more adventure, you can go by bus. There are both government and private buses that run services to major cities like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai etc. Buses can be a normal luxury bus, a Volvo A/C bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, [27] (http://ksrtc.in/) KPN Travels, [28] (http://kpntravels.in/) Durgamba Motors, [29] (http://www.durgamba.com/) Bangalore Bus Tickets Online, [30] (http://www.thebus.in/) All intercity buses arrive and depart from Bengaluru bus stand, which is located opposite the Bengaluru city railway station. The bus station is named after the founder of Bengaluru, Kempegowda Bus Station, is more commonly known as the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand or the Majestic Bus Station. It handles buses that connect Bengaluru to all major cities and states in south India. Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), maintains bus services within Bengaluru. The main bus stand is located next to the Kempegowda Bus Station. Unlike other metros, the display boards in the bus show the destination in the local language Kannada. But the bus numbers are mostly in English. If you don't speak Kannada, you will likely need to get some help to get on the right bus. However, the newer Volvo buses are all equipped with electronic displays that display the destination and route numbers in both Kannada and English. Non-Volvo buses are being gradually retrofitted with these electronic displays; this should make bus travel much simpler if you are unfamiliar with the local language.

By car
Driving in India can be very stressful. Use of the horn is mandatory in all situations. Lane discipline is practically nonexistent, and games of chicken, combined with razor thin passing margins are common. One ride in a taxi will most likely convince you that driving yourself is not worth the risk, so if you do want to arrive by car, you will probably want to hire both a car and a driver. Cost varies, but most car/driver combinations cost Rs 1,400-1,700/day. The fares for hired private taxis are usually in the multiples of 4 hr/40 km, fares for which start at around Rs 450 for a non-air conditioned small car. Depending on where you are coming from, you may be able to negotiate a lower fare if the trip isn't far, and it may be a higher fare if you are traveling far and your driver has to travel back on his own time. Although it costs more, consider requesting an air conditioned car if you aren't used to the heat, especially in summer. An air conditioned car will also help filter out the air pollution, which is considerable, especially on congested roadways. If you want something even more special, such as a fancy car or SUV, be prepared to pay extra.

Get around
By bus
Buses in Bengaluru are cheap and usually frequent,(though compared to other states the fares are highest here) but traveling on them can be very difficult if you don't know the system well. Ordinary city buses display only the route number in English, with the destination and route information written in Kannada. This means you will have to know what route number you need before you get on, which you can find from the BMTC website [31] (http://www.bmtcinfo.com/) , Desiroutes [32] (http://narasimhadatta.info) bus routes or by asking locals. Unlike many Western countries, posted route maps of the bus system are rare, although maps are sold at the main bus terminals (Kempegowda Bus Stand and Shivajinagar). BMTC toll free 1800 425 1663. Bangalore Bus Route Search [33] (http://www.narasimhadatta.info/bmtc_query.html) also has a webpage with a route number search function. Buses with black display boards run within the city. Red board buses covers long distance and go to adjoining suburbs. The ordinary city buses are white and blue in color. The newer city buses tend to be blue in colour (Purchased under the JNNURM fund provided by Central govt. )and have LED display boards. There is a bus service called Pushpak with better seating; these buses are tan rather than the usual blue and are slightly more expensive. There are red Volvo buses, called Vajra, that operate on certain routes within the city. They offer a comfortable air-conditioned ride at slightly higher prices than the regular buses (which are not air-conditioned). These are a great way to get around the city. Unlike most other buses, the Vajras have illuminated LED display boards on the front and sides which display the destination and route information in English as well as Kannada. New bus services are introduced from time to time by the BMTC. The latest service introduced in early 2009 known as Big 10 [34] (http://btis.in/big10) consists of ten routes along major roads into the city, bringing passengers from the outer suburbs to central Bengaluru. These buses are green in color, have LCD destination boards, and prominently feature the Big 10 logo on the sides. More information about these buses, including stops and route maps. BIG 10 service starts at Brigade road junction. There are also couple of buses which do a circular route around the CBD. City buses are crowded during rush hours but one can travel with little difficulty during the daytime. Many have seats reserved for women in the front. Bus service is less frequent after 9:30-10PM and becomes rare after 10:30PM. It is always better to buy a daily pass if you plan to travel the whole day on the bus. The daily pass costs Rs Rs 40 as of March 10th, 2011 and it comes handy if you need to travel on several buses in a single day. Daily passes are issued by the on-duty bus conductor or at the bus stand. Using this pass you can travel in any bus (other than the Vajra) for the entire day, any number of times. It is a very economical option for travel in Bengaluru. Senior citizens are given 25% concession in all buses on production of valid ID card(Voter ID,PAN,Passport etc). children between age of 4-12 are given 50% concession. No charge for children upto 4 years of age There are three major bus stands: Kempegowda bus stand, also known as the Majestic Bus Stand, near Gandhi Nagar is directly opposite the Bengaluru City railway station. It is quite neatly organized and is easily navigable. There is an inquiry office near platform number 1 on Majestic where you can ask the bus number and platform for your desired destination. You can find a large map on display, which you can use to find the bus number you need to take if you know the area you are going to. You can of course always ask the conductor or other passengers. Route maps are also sold on the platforms.

 City Market is around 2 km (1.2 mi) to 3 km (1.8 mi) away from Majestic and could daunt newcomers, since it is very disorganized. It is a large dirt parking lot under an overhead highway, and there isn't much order to where buses park. Shivajinagar is in the north. This is also neatly organized and there is an inquiry window to find about buses. You can find a large map on display here too, which you can use to find the bus number you need to take if you know the area you are going to. Route maps are also sold on the platforms. Buses are available to all major localities of the city from these three bus stands. There have been lot of developments due to the ongoing metro project as well as efforts to decongest the city. BMTC is adding more bus stations all the time. Better to check on their website for latest sistuation. Other important bus stands are: Chandra Layout West Shantinagar, Central Jayanagar, South Banashankari, South BTM Layout, South East Vijaynagar, West Malleswaram, North West Yeshwantpur, North West Domlur, East Kadugodi, East Vidyaranyapura, North Srinagara, South West Rajarajeshwari Nagar , South West Basaveshwara Nagar , West Yelahanka, North Koramangala'

NOTE: Autorickshaws and taxis in Bengaluru have a metered fare system. Tipping is neither expected nor required when you avail of autorickshaw or taxi services. Just pay the meter fare. Refrain from tipping and ruining things for the residents who will then be the at the receiving end of unwarranted demands for tips.

By auto-rickshaw
Auto-rickshaw drivers are the horrible nightmare of the city, and even if you live here they can be the most difficult group of people to deal with. Poor etiquette and the inexplicable reasons offered by them for refusing to ferry customers have earned them well deserved brick-bats. Auto-rickshaws are everywhere at any time of day. They are green-and-yellow, and black-and-yellow three wheeled contraptions that use simple two-stroke engines. Nevertheless, they are a fast way to get around the city. Auto-rickshaws are supposed to charge fares as per the meter reading, which most often equals to Rs 9 x distance (in kilometres) (Minimum charge of Rs 17 for the first 2 km or less), they generally tend to charge on an ad-hoc basis depending on the distance of the destination, the chances of getting another customer from the mentioned locality, and their mood. You should simply refuse to board an auto where the meter is faulty or the driver refuses to use it. Saying "meter please" will usually do the trick. Tourists should be cautious when approaching an auto-rickshaw during night, or during heavy rains. Chances are they will charge exorbitant rates. Help could be taken from the local traffic police to avail auto-rickshaws during such circumstances. If you are a visitor and do not know the route to the destination it is a good idea to bargain and fix the fare before boarding to avoid long, convoluted routes being used by the driver. Another thing to keep in mind is to be firm but not loud in an argument while travelling in the auto. Some of the less reputable drivers may team up with their friends midway to cause problems. Remember that although Bangaloreans are known for their polite and mild mannered behaviour, auto drivers are normally an exception. Some will think nothing of trying to rip you off. If in doubt, consult a local or your hotel travel desk. If a rickshaw driver offers to show/drive you to some great places to shop, firmly refuse. A common tactic is to drive you to local shops where you will be pressured to buy Indian crafts that you probably don't want. Know your destination and insist upon it. Be firm. Autos add a 50% surcharge after 10PM (called "one and a half" and is the legal charge). Some drivers may demand 100% surcharge after 10PM or 11PM but you must refuse to board in such a case. Heavy luggage costs an additional fee of around Rs 10-20. Rickshaw drivers are required by law to display their identification on the dashboard or the back of their seats. Refuse to get into a rickshaw that does not display one. If an auto driver is problematic, note their identification number and report to the BBMP Control room which is empowerd to withdraw their auto license. This is a very effective technique to deal with them. The BBMP control room number as of December 2009 is +91 80 22975803. The minimum charge as of November 2010, is Rs 17 for the first 2 km and Rs 9 for every additional kilometre.

By taxi
The taxis in Bengaluru are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Maruti Omni Vans, Tata Indica cars or Mahindra Logan cars, which are much safer than Auto rickshaws, and the drivers are polite. If you are alone or going to an unknown destination, you are strongly advised to choose this option, even though the rates will be double that of an auto. Most taxi companies will charge a flat rate of Rs 150 for a pick-up and drop from anywhere to anywhere within city limits. Waiting or return trips will be charged extra, as will a lot of heavy luggage. Unlike many other countries, taxis are not marked with 'TAXI' signs on the top. Instead, the cars will be marked with the logo of the fleet operator or taxi company on the sides of the car. Some companies have a yellow sign with a identification number (usually an alphabet followed by two digits) on the top. Keep in mind that these taxis cannot be hailed from the street, but have to be called by telephone. When you call, you must give the operator your location, destination as well as phone number, who will in turn tell you the charge (or will inform you that you must go by the meter) as well as the taxi number. The taxi will come pick you up, and call you when they are close. When you go out on the street, look at the license plate for the number they gave you -- it will be the last four digits of the license plate. Alternatively, look for the yellow board atop the car with the taxi's identification number. The license plate number is usually in the format "KA" followed by 01 to 05, followed by two alphabets, followed by a four digit number. Taxis generally have yellow license plates with black letters.

Be prepared to book a taxi a couple of hours in advance if required on weekdays, especially during rush hours, as a huge demand for the taxis, coupled with massive traffic jams during rush hours will ensure that it would be difficult for a taxi to reach you in time. Private taxis are generally more reliable during this time as in many cases, radio cabs (run by Meru, EasyCabs, KSTDC and others) will be overbooked and you might be unfortunate to be informed that your booking has been scrapped. Although it can be hard for non-Indians to grasp at first, the system is actually very effective. If in doubt, ask a member of your hotel staff to help you, and when your taxi comes be sure to tip them Rs 35-Rs 40 for the assistance.

By private car
Most taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers will be more than happy to offer you either a daily rate or an hourly rate, and take you around wherever you need to go. Alternately, your hotel or a travel company can arrange a private car. If you find a good taxi or auto driver, this can be a great way to go for a foreigner. You'll certainly pay a lot more than if you bought individual rides, but you'll always have a driver waiting for you, and he can help with recommending local tourist sites, finding a good restaurant to eat at, and otherwise coping with day-to-day life. This can take a lot of the stress out of traveling. Rates are generally something like Rs 50 to 100 per hour for an auto-rickshaw, and Rs 150 to 250 per hour for a taxi. Rates for a private car booked via the hotel will probably be more. Like everything else in India, rates are very fluid.

By bicycle
The weather in Bengaluru is very pleasant, but the traffic is not. So if your plan is not to go towards crowded city, you can go around in a bicycle. Velo in village, #A1, Owners Court, Kaswanahalli Main Road (off Sarjapura Road), (rentone@veloinvillage.com), [35] ([http://www.veloinvillage.com) . Bicycle hire with a good range of rental bikes including; BTwin, RockRider, Merida, Giant and Orbea models. edit

See
Although Bengaluru is not known as a tourist city, there is still a lot to see. If you only have a limited amount of time in the city, you should consider taking a tour. Typically, the city tours do NOT include entry fees into the attractions. Bengaluru, as with the rest of India, has a habit of charging foreigners a lot more than locals. For example, Tipu Sultan's Palace, which is on the half-day tour, charges Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 100 (or US$2) to non-Indians.

Landmarks
Vidhana Soudha - The legislative House of the State of Karnataka, this granite building was built by Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, Chief Iskcon Temple Minister of the then Mysore state 1951 to 1956. The then Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru laid the foundation on 13 July 1951. It was built at an expenditure of Rs 18.4 million. Marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and one of the most imposing building not only in Bengaluru but in India. One of the interesting feature of this building in grand stairs in its front. The grand stairs has a flight of forty-five steps 62 m (204 ft) wide 21 m (70 ft) deep giving a direct access to the foyer of first floor leading to an Assembly Chamber. The architecture of the building is based on Dravidian style, comprising richly carved bases and capitals for pillars, deep friezes, kapotha cornices, chaithya arches, heavy pediments domical finials, etc; At the same time, the construction has been on modern designs, making use of the present-day materials like steel, reinforced cement concrete glass, plastic, etc. Vikasa Soudha - Is it possible to gild a lily? Well you judge for yourself. This ultra modern construction, adjacent to majestic Vidhana Soudha built in the same classic style, is supposed to come fitted with the latest gizmos to help govern the state. It was inaugurated sometime in February 2005. Seshadari Iyer Memorial is a distinctive building constructed of red sand stone in Cubbon Park. It houses a public library and the Bengaluru High Court, while the grounds include a children's recreation area with a toy train, fairground and theater. Bengaluru Palace was constructed by the Maharajahs of Mysore. For many years the building was neglected as a tourist attraction, but is now open to the public. This is a run down building with paint peeling on the interior and generally a tourist trap to be avoided. The fee is Rs 100/200 Indian/Foreigner and Rs 500 to take photos even of the exterior. This includes a guide to point out things like the mounted elephant head, though no mention is made of the numerous nude paintings. Tipu Sultan's Palace, which dates from about 1790, is the summer retreat for Tipu sultan. The two story structure is made mostly out of wood with finely embellished balconies, pillars and arches. Timings: From 9:30am to 5:30pm, All days of the week. Tickets are Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 100 for foreigners.

Temples
The Bull Temple, located in Basavanagudi, is a typical Dravidian style temple, and is famous for its mammoth bull statue that was carved from a single boulder. Legend has it that the temple was built to appease a marauding bull that stole local crops, and that the offering was effective with the bull subsequently leaving the area. Since then, local farmers have held an annual festival to express their gratitude. The Maha Bodhi Society Temple, (see 'Learn' section) is a relatively new structure, with the main shrine built as a replica of the historic stupa at Bodh Gaya. The temple grounds are very peaceful, and visitors are welcome to stroll around. In addition, the temple houses an excellent library of books on Buddhism, many of which are in English. ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple, Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Rd, +91 80 2347 1956, +90 80 2357 8346 (fax: +91 80 2357 8625), [36] (http://www.iskconbangalore.org) . 3:45AM-8PM. Temple built on a hillock in Rajajinagar atop scenic surroundings, is a perfect blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony. The huge cultural complex was built to promote vedic culture and spiritual learning, and abounds with shops selling devotional items and souvenirs. The annual Krishna and Balarama Rath Yatra is attended by thousands. edit Maruthi Mandir, a Hanuman Temple is located just opposite - 5 min drive from ISKCON temple, in the gate of Mahalakshmi Layout. This is a rock hill with huge idols of Hanuman and Mahalakshmi temples. The annual festival of Hanumad Jayanthi during December is very attractive. Gavi Gangadeshwara Cave Temple, located in Gavipuram, adjacent to Basavanagudi, was built by Kempe Gowda. This temple with four remarkable monolithic pillars is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple also has a rare idol of Agni god of fire. The annual festival is on Makara Shankranti and thousands of devotees flock to see the suns rays fall on the Shivlinga. The temple timings are: 7AM-12:30PM and 5PM-8:30.

