Bangalore

Soudha - Vidhana Soudha

Bangalore, now known officially as Bengaluru (Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು), is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka.

1280px Soudha - Vidhana Soudha

Bangalore, now known officially as Bengaluru (Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು), is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka.

Introduction to Bangalore

Once called the "Garden City of India" and the "Pensioner's Paradise" and these epithets don't apply to the modern Bangalore. Nowadays it a large, cosmopolitan city with a large working population. Bangalore is the major centre of India's IT industry and known worldwide as the "Silicon Valley of India".

History of Bangalore

The earliest records of a place named "Bengaluru" are found in a ninth-century temple in an area now known as "Old Bangalore".

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

During the next three centuries, Bangalore existed very much in the shadow of the neighbouring 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 and the British took control of the Mysore Kingdom and, possibly influenced by the city's salubrious climate, moved the administrative capital to Bangalore. New telecommunication systems were laid, rail connections built, fine government buildings constructed and the city's famous parks and gardens established. After independence, Bangalore maintained its position as the state capital of Karnataka and continues to grow.

For many years, Bangalore was regarded in India as the most green, liberal and forward-thinking city. These attributes have propelled Bangalore to the forefront of India's high-tech industry boom and it ranks as one of the most developed city's in India 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 (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.

Weather in Bangalore

Unlike the major metropolises of India which are extremely hot in the summer months, Bangalore enjoys a relatively mild climate all 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 36°C (97°F) and early morning temperatures in the winter hover around 12°C (54°F).

Local Language in Bangalore

Being the capital of Karnataka and the widely spoken and official language in Bangalore is Kannada phrasebook|Kannada. Many people are also able to speak and understand English and Hindi phrasebook|Hindi. Other Indian languages such as Malayalam phrasebook|Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu phrasebook|Telugu, Bengali phrasebook|Bengali and Urdu are spoken by the respective migrant and minority communities. As Bangalore is a commercial and cultural hub, it has a smattering of Konkani, Marathi and Tulu speakers.

Most auto rickshaw drivers, bus conductors and shop assistants can obtain a conversation in at least basic English. Some of them will be able to understand Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Signs are generally written in both Kannada and English. However, a basic knowledge of Kannada comes very handy when interacting with local residents.

Travel to Bangalore

What is the best way to fly to Bangalore

BLR Airport, July 2015 - Taxi cabs outside the airport

• Kempegowda International Airport IATA Flight Code: BLR GPS 13.2004,77.7090 In Devanahalli, 40 km (25 mi) from the central business neighborhood of Bangalore (Mahatma Gandhi ("MG") Road) and 30 km (19 mi) from the Bengaluru City Railway Station. ☎ +91 80 6678-2255, +91 80 6678-2251 +1 800 425 4425 Opening Hours: The airport is occasionally subject to operational restrictions due to fog from 15 November to 15 February between 3AM and 8:30AM (IST). Flight delays and diversions may occur on some mornings due to the morning fog Kempegowda International Airport - Bangalore Airport runway and surrounding area 09June2012 120336 - The airport 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.
  The airport has an international and a domestic terminal. They share the same building, but are on different sides - the domestic gates are on the west side while the larger international gates are to the east. There are ATMs, bureaux de change, two units of Cafe Coffee Day and other cafés, duty-free shops, restaurants and day hotels at the airport. When departing from the airport, make sure to check restrictions on times for baggage check-in and make sure to bring a printout of your boarding pass with you to the airport. For flights leaving in the early hours of the morning (such as 3AM), you may need to check in your bags as much as 2½ hours in advance.

Airlines

The airport serves as a hub city for domestic airlines such as GoAir, Indigo, Jet-Airways, JetLite and SpiceJet.

International airlines include AirIndia https://, Air France, AirAsia, Malaysian Airlines, Air Mauritius, British Airways, Dragonair, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore-Airlines, SilkAir, Scoot Tigerair, SriLankan Airlines, Qatar-Airways and Thai-Airways.

Airport to central business neighborhood

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation Volvo B7RLE bus, India - A bus run by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation

• Buses SBusServicesDetails.jsp?bsserviceid=1 Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)] operates buses from various points of the city every 15 minutes to the Bengaluru International Airport. A total of 156 buses ply to and from the airport. Of these, 40 are air-conditioned Volvo buses, called Vayu Vajra. The cost for each trip in these buses ranges between ₹50 and ₹250 depending on the distance. Thit 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 of transport, be aware that to get from the bus stop to your final destination, you will need to take an auto rickshaw ride or to get a lift from someone.
• Taxis
• Airport-approved taxis There is a dedicated taxi holding area for Muslim travellers arriving at the airport. Taxis at this holding area use meters at the rate of ₹19.5 per kilometer. You will also have to pay the toll charge of ₹120 when you enter the highway. It costs roughly ₹600 to get to Bangalore's central business neighborhood and about ₹700 to Koramangala. These taxis are operated by either EasyCabs, Meru Cabs or KSTDC]. However, readers have reported that Meru Cabs is unreliable as some cab drivers have been known to cancel reservations at the last moment if they find a better deal from a street pick-up while on the way to an airport pick-up. Journeys to anywhere in Bangalore should not cost more than ₹800–1000. More information can be found on the airport site.
• Unofficial taxis You may be able to find a ride into Bangalore City at a much cheaper rate by taking a taxi not approved by the airport, but only if you are willing to take a risk. Taxi drivers driving such taxis will attempt to negotiate with you a much lower fare than that charged by EasyCabs and Meru Cabs, sometimes as little as ₹200–300 for a ride to the central business neighborhood. These taxis can be found just beyond the terminal plaza at the covered walkway that leads to the vehicle park. Once you leave the walkway, some taxi drivers may become fairly aggressive and may try to take your luggage 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 his help. You should only use such taxis if you have an idea of what the appropriate taxi rates are and are willing to bargain very hard to avoid being swindled. It is recommended that you agree on a price before you enter the cab; no tip is necessary once you arrive at your destination.
• App-based taxis Smartphone app-based taxi services operate in Bangalore and many provide services to the airport. These operate from a pickup point a little further outside the terminal building. You can follow the signs for app-based taxi pickup. You will need to download an app to your smartphone and have an Internet connection to be able to use these services. If you don't have and Indian SIM card or affordable roaming data, you may be better to use one of the other taxi services, as the Airport WiFi can be overloaded at peak times.
• Uber has a flat rate service from the airport to anywhere in the city for ₹549, including the toll charges.
• Ola also operates taxis via their app from the airport.
• Limousines and self-drive cars Hertz and Akbar Travels provide pre-paid limousine and vehicle rental facilities through counters at the airport terminal building. These cost above ₹1,200 for travel to the central business neighborhood. There are generally a few ranges of self-drive cars: the compact range (Suzuki Swift) and the intermediate range (Ford Fiesta) and the standard range (Toyota Corolla), multi-utility vehicles (Toyota Innova) and sports utility vehicles (Ford Endeavour). Cars are given to renters with a full tank of fuel and have to be returned with the fuel tank full. A flexible pick up and drop off facility in town and at the airport are offered. Renters can pick up their cars at the airport and drop them off anywhere in the city or in Chennai or Hyderabad. Similarly, cars can be picked up at any of these city's and dropped off at the airport. Conditions apply – for example, renters must be over 21 years of age and possess driving licences valid in India. It may be necessary to complete a lot of paper work and, depending on the company and type of vehicle to be rented, a large deposit may be required. Please check well in advance before making plans.
• Hotel pick-up You can arrange with your hotel 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, although some may charge you anything around ₹2,500 (far higher than just taking a taxi). This may be an excellent option if it is your first time travelling to Bangalore. The driver will be waiting in the arrival area of the airport with a sign bearing your name.
• Helicopter If you are in a hurry and have a lot of money, helicopter services are offered by Birdie and Deccan Aviation. There are eight helipads across Bangalore. A ride from the international airport sets you back by about ₹5,000.

Travel by train to Bangalore

See also Rail travel in India.

There are many train stations in Bangalore, each serving certain trains:

• Bangalore City - IR station code: SBC, officially Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) | Railway Station Road, Kempegowda, Sevashrama 12.9782,77.5693 Opposite the Majestic Bus stand, Metro Green/Purple: Kempegowda/Majestic Bangalore City train station - Bangalore-City-Stn - Most local and long-distance trains arrive and depart from here. Platforms: #1 to 7 connect to Chennai (360 km, 5-6h, ₹125-1,105) and Salem (via Hosur), #8 to 10 to Hubli via Yeshwantpur, Tumkur, Birur, #5 to 10 towards Mysore. There also trains depart to Hyderabad via Guntakal.

• Yeswantpur Junction - IR station code: YPR, also Yesvantpur Junction | NH-4 (Tumkur Road) 13.02391,77.55082 Metro (Green Line): Yeswantpur Station, BMTC Bus serving the station on its Yeshwantapur old market side (nearer to Platform 1) are 90E from Majestic, 91C and 52E from Krishna Rajendra market commonly called City market, 94E from Shivajinagar, K1 from St. Johns Hospital - Yesvantpur Junction train station - Yeshwantapur train station The other main railway terminal of Bangalore. A few (mostly long-distance) trains arrive and depart from here. All trains towards Hubli stop here. Services: retiring rooms and dormitories, AC VIP Lounge, Essential stalls and ATM.