 VenkataramanaSwamy Temple is a fine example of Dravidian architecture. This ancient temple was built by Maharaja Chikka Devaraya Wodeyar and is situated next to the summer palace of Tipu Sultan. Dodda Ganapathi - one of the oldest temples in Bengaluru, is situated adjacent to the Bull Temple. Vasanthapura,in South Bengaluru, is a small hillock with an ancient temple dedicated to Sri Vasantha Vallabharaya Swamy. Shiva Temple (Shiv Mandir), Old Airport Road. This temple has a massive monolith of Lord Shiva, located in the middle of an artificial pool. There is a cave-like walkthrough behind the statue. It is extremely crowded on the festival of Maha Shivaratri. Free entrance, camera Rs 25. edit Banaswadi Hanuman Temple, constructed in the Dravidian style, attracts a large number of devotees especially on week-ends. It has smaller temples dedicated to Lord Rama, Shiva and Ganapathi within the walled compound. Ragi Gudda is a famous Hanuman temple abode in the Jayanagar 9th block, South of Bengaluru. The temple is situated on a mammoth rocky hill, and has very attractive chain of temples like Spathika Shiva, Ganesha and scenery within the premises. This is a very crowd attracting place during the period of Hanumad Jayanthi in December. Sri Raja Rajeshwari Temple located in RajaRajeshwari Nagar, just before Kengeri on Mysore Road is a famous temple dedicated to Godess Parvathi (RajaRajeshwari). It was built by a reknowned spiritual guru, Sri Sri Sri Tiruchi Mahaswaigal. Built in the ancient style with stones, the temple is very spacious. One can feel the peace and satisfaction when visited. Week ends are very crowded.

UB City

Lord Shiva Temple behind Kemp Fort, Airport Road

DakshinaMukhy Nandeeshwara Temple, located in the heart of Bengaluru is very ancient temple. This is on Sampige Road in the Malleshwaram area. The speciality of the temple is that, the natural (mineral) water flows from the mouth of Nandi (naturally) which is above a ShivaLingam, and pours all over the year as Abhishekam by nature itself. This water, after Abhishekam is taken by devotees as medicinal water, believed to cure many diseases. People from all over the world take this water in small containers with a lot of trust and devotion. Mukti Naga temple [37] (http://www.karnatakavision.com/mukti-naga-temple.php) in Bengaluru is world's largest monolithic statue of Lord Naaga, about 16 feet tall and 36 tons of weight. The Mukti Naga temple which is run by Shri Subrahmanya Seva Trust, is situated in a serene ambience of Ramohalli, a village on the outskirts of Bengaluru city. Meenakshi Sundaram Temple, Bannerghatta Rd, (after Indian Institute of Management), South of Bengaluru. Beautiful, spacious temple devoted to Sri Meenakshi Amma. Built in ancient style with stone structures, this place is very cool and mind refreshing place to see. You will feel that you are in a temple at Tamilnad, when in this temple. Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, There are many Ramakrishna Ashrams in Bengaluru, but the special and central one is in Gandhi Bazaar - the place of temples in Bengaluru. This mutt contains a vast meditating hall, a beautiful park, a vedic school and many more facilities. Sri Sharada Devi had meditated on a location in the park in this boundary. This location is preserved as a monument. A stone on which Swami Vivekananda had sat when he visited Bengaluru is also kept as a monument. This is a calm and peaceful place for the place who enjoy the meditation.

Churches
Holy Trinity Church, located at Trinity circle at the east end of the MG Rd, is a major landmark in Bangalore. It was built in 1851, for the British Regiment stationed in Bangalore. Built in the English Renaissance style, the church can accommodate 700 people and is regarded as the largest "military" church in southern India. It has a congregation of over 450 families. St. Mary's Basilica, St. Mary's Basilica is a basilica located in the Archdiocese of Bangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the oldest church in Bangalore and is the only church in the state that has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica. It is famous for the festivities held during the St. Mary's Feast in the month of September each year, an event that attracts a number of devotees from in and around Bangalore.The basilica has been built in Gothic-style with arches, ornamental motifs and stained glass windows.Multiple columns and tall spires of the basilica can be seen from quite a distance. The stained glass windows were removed during World War II and were subsequently restored in 1947. Shelter House Church, Bannerghatta Rd, Arekeres, The service is conducted in English and starts from 9:30AM in the morning.

Do
Outdoor activities and sports
Go-karting. Ultimate Frisbee, [38] (http://www.learningtofly.in) Although in a nascent stage, Ultimate Frisbee games are held on Tue/Thu/Sat mornings starting 6:30AM. The teams comprise of players of all skill levels. Watch a cricket match, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (near Cubbon Park). Chinnaswamy stadium is the home ground of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bengaluru which is reputed for having a large, loyal, and loud fan following. IPL season typically is between March and May every year, matches are played in the evenings and last around 3 hours. Scour the daily newspapers for ticket information - note that tickets typically get sold out a week before. edit Hiking, Nandhi hills; Rangaswamy betta, Bhimeshwari - Muttati. Hill Climbing, Savandurga, Makalidurga, Kavaledurga (Skandagiri), Kabalidurga, Siddarabetta, Nijakal betta. Camping, Savandurga, Gunjoor Lake, Bhimeshwari, Rangaswamy betta. Cave exploration, Savandurga, Anthargange, Siddarabetta. Radio Control Car racing, Bangalore has one RC car track in JP nagar, Pitstop racing where organized races are conducted. Weekend club races also take place. Adventure Clubs: Bangalore is bestowed with rock climbers, aqua sportsmen and aero sportsmen. There are several clubs including Nature Admire, Care, Spark, KMA, Capture, Mars, Angel, Wildcraft and Adventure Works.

Nature & parks

Visit the beautiful lakes in Bengaluru. Ulsoor Lake and Sankey Tank offer an enriching, pleasant experience. Bannerghatta National Park Lalbagh botanical Garden and lake inside-the lake offers a pleasant view and is home to some water birds

History
BangaloreWALKS, +98 80 671192, [39] (http://www.bangalorewalks.com/) . A great way to discover unique areas of Bengaluru. Whether a visitor, or a long time resident, one can discover unknown facets of the city. The walks include Traditional Bengaluru walk, Victorian Bengaluru walk & the Lalbagh walk.The walks include breakfast/brunch at famed Bengaluru eateries. Rs 300-500. edit

Libraries Fairs & exhibitions

Kadlekai Parishe (Peanut fair), Every year, sometime during the months of Nov-Dec, the area around Bull Temple Road in South Bengaluru hosts a peanut fair. Centuries ago, the villages in and around this area used to cultivate peanuts and the custom was to dedicate the first crop to Nandi (the Bull at the temple). Although the villages of yore are today residential areas, the tradition continues as peanut farmers congregate to sell their crop. The 2 day traditional fair has many stalls that sell peanuts, trinkets, bangles, pottery, dolls etc. There are also a number of food stalls. Chitra Santhe (Paintings market), An annual exhibition, held on the last Sunday of every January, the Chitra Santhe on Kumara Krupa Road (near Golf Course) brings together artists from all across Karnataka. Paintings, pottery, and sculpture are all on an exhibition-cum-sale. The road is closed to traffic on that day, making it possible to have a leisurely stroll, admiring and buying the items. (It is proposed that from 2012, the venue would be shifted to Freedom Park.) Prices range from Rs 100 - 20,000. Bargaining is recommended, but not too hard. Pay a fair price. (Credit cards and foreign currency are rarely accepted, so carry sufficient cash in Indian currency) Aero India, Held in the second week of February every alternate year (the next one is in 2011), this is Asia's premier air show. Spanning 5 days (W-Su), the show at Yelahanka Air Force Base in the northern part of Bengaluru comprises of a defence exhibition and air show. Fighter jets from around the world are on both, flying and static display. Normally, there are two air shows every day - one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Tickets can be purchased online or at select outlets - scan the newspapers for more information. (Purchasing a ticket at outlets requires you to show a photo identification and tickets are non-transferable. For the 2011 edition, Pakistani nationals are not permitted to register via the website)

Arts & theatre

Concerts at Bengaluru Palace Grounds, Check the local listings to see if any concerts are happening. Most international acts happen at Bengaluru Palace Grounds and the venue has hosted Rolling Stones, Bryan Adams, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Joe Satriani, Mark Knopfler, Aerosmith, Sting, Uriah Heep, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Machinehead, Scorpions among others. Metallica is going perform on 30th October 2011 at Palace Grounds. Rangashankara, 36/2, 8th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase. +98 80 26592777, +98 80 26494656. [40] (http://www.rangashankara.org) . Evening shows start at 7:30PM. Many local groups perform here, although more often shows are presented by traveling groups touring India. Quality of the performances varies, but most plays are worth seeing, especially the ones by Indian playwrights and / or directors, as they can show you an "Indian" (or let's say "non-western") perspective. Shows are in various languages, so it is a good idea to double-check whether the play is in English before buying / reserving (blocking) tickets. Tickets cost between Rs 45100.

Movies
Take in a movie at one of the innumerable theaters around the city. PVR Gold Class Cinema, [41] (http://www.pvrcinemas.com/pvr/ourtheaters/bangalore3.asp) Forum Mall Inox theatre, [42] (http://www.inoxmovies.com) Garuda Mall. Nani Cinematheque, [43] (http://www.collectivechaos.org/location_cfd.html) has film series almost every weekend programmed by local film clubs. Collective Chaos, [44] (http://collectivechaos.org/current_schedule.html) Bengaluru Film Society, [45] (http://bfs.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page) . A club membership (around Rs 500/year) is typically required for entrance. Foreign film series and cultural events. The Alliance Francaise, [46] (http://www.afindia.org/bangalore) and Goethe Institute, [47] (http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/enindex.htm) .

Spa & massage

Massages & Spas are very much a part of Bengaluru's east-meets-west culture, new ones spring up across the city all the time. The 5th Element, [48] (http://www.thefifthelement.in) , Spa near Dell office on Inner Ring Rd. All practitioners are from Thailand and offer authentic Thai massage, scrubs, and wraps. Aroma Home Spa, Brookefields, ITPL Main Road, Near Whitefield, [49] (http://www.aromahomespa.com) . Natural eco-friendly products in use. Hydro therapy massage in addition to therapies suited to individual needs. Aayu Siddhi, [50] (http://www.ayursiddi.com) , Traditional Indian Ayurvedic massage. Kenko Reflexology & Spa, [51] (http://www.kenko.co.in) , offers a variety of massages and a fish spa. SPA.ce, Cunningham Rd, [52] (http://www.spacethespa.com) . Run by an expat Brit offers a variety of massages, scrubs, and facials. Akaasa, [53] (http://www.akaasa.in) , High-end boutique spa.

Massage or Prostitution Beware that many of the "Massage" classifieds in local newspapers may be fronts for prostitution. Prostitution is illegal and if caught in a raid, you may end up spending a night in the cooler before being eligible for bail. Most legitimate spas and massage parlors have detailed websites and are run professionally.

Learn
Buddhism
Choe Khor Sum Ling, Ashwini, No. 24, 1st Floor, Domlur Layout, +91 80 41486497 (info@cksl.in), [54] (http://www.cksl.in) . This Tibetan Buddhist meditation and study centre is in Domlur Layout near Shanti Sagar Restaurant on Airport Road. CKSL is a center for the study and practice of Mahayana Buddhism following the lineage and

example of Lord Buddha. The Centre, whose name means 'The Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma' was founded in 2003 by Lama Zopa Rinpoche under the guidance of HH the XIVth Dalai Lama. The Centre offers courses in various Buddhist meditation techniques and teachings on different aspects of Buddhism. Teachings are offered free to the public and are conducted in English or in Tibetan (with translation in English). In addition to regular teachings, every few weeks the Centre invites senior Lamas to give talks on important aspects of the Buddhist path. Such talks are also accompanied by instructions and initiations by the Lama into different meditation practices. edit Thubten Lekshey Ling (Dharma Subhashita), +91 98 80296930 (info@lekshey.org), [55] (http://www.lekshey.org) . Nyingma Tibetan Buddhist meditation centre founded by the late His Holiness Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche. The centre is located close to MG Road on Ulsoor road, just on the side of Manipal Centre. The centre conducts meditation classes, spiritual discourses and advanced study programs. Weekend teachings in meditation and philosophy are offered by lamas from Namdroling Monastery, Bylakupee. edit Maha Bodhi Society, 14 Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar, +91 80 2250684 (mahabodhi@vsnl.com), [56] (http://education.vsnl.com/mahabodhi/) . This temple has a very active schedule. There are teachings on the Dharma in English on the first two and last Sundays of every month from 9:30-11:30AM, while on the 3rd Sunday there is a meditation retreat. Anyone is welcome to attend. The temple also has a good library and a beautiful garden - a great place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis outside. edit

Reiki, meditation courses

Reiki Meditation Courses, (Near Double tank, Laxmipuram, Mysore, Karnataka), +91 99 7269 4014 (amit@amitreiki.com). Provides reiki and meditation courses, EFT and NLP treatments. edit

Work
Indians

The best way to find employment in Bengaluru is through job fairs, job portals, applying directly to companies of interest, and through headhunters.
Non-Indians

With a little hard work and persistence finding a job is quite possible in Bengaluru. Most of the available positions are in the IT field but not necessarily IT based. Several expats do marketing, quality assurance, accent training and translation among other things. All jobs in India require an employment visa which must be obtained abroad and sponsored by the hiring company in India. In general, the salary for expats is very high compared to the local Indian wage. The best resource for jobs is through the expat community. Ask around but a good place to meet expacts is the Sunday brunches at the 5 Star hotels or at the numerous coffee shops in and around the MG Road area.

Non-Indian Citizen Employment Regulation Indian regulations may require that any foreign national who is employed in India earn at least US$25,000/year. This is exempted for (a) Ethnic chefs, (b) Language teachers (other than English language teachers) / translators and (c) Staff working for Embassy/High Commissions. Check your compensation offer so that you meet this requirement and are eligible for an employment visa. Some foreign nationals are employed at salaries less than this, though, typically in the NGO sector.

Buy
Shopping districts

Bengaluru provides a wide range of options for shoppers. One can buy many things ranging from clothing to electronic goods and vehicles. Being an IT city, Bengaluru provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier. Many visitors come to Bengaluru searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk saris and so miss out on the true Bengaluru shopping experience. Here is a low down on shopping Bengaluru style: The UB City and Vittal Mallya Road are Page-3 shopping areas. You'll find brands like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Kimaya in the UB City. Vittal Mallya Road's got shopping places like The Collective which is a shop only for men, too bad!. Armani, Versace, Boss, you name it they have it. There's even Canary Blue and Esprit on the same road. The M.G Road/Brigade Road area is the most popular place for tourists, and these two roads are filled with shops of every kind, whether it be traditional handicrafts or the latest western wear (this is especially true for Brigade Road). Bannerghatta Road, newly improved. You have 'Grasshopper,' a space that exhibits clothing designs from the most experimental designers in India and also showcases other ideas lighting design, products, theatre, music - an open space for expression! If that's too boring, you can keep driving and you have a thousand ways that you can take to enjoy the wildlife and the myriad reservoirs strewn across the area - you can still find your very own private haven. Enjoy Brigade Road used to be where British soldiers bought their necessities. Today Brigade Road is the centre of yuppie Bengaluru; you'll see hordes of college students on the road anytime of day or night. Some of the stores on Brigade Road include: Planet M (a huge music store with everything),Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Phillipe, Pepe Jeans, Levis,Lee, SanFrisco Jeans, Nike, Titan (great Indian made watches) just to name a few. There are also many eateries on the road and on the side roads that lead off of Brigade road, so that you can refuel yourself for shopping! There are your fast food outlets: KFC (right at the entrance), Pizza Hut at the other end of the road and many cafes including the Indian Coffee Chain Cafe Coffee Day. Also includes a tattoo studio. Commercial Street a legacy of the British is another shopping mecca that sells international brands (similar to Brigade road) alongside locally produced items. Commercial Street has more of a bazaar feel than Brigade Road. In addition, it is famous for its body piercing centers. The price of goods here is very competitive and it is a great place to pick a bargain.