• Bengaluru East - IR station code: BNCE | Pottery Rd. 12.99859,77.62173 About five kilometers northeast from the center A Bangalore East train station A smaller one.

• Bengaluru Cantonment - IR station code: BNC | Cantonment Railway Station Road, Kaverappa Layout, Vasanth Nagar 12.99384,77.59807 - Bangalore Cantonment train station - GKN Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station DSC 0732.JPG A smaller one. Services: Passenger Reservation Centre, AC VIP lounge, inquiry counters, crucial stalls, Food plaza, ATM. PF-1A (Dead end side of Platform 1) is used for terminating trains like 12509/10 Guwahati Tri-weekly Express, 12503/04 Agartala Humsafar Weekly Express, 18635/36 Hatia Weekly Express, 56503/04 Vijayawada Passenger and 2 DMU services operating from Kolar via Bangarpet. The main platforms are used for halting by all the trains passing through this station except 12007/08 Chennai Mysore shatabdi Express

• Krishnarajapuram Train station - KJM | Outer Ring Road, Jyothi Puram, Krishnarajapura 13.00060,77.67455 All buses between 303 and 320 except 314 series to/from Majestic/Shivajinagar/Market & Ulsoor - Sunrise on the Krishnarajapuram Train station - 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 of trains leaving Yeshvantapur towards Jolarpettai.

• Kengeri - KGI | Kengeri Satellite Town, Kengeri 12.91753,77.48391 5 mins walk from Kengeri TTMC on Mysore Road A Kengeri train station An important stop owing to proximity of residential areas in the proximity. Its a major stop for all train coming from Mysore side. Kengeri Bus stand on Mysore road is 5 mins walk from Train station, having access to major Ring Road services of 401K (Yelahanka via Vijayanagar ), 401M (Yeshvantapur via Ring Road ), 502F (Peenya), 375 (Banashankari via Uttarahalli), 378 (Electronic City via Uttarahalli) and 222A/226N towards Majestic and Market. Global Tech Park is about 3 kilometers from here and B.G.S Global Hospital about 5 km.

Bookings can be done at either the train stations or at the Indian Railways booking counters in major commercial and residential areas. Booking can also be done online. If you are booking at Bengaluru City and are traveling to Mysore and there is a separate counter for Muslim travellers to Mysore. Thit is to cater for the large number of travellers between Bangalore and Mysore. If travelling to Mysore on a Sunday afternoon, arrive early as there is a long line for buying tickets.

As with all Indian railway travel, have some patience for delays. Trains are on time (within 20 min 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.

For train arrival/departure and PNR status inquiries at various train stations at Bengaluru, call 139.

Travelling from Mumbai to Bangalore by train takes a long time (24 hours or so). Buses are comparatively faster and take 18-20 hr, provided there are no traffic jams in Mumbai and Pune en route. Effective travel duration by train or bus is long. Air travel is recommended for traveling between Mumbai and Bangalore and 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 air-con) train travel from Mumbai to Bangalore is economical and you can obtain a view of some lush evergreen forests and river valleys across Western India. Traveling to Delhi can take 39 hours (or more) and the flight ticket just double than the amount of the slow train.

For the StaticPages/StaticEnquiry.jsp?StaticPage=international_Tourist.html&locale=en Foreign Tourist Quota, go to the big building on the left, before entering the train station through the main access. Thit is the "Unreserved Tickets" building (even if on the side door it says "Reservation Center"). On the first floor and there is the Chief Reservation Supervisor. The official will book the ticket for you (after showing a foreigner passport). They might refer you to the first counter on the main building. But there you will need to stand and queue, while here you can site at the office and wait they book the ticket for you.

Travel by Bus to Bangalore

KBS 1 - Kempegowda Bus Station or Majestic and the main bus station

If you have difficulty in arranging a plane or railway ticket to/from your next destination, or you prefer a little more adventure, you can go by bus. Government and private buses run services to/from major city's like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirupati, Hyderabad, etc. Buses can be a regular service with only seats and no A/C, normal luxury bus, a Volvo A/C bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Buses are also good for coming from many towns in Karnataka without a good amount of trains due to the increased service - most towns in Karnataka are crucially guaranteed to have service to the state capital.

• Kempegowda Bus Station - Majestic Bus Station, Kannada: ಕೆಂಪೇಗೌಡ ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ | Gandhi Nagar, City Bus Road 12.97788,77.57233 The main bus stand is next to the Kempegowda Bus Station and Metro Green/Purple Kempegowda/Majestic - Kempegowda Bus Station KBS 1 - One of the largest bus stands in the city, this bus stand caters to major buses on Karnataka (Except Mysore Road side buses), Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra & Goa routes. it is also the largest intersecting point for Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), which maintains bus services within Bangalore. The bus stand is opposite City Train station.