Shopping malls and markets

Go shopping at one of Bengaluru's many malls and traditional markets. Malls typically have high(er)-end stores retailing apparel, footwear, and consumer electronics. Many malls also have food courts (with international cuisine) and movie theaters. Finding a parking spot for your car may not be easy though, especially on weekends. Some of the more popular malls in Bengaluru are: The Forum (Koramangala) Garuda Mall (Magrath Road) Mantri Mall (Malleshwaram) Bengaluru Central (Residency Road and Jayanagar 9th block) Sigma Mall (Cunningham Road) Poorva Mall (Old Madras Road) Lido Mall (Ulsoor) Mega Mall (Vyalikaval) Prestige Mall (Vittal Mallya Road) Gopalan Innovation Mall (Bannerghatta Road)

 Meenakshi Mall (Bannerghatta Road)' Malls in India are a recent phenomenon, the first opened back in 1999, since then there has been a boom with malls around every corner in large cities (now also in smaller cities). Bengaluru is no exception! Here is list of the major Malls in Bengaluru, but beware that there are at least a dozen in the planning and construction stages! Forum Mall - The Forum on Hosur road is in the upmarket suburb of Koramangla, fast becoming a key shopping hub in Bengaluru. It is the largest mall in Bengaluru, covering an area of 650 000 ft (60 000m) of retail space. Again like other shopping areas, you can find anything at the Forum, high international brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Swarovski Crystals to traditional Indian Khadi clothing at the Khadder. Other brands with outlets include: United Colours of Bennetton (much cheaper here than in the west), Pepe Jeans U.K, William Penn, Wrangler Jeans, Weekender and of course Nike. The Forum incorporates the clothing from international brands as well as haute couture boutiques including: Mustard, Isis, B and the Chai shop. For books head straight to Landmark and huge store has everything from books to perfumes and music. On the top floor of the mall you will find a PVR multiplex comprising 11 cinemas. For eating there is everything, Fast food (KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway) Cafe Coffee Day and a food court with world cuisines including: Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican and Italian and Indian. Not to be missed is the Indian cuisine at Sahib Sindh Sultan and the British style pub, Firangi Pani. So that is a forum for all your shopping needs under one roof! Its just a must see, especially the outside. Garuda Mall - Located on the corner of McGrath and Commissariat Roads, is the newest and the second largest mall in Bengaluru. Bengaluru Central - Opened around the same as the Forum, Bengaluru Central is more of a large department store than a mall with separate retailers. Safina Plaza - The sale capital of Bengaluru, located on Infantry Road. Every week there is sale going on of any type. One week it might be home furnishings and the next men's wear. Good place to find some bargains. Many exhibitions are also held here, although there are retailers (Dockers, Lee Jeans, Titan too name a few) here too. So for quiet shopping come here (much less crowded than the other malls). Its best to visit during end of season sales (summer, monsoon) or during festivals (New Year, Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi). Lifestyle - A two-story store on Victoria Road in the heart of the new mall shopping district with malls like Garuda Mall, Bengaluru Central and Globus, all within easy walking distance and was one of the most coveted stores until the malls came along. It's an easy place to go shopping when you don't want too many options to confuse you or when you're tired and don't want to visit too many shops - you can get everything under one roof here. Good for clothes, cosmetics, watches, jewelry, shoes etc. You also get stylish furniture and other home and living items for a decent price. Mantri Square - It is located in Malleswaram and it is the largest mall in India. Sampige Road, Malleswaram - Sampige Road is the heart of Malleswaram and connects Sheshadripuram to IISc. Sampige Road is around 2 km, has a wide range of shops that sells books, electronic items, silk sarees, handicrafts, cloth materials, Hindu pooja materials, sweets and all the trivial things you can buy on earth. Also try Malleswaram 8th cross on Sampige road (aptly named Brigade Road of Malleswram) for a vibrant shopping experience. Sampige Road is also home to best flower market and fruits market in Bengaluru. If you are tired of going to individual shops you can go for the best departmental stores in Bengaluru like Fabmall, Foodworld and Nilgiris. Marathahalli Main Road and Factory Outlets- Located a distance from central Bengaluru (although not difficult to reach), is Marathahalli (a village in a previous life). The main road of this suburb is now a haven for factory outlets for all major brands: Nike, Adidas, Pepe Jeans, Killer Jeans, Louis Phillipe, Levi's, Reebok etc. You can expect prices here to be cheaper than in the Malls, at least 20-30% price difference but can be up to 50% cheaper when it comes to some of the major denim brands! As if India wasn't cheap enough. Although this is the best place to go to for factory outlet shopping, there are smaller factory outlets scattered across the city. Also look out for sales held by the major brands to get rid of end of season stock (again end of summer or end of monsoon), these are usually advertised in newspapers or look for signs posted on major roads. Metro shopping mall, (near Yashwanthpura railway station and ISKON temple). Jayanagar Shopping Complex, From antique Jewellery (the famous Bhavani's, the more recent Kushal's, The Gallery), the authentic gold jewellery stores, saree stores (Kalamandir, Kalaniketan, Mysore Silk Udyog), sweet meat stores (Sri Krishna Sweets, Arya Bhavan), classic Iyengar bakeries, dress stores (Paridhan, Rangoli, Bafna's, Vinayaka Collections), through to fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and butter. Gandhi Bazaar, (in the heart of Basavangudi). One of the oldest shopping areas in Bangalore, Gandhi Bazaar stretches for a short kilometer or so, bordered on both sides by shops selling everything from saris and clothes to plastics and kitchen utensils, fronted by vegetable and fruit stalls. Do not forget to visit Vidyarthi Bhavan whenever you come here for this is the best South Indian restuarant in Bangalore selling the most heavenly dosas. Apart from the malls one should not forget to visit Commercial street, Brigade Road which are excellent shopping and hanging out places. The traditional markets have mom-and-pop stores that sell everything from fruits, vegetables, groceries to electronics, music, and mobile phones. The city's largest vegetable and fruit market is in the heart of the city and is called "KR Market" or "City Market". Smaller but more lively traditional markets can be found in residential areas such as Gandhi Bazaar, N R Colony, Banashankari, Malleswaram, Jayanagar, and JP Nagar & Shivajinagar. For people looking for Girls party wear dresses Magic Threads in Richmond town very close to the popular shopping area of Brigade road is a must visit. President's Groom Concepts, groomconcepts@gmail.com (B.v.k. Iyengar Rd, Kamraj Rd, Rajajinagar, Basveshwarnagar), +91 80 4147 0910. 11AM-8:30PM. A chain of Fashion stores catering exclusively to men's wear in Bengaluru. Bespoke suits and made to measure clothing. Traditional Indian apparel also on offer. edit

Jewellery
C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons (Diamond Flagship Store), 2-1 Main Cross Rd (next to Safina Plaza), +98 80 4000 1869, [57] (http://www.ckcsons.com) . 14,000 sq ft dedicated to the finest gold and diamond jewellery, spread over two floors. edit C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons-The Heritage Store, 35 & 36 Commercial St, +98 80 4000 1869, [58] (http://www.ckcsons.com) . Dedicated to gold and silver. edit Giantti Luxury Ensemble, at Shop No. C9, Level 2, The Leela Palace. Diamond & gold jewellery along with silver articles and idols. +91 80 4115 9766, +91 80 4115 9799

Handicraft
Chandi - The Divine Gallery, Shop No. 12, First Floor, Public Utility Building, MG Rd. +91 80 4112 3590 +91 80 4112 3610, specialising in Indian divine figures in all mediums. Claims to have the biggest collection of Ganeshas in Bengaluru. High-quality and locally-priced wares, no pushy salesmanship. The Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium, 45 MG Rd. +91 80 2558 1118,. A large store, offering a wide selection of some of Karnataka's best hand made products. The carvings made of Mysore sandalwood are an especially good buy. Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), MG Rd. A government run store promoting traditional Indian hand crafts. The CCIE has major outlets in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai. Royal Arts & Crafts, 21 K.H. Rd, +91 80 2248 4797. Has a particularly wide selection of silk carpets and paper mache products. Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, 45 K.S.H.D.C Complex, MG Rd. +91 80 2558 1118. Specializes in Karnataka handicraft.

 Kala Madhyam Store', 2nd floor, Flat No 2, Benson Town #77/8, Nandidurg Rd (Benson Cross Rd corner), (mail@kalamadhyam.org), [59] (http://www.kalamadhyam.org) . Folk and tribal art paintings, handicrafts from across India, clothing for women. Specialises in wall murals of folk and tribal art as well as terracotta. edit

Books
Goobes Book Republic, 46-1-1 Church St, Karnataka (in the basement of Church Street Inn, Budget Hotel, near MG Rd,), +91 80 4112 4956 (goobesbookrepublic@gmail.com), [60] (http://www.goobes.wordpress.com) . Secondhand and new books on a wide variety of subjects and a very cost effective library option and buy back used books. edit Bookport, Casa Andree II, Ist floor, No 18/3, Andree Rd, (near Yellamma Dassappa Hospital, Shanti Nagar), +91 80 4112 4956. bookportbangalore@gmail.com, [61] (http://www.bookport.in) . They stock hand picked books on art, literature, philosophy, gender&sexuality, film, feminism, current critical thinking, fiction, travel. Also do art & literature events. Axis Books, 330/9, Axis Rd, Domlur Inner Ring Rd. Domlur Layout. (near Indira Nagar Flyover), +91 80 4038 3838, +91 80 4152 6657. [62] (http://www.axisbooks.in/) . It's a fairly new book shop. Started by one of the members of the Gangarams family. They stock books, stationery, multimedia, movies, and toys. The Strand book stall, 1st Floor, Manipal Centre, Dickenson Rd, +91 80 2558 0000, [63] (http://www.strandbookstall.com/) . Best known for the latest releases in art, design, architecture and all at good prices. Gangarams, 72 MG Rd. +91 80 2558 6743, +91 80 2558 7277. 4 floors crammed with books makes this book store one of the largest (as well the most organised) book store in India. Crossword, ACR Towers, Residency Rd. (opp. Gateway Hotel), +91 80 2558 2411-16. A hot spot for books of various genres combined with seating areas, spacious racksmusic and movie section, children's section and a coffee shops; this proves to be a wonderful hangout to read, browse and shop. Higginbothams, 68 MG Rd, +91 80 2558 7359, +91 80 2558 6574. This bookstore has a good selection of maps, postcards, guides and novels. Premier Book Shop, 46/1 Church St (off MG Rd), +91 80 2558 8570. Is a venerable Bengaluru institution that has books on every conceivable subject literally stacked from floor to ceiling. Although the store may appear to be utterly chaotic, the owner knows where every piece of his stock lies - just be careful with those elbows, a slight nudge and the whole place will come tumbling down! This store however, will shut down shortly. Landmark, Luskar Hosur Rd, Koramangala. (in Forum Mall), +91 80 2206 7777 / 78 / 80. A modern bookshop. A good place to pick up the most recent publications. Various household appliances; CDs and DVDs of music albums, computer and video games (the quality varying from time-to-time) and movies can also be found on the next floor. Blossoms, Church St (parallel to MG Rd and nearby Coconut Grove Restaurant), +91 80 255 9733, +91 80 2532 0400. There are 3 full floors of those rare, hard to find old books. All 2nd hand, good condition and at low rates. You definitely won't leave disappointed. Select Bookshop, Brigade Rd. (off Brigade Rd Behind Curzon Court Hotel). Used to be the only old bookstore. Mr Murthy, who runs the bookstore, is one of the most knowledgeable people. His grandfather started the bookstore. He also has a collection of lithographs, stained glass paintings and collectors copies of antique books. Oxford Book Store, At the Leela Galleria (next to Hotel Leela Palace). Has some of the latest collection of books and magazines but, doesn't offer any discounts. It has a Chai Bar attached offering 69 blends of tea. Tata Book House, At the Indian Institute of Science, Malleswaram. Has a large collection of technical books, on which it offers a flat 20 percent discount. Lots of books in a small place. Also worth visiting just because it is in IISc. Streelekha, 33/1-9, Thyagaraja Layout, Jaibharath Nagar. +91 80 2549 2783. This is a great bookstore to explore the feminist literature and activism that is being produced in India, as well as other texts on the research and work of Indian NGOs. The atmosphere is relaxing and inviting. Sapna Book House, 3rd Main Rd, near Kamat Yatri Nivas, Gandhi Nagar, (Walking distance from Majestic Bus stand), [64] (http://www.sapnaonline.com/) . This is a large bookstore, they also have branches in three other locations Sadashivnagar, Jayanagar, and Indiranagar. Sapna Book House also provides online book delivery. Fusion Rental, [65] (http://www.fusionrental.com) . Online renting of books & movies. Vast collection of both books & movies at one place. Free pick up & delivery all over Bengaluru. The Bookworm, (in one of the by-lanes perpendicular to Brigade Rd, 'near McDonalds). This is a small used book store. Good bargains on used and new books are available here. Elloor Library, Blue Cross Chambers, Infantry Rd, (close to Commercial St). A circulating library that has a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, including new titles. Requires membership which includes a deposit.

Boutiques
Apart from the numerous malls that have taken Bengaluru by storm, the essential element and soul of the city comes through in its myriad small and unique boutiques that are all over the city, usually tucked away though. Have tried to list the must check out stores.. President's Groom Concepts, B.v.k.iyengar Rd. (near Gandhinagar in the city centre) and Kamraj Rd (near Commercial St). +91 80 4147 0910. Two Menswear fashion stores, established 25 years. Fine fabrics for made-to-order and a large ready-to-wear collection. Bespoke suits and made to order clothing including tuxedos, business wear to traditional Indian kurtas and sherwanis. Mahendra Textiles, Chickpet, +91 80 4124 9900. Sarees and dress materials from Surat, Mumbai, Kolkata, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Kerela and Srilanka. They have a neat collection for the working women of today. Priced reasonably. Levitate-InDiA in A RooM, 100 Ft. Rd Indiranagar. 100 Ft. Boutique Restaurant (mezz floor), 777/1, +91 80 6452 8190, Mob +91 98 4531 7776, (levitateindia@gmail.com (mailto:levitateindia@gmail.com) ). Silver & costume handcrafted Jewellery, Bohemian apparel, Indian kitsch, amazing lifestyle accessories. Chilli Billi Indiranagar, +91 92 4179 9105 Great for women's westernwear', especially the dresses, good collection of bags, shoes and jewellery. They also offer home decor solutions. Native Place, Behind Museum Rd Post Office, Museum road. Loads of interesting merchandise, crafts made by NGOs, c/o The Only Place Restaurant. One G, (Jewelry) Hatworks Boulevard, Cunningham Rd. +91 80 4123 1231 Marmalade, Adj to Spratt Salon, Magrath Rd. (Left before Coffee Day, on Brigade Rd Extn), +91 80 4122 1814. Loads of affordable young designer wear.

Arnav +91 80 2656 8416, +91 99860 01216, [66] (http://www.arnav.in) . The quaint little jewellery store located at Ashoka Pillar, Jayanagar makes for very interesting jewelry buys, a range of antique, restored, contemporary and fusion jewelery are on display. They could help you design a piece of jewellery to suit your needs, an in-house jewelery consultant could help you choose your jewellery. Necessary Evil, +91 80 4163 8757, [67] (http://www.ilovenecessaryevil.com) 12th A main, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar. Casual luxury has finally reached Bengaluru with the opening of it's newest concept store. Necessary Evil will be offering shoppers the latest international brands such as 7 For All Mankind, Splendid and Alice+Olivia. Some of which are in India for the first time. They also offer and exclusive line of fine jewelry and home furnishings. This is definitely a space not to miss - so come see, be seen and get fabulous call in advance for a personal shopping experience. Sakhi by Chandras, +91 80 4115 5551, [68] (http://www.sakhifashions.com) . 6th main, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar. Combines traditional fabrics and craftsmanship with contemporary themes. Sakhis sarees, salwars and kurtis combine kanchivaram, tussar, chiffon, georgette, crpe, organza and cotton with traditional techniques such as cut work, block print, kalamkari, badla, mirror work, chamki (sequins) and embroidery in a mlange of colours.

Music and movies

Habitat, "Movies and Music", Church Street, Off Brigade Road is tiny compared to other retail music/movie stores, but its a delight for lovers of good music especially Jazz. Has an excellent and varied selection of DVDs for rent as well, though membership is currently closed.

Eat
This article or section does not match our manual of style or needs other editing. Please plunge forward, give it your attention and help it improve! Suggested fixes: Please ensure that Eat listings are entered under one of the 3 categories; Budget, Mid-range or Splurge. Please only use the Wikitravel Restaurants format and do not delete unused fields as it makes it difficult for others to add to the listing at a later time.

Bengaluru is far from the sea, and as such the quality of seafood can vary. Some of the higher end and popular seafood places manage this well, but foreign travellers may want to tread a bit carefully.

Budget
Bengaluru literally has hundreds of fast food joints serving South Indian vegetarian food. They usually are identified with small round steel tables and diners standing around them having food. Dosas, idlis, vada's, curd rice, Vegetable Pulao, rice with sambar, lemon rice are usually standard fare. Quality widely varies, since most of them cater to working people. Veena Stores, Margosa Rd, 15 Cross, Malleswaram. This place has some of the best Idlis and Vadas in this part of the world. They also make other dishes but Idli and Vada are mainstay. Don't expect to sit and eat because there is no seating. Stand and eat. Best time to go is mornings for breakfast before they run out of the day's stock. Try before 8AM although they are open some part of the day and evening. Shettara Beedi, (food street) The entire street adjoining the famous VB Bakery at V V Puram is Bengaluru's miniature version of Kuala Lumpur's Jalan Alor foodstalls. A haven for anyone who enjoys hawker fare, one can stall-hop and have a variety of snacks that'll satisfy even the most ravenous hunger and spend less than Rs 100 in total. Some of the must-try dishes are dum-root and butter-bun congress at VB Bakery. The dosas, obbattu (sweet pancake), akkirotti (rice pancake), fried bondas, butter-gulkand, and masala-pepsi available at the various stalls are also delicious. Note that the street comes alive only in the evenings (after 6PM) and that only vegetarian fare is available here. Janani, J.P.Nagar, A great place to have breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can have idli and sambar for Rs 10 and a cup of tea for Rs 8, a north Indian roti curry for Rs 32. If you want to have good Punjabi food, go upstairs and get a good meals under Rs 150. Anupams Coastal Express, Shivanand Circle. They make fantastic fish dishes. Neer Dosa with Chicken Pulimunchi , kori roti and chicken ghee roast are some things you really cannot miss. Hotel Empire (Other locations on Centre Street and Koramangala), Church St (Next to Museum Inn'), [69] (http://www.hotelempireinternational.com/) . 10AM-3PM. Indian, Chinese, and Middle eastern cuisine until late night. Try butter chicken, chicken kababs and parathas. edit Fanoos, (adjoining Johnson Market, off Brigade Rd). One of the joints for getting Sheekh (beef) rolls in Bengaluru. They come in various sizes - sheekh roll, sheekh jumbo, sheekh mambo, sheekh rambo and sheekh sambo - the latter of which is almost 2 in thick. There are other options like chicken, mutton and paneer rolls as well as kababs and shawarma. Rs 30-100 per head. But the hygiene here is almost non-existent. Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR), 11 Lal Bagh Rd. +91 80 2222 0022, +91 80 2222 1706. One of the very old traditional breakfast places in Bengaluru. A few people who have been having their breakfast at MTR everyday for the past 15 yrs. Closed between 2:45-3:30PM. Expect a long wait on weekends. Traditional 12 course Karnataka lunches are also available here for around Rs 90 per head. Advance reservations recommended at weekends. Rava idlis, dosas and bisi bele bath are excellent. It has maintained it's quality over the years and is very famous. It is on the road perpendicular to Lal bagh main gate. New Shanti Sagar, This is an reasonably reliable chain of vegetarian south Indian restaurants. Branches scattered all over the city, notably in Koramangala 80 Foot Rd, Jayanagar, Domlur. Rs 50-200. The Adiga's chain, Restaurants to the south of Bengaluru. Prominent among them are in: Jayanagar 4th Block, take the road facing BHS First Grade College, Basavanagudi. Adiga's Park 585, 10th Main, 42nd cross, 5th Block Jayanagar. Adiga's Foodline, 502, 40th Cross, 8th block. Adiga's Delicacy, 105 Dickenson's road, Manipal Centre. Adiga's Majestic, Next to Fkcci Bldg, KG Rd. Adiga's Nalapaka, across from HSBC Complex, Bannerghatta, Arikere.

Sree Krishna, fast food a little further from the road connecting Lalbagh Westgate with Basavanagudi. SLV chain, Prominent among them are located in: Banashankari 2nd stage, opposite BDA park and the one in J.P.Nagar 2nd Phase near Ragigudda Temple Vidhyarthi Bhavan, (off Gandhi Bazar in Basavanagudi). A gastronomic haven offering some of the best masala dosa in the world. This quaint little place is so famous that it has not even bothered to change it's age old sign board, and who needs it anyway, the aroma wafting through the air is a good enough indication that you are in the vicinity of the place. Get there early for a breakfast, there's always a bee-line for places to sit. Brahmin's Coffee Bar, (off ShankarMutt in Shankarapuram, Basavanagudi). Famous for idly, vada and Its famous chutney. You also get khaarabath. Don't expect sambar for vada here. Hotel Janatha, 8th Cross Rd, Malleswaram. Makes some of the best vada sambhar and masala dosa in town.

 Corner House, Residency Rd, +91 80 2558 3262), BTM Rd, Koramangala, Airport Rd, (off 80 Foot Rd), (Arlton Towers), Whitefield Rd, Marthahalli and Shivananda Circle. One of the best ice cream parlours offering a variety of treats. Their famed 'Death by Chocolate' (popularly known as DBC) is a must for all chocolate lovers and has attained a cult status. Can be tricky to find a spot during peak times and you may find yourself being 'encouraged' by the staff to leave quickly once you do. Central Tiffin Room, (a.k.a CTR), Margosa Rd, Malleswaram. Another landmark hotel, dishing out some divine 'Benne masala dosa', which literally melts in the mouth. Upahara Darshini, DVG Rd, Basavanagudi. Another of Bengaluru's new found Darshinis dishing out top notch masala dosa and Vada Sambhar. Lake View Milk Bar, MG Rd. +91 80 2558 7410. Excellent ice creams, club sandwiches and burgers. McDonalds, Forum Mall, Koramangala. Don't expect to find any beef items. Kentucky Fried Chicken, (KFC), Indiranagar. International fast food chain. Shiv Sagar, Narayan Pillai Street, (off Commercial St). +91 80 509-8892. Don't get put off by the location, It's a great place to eat. Coconut Grove, Church St. Appams and Kerala parottas with a chicken sauce dish. Their lunch offer for Rs 80 is also really good. A pretty good choice for reasonably priced quality seafood. Coco-Grove the outdoor 'beer cafe' extension is also worth a look. KC Das, This is a chain of Bengali sweets stores.shop in Bengaluru. The one on Church St is perhaps the most visible and famous but there are outlets on Coles Rd, BTM Layout. Udupi Garden, 16th Main BTM Layout. Simple Udupi restaurant. Serves very good south Indian dishes at nominal prices. Also serves north Indian food. Nandini, The Andhra fast food chain serves some excellent biriyani and chicken dishes. Shezan, On Lavelle Rd and Cunningham Rd. +91 80 2224 9319, +91 80 2224 9667, +91 80 2228 7895, +91 80 2226 2195. Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines with a good menu choice where beef, fish, prawn, mutton and chicken meat are available. Excellent steaks. Savera Tea Shop, 24 hr tea shops near Russell Market in Shivajinagar and on MG Rd. Good place to go for a cup of tea in the dead of the night. Serves tea, Suleimani (honey+lemon) tea and a variety of biscuits. Rs 3-15 Kanti Sweets, KG Rd, Majestic, Malleswaram Circle, RT Nagar. Very good samosas, kachoris and North Indian sweets like rasmalai. Rapidly expanding chain, so there are plenty of branches all over the city now, which serve parathas and other food items as well. The main branch in Majestic is the best, and serves only samosas, kachoris and sweets. Rs 10-50 per head. Kohinoor, Brigade Rd. Serves very reasonably priced Kerala muslim style food. Java, G block of Diamond District apartment complex in Kodalli on the old Airport Rd, +91 80 4137 8888. A hidden gem that serves buffet lunch and dinner for Rs 150 on weekdays, Rs 250 on weekends (prices 2008). The buffet consists of both North and South Indian dishes and caters to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Reasonably priced (Rs 90-120 entree) a-la-carte selection is available outside of lunch and dinner hours. Richies, on MM Rd. (Off Mosque Rd). Serves the kind of biryani that is the Bengaluru original. It is located midway on MM Rd, and hard to miss because of the crowds that throng its takeaway counter. One visits Richies only for the foodtables and chairs made of synthetic wood, and dim light from gaudy chandeliers dont exactly make for great ambiance. A motley bunch of diners cram the place for lunch and dinner (they have only recently built the 2nd and 3rd floors). The biryani here is delicious, and you must love meat to love Richies. The menu is limited; but the mutton and chicken biryani stand out and they are not flavoured with the same masala, or heaven forbid, rice, their kababs are something nice and unique too.

Mid-range
Koshy's, St. Marks Rd, (Below Church St). A Bengaluru institution, serving a smattering of Western favorites (like fish and chips) along with the usual South Indian fare in a bohemian-for-India atmosphere. On weekends, they serve up greasy Western-style breakfast, including omelettes and Bombay (i.e., French) Toast. Appam and stew is their Sunday breakfast special and a must eat. Turn right at the entrance for the more expensive (and decidedly less charming) A/C room. Rs 50-200. Smoky, with sluggish service, and not particularly clean Koshy's still has plenty of character and history but its getting harder to justify their skyrocketing prices. Sue's Food Place, Krishna Temple Rd, Indira Nagar. A Caribbean style restaurant run by Sue (Susan John from Trinidad and Tobago). It has an excellent buffet. Their Jamaican jerk chicken, salads and desserts are lovely. A la carte menu is available on certain days. Rs 200-500 100ft Restaurant, 100 Foot Rd, Indra Nagar. Westernised cooking, but notably better than any other pasta serving restaurant in the area. The restaurant is a bit of a hybrid of store/restaurant. Rs 300-500. Ebony, MG Rd. (on the 13th floor of the tallest building on MG Rd). Stylish eatery with excellent evening views of the city. Service is a bit slow, but the ambiance makes it worth the wait. Book ahead for a terrace seat. Rs 200-400 Little Italy, 100 Foot Rd, Indiranagar. A chic Italian vegetarian restaurant, faddish and over priced. Sometimes the staff switch off A/C if the tables are less than half-filled. Mainland China, Church St (Near Museum Rd) +91 80 2227 7722, +91 90 2224 5864. Upscale Chinese food. Good, fairly authentic food and excellent service. Serves a decent lunch buffet. Also new outlet on 100ft Road, Indiranagar. Rs 500-800. Sahib Sindh Sultan, Level 2, Forum Mall, Hosur Rd, Koramangala. +91 80 2206 7878, Train-themed restaurant with a delicious, upscale menu. It is supposed to showcase NWFP. Their kakori kebabs are excellent. It also serves wine with the food. Expect a long wait. Or book ahead and roam around the mall or grab a few drinks from the adjoining Firangi Paani. Rs 150-500 Samarkand, Gem Plaza, 66, Infantry Rd (East of Central St). +91 80 4111 3366. North West frontier food (i.e., kebabs, Afghani) in a kitschy atmosphere but the food is great. You will need to book on weekends. Rs 300-600. T.G.I Friday's, Carlton Towers & Airport Rd. Don't expect cheap Indian prices. Happy hours with 1+1 free on alcoholic beverages in the evening should make up for that. Pinxx, Manipal centre (off MG Rd). A great place for Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet. Rs 200-400 per head. Canopy, PU Building, M.G. Rd, Open air, multi-cuisine North-Indian food. Cooking techniques date back to the independence era offering the unique taste. Great outdoor ambiance in the middle of the central business district. Rs 125-750 Le Rock Pub Cafe, Rest House Rd, (Off Brigade Rd), +91 80 4123 1001. Hot coffee to chilled Kingfisher beer on the tap awesome cocktails and even hand rolled Havana Cigars from Salads, Sandwiches, Jacket Baked Potatoes to Entree's. LRC also offers an Oxy Bar Bengaluru's first. A must for every tourist visiting this city. Ceasar's Restaurant, MG Rd. Indian and continental food. Ambiance is good though the food is tad expensive. Parking is a problem.