• MCTC - Mysore Road Satellite Bus stand | Bapuji Nagar, Mysore Road 12.95371,77.543661 Majestic: KSRTC Shuttles, BMTC 220 to 235 ; Market: 220 to 235 series ; Shivajinagar: 222E,226N,121B ; Jayanagar: 60A to L ; Yeshvantapur: K-2 ; Jalahalli Cross: 248 - One of the important bus stands of Bangalore, aimed at decongesting Majestic bus stand, this bus stand caters to all ordinary and Luxury services towards Mysore, as well as Interstate ordinary and Luxury services to Kerala, via Mysore, operated by Karnataka and Kerala state governments. Ordinary and Deluxe uses bound to Ooty, Coimbatore via Mysore/Kollegal also start from this place. All ordinary services operated by Tamilnadu State Road Transport Corporation to Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Vriddachalam, Kanchipuram, Coimbatore and Trichy use this Bus stand for terminating their bus services

• Shantinagar - Double Road Bus stand | K.H.Road 12.95475,77.59198 From Majestic: 171, all buses from 340 to 372; From Shivajinagar: 13, 13A to 13K, 27,27E,29,210F,G,GA,Q,K6 - One of the important bus stands of Bangalore, aimed at decongesting Majestic bus stand, this bus stand caters to all Luxury services towards Tamilnadu operated by KSRTC as well as SETC of Tamilnadu State. Some Kerala State Transport Corporation buses running via Salem to Kerala go through this terminal.

There are also many unofficial stops that buses will go to on request (even on deluxe buses with reserved seats, you can ask the conductor to stop at such a stop as long as it is in Bangalore/the same city as the stop on your ticket) or even let passengers book tickets from. These places do not have any station infrastructure, but are located near monuments, on major streets/circles/squares and of course can be spotted by the numerous buses crowded around. One particularly useful stop is Yeswanthpur Junction, which is next to the long distance train station of the same name as well as the Yeswanthpur metro station.

The display boards for long distance buses bus show the destination in the local language Kannada. If you don't speak Kannada, you will likely need to get some help to get on the right bus. However and the newer Volvo buses are all equipped with electronic displays that show the destination in Kannada and English one after the other. 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. However and there are still many of the older Ashok Leyland and even some very old Tata buses plying the roads, so it is best to go by timings or ask the conductor where the bus is heading (usually by asking the destination name like its a question, such as "Mysore?" and hearing if the conductor responds with the same name or another one).

Bus companies

• Durgamba Motors
• Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)- Operated by Govt. of Karnataka. Counters are present all over the city for reservations, list on the website.
• KPN Travels - Toward Tamil Nadu
• VRL Travels - Toward most places North of Bangalore
• City Travels - Toward Tamil Nadu

Rent a Car or Limousine in Bangalore

Driving in India can be very stressful. Lane discipline is practically non-existent, excessive honking, high vehicle density, lack of regard for traffic law, 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 a vehicle and a driver. Cost varies, but most vehicle and driver combinations cost ₹1,400-1,700/day. The fares for hired private taxis are in the multiples of 4hr/40 km, fares for which start from around ₹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 travelling far and your driver has to travel back on his own time. Having an approximate idea of the fare or distance beforehand and persistent bargaining skills can lead to significant savings. Although it costs more, consider requesting an air-conditioned vehicle if you aren't used to the heat, especially in summer. An air-conditioned vehicle 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 vehicle or SUV, be prepared to pay extra.

Get Around in Bangalore

By metro

Bangalore Metro Station, India - Namma Metro

The ProjectProfile Bangalore Metro (Namma Metro)] is an efficient cross-city rail service. As of July 2017 and there are two lines intersecting at Kempegowda Bus Station Majestic Terminal , with a total of 41 stops. Tickets can be purchased at any station. Fares depend on the number of stations to commute. Minimum of ₹10. Card costing ₹50 will save you from queues and around ₹5 for each trip.

If you get a smart token (the single journey ticket), remember that it has to be returned at the station you get off at, so take a picture of it before you leave if you want.