 Alibaba Cafe & Restaurant, Frazer Town. +91 80 4091 7163. Arabian, Persian and Bhatkali cuisine described as "An Arabian Lake in the Indian Ocean". A themed restaurant with the feel of Arabia, Persia and India. The "Shaiya Biryani" of the Bhatkali cuisine, the Al faham chicken barbeque out of the Arabian cuisine and the chicken Jujeh kabab from the Persian cuisine are all recommended. The Egg Factory, St.Marks Rd. +91 80 4211 0041. Multi-cuisine, The menu, as the name suggests, is all based on the indispensable 'egg. Its also modelled on a factory with functional chairs and a menu that looks like an instruction manual. Its open for all day dining. Egg dishes from all over the world, including omelttes, scrambles, French toast, curries, sub's, pasta & desserts. Don't miss the fantastic huevos rancheros here, they make it as good as in Mexico. Innovative drinks, try the Chlorophyll Fix, it looks and sounds wierd, but tastes like heaven. Relaxed service

Splurge
Blue Ginger, Race Course Rd, (in the Taj West End). High-end Vietnamese restaurant with, a beautiful setting and excellent food. You may be shocked by the bill, though. Just next door to Blue Bar. Cafe Mozaic, 41/3 MG Rd, (in the Taj Residency). Western-style dining in a casual atmosphere with some pool-side seating. Sundays before 3:30PM, there is an all-you-caneat/drink champagne brunch for Rs 1,000. Grasshopper, 45 Kalena Agrahara, Bannerghata Rd. +91 80 2659 3999, +91 98 4545 2646. Freshly prepared seven course meal served on the table. Reservation required. Closed on Mondays. Leela Palace, All-you-can-eat/drink brunch on Sunday is Rs 2,000. They have 4 restaurants, Citrus Lounge (Brasserie kitchen), Zen (Pan Asian), Library Bar (serves all cuisine) and Jamavar (Authentic Indian). Generally overpriced compared to the Taj outlets (Blue Ginger, Graze, Karavalli) Monsoon, Park Hotel on Old Madras Rd. (next to Taj Residency). 24 hr cafe with a variety of Continental Dishes, Indian, South East Asian and Mediterranean. Ideal location for private parties. Sunny's, at Embassy Diamante, 34, Vittal Mallya Rd. +91 80 5132 9366, +91 80 5132 9391, +91 80 2212 0496. About Rs 1,200 for a 3-course meal for two, excluding drinks. Among the best restaurants in Bengaluru. Try the starters, salads and pasta is fine here. Hot sandwiches for lunch. Also has a branch at Indira Nagar on 100 ft Rd. The Raj Pavillion, ITC Windsor Manor, Golf Course Rd. 24 hr restaurant that offers the taste of the British Raj. Anglo-Lucknowi, Far East and Continental cuisine is served. Amongst the best in Bengaluru. Karavalli, (at the Gateway Hotel), Residency Rd, +91 80 2558 4545. Mangalorean, Goa, Karwar, and Kerala style cuisine. Best Indian food you will get when visiting BLR I.T-alia, (in Park hotel), has the best Italian food in town. Graze, (in Taj Residency). Has some of the best creative continental you will get in Bengaluru. Giancarlo's, (near Vittal Mallya Rd). Offers some of the best Italian in town, though quality tends to be unstable. Olive beach, Wood St. A longtime favourite that will serve you Italian meats and cheese in a nice setting, this is still among Bengaluru's best. Bengaluru, (in La Classic Hotel Extraordinaire). The only fine dining multi cuisisne restaurant,outside electronic city and on the way to Hosur caters to buffet breakfast, lunch and Dinner apart form a selection of an international menu

Regional cuisine
Tijouri, North Indian restaurant inside the Hotel Atria. Kamat Yatrinivas, Gandhinagar. Serves special N Karnataka meals with jowar(Sorghum) rotis. They now have a branch on Bull temple road where they have local artists perform when you have dinner. Kadambam, Authentic Iyengar cuisine ranging from Puliogare, Sakkare Pongal, Thayir Sadham, of course Kadambam (which is actually a type of heavenly concoction of Sambhar and rice, akin to Bisibele Huliyanna), and a wide array of traditional Iyengar sweets. It has two branches, one on Bull Temple Road, near Ramakrishna Ashram and another just off West of Chord road, near Modi eye Hospital in Rajajinagar.

Continental
Herbs & Spices, On 80 Foot Rd. (Above Planet M, 100 m north of Reliance Fresh). Great pasta, pizza, and desserts. Casa Picola, [70] (http://bangalore.burrp.com/establishment/search.html?q=casa+picola&n=) has interesting, tasty Italian and continental food in a casual ambiance. An old favourite for many locals, it has a few branches. Friends Fast Food, Jyoti Nivas College Rd, Koramangala (300 m from Forum). Great Conti food at college prices. Casa Picola fans will like this one. Cafe Y, Langford Rd (Near Prestige Elgin, Hosur Rd-Langford Rd junction) +91 80 5114 4561. Amazing sizzlers and steaks, nice ambiance. Indi Joe, 1 Airport Rd (Carlton Towers) +91 80 4111 3636, +91 80 4112 1234. Fondue, pizza, steak and Mexican food. Their Lunch buffet is good. Rendezvous, 80 Foot Rd, Koramangala. Near Barista and Maharaja Hotel.

Maharashtrian food
Kollapuri's, 429/31 30th Cross, 4th Block Jaya Nagar (Near Jain Mandir), +91 80 4121 1693, +91 80 2653 5207. An authentic Maharashtrian hotel run by Savaji. It serves bhakri, chapati and "Sheckle Edme" special Savaji stuffed roti with spicy sabjis and non-veg edit Rajvardhan Foods, 1291 25th Main Road, 9th Block Jaya Nagar East (Near Big Bazaar), +91 98 8630 3088, +91 98 8630 3089. Best known for its vadapav, sabudana vada, khichdi. It also offers bhakri, thalipeeth. The snacks and other food offered here is comparatively expensive. This is because it is Bengaluru's only authentic maharashtrian food outlet. It also serves food fresh, only prepared after placing the order, so the wait and price is compensated. The food quality is excellent. edit

Oriya food
Dalama, #37, 6th block, Koramangala, 100ft Rd (near Kamat Hotel, Koramangala), +91 80 4166 0921. Authentic Oriya cuisine. The restaurant serves chapati, meat, fish, prawn, crab and chicken delicacies prepared in Oriya coocking style along with Oriya Vegetable curries. edit

South Karnataka
Karavalli, Residency Rd, (at the Gateway Hotel), +91 80 2558 4545. Mangalorean, Goa, Karwar, and Kerala style cuisine. Konkan, 6th cross, 6th Block, Koramangala. +91 80 2552 1530. Mangalorean and Goan style cuisine. Vidyarthi Bhavan, 32 Gandhi Bazaar. +91 80 2667 7588. Another very old and traditional breakfast place, exclusively known for its Masala Dosa. Similar to MTR, you can find people who have been having breakfast here since times immemorial. The Palms, 33 Church St, (at the Highgates Hotel), +91 80 2559 7172. Mangalorean, Coorgi, and Malabari style. (shut for renovations) Janatha Hotel, 8th Cross, Malleshwaram. Another great place, famous for its butter masala dosas and vadas. Halli Mane, 3rd Cross, Malleswaram (close to Malleswaram Circle). Truly authentic and traditional Kannada style food. Kamath Yatrinivas, Majestic, authentic Mangalorean meals. Kamath Lokaruchi, Mysore Rd , (just before Channapatna). Amazing food and ambience. Authentic mangalorean meals Upaahara Darshini, One of the Bengaluru's oldest food joints. Amazing dosas (pancakes). Krishna darshini, St, Basavanagudi. Kudla, (attached to Ramanashree comforts), For sea-food, serves excellent dishes. its like a thilak New Krishna Bhavan, 1st Cross Malleswaram, for authentic Mangalorean food, reasonably priced. Try the neer dosa and badam halwa. Kodial's, 8th Cross Malleswaram, for authentic vegetarian Konkani cuisine.

Bengali
Oh! Calutta, St Mark's Rd, part of a chain of restaurants across the country, and the best Bengali food available in the city albeit pricier than the other options. Bangaliana, 355, 1st 'B' Main, 7th Block, Koramangala, (opp. HDFC Bank), +91 80 2571 1058. Authentic Bengali Delicacies (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Restaurant, Take-away, Catering. Specialities: fish, mutton chicken and, of course, sweets. Sonar Bangla, 88/1, Shubh Arcade, 1st floor, 16th Cross, Margosa Rd, Malleswaram. +91 80 3367622. The restaurant undertakes orders of authentic Bengali food for gourmets who fancy a whole meal and also delivers it at the doorstep. Fish is considered sacred in the coastal state and is consumed universally. So, all fish lovers can take heart as the non-vegetarian cuisine is delivered, but not served at the restaurant. 6 Ballygunge Place, 1F., 612, 12th Main, Indira Nagar (above Caf Coffee Day). It has been rated best bengali restaurant by times food guide Bengaluru. It serves excellent fish (esp their chital peti roast), dab chingri and luchis. (Its mocktails are avoidable however). Prices are slightly on higher side. May cost around Rs 1000 for two but the food quality is good. The owners have added Calcutta style chaat on top floor also recently. 36 Chowringhee Lane, 100ft Rd, BTM Layout. (opp Reliance Fresh) +91 80 4124 0979. Authentic Bengali Cuisine. The Esplanade, KHB Colony. +91 80 4092 7878 offers authentic Bengali cuisine. They also have a continental menu. Bhojohori Manna, 668/B 6th Block, Koramangala Club Rd, +91 80 2550 3666. Free home delivery + 91 96 2090 3666, +91 95 3880 3666

Andhra
Bheemas, Church St, (off Brigade Rd). If you have the penchant for spice this place is meant for you. RRs, (off Brigade Rd), A renovation of the vintage RRs, the fun doubles here with the double storeyed restaurant, one serving Andhra and the other Hyderabadi cuisines. There's also alcohol, all the more reason to indulge on a Saturday afternoon. Nagarjuna Chimney, (1) Residency Rd, (near Old Galaxy Theatre), (2) Jayanagar 3rd Block, (near ICICI Bank), Possibly have a few more branches elsewehere in Bengaluru. The Biryani is almost intoxicating, not to mention their 'meals' which are served ritually on a banana leaf. Reach early for lunch, for, there are hordes in the waiting always.

Tamil
Krishna Cafe, Koramangala (opposite China Pearl). Traditional Chennai-style food. Dosas, idlis, idiappam and the like with authentic Tamil sambar and chutney. Do note that this place is vegetarian-only. A vegetarian meal will cost you around Rs 80. Most of the French expats eat here. Ponnuswamy, Koramangala (near the National Games Village, opposite to Legends of Rock), +91 80 4151 1919. Authentic south Tamil nadu food. Try the biryani and sukka fry. No alcohol or smoking. Also at Residency Rd., next to Imperial Hotel. Pongal, Jivan Bima Nagar (near the Indiranagar telephone exchange). Tamil nadu food. Lots of dosa varieties and is very famous for the Podi dosa, parotta with kurma are good. Ambience is not that great, but this place is for those who need a quick bite without a big pinch on the wallet. Anjappar Restaurant , #50 100 Feet Rd, 4th Block, Koramangala. Annachi , 100 Foot Rd, Indiranagar. Serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Has some good chettinad style dishes. Annapoorna , Ulsoor, (near Sai Baba Temple in Ulsoor. Need to get down at Ulsoor police station). It serves pure vegetarian food in Tamil style. Kadambam, Manipal Centre, Dickenson Rd. Serves authentic Tamil Iyengar food.

Fast food and ice cream parlors

U S Pizza, Church St. +91 80 2559 9347. If you are looking for a western tasting pizza this is the closest you get, try lamb-pepperoni. Richie Rich Ice Cream Parlor, With three branches around the city, this ice cream parlor has a variety of natural ice creams, softies and many fast food items such as pav bhaji and vada pav.. Try the 'Elvis Presley' specialty or the traffic jam or 'Richie Rich' special. The 3 locations are on St. Marks R, Airport Rd. and Kumara Park East. +91 80 2226 9655.

 Phalaamritha Icecream Parlor, 8th Cross, 14/1 West Park Road,Malleswaram. +91 80 6567 5755. Serves 25 super smooth home-made ice cream flavours along with health drinks, varieties of kulfi's, milk shakes,Ice tea, ice cream, novelties and chaats. Corner House, 1 Airport Rd, Carlton Towers. This is the place for you if you are looking for the best desserts in town. The "brown bomb" and "hot fudge" are a must have. Not a place for calorie counters. Yogi's, #86,21st Main, Banashankari 2nd Stage (Near BDA Complex). The "Sakkat Burger" and "Sakkat Mexican" are a must have. Wide range of burgers, sandwiches, ice creams , shakes and sundaes available. +91 98 4584 9025, +91 98 4539 7363.

North Indian
Bay Leaf, Raheja Arcade, Opposite Forum Mall, Kormangala. A really nice place with reasonable prices. Grameen, Raheja Arcade, Opposite Forum Mall, Kormangala. One of the best places to have good Vegetarian North Indian food. Queens, Church St, Opposite Amoeba. Small restaurant but great food at reasonable prices. Dalfryday, Banerghatta Rd (Near IIM -B, beside HSBC Bank and above Fabmall). North Indian, non-vegetarian cuisine in a fine ambience. (this is closed as of now, Hyderabadi biriyani has opened a branch at the same location) Hyderabadi biriyani, Banerghatta Rd, (near IIM -B, beside HSBC Bank and above Fabmall). Serves good biriyani Rasilas,,J P Nagar 7 Phase, Shreyas colony, (close to Brigade Millennium & Elita Promenade Apartments, near RBI layout). Nice place with very fine cuisine. Mast kalander, Bannerghatta Rd has some very nice North India cuisine. It is very reasonably priced. There are branches in Indirangar and Electronic city also. Pot Luck, Bannerghatta Rd, (in an alley opposite IIM Bengaluru). Has some very good North India cuisine. It is very reasonably priced. Another Branch in JP Nagar near Udupi Restaurant.

Italian
I-Talia, The Park, MG Rd. +91 80 2559 4666. Expensive, but arguably the best Italian food in town. Fiorano Ristorante, 63, 100 Foot Rd. 5th A block, Koramangala, (Next to Sukh Sagar) [71] (http://www.fiorano.in) . +91 80 2553 4231. Easy to miss driving by but Incredible food. Entrees Rs 300-600. 100 ft Boutique, 100 Foot Rd, Indira nagar, (after Fab Mall when you are travelling from CMH Rd side, and a few stores after Benetton on the LHS if you're coming from Airport Rd), +91 80 4150 1781, +91 80 6452 8190. Comparable to most continental resto-bars. The best part about it is that its a Boutique Restaurant, which means you can shop, while waiting for your meal to arrive, even after 9PM, which is when most other shops close in Banglaore. The Boutique houses many young designers. Levitate, showcases a wide array of eclectic street fashion and handcrafted kitsch from all over India. Italia, (previously Little Italy), Nice vegetarian restaurant in Indira Nagar, a little expensive. Good food. Via Milano, Koramangla, (near Sony World). Authentic Italian food. 3 course meal for 2 will cost an average of Rs 2,000, (wine not included).

Chinese
P!ng, No. 130, 1st Cross, 5th Block, Koramangala. Includes a dessert bay. Dim sum, sensible portions, good prices. Aromas of China, Eva Mall, 5th floor. Shanghai Junction, No.8, Sri Sai, 60 Foot. Rd, G Block, Sahakarnagar. (behind Big Market), +91 80 41744477, +91 80 4174 4488 Golden Lights, No.4032, 100ft Rd, HAL-II Stage, Indranagar. +91 80 2559 7722, +91 80 6537 4579. As close to an authentic Chinese meal as you will find in this city. Excellent food, good service. A tad pricey. Caesar's Multi Cuisine Restaurant, Mahalakshmi Chambers, 9/2, MG Rd. (beside HSBC bank opposite ING Bank). Variety of tasty food. Classic environment. 6:30PM11:30PM. From M-Sun. Mainland China, 2 branches: Church St &anp; 100 Foot Rd. Chungs and Chung Wa, spread across Bengaluru

Kerala
Claypot, Tippasandra. K K Bakers, Malleshpalaya. BigBoy Fried Chicken, (BFC), Vignan Nagar. Kalavara, Vignan Nagar. Malabar Cuisine, Maratha Halli Bridge. Kairali, (near Forum Mall, Koramangala). MAS, Madiwala, (2-3 km from Koramangala). Gokulam Mess, GM Palaya, (3 km from Indiranagar). Continental Spice, Airport Rd, (close to Diamond District). Hotel Ruchi, Vignan Nagar. Kaayal, Jeevan Beema Nagar Rd. Hotel New Malabar Near level cross, Kaggadasapura,

 Tharavadu, Hosur Rd, Bommanahalli, (after silk board) Priyam Restaurent, Jagadish Nagar, (behind BEML). The Paramount Restaurant, Koramangala (near Jyothi Nivas college) Little Home, Koramangala, 80 Foot Rd, (near Wipro K2 office. Very good south and central Kerala food). Bad service though Kerala Pavalion, Domulur (behind Santhi Sagar). Authentic Kerala food

Dhabas
There are few Dhabas catering to all tastes. Both South and North Indian fare is available at most places and is clean and cheap. A special mention is the green park dhaba on the outskirts on Bellary Road and Golconda Chimney on the old airport road in Marthahalli , opposite Shankara Eye Hospital. Golconda Chimmney has been recently renovated and has both A/c and non-A/C sections, the non-veg spread is simply amazing , but the rates are steep if you have a traditional dhaba in mind. The ambience is nice. Try the chicken kathi rolls and the biryani. Bobby-da-Dhaba, (near Ulsoor Lake. Take a left turn from MG Road - Trinity Circle and ask for Gurudwara the Sikh temple). Right next to the Gurudwara is Bobby-daDhaba. The food is quite good (albeit slightly oily). It basically serves paranthas (with lots of butter), chaach, kheer and a number of side dishes (most notable being their shahi paneer and rajma). You may have to wait for a while in case it is full. So it's better to go slightly early, 12PM for lunch and 7:30PM for dinner to avoid rush).

Drink
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Cafes Caf Coffee Day, [72] (http://www.cafecoffeeday.com) +91 80 4001 2345. Popularly known as CCD, first established in 1996, at Brigade Road, Bangalore The chain has over 1,000 cafes through out India. It is found all over Bengaluru. Barista Lavazza, [73] (http://www.barista.co.in/users/index.aspx) +91 80 4207 5023. An Indian startup cafe chain established in 1997 and more commonly known as Barista and now owned by Lavazza. The chain has more than 200 stores in India. It is found all over Bangalore with 32 retail outlets, most of them near IT corporate offices. Costa Coffee, British coffeehouse chain. [74] (http://www.costacoffee.co.in) +91 80 4348 8888. Koramangala 4th Block, in Indranagar and another opposite GoetheInstitut, RMZ Eco Space on Sarjapur Rd and Sigma Mall, Brookesfield, Cunningham Rd, JNC Rd, and Jayanagar. Besides Coffee, Costa lays heavy emphasis on food with sandwiches, paninis, tostatos, pastas and many kinds of deserts, English muffins, a wide variety of cakes and desserts. Caffe Pascucci, [75] (http://www.pascucci.in/) +91 080 4091 2134. Italian coffee chain brand. In 2010, Pascucci set up its own coffee retail shop in India with 10 outlets in Bangalore at prominent localities like Jayanagar, Malleshwaram and Indranagar. Cake Walk, #297, 100 Feet Rd, Indra Nagar.[76] (http://bangalore.burrp.com/establishment/view/198246643) , +91 80 2520 5393. Coffee World, Can be found all over Bengaluru. [77] (http://www.coffeeworld.com/locations.asp) Coffee Workers Co-op, Church St's Brigade Gardens. A venerable Bengaluru institution, with waiters in traditional uniforms and customers slowly savoring the age-old tradition of coffee drinking - though there are just two choices of coffee: black or white.Have some delightful "masala dosa" here. Java City, Church St. Pleasant old Bengaluru atmosphere. Offers a wide variety of tea, coffee from all over the world including pizza, pasta, pastries, cookies, you name it they have it plus you get to see a unique sense of humor in their menu and on the walls. On saturday and Sunday evenings, there is live music, rock and guitar. This place is simple, expatriate friendly and not at all pricy. There is another Java City near Lavelle Road. Pubs and bars The pub scene is concentrated around the commercial business district in the heart of Bengaluru. MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, St. Marks Road, and Church Street have numerous pubs. Happy hours is typically between 6-8PM and at most pubs, the time for the last order is around 10.30PM. Formerly having a reputation as the Pub City of India, Bengaluru's buoyant pub and nightlife has been curtailed by police and regulatory action, and all bars and nightclubs must now close no later than 11.30PM.
Budget

Most bars and pubs in the city are somewhat upscale, but many inexpensive restaurants serve beer and good quality food. If you just need to go out you could go to one of the bars, but if you would like to have a great social experience and are in the city for a considerable period of time consider becoming a member of one of the social expat clubs in the city. The IVES Club [78] (http://www.ives.in) offers a meeting for it's members every Saturday at one or the other popular nightclubs in Bengaluru, its members are interns, expats, volunteers and exchange students residing in the city.
Mid-range

"The Biere Club, Vittalmallya Rd, (opp Sunny's). Bangalores first craft brewery and a popular place for beer lovers. Pecos, Rest House Rd (Off Brigade Road). 60s retro pub with a mural of Jerry Garcia. Often crowded on all 3 floors, including the pleasant roof-top seating area. Free popcorn with every pitcher of beer. Cards are available for frequent customers which make every tenth pitcher of beer free, but you may have to ask several times in order to acquire one and to get it updated. Beer Joint Pub, (aka BJP), Indira Nagar Nasa, Church St. Tavern at The Inn, Museum Rd. Styx, (next to Cauvery Handicrafts on M.G. Rd) - They put the "Heavy" in heavy metal!!

 Purple Haze, Residency Rd. Popular for the classic rock that's played there. Now there is a new Purple Haze off Hosur Rd, Koramangala (close to Jyothi Niwas College). Sparks, Brigade Rd extension, next to Brigade Towers. Ego's, Castle Street, off Brigade Rd. J'Cubez, Banshankari 2nd Stage, opp. BDA complex. For rock lovers. The Bunker, (off Residency Rd). Jimi's (Residency Rd and Koramangala 80 Rd). A nice dark cozy bar along with Rock music and video. Best visited during weekends and is not hard on your pocket. Legends of Rock, 80 Foot Rd, 6th Block,Koramangala. +91 80 4130 3232. Watch the Legends perform on large format TVs. Olio, Koramangala, +91 80 4092 7888. Great ambiance with beer, wines and continental food. Opus, Palace Cross Road, near Sankey Rd, +91 80 2344 2580, [79] (http://opusbangalore.blogspot.com/) . A chilled-out, ex-pat friendly lounge with a large outdoor space. Has karaoke on most Sun and Wed (Kroaknights) as well as regular live music and DJ dance nights. You may need to book ahead on theme nights. Sultanate Of Swing, 4th floor, Garuda Mall, Free entry, mainly plays Rock, Retro, Heavy Metal and has a Video DJ. Bull n Bush:4th floor, Garuda Mall, Rs 500/- cover Charge, Plays hip hop, house and occasionally trance. Le Rock Pub Cafe, Rest House Rd (off Brigade Rd) +91 80 4123 1001. The latest watering hole in Bengaluru. Rock music across the board screened on large plasma panels; every song can not only be heard but seen as well. Coffee, Kingfisher beer, cocktails, food and Bengaluru's first oxy bar. Open from 10AM-11:30PM. Windsor Pub, Vasanth Nagar. (off Mount Carmel's in Kodava Samaja Building). A small place which serves only beer, good food and is nice for a family outing. But only limited tables. Carpe Diem, Church Street (off Brigade Rd) It's a Power Metal haven. B11, Jayanagar 4th Block (above Hotel Pavithra and next to Cool Joint) New Night Watchman, (corner Church and Museum Rd's), Little bit dingy but helpful bar staff - satellite TV has the Australia Network so you can watch Rugby Union and AFL games. Take 5 54, MSK Plaza, HAL II Stage Indiranagar. A Jazz themed restaurant that serves great American style food and offers a large selection of beers. They don't always play jazz but the food and drink is consistentlygood. Zeus, #174 2nd Floor Manohar Crest, Brigade Rd (on top of health n glow), +91 80 2532 3355. 11AM-11:30PM. Sports bar and lounge. edit
Splurge

Most hotels have spiffy bars with every imaginable concoction of drinks available. Kosmo, Formerly Cosmo Village on Magrath Rd. 3 separate areas including a terrace. 81 Ali Askar Road Cross (Off Cunningham Rd). This nightclub is a remodeled colonial villa on a quiet lane, with excellent DJs and expensive drinks, and attracts a wealthy clientele. 13th Floor, Barton Centre, M.G Rd. Make a reservation. The Beach, 100 Foot Rd, Indiranagar. Make a reservation. Starts with retro music, plays some good hip-hop and house towards the end. Makes you feel like you are in Goa. Aura, Cunningham Rd. Athena, The Leela Hotel, Airport Rd. Really popular on most days of the week. The upper VIP lounge is the best part of the club, but the rest of the club is beautifully appointed and attracts a hip crowd. Blue Bar, Race Course Rd. On weekends you need to buy drink-tickets for Rs 1,500 to enter. Excellent drinks if you make sure Joel makes them. Officially they have a couple's only policy. Spontaneous dancing likely next to the bar. F-Bar, (inside Le Meridien). Fashion Bar is a theme bar by FTV Fuga, Richmond Town. The best place for house music lovers. Expensive and fashionable. Firangi Paani, Forum Mall, Koramangala. Geoffrey's, Airport Rd, (Royal Orchid). Really nice place. Hint, 5th Floor Bengaluru Central, M.G Road. Tuesdays is ladies night (couples permitted). iBar Park Hotel, M.G Rd. Spinn, (next to Brigade Rd circle). Closes early at 11:30PM. Ccover charge of Rs 500 to enter. Saturdays is a party goers energy paradise with full-on house and some hip hop towards the end. Taika, Church St. (Off Brigade Rd). Usually open past midnight and has a huge dance floor. 3 bars and a lounge area. Entrance varies each night. Tuscan Verve, (Off Brigade Rd). Vaayu, Cool bar on the 5th floor of Eve Mall on Brigade road. It has comfortable lounge seating, and is open air, giving some nice views over the city.

Sleep
This article or section does not match our manual of style or needs other editing. Please plunge forward, give it your attention and help it improve! Suggested fixes: Please ensure that Sleep listings are entered under one of the 3 categories; Budget, Mid-range or Splurge. Please only use the Wikitravel Hotels format and do not delete unused fields as it makes it difficult for others to add to the listing at a later time.

Budget
Kind host, +91 98 45180207 (sameer@kindhost.in), [80] (http://kindhost.in) . Clean rooms, clean attached bathrooms, wifi. Nearby to many restaurants. edit Airavatam Serviced Apartment, 330/7, Axis Rd (Alight at Axis Books Bus stop), +91 80 4038 1200. Clean rooms, clean attached bathrooms, wifi. Nearby to many restaurants. edit Church Street Inn, 46-1-1, Church St, [81] (http://www.churchstreetinn.in) . Clean rooms, clean attached bathrooms, wifi internet access, Complementary continental breakfast, Walking distance from MG Road, Brigade Road and restaurants. Bookshop in lobby area [82] (http://www.goobes.wordpress.com) . 6 fully furnished rooms, all A/C, direct dial from rooms, free wifi, cableTV, including HBO and ESPN, free in house library. Offices open 24 hr. Single Rs 1,864 double Rs 1,800. edit Silicon Suites, 174, Nagvarapalya, Rahat Bagh, Behind Big Bazaar, (Off Old Madras Rd, near Indiranagar) +91 80 4019 8888 [83] (http://www.siliconsuites.in) VSL Grand Serviced Apartments, +91 80 4128 9401/8, [84] (http://www.vslgrand.com) . Single and 2 bedroom apartments, close to Palace Grounds and easily accessible to the road leading to the New International Airport. edit Ajantha, 22 MG Rd. Good simple hotel with vegetarian restaurant. +91 80 2558 4321. Royal Regency Lodge, S. C. Road (Next to Movieland theater). +91 80 4113 0202 [85] (http://www.royalregencylodge.com) Clean rooms and convenient to the citys local transports like the City bus station and the City Railway Station. Shree Vaishnav Gujarati Samaj, (Just behind "Majestic Area, near Sapna cinema, Kempe Gowda circle). A secure and decent place to stay if you are there for a day or two. Costs Rs 50. A nice canteen with Gujarati food available. In the vicinity there is another good place available for fast food / lunch named "SLV". UG Deluxe, (Majestic) Thulsi Thotta, need to get down by the small road opposite to Upparpet Police station and next to Navruchi restaurant, then take right and then immediate left on a small lane and at the end of it take right and you will see the lodge on your right. You may want to take an auto instead of walking down if you are going after a rainy day as your shoes will get dirty. Non-A/C rooms cost around Rs 550 (approx US$13), A/C rooms may cost an extra Rs 200 (US$5). YMCA, Nrupathunga Rd (Near Cubbon Park), +91 80 2221 1848. No-frills hotel. D-Habitat Hotel Apartments, Koramangala [86] (http://www.d-habitat.com) Deluxe rooms, suites, studio, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Ideal for short-term and extended stay. +91 80 4150 1950 Maple Suites (Serviced Apartments), #142 & 143, Dollar Layout. 4th Main, BTM II Stage (Off Bannerghatta Road opp to Mantri Elite.), +91 80 4282 2428, [87] (http://www.maplesuites.in) . checkin: 12 noon; checkout: 12 noon. Long and short term stay. Rs 1,999. edit Basil Hotel, #8, Sampige road, Malleshwaram (Next to Sampige Theatre / close to central railway station and bus stand), +91 80 4040 2323, [88] (http://www.basilhotels.com) . checkin: 24 hr; checkout: 24 hr. Good service. From Rs 2,900. edit Hotel Bangalore Gate (res@bangaloregate.com), 9 and 12, Gajanana Towers, K G Rd (opp.Maneka Theatre, 500 m away from Majestic & Bengaluru City Railway station), +91 99 4533 3999, [89] (http://www.bangaloregatehotel.com/) . checkin: 12 noon; checkout: 12 noon. Executive, superior and premium rooms. All rooms are A/C with complimentary breakfast and wifi. 24 hours room service, 2 restaurants, ample car parking. Rs 3,600-4,800. edit Citizen Lodge, (about 1 km from MG Rd). Bare bones motel-style establishment is well located but leaves much to be desired in terms of cleanliness and overall quality. Double non-A/C room costs around Rs 800. edit Hotel Tap Silver Square, No 185, Deenas, 3rd Fl, Brigade Rd (Opposite McDonalds), +91 80 2559 5656 (info@hotelsilversquare.com), [90] (http://www.hotelsilversquare.com/) . 3rd floor has views with floor-to-ceiling windows. Clean and modern decor, clean rooms, all with A/C, hot shower, free wifi (which gets switched off between 12AM-6AM), fridge and small wall-mounted LCD TV. 2 min walk to MG Rd. and Church St. It sits on top of the Fusion Lounge on the 2nd floor, you get thundering bass until 11:30PM. It might be a good idea to bring ear plugs if you plan to turn in early. It might also be the reason why the prices are cheap for what you get. Rs 1,011-1,742 (approx. US$22-39), including tax. For an additional Rs 500 (US$11), the hotel can arrange the use of a non-A/C luxury car for a maximum of 4 hr or 40 km per day. Rs 1,011-1,742 (approx. US$22-39), including tax. edit Live Inn Bangalore Serviced apartments, Team Royal, 1st Main, 6th Block, Venkatareddy layout, 80ft Rd, Koramangala (Near Oasis Lifestyle Mall Koramangala), +91 98 8034 9785 (info@liveinnbangalore.com), [91] (http://www.liveinnbangalore.com) . One, two and three bedroom apartments with wifi, direct telephone services, laundry, A/C, fully equipped kitchen and hot breakfast is served in your room edit Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.