The existing routes are:

• East-West Line/Purple Line: Baiyappanhalli (Old Madras Road)-->Swami Vivekananda Road-->Indiranagar-->Halasuru-->Trinity Circle-->M.G.Road-->Cubbon Park-->Vidhana Soudha-->Central College-->Kempegowda Bus Station (interchange station)-->City Railway Station-->Magadi Road-->Hosahalli-->Vijayanagar-->Attiguppe-->Deepanjalinagar-->Nayandahalli (Mysore Road)-
• North-South Line/Green Line: Nagasandra (Tumkur Road)-->Dasarahalli-->Jalahalli-->Peenya Industry-->Peenya-->Goraguntepalya-->Yeshvantapur Railway Station (PF-6 entrance)-->Sandal Soap Factory-->Mahalakshmi-->Rajajinagar-->Kuvempu Road-->Srirampura-->Mantri Plaza Sampige Road-->Kempegowda Bus Station (interchange station)-->Chikpet-->K.R.Market-->National College-->Lalbagh-->South End Circle-->R.V.Road-->Banashankari-->J.P.Nagar-->Yelahachanahalli

Travel by Bus to Bangalore

Buses are affordable and frequent (though expensive compared to other states). But traveling on them can be difficult if you don't know the system well. Now, most buses have digital signage alternating between the local language Kannada and English but some buses still display the old printed signs with only the route number in English, with the destination and route information written in Kannada. Of course, even with the digital signage the buses can take a long time to change the displayed language, meaning that it can be easy to miss your bus. This means you will have to know what route number you need before you get on, which you can find from the BMTC website, BMTCRoutes.in website, Desiroutes, entering your starting point and end point on Google maps, or by asking local residents.

Not all bus stops are clearly marked, so it can be a little tricky on your first trip. Groups of people standing around can be a good indicator that the bus will stop there. Also its a good idea to ask the driver or conductor if they stop at the stop you want to go to (a 500 and a 500Q will not go to all the same stops). Just ask the name in a question tone and you will get a response. Conductors (there is one on every bus and they collect fares and issue tickets- they are always in uniform) are also helpful in telling you where/when your stop is if you ask, as are fellow passengers if they frequent the route. 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.

Watch out: some bus drivers put their route sign on the bottom right side of the windsheild instead of its place on the sign holder on the top of the windshield.

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 & blue or green in colour. The newer city buses tend to be blue in colour and have LED display boards. There are blue Volvo buses, called Vajra, that operate mainly on IT sector routes like Electronic City , ITPL and Outer Ring Road routes and to tourist places like Bannerghatta National Park and weekend Services to Wonderla. They offer a comfortable air-conditioned ride at higher prices ( 1 1/2 to 2 times the regular bus fare) than the regular buses (which are not air-conditioned). Unlike most other buses and 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.

BMTC also operates Vayu Vajra services to Bangalore International Airport from various destinations across the City. KIAS-9 is the most frequent of the routes, connecting the Airport to Majestic Bus stand.

City buses are crowded during rush hours, which are at least 7-10 am and 5-9 pm Monday through Saturday but one can travel with little difficulty during the daytime. Bus services start by 5 or 6 am and are less frequent 09:30-22:00 and rare after 22:30. Also note that traffic in Bangalore is notorious. A trip across the city can take up to 4 hours, especially in rush hour times. There are no bus lanes, so busses, cabs and cars face the same traffic jams!

Major buses in the city have the seats reserved for ladies in the front, between the front and middle doors. The first seat near the front door is reserved for ladies senior citizens, while the first seat behind the middle door is for the physically challenged and the seat facing the door is for senior citizens. Generally you can board and exit the bus from either door.

It is always better to buy a daily pass if you plan to travel the whole day on the bus. The daily pass costs ₹70 as of January 2018 and it comes in 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. Senior citizens are given 25% concession in all buses on production of valid ID card (e.g., passport). Children aged 4-12 are given 50% concession. No charge for children up to 4 years of age.

There are three major bus stands:

• Kempegowda bus stand - Majestic Bus Stand | 12.97798,77.57214 Near Gandhi Nagar, directly opposite the Bengaluru City train station - Quite neatly organised 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. Has stations for both lines of the metro.

• City Market 12.96420,77.57773 - Around 2.5 km (1.5 mi) away from Majestic. Could daunt newcomers, since it is very disorganised. It is a large dirt parking lot under an overhead highway and there is not much order to where buses park.

• Shivajinagar 12.98343,77.60308 - In the north. It is neatly organised and there is an inquiry window to find about buses. If you are changing buses, you may have to get down on the street and walk into the bus stand to catch your next bus. 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 situation.

By auto-rickshaw

Autorickshaws and taxis in Bangalore have a metered fare system. Tipping is neither expected nor required when one avails oneself of autorickshaw or taxi services.

BangaloreRickshaw - Auto Rickshaw in Bangalore awaiting clients

Auto-rickshaws (also called "scooter") are everywhere at any time of day. They are green-and-yellow or black-and-yellow three wheeled contraptions. They are a fast (but unsafe) way to get around the town - in thick traffic and they are quicker than a taxi or bus.

Auto-rickshaws are supposed to charge fares as per the meter reading, which equals to ₹ 13 per distance kilometer, a minimum charge of ₹ 25 for the first 1.8 km or less and a 50% extra charge after 22:00 (called "one and a half"). Heavy luggage costs an additional fee of around ₹10-20. They generally tend to charge on an ad-hoc basis depending on the distance of the destination and the chances of getting another client 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 do the trick.