Mid-range
Prakruthi Club & Resort, Plot no. 12A, Hegganahalli village, Kundana Hobli, Devanahalli Taluk (11 km from the airport'), +91 80 2849 4002 (contactus@prakruthiclub.com), [92] (http://www.prakruthiclub.com) . Accommodation for couples, family, or corporate bookings. Conference hall that can seat 120 people and meeting facilities. Coffee shop. Lounge bar, wifi. Cottages and roms, Rs 2,500-9,000++. edit '''Villa Camelot''', #94 / 95 , 4th Cross , ECC Road , Prithvi Layout, Whitefield Bengaluru, Karnataka 560066, 080 32723965, [93] ([www.villa-camelot.com/]) . Villa Camelot is a fusion of International modernity blended in with culturally rich Indian Interiors and an unforgettable Indian Hospitality edit Shantha Unique, #103, Green Glen Layout, +91 94 49 865352, [94] (http://shanthaunique.com) . Serviced apartments for business or leisure travellers. From Rs 1,799. edit Hotel Woodlands, No 5, Rajaram Mohan Roy Rd. (near Richman Circle, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Rd) +91 80 2222 5111. Mid-range hotel, very clean, great views of the city, delicious free South Indian breakfast buffet for Rs 3,400 per night for an A/C double (two single beds pushed together). Nice location for exploring the city. Long walk to M.G. Road, Garuda Mall, and Commercial Street. Fantasy Golf Resort, (Opp ITC-0 mins away from Bengaluru Airport) Ideal for hotel stay next to Bengaluru Airport or for transit passengers. +91 99 7209 2701 [95] (http://www.fantasygolfresort.com) Hotel Vrindavan, (off MG Rd and very near to MG. Rd/Brigade Rd junction) (Also called cauvery handicraft junction). Nice hotel with great south Indian food. Church Street Inn, (Near Hard Rock Cafe), MG Rd, Brigade Rd and Residency Rd. Church St Inn, 46,1-1 Church St (opposite Night Watchman Pub). +91 80 3057 7190 [96] (http://www.churchstreetinn.in) Free wifi and an in house library from Dr. Seuss, Dahl to Dostoevsky. Friendly and intelligent staff. Hotel St. Marks, St. Marks Rd (near Residency Rd). Best Western The Capitol, Raj Bhavan Rd. +91 80 2228 1234, +91 80 2228 1800.

 9 Marks Inn, 9 St Marks Rd. [97] (http://www.9marksinn.com) +91 80 2211 2889. The Bouvice 141C , S.T. Bed Layout, 1st Main Kormangala, Sector 4. [98] (http://www.bouvice.com) +91 80 4152 4429, +91 93 4285 6034. (info@bouvice.com (mailto:info@bouvice.com) ) A beautiful apartment hotel in Kormangala. Samrat Luxury Hospitality, Iskon Temple Foot hills, 149/A, R Block, West of Chord Rd, Rajajinagar. +91 80 2279 2893, (contact@samrathospitality.com (mailto:contact@samrathospitality.com) ) [99] (http://www.samrathospitality.com) . Chalet Hospitality, A-08, Diamond District, Airport Rd. +91 99 0197 6955. (info@chalethospitality.com (mailto:info@chalethospitality.com) ) [100] (http://www.chalethospitality.com) . Luxury serviced apartments. Stopovers Serviced Apartments (Stopovers), Diamond District, Old Airport Rd (Close to old airport road), +91 98 4513 9800, [101] (http://www.stopovers.co.in) . checkin: 24hrs; checkout: 24hrs. Contemporary apartments. Rs 4,500. edit Alcove Serviced Apartments Bengaluru, G-301, Raheja Residency, 3rd Block, Koramangala, +91 99 0057 8231 (stay@alcove.co.in), [102] (http://www.alcove.co.in) . checkin: 24 hr. Single room, independent 1 or 2 or 3 BHK apartments, A/C bedrooms with double beds and independent bathrooms, cableTV & DVD player. Kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, mixer grinder and gas stove. Fully automatic washing machine, iron and ironing board, complimentary breakfast, free wifi, swimming pool, club house with billiards, table tennis, gym and tennis court. edit Mitaroy Cricket Hotel, Richmond Town (located near MG Road), +91 80 2361 7708 (ask@mitaroy.com), [103] (http://mitaroy.com/crickethotelbangaloreandcochin.html) . Asia's only Cricket Hotel, collection of cricket memorabilia including Sachin Tendulkar's autographed portrait with Sir Don Bradman and Sir Gary Sobers Bat. Rs 3,500. edit Hotel Presidency, Sadahalli gate Devanahalli Taluk. (near Bengaluru Airport), +91 80 2846 7175 [104] (http://www.presidencyblr.com) 24 hr reception. Ideal for a business traveller.

Splurge
Grand Ashok Hotel, Kumara Krupa High Grounds. +91 80 22 2404 2211 (9 lines). (grandashok@nivalink.com (mailto:grandashok@nivalink.com) ) [105] (http://www.nivalink.com/grandbangalore/) Taj Residency Hotel , 41/3 MG Rd. +91 80 5660 4444. (residency.bangalore@tajhotels.com (mailto:residency.bangalore@tajhotels.com) ) [106] (http://www.tajhotels.com/Business/Taj%20Residency,BANGALORE/rooms.asp) . Besides the Leela, this is considered the best business hotel in India. Chancery Pavilion, Residency Road. Nice business hotel, good service and food. About $200 US Park Hotel, 14/7 MG Rd. +91 80 2559 4666. (resv.blr@theparkhotels.com (mailto:resv.blr@theparkhotels.com) ) [107] (http://www.theparkhotels.com/banglore_home.htm) ITC Windsor Sheraton Hotel, Sankey Rd, [108] (http://www.itcwelcomgroup.in/) Oberoi Hotel, 37-39 MG Rd. +91 80 2558 5858. [109] (http://www.oberoibangalore.com/index.asp?leftinfo=1&leftitem=1) Taj West End Hotel, Race Course Rd. +91 80 5660-5660. (westend.bangalore@tajhotels.com (mailto:westend.bangalore@tajhotels.com) ) [110] (http://www.tajhotels.com/Luxury/The%20Taj%20West%20End,BANGALORE/default.htm) Leela Palace Kempinski, [111] (http://www.theleela.com/bangalore/bangalore_hotel.htm) +91 80 2521 1234. (bangaloresales@theleela.com (mailto:bangaloresales@theleela.com) ). The Leela has previously been voted 'The Best Business Hotel in the World' by Conde Naste Traveller. Le Meridien, +91 80 2226 2233. (leme.bangalore@lemeridien.com (mailto:leme.bangalore@lemeridien.com) ) [112] (http://www.lemeridien-bangalore.com/) Hotel Royal Orchid, +91 80 2520 5566. Adjoining KGA Golf Course, Airport Road. [113] (http://www.royalorchidhotels.com/hotel.ro.overview.htm) Sometimes referred to as the "Royal Orchid Park Plaza". Not to be confused with Royal Orchid Central. The Paul 139/28, Domlur Layout. (Off Intermediate Ring Rd). +91 80 4047 7777. The Oterra Hotel, 43 Electronics City, Hosur Rd. +91 80 30030303, [114] (http://www.theoterrahotels.com) . The Muddle Hotel, 134, HAL Rd, Near Manipal Hospital, +91 80 42494949

Stay safe
Bengaluru is a relatively safe city during day time. However, unlike Mumbai which never sleeps, most of Bengaluru practically shuts down a little before midnight - even very safe residential areas can be very desolate by 11PM. Some of the lower-income areas can be somewhat unsafe once it gets dark. Exercising caution and good sense will increase your chances of staying safe. It is not advisable to walk alone along deserted alleyways or lanes after dark. Avoid doing so in areas that you are not sure are reasonably safe Avoid using an autorickshaw if the driver is not alone, especially at night Do not flaunt jewellery, high-end mobile phones / laptops, watches etc. Do not withdraw large amounts of cash from ATMs in deserted areas Beware of pickpockets in crowded areas such as exhibitions, cricket matches etc. If you are returning late from a party, it is advisable to pre-book cabs through reputed companies such as Meru as against flagging down an autorickshaw on the road Exercise caution in stopping to help if you see a broken down vehicle at night, especially in lonely streets and in cases where you will be outnumbered

Rising incomes has brought an influx of people including both, white and blue collar immigrants, leading to disparities in earnings between locals, the casual labour immigrants and expatriates (people from other parts of the state and also from other countries) which arguably has resulted in a substantial increase in crime rates.

Contact
The area code for Bengaluru is 080. When calling from overseas, dial +91 80 XXXX XXXX. If you dont have an Indian phone number, it is strongly recommended that you get a pre-paid calling card if you plan on using your phone frequently. Because of new government regulations, you need a photocopy of your passport (visa and the ID pages), a color photo, and proof of local address (in Bengaluru) when buying a pre-paid card. If you do not have the required paperwork, it is recommended that you ask a local friend to buy a prepaid card on your behalf. Pre-paid cards are sold in a few of the shops that sell mobile equipment.

Public telephones are a good option and are available widely. Most shops that offer public phones sport easily visible "STD/ISD/PCO" signages. More often than not, public payphones are post-pay and there will be a person at the shop to take the payments. Check the bill generated from the machine and make the payment accordingly. Payments are always in Indian rupees.

Internet
There are plenty of Internet Centres which charge between Rs 10-25 per hr. If you have laptop with wifi connection, free internet services are available at some malls, restaurants, and hotels. However, free public wi-fi is not the norm.

Cope
Bengaluru is a clean city (compared to other major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata) and epidemics are rare. However, foreign tourists should be cautious about consuming water and eating at roadside stalls. It is recommended to use mosquito repellents, either as a cream applied on the skin or in the electronic form, during the evenings. Hospitals List of Major Hospitals and health care centers: Apollo Hospital - Opp. I.I.M , Bannerghatta Road. Bangalore Institute of Oncology Bangalore Medical College BGS Hospital, Arekere Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospitals - Hospital Road, Shivajinagar. Cadabams Rehab Center Chinmaya Mission Hospital - C.M.H. Road, Indiranagar Columbia Asia Hospital - Bellary Road, Hebbal. Columbia Asia, Yeshwanthpur Dr.Agarwal Eye Hospital,Bannerghatta Road Dr.Agarwal Eye Hospital, Basaveshwaranagar EPMC's Women's Clinic & Surgery - 9th Block, Jayanagar Fortis (Wockhardt) Hospital - Cunningham Road. Fortis (Wockhardt) Hospital - Opp. I.I.M., Bannerghatta Road. Fortis (Wockhardt) Hospital - 80 feet road, Nagarbhavi. Fortis Hospital, Vasanth Nagar Fortis Hospital, Nagapura Global Hospitals, Bangalore Gokula Curie Institute of Oncology HCG Oncology, Bangalore HOSMAT Hospital (Sports and Orthopedic Medicine) - Magrath Road. KIMS Hospital M.S. Ramaiah Super Speciality Hospital, New B.E.L. Road, R.M.V. 2nd Stage. Mahabodhi Mallige Hospital - Siddapura Road, Mavalli near Lalbagh Manipal Hospital - Old Airport Road, Kodihalli. Manipal Hospital - Mysore Road, Rajarajeshwarinagar. Mallige Medical Centre-31/32,Crescent Road Mallya Hospital - Vittal Mallya Road. Mallya Hospital, Sampangirama Nagar Minto Eye Hospital, Bangalore Medical College Narayana Hrudayalaya - Hebbugodi, Hosur Road. Narayana Nethralaya National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) - Wilson Garden, Hosur Road. Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital, Jayanagar St. Johns Medical College Hospital - Sarjapur Road, Koramangala. Sagar Apollo Hospital - Tilaknagar, Bannerghatta Road. Sanjay Gandhi Hospital - Tilaknagar, Jayanagar SDM College of Medical Sciences, Dharwad SDS T.B Sanitorium, Bangalore Medical College Al-Shifa Hospital, Darus Salam, Queens Road Sparsh Hospital, Bommasandra Industrial Area Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital - I.T.P.L., Whitefield. Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology - 9th block, Bannerghatta Road, Jayanagar Vanivilas Women and Children Hospital, Bangalore Medical College Vasan Eye Care Rajaji Nagar, Koramangala, Banswadi & Jayanagar Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre Whitefield, Bangalore Yashoda Medicare and Research Center

Pharmacies Pharmacies are dime a dozen and you should not have any problem locating one. You do not need any prescription for Modern Medicine Over the Counter drugs and ayurvedic medicine (proprietary and traditional), which are available for most common ailments like fever, headache, etc., But you will need prescription for other medicines, which are categorized as Schedule H drugs. Currency Exchange You will not find money exchange kiosks / counters in all parts of Bangalore, because Bangalore is not a primary destination for most tourists nor is it the entry point for most tourists entering the region. However, most banks offer currency exchange in all their branch offices as do some travel agencies. Exchange rates can vary somewhat, so it is advisable to shop around. Typically, travel agencies will offer a better exchange rate as compared to the rates offered by banks.

Contact
Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. There are many service providers offering a wide variety of plans. If you are planning on travelling around outside the metropolitan area it might be a good idea to buy a cell phone and use one of the pre-paid plans to get yourself connected whilst you are still in the city. Bharti Airtel, [115] (http://www.airtel.in/) Vodafone, [116] (http://www.vodafone.in) idea, [117] (http://www.idea.com/) Tata Indicom, [118] (http://www.tata.com/) Reliance, [119] (http://www.rcom.co.in) Uninor MTS Aircel BSNL, [120] (http://karnataka.bsnl.co.in/) T24 (by Big Bazaar)

Get out
Devanahalli Fort - The Fort is located 35 km north of Bengaluru city. Nandi Hills - This is around 57 km from the city and provides a panoramic view of sunrise and sunset. The best way to go there is to go on a bicycle. You can hire a bicycle from [velo-in-village]link Bicycle on Rent/Hire (http://www.veloinvillage.com) Srirangapatna - Tippu Sultan's summer palace is 126 km towards Mysore, and also has Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary nearby. Bandipur National Park - A tiger reserve around 225 km away. This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions, arrival and departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star! Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangalore" Categories: Articles needing style fixes | HasDocent | Guide articles This page was last edited at 06:57, on 13 October 2011 by Wikitravel user Felix505. Based on work by Pradyot Anand, Somu and Dev Balaji, Wikitravel user(s) Globe-trotter, Ikan Kekek, Burmesedays and Whatsinaname, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.

List of tourist attractions in Bangalore

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bangalore (Indian English: [blo]( [beuru](

listen)),

listen)),

officially Bengaluru (Kannada:

is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also known as the

"Garden City of India" [1] Bangalore is one of the most important tourist centers of the Karnataka state. Central business district of Bangalore consists of places MG Road, Brigade Road, Commercial street, Vidhana Soudha etc. Bangalore has many lakes and parks. BMTC offers special buses for sightseeing in Bangalore, including Cauveri - a double-decker open roof bus.[2]

Contents
1 Attractions 1.1 Parks 1.2 Historical monuments 1.3 Government buildings 1.4 Museums and Galleries 1.5 Places of worship 1.6 Others 1.7 Restaurants and Pubs 2 Around Bangalore 3 See also 4 References
The Vidhana Soudha is the seat of Karnataka's Legislative assembly

Attractions
Parks
Lal Bagh: is a botanical garden, commissioned by the Hyder Ali in the year 1760. The 240-acre (0.97 km2) park is home to over 1000 species of flora and a Glass House. The park is known for its annual flower show. The garden surrounds one of the towers erected by the founder of Bangalore, Kempe Gowda I. The Lal Bagh Rock, dates back to 3000 million years, is another attraction. Cubbon Park: is located in the heart of the city and spreads over 300 acres (1.2 km2). The part was created in the year 1884, by Major General Richard Sankey. The park is home to numerous trees and plants that span over 68 general and 96 species. The park is also known for its kids train.