Tourists should be cautious when approaching auto-rickshaws at night, or during heavy rains. Chances are they will charge exorbitant rates (some drivers may demand 100% extra charge after 22:00 or 23:00), but you must refuse to board in such a case. 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 - or check the route by recording a GPS track on your mobile.

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.

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 and their identification number and report to the BBMP Control room which is empowered to withdraw their auto license. Thit is a very effective technique to deal with them. The BBMP control room number as of December 2009 is ☎+91 80 22975803.

If you arrive in Bangalore via train, at the main train station there is an office near the taxis/auto-rickshaws which will print-out a pre-paid receipt for your ride. The service costs ₹1, but will save you a potentially large amount of money by giving you an accurate value for your ride. This also allows you to avoid haggling with the driver and acts as an official price agreement in the event that the driver wants to dispute the price of the ride.

Best way to travel in Bangalore by a Taxi

Taxis are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Toyota Etios, 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-rickshaw. Most taxi companies will charge a flat rate of ₹150 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 and the cars are marked with the logo of the fleet operator or taxi company on the sides of the car. Only some companies like "Meru Taxi" are marked with the sign 'Taxi' on them. Some companies have a yellow sign with an 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 and phone number. The operator 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 vehicle with the taxi's identification number.

The license plate number is 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.

On weekdays, especially during rush hours, be prepared to book a taxi a couple of hours in advance. Otherwise and the rush-hour traffic jams and high demand for taxis will make it difficult for a taxi to reach you in time. Private taxis are generally more reliable during this time - in many cases, radio cabs will be overbooked and you might be unfortunate be informed that your booking has been cancelled.

Although it can be hard for non-Indians to grasp at first and 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 ₹35-40 for the assistance.

Some radio taxi services are:

 Easy Cabs (T:+91 80 4343 4343), Genie Cabs

(+91 80 3399 3399, ₹ 30 more for phone bookings), Mapcabs(T.+91 8880 510 520) ,GetMeCab (T.+91 92666 01520, hours=8AM Monday - 9PM), LimeCabs (T.+91 7795109379, hours=9AM Monday - 9PM), Besto Tours (Bangalore Car Rentals)] (T.+91 80 3951 2888, hours=5AM Monday - 9PM), Mega Cabs (T:+91 80 4747 4747), Meru Cabs (T.+91 80 4422 4422), Ola Cabs (+91 80 3355 3355), SPOT City Taxi (T:+91 80 2551 0000), Star City Taxi (+91 80 2313 3333), -cabs/ Taxi for Sure (TFS, +91 80 6060 1010), Taj Trip Car (T:+91 88 0055 0676). 7mcar (Call :080 87138713). Seven Miles Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd (Call :080 87138713).

Travel agents and hotels can arrange private chauffeur driven cars and you may also hire cars to drive yourself. While expensive compared to taxis and these are the most trusted, secure and comfortable ways to travel around the town. Driving in Bangalore can be difficult, because of poor driver discipline, but chauffeur driven services are very reasonable. These can be arranged by travel companies or online from the countries of origin.

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 ₹50-100 per hour for an auto-rickshaw and ₹150-250 per hour for a taxi. Rates for a private vehicle booked via the hotel will probably be more. Like everything else in India, rates are very fluid.

Travel by bicycle in Bangalore

The weather in Bangalore is extremely friendly, but the traffic is equally hectic. So if your plan is not to go towards crowded city, you can go around cycling.

Most of the sightseeing locations are within a range of 15 km, so you can consider covering them on bicycle. Bicycle dealers charge ₹100-300 for entire day and you have to submit identity proof to hire bicycle.

By commuter rail

A commuter rail system was planned, but nothing has came out of those efforts.

However and there are MEMU trains connecting the town center to various suburbs, especially those with a high concentration of tech companies such as Whitefield. However, speeds are low and station infrastructure can be poor.

What to see in Bangalore

12.97662|77.60013

There are city tours that can show you the city efficiently if you are short on time. Typically, tours do not include entry fees into the attractions. Bangalore, like the rest of India, has a habit of charging foreigners a lot more than local residents for attractions. For example, Tipu Sultan's Palace, which is on the half-day tour, charges ₹15 for Indians/Saarc and ₹200 for non-Indians.

Landmarks

Bangalore palace koushik - The Bangalore Palace

• Bengaluru Palace Palace Road, Vasanth Nagar 12.9986,77.5920₹100/450 for Indians/foreigners and ₹675 for a still camera. This includes an audio guide that points out rooms, photos and other things. Built by the Maharajahs of Mysore. For many years the building was neglected as a tourism attraction, but is now open to the public. Thit is a run down building with paint peeling on the interior and generally a tourist trap to be avoided.

• Tipu Sultan's Palace Allbert Victor Road, Chamrajpet 12.95934,77.57359 Just south of Metro: Krishna Rajendra Market (Green) ☎ +91 80 2670 6836 Opening Hours: Daily 9:30AM–5:30PM Tickets are ₹15 for Indians/Saarc/Bimstec citizens and ₹200 for Foreign Muslims (March 2023), not very worth it for damaged walls and few information about the Sultans life. Dating to about 1790, it was the summer retreat for Tipu Sultan. The two story structure is made mostly out of wood with finely embellished balconies, pillars and arches. It contains a small museum with information on Tipu Sultan.

• Bangalore Fort - Tippu's Fort | 12.962927,77.575977 Just north of Metro: Krishna Rajendra Market (Green) Free of charge Built in 1537. A small part with massive granite walls, big gates, a dungeon and a small Ganesha temple is still intact.

• Seshadari Iyer Memorial Kasturba Road 12.9746,77.5907 Metro: Vidhana Soudha (Purple) - A distinctive red sandstone building. It houses the State Central Library (right south of Cubbon Park) and the Bengaluru High Court of Karnataka, (Ambedkar Veedhi, Sampangi Rama Nagar, north of Ribbon Park), while the grounds include a children's recreation area with a toy train, fairground and theater.

• Vidhana Soudha - Karnataka state Assembly | Dr Ambedkar Road, Sampangi Ramnaga 12.97961,77.59049 Metro: Vidhana Soudha (Purple) - Vidhana Soudha - The legislative House of the State of Karnataka, this granite building was built by Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, Chief Minister of the then Mysore state between 1951-1956. A marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and one of the most imposing buildings 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 and 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. At the same time and the construction was on modern designs, making use of the present-day materials like steel, reinforced concrete, glass and plastic. General public and Muslims are not allowed to enter the ground or the building. It can only be viewed from the road and footpath outside the boundary walls.

• Vikasa Soudha 12.97840,77.58926 Metro: Vidhana Soudha (Purple). Located next to Vidhana Soudha, built in the same classic style. It was inaugurated in 2005. General public and Muslims are not allowed to enter the premises. It can only be viewed from outside the boundary walls.

• HAL Aerospace Museum 12.95522,77.68077 HAL Aerospace Museum - India's first aerospace museum. Run by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a large aerospace company.
• Indian Music Experience Brigade Millenium Avenue, JP Nagar, 7th Phase 12.89177,77.58372 opp. Wood Rose Club ☎ +91 96866 02366 Adults and children over 12 - ₹250 - A hi-tech and interactive music museum with exhibits on traditional and contemporary Indian music.

Temples

The art of living international center - Art of Living world HQ, Bangalore

• Art of Living Temple Near Cricket Coaching ground, Double Road - ☎ +91 9448386061 - The Bangalore Ashram is the international headquarters of the Art of Living foundation. The ashram is spread of 65 acres and was established in 1986. They conduct frequent yoga and Ayurveda programs.

• Banaswadi Hanuman Temple 13.0136,77.6521 Between Sri Uma Maheshwari Temple and Bethal Church, northeast five kilometers from center 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.

Nandi statue, Sri Big Bull Temple, Dodda Ganeshana Gudi, Bangalore - 20130526-02 - Bull Temple, Bangalore

• Bull Temple Bull Temple Road, NR Colony, Basavanagudi 12.9418,77.5680 Majestic :43 A to E 45 A to E, Shivajinagar: 34 A to F, 37 A to F, Jayanagar/Vijayanagar60 A to K (Ramakrishna Ashrama) - A typical Dravidian style temple, 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.

• DakshinaMukhy Nandeeshwara Temple , in the heart of Bangalore - A very ancient temple. Thit is on Sampige Road in the Malleshwaram area. The speciality of the temple is that and 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.

• Dharmaraya Swamy Draupadi Devi Temple 12.96574,77.58285 in the heart of Bangalore - One of the oldest temples of Bangalore and also the smallest and the Temple is in exsitence since the day of finding the city by Shri Kempegowda. It is on S.P. Road close to Corporation circle, behind the LIC building. This temple is well known for the Annual Karaga Festival held every summer. The Presiding Deity is Dharmaraya (Yudishtra) & Consort Draupadi making it a unique one of its kind.

• Dodda Ganapathi | 12.94289,77.56823 - One of the oldest temples in Bangalore, it is adjacent to the Bull Temple. The temple is well known for the huge monolith structure of Lord Ganesha, who was worshipped by the villagers to save them from the Bull that was damaging their crops in the area. The Bull Temple is a few metres away from this temple.

• Gavi Gangadeshwara Cave Temple | Gavipuram, Kempegowda Nagar 12.94829,77.56322 Right north of Hanumantha Nagar Park, north of Ramanjaneya Temple, in Gavipuram, adjacent to Basavanagudi - Opening Hours: 7AM Monday - 12:30PM and 5PM Monday - 8:30PM 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.

• ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Road 13.00995,77.55111 Between Metro Green: Mahalakshmi and Sandal Soap Stations ☎ +91 80 2347 1956, +91 80 2357 8346 +91 80 2357 8625 Opening Hours: 3:45AM Monday - 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.

• Maha Bodhi Society Temple | No. 14, Kalidas Road, Gandhi Nagar 12.97817,77.58069 Northwest rim of Freedom Park - A relatively new structure, with the main shrine built as a replica of the historic stupa at Bodh a. The temple grounds are very peaceful and visitors are welcome to stroll around. In addition and the temple houses an excellent library of Books on Buddhism, many of which are in English.

• Maruthi Mandir, Mahakalshmi Layout - A Hanuman Temple is opposite - 5 min trip from ISKCON temple, in the gate of Mahalakshmi Layout. Thit is a rock hill with huge idols of Hanuman and Mahalakshmi temples. The annual festival of Hanumad Jayanthi during December is very attractive.

• Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple Bannerghatta Road 12.87495,77.59435 after Indian Institute of Management, south of Bangalore 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.

• Mukti Naga Temple 12.91465,77.42299 Contains the world's largest monolithic statue of Lord Naaga, about 16 feet tall and weighing 36 tons. The Mukti Naga Temple, which is run by Shri Subrahmanya Seva Trust, is in a serene ambience of Ramohalli, a village on the outskirts of the city.

• Ragi Gudda Jayanagar 9th block 12.91482,77.59330 South of Bangalore - Thit is a famous Hanuman temple abode. The temple is on a mammoth rocky hill and has very attractive chain of temples like Spathika Shiva, Ganesha and scenery within the premises. Thit is a very crowd attracting place during the period of Hanumad Jayanthi in December. You get mahaprasadam meals on Saturday noon-1PM.

• Someshwara Temple Halasuru - Close to Halasuru Police station; Metro Purple Line Free Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the oldest temples of the City. The Inner Sanctum Santorium is said to have been built in the 8th Century by the Cholas who ruled this place,the outer Praharam during the Hoysalas of the 11th Century while the front hall construction and the Gopuram during the Vijayanagar Empire of the 15th Century. The structure resembles the various changes the Temple has gone through during the period with major additions and renovations done for preserving the temple.

• Shiva Temple - Shiv Mandir - Old Airport Road 12.95810,77.65664 Close to Vishweshwara College and Total Mall? ☎ +91 80 2522 8444 Free entrance, camera ₹25 This temple has a massive monolith of Lord Shiva 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. One can't see or feel any kind of Bhakti in this temple, because at each move inside the temple there will be a person collecting money which creates such a disturbance for the concentration on Bhakti. On each step the devotees will be concentrating on the money boxes (Hundi in Kannada) and people standing to ask money as offerings.

• Shree Guruvayurappan Temple - at Nettigere, Bangalore South

• Sri Raja Rajeshwari Temple , in RajaRajeshwari Nagar, just before Kengeri on Mysore Road - A famous temple dedicated to Goddess Parvathi (RajaRajeshwari). It was built by a famous spiritual guru, Sri Sri Sri Tiruchi Mahaswaigal. Built in the ancient style with stones and the temple is very spacious. One can feel the peace and satisfaction when visited. Week ends are very crowded.

Ulsoor sv far - Ramakrishna Ashram, Halasuru

• Sri Ramakrishna Ashram - There are many Ramakrishna Ashrams in Bangalore, but the special and central one is in Gandhi Bazaar, an area with many temples. 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 sat when he visited Bangalore is also kept as a monument. Thit is a calm and peaceful place to meditate.

• Vasantha Vallabharaya Temple 12.89541,77.55183 Majestic 210E, 210R Shivajinagar 210G , Market: 210, 210D, 210E, Electronic City/Kengeri : 378 ) In South Bangalore, close to Sai Baba Temple, Eashwara Temple, Anjaneya Temple, off Vasantpur Road - A small hillock with an ancient temple dedicated to Sri Vasantha Vallabharaya Swamy.

• VenkataramanaSwamy Temple | Visveswarapuram neighborhood - M: National College half kilometers west, - A fine example of Dravidian architecture. This ancient temple was built by Maharaja Chikka Devaraya Wodeyar and is next to the summer palace of Tipu Sultan.

• Champakadhama Temple Bannerghatta, close to Bannerghatta