Historical monuments
Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace Built in 1791,and located near K.R Market, is a beautiful two-storied ornate wooden structure with exquisitely carved pillars, arches and balconies. It now houses a museum that contains artifacts relating to the Hyder-Tipu regime. Bangalore Palace: (1862) is located near Mekhri Circle and Cantonment Railway station and is built to look like a smaller replica of the Windsor Castle in England. Mayo Hall:wasdesigned in memory of the Lord Mayo and is regarded as one of the finest designs of British architecture.
The Lal Bagh, famous for its flower shows

Government buildings
Vidhana Soudha: is the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka. It is an imposing granite building, built in the year 1956 in the 'Neo-Dravidian' style, incorporates elements of Indo-Saracenic, Rajasthani Jharokha and Dravidian styles. Vidhana Soudha is the brainchild of Kengal Hanumanthaiah and built by chief engineer B.R. Manickam. Attara Kacheri , (Karnataka High Court): Overlooking Vidhana Sabha is this red brick and stone building in the Greco-Roman style of architecture. It houses the High Court for the state of Karnataka.

Lal Bagh Flower Show 2010

Museums and Galleries

Bangalore Museum Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum:Themuseumwasinstituted as part of the centenary celebrations of the engineer-statesman Sir M. Visvesvaraya (18611962). Venkatappa Art Gallery HAL Aerospace Museum: The Museum showcases the growth of the Indian aviation industry and HAL for six decades. The Museum is maintained by HAL (one of Asia's largest Aerospace companies). The museum houses displays of various aircraft and helicopters, Aircraft engine models, Flight simulators, a mock Air Traffic Control Tower and exhibit of Indian aviation history. MITHILAsmita Art Gallery (http://www.mithilasmita.com) :ThisartgalleryisdedicatedtoafolkartofIndia, Madhubani Painting and is managed by MITHILAsmita Foundation.

Places of worship
St Patrick's church: Built in 1844 this is one of the oldest churches in Bangalore and is situated on Residency Road. Bull Temple: Built by Kempe Gowda I, it is reminiscent of the 16th century Dravidian style architecture. It has a huge granite monolith of Nandi. This landmark is situated at bull temple road, Basavangudi. Shri Nimishamba Devi Temple: This shrine is built in the traditional Parashurama Kshetra Architectural Style that does not exist anywhere else in Bangalore or its surroundings. This temple was built with the tremendous help of the devotees of Shri Nimishamba Devi. The Temple has shrines of Devi Nimishamba, Moukthikeswara (siva), Siddhi Vinayaka, Saraswathi and Lakshmi Narayana. Chandika Homa is performed everyday in a specially designed Yagna Shala. Temple location # 93, 12th Cross, Ideal Homes Circle, Ideal Homes Township, Raja Rajeshwari Nagar,Bengaluru 560 098 Huge Shiva in old Airport Road:BuiltbyownerofKidsKemp-A retail outlet, is a huge Idol of Lord Shiva & Ganesha. It is completely made of plaster of paris. It is also a tourist attraction in recent times.

Attara Kacheri (Karnataka High Court)

 Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple:ThisisatempleknownasDakshinaKashi.Thesun'srays fall on the Shivalinga only on the Bull Temple: One of the biggest day of Makara Sankranthi. There is a belief that the cave tunnel underneath leads all the way to Varanasi. Nandi idols in the world. ISKCON Temple Bangalore: International Society for Krishna Consciousness (http://www.iskconbangalore.org/templeinformation) Built in an ornate architectural style, the Krishna Temple is a blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony. The 7-acre (28,000 m2) temple is situated on west of chord road, Rajajinagar and finest fusion of modern and traditional elements of architecture. St. Mary's Basilica:ItistheoldestchurchinBangaloreandistheonly church in the state that has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica.[3][4] It is famous for the festivities held during the St. Mary's Feast in the month of September each year, an event that attracts a number of devotees from in and around Bangalore. Infant Jesus Church: Established in 1979 by Rev. Dr. Lourduswamy, the then Archbishop of Bangalore, the church draws huge crowds on Thursday, the day dedicated to Infant Jesus. Masjid-e-Khadria: One of the most beautiful mosques in Bengaluru[5], located on Millers Road, this mosques hosts the prayers on Eid and also hosts the Haj camp. Parshwnath Sushil Dham:It is a beautiful Jain shrine built by Rajasthans Surana Family in the memory of Jain saint Sushil Suriji. It is located on NH7 (Hosur Road) and is about 20 km from the Bangalore city. Apart from the temple, the property also contains accommodation for pilgrims, a dining hall and a children's park.

Others
Bugle Rock {bugle is called Kahale ( )) is a massive rock situated in Basavanagudi which is an abrupt rise above the ground of peninsular gneiss as the main rock formation and with an assessed age of about 3000 million years. Mantri Square At 1.7 million sq.ft., Mantri Square is the largest mall in India and South Asia, developed by Mantri Developers and is located on Sampige road in Malleswaram.
St. Mary's Basilica: The oldest church in Bangalore.

Forum Mall: It is the first of its kind Malls in Bangalore City and a hotspot for the city's youngsters. See Also List of shopping malls in Bangalore. Brigade Road is one of the busiest commercial centers of Bangalore where you can get any sort of shopping done. Commercial Street: Another busy commercial centre of Bangalore for getting all sorts of shopping done. MG Road, Bangalore: previously known as "South Parade" is the most important landmark of Bangalore. Wonderla:Wonderlaisan amusement park located near Bidadi, 28 kilometres from(17 mi) Bangalore Innovative Film city: Amusement & Themepark, Go Karting, Stage and Studio Facilities Electronics City: The nerve of the Silicon Valley of India. Lakes in Bangalore:Lakes including Ulsoor lake, Sankey tank, Hesaraghatta Lake, Yediyur Lake, Nagavara Lake (also called Lumbini Lake), Hebbal Lake, Madiwala Lake, Kempanbudi Lake, Varthur Lake etc. IT Parks in Bangalore: ITPL, Bagmane Tech Park ,Manyata Tech Park, Global Village Tech Park, Kalyani Magnum Tech Park, Electronics City Phase I & II,Embassy Golf Links, Eco space Tech Park,Prestige Tech Park,Salarpuria Tech Park, Brigade Tech Park, Vrindavan Tech park.
Brigade Road Bangalore

Sports Attraction: Chinnaswamy stadium[[File:[6]]]

Restaurants and Pubs

Restaurants in Bangalore are the main pastime for most Bangaloreans. Tourists need not worry as the variety spans not only all Indian cuisines, but there are also a large number of specialty restaurants. There are printed food guides, services such as Hungry Bangalore, and telephone directories to find restaurants. Traditional South Indian Favourites include MTR (Lalbagh Road) - famous for its idlys and silver plates, Vidhyarthi Bhavan specialty Masala Dosa, Brahmins idly,vada out of a garage, and Ganesh Dosa Camp. Higher end favourites are not limited to the five stars, and there are restaurants for every palate - from mughalai to south Indian, seafood to sushi. Pubs in Bangalore - Bangalore is called Pub Capital of India.

Around Bangalore
Bannerghatta National Park is situated 22 km south of Bangalore. This hilly place is the home for one of the richest natural, zoological reserves. The 25,000 acre (101 km) zoological park makes this a major tourist attraction of Bangalore. Nandi Hills or Nandidurg is a hill fortress of southern India, in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka state. It is located just 3 to 5 km from Chickballapur Taluq, 60 km from Bangalore. It is 4851 ft (1478 m) above sea level. Nandidurg hill, known commonly as Nandi Hills, is the source of the Penner, Ponnaiyar and Palar rivers. Nandi Hills gets its name from an ancient Nandi temple situated on this hill. This temple has a thousand year old sculpture of Nandi. An ancient lord Shiva and Parvati temple also adorns this hill. Skandagiri is 75 km away from Bangalore. Trekking point near to Nandi hills. Kaivara, cave temples 60 km away near Chikkaballapur. Omthara Kala Kuteera is located 40 km (25 mi) from Bangalore. Just one hour from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore, Omthara Kala White Tiger at Bannerghatta National Kuteera is an oasis of peace and tranquility. Built as homage to India's ancient culture and its vibrant art, this masterpiece is a monument like Park none other. Located amidst 30 acres (120,000 m2) of lush gardens in rustic surroundings, Omthara Kala Kuteera offers an environment that soothes the soul and energizes the mind. A visit to Om Thara Kala Kuteera has been described variously by guests as "Heaven on Earth", "Temple like none other", "Place of Divinity", "Uplifts my Soul", and "Source of Peace and Happiness". See www.OmtharaKalaKuteera.com for directions and more details on this remarkable place. Muthyalamaduvu is a picnic spot near Anekal, 40 km from Bangalore. In the local Kannada language, Muthyalamaduvu means 'pearl valley' (muthu = pearl and maduvu = valley), apparently named for its 92 meter waterfall, whose falling water appears to look like drops of pearl. Thottikallu is a place 25kmfromBangaloreofftheKanakapuraroadwhichisfamousforafalls called Thottikallu falls more popularly known as TK falls. Savandurga is a hill 60 km west of Bangalore off the Magadi road. The hill is famous for Narasimhaswamy temple and is also believed to be among the largest monolith hills in the world. The hill rises to 1226 m above mean sea level and forms a part of the Deccan plateau. It consists of peninsular gneiss, granites, basic dykes and laterites. The Arkavathi river passes nearby through the Thippagondanahalli Reservoir and on towards Manchanabele dam. Tippagondanahalli Reservoir, also known as T G Halli or Chamarajsagar, is located at the confluence of the Arkavathy River and Kumudavathi River, 35 km west of Bangalore. Kanva reservoir is an artificial lake and tourist attraction 69 km from Bangalore and 10 km from Ramanagara Wonderla is an amusement park located on Mysore road, 40 km from Bangalore. Dodda Alada Mara, a big banyan tree located in Ramohalli (28 km away), is a picnic spot.[7]

 Mekedaatu, literally meaning "Goat's Jump", is 110 km away on Kanakapura Road. Nearby is another tourist attraction, Sangama, where two rivers join. Pyramid valley is the biggest pyramid shaped meditation hall in the world, along with being the largest pyramid in Asia website (http://www.pyramidvalley.org) . It stands proud at above 101 feet (31 m). Its base measures 160 ft (49 m) by 160ft(49m)withthemainmeditationareaspanning 25,600sqft(2,380m2). Maitreya Buddha Pyramid, is the International Centre (Bangalore), of the Pyramid Spiritual Societys Movement in Pyramid Valley. It is located 30 km from Banashankari Temple, 4km before Harohalli and 1.2 km just after Kebbedoddi bus stop, on Kanakapura Road. image (http://www.pssmovement.org/pss/Photos/PYRAMIDVALLEY/dsc0.jpg) Devarayanadurga (Kannada: ) is a hill station near Tumkur in the state of Karnataka. It is 65 km from Bangalore. The rocky hills are surrounded by forest and the hilltops are dotted with several temples including the Yoganarasimha and the Bhoganarasimha temples and an altitude of 3,940 feet (1,200 m). It is also famous for Namada Chilume, a natural spring considered sacred and is also considered the origin of the Jayamangali river. Another famous temple in the area is the Mahalakshmi Temple at Goravanahalli. Srirangapattana:Thecapitalof Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary:aBirdSanctuaryintheMandyaDistrictofthestate of Karnataka. It is a very small sanctuary, being only 0.67 km. in area, and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri River. Ranganthittu is located near the historic town of Srirangapatna. Shivanasamudra Falls (also called Sivasamudram) is an island town dividing the Kaveri River into twin waterfalls, the Gaganachukki and the Barachukki, dropping 90 m. The town is located 120 km from Bangalore, 27 km from Somanathapura and 80 km from Mysore in the Mandya district of the state of Karnataka. Mysore (to be renamed Mysuru) (Kannada: ) is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Mysore district and the Mysore division and lies about 140km (87mi)southwestofBangalore.AshortdistancefromMysorecityisthe Krishnarajasagar Dam and the adjoining Brindavan Gardens where a musical fountain show is held in the evening. Shivanasamudra Falls One of the most visited monuments in India, the Ambavilas Palace (also known as Mysore Palace) is the center of the Dasara festivities. Melkote is on the way to Mysore from Bangalore. The place is famous for its Vyramudi Utsava. The main deity here is "CheluvarayaswamyThe MahaVishnu". A sacred place for "Vaishnavites". Also its one of the favourite spots for kannada directors for shooting.

The Mysore Palace

See also
Tourism in Karnataka Bangalore List of shopping malls in Bangalore Tourist attractions in Mysore Wonderla

References
1. ^ "Garden city" (http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/06/06/stories/2004060600520700.htm) . Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2004-06-06 (Chennai, India). 2004-06-06. http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/06/06/stories/2004060600520700.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-16. 2. ^ "BMTC to launch another luxury service soon" (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031220220400.htm) . The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2007-03-12. http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031220220400.htm. 3. ^ K. Chandramouli. "Home to all faiths" (http://web.archive.org/web/20070927182513/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/29/stories/2002082900270200.htm) . Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2002-08-29. Archived from the original (http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/29/stories/2002082900270200.htm) on 2007-09-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20070927182513/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/29/stories/2002082900270200.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-15. 4. ^ Preethi Sharma and Nishi Vishwanathan. Bangalore:An Expat Survival Guide (http://books.google.com/books?id=zzWFvPc2xP0C&pg=PA15&lpg=PA15&dq=%22st+mary's+basilica% 22+%22is+the+only+church%22&source=web&ots=-KffEuXi6N&sig=8XVOVxkNmbgdWomBYdnBm2Mtma4#PPA15,M1) . Chillibreeze publication. http://books.google.com/books? id=zzWFvPc2xP0C&pg=PA15&lpg=PA15&dq=%22st+mary's+basilica%22+%22is+the+only+church%22&source=web&ots=KffEuXi6N&sig=8XVOVxkNmbgdWomBYdnBm2Mtma4#PPA15,M1. Retrieved 2007-08-15. 5. ^ Deepa Natrajan. "Old and the beautiful" (http://archive.deccanherald.com/content/Nov32008/metromon2008110298449.asp) . Online Edition of Metro Life, Deccan Hearld ,dated 2008-11-03. http://archive.deccanherald.com/content/Nov32008/metromon2008110298449.asp. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 6. ^ http://www.teluguone.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chinnaswamy-stadium-full.jpg 7. ^ [1] (http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/bangalore/)

Bangalore Accommodation (http://www.Bangalore-hotels.net) Bangalore and Karnataka Portal (http://www.BangaloreOrbit.com) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_tourist_attractions_in_Bangalore&oldid=455512048" Categories: Bangalore Tourism in Karnataka Visitor attractions in Bangalore Bangalore-related lists Lists of visitor attractions in India by city This page was last modified on 14 October 2011 at 10:40. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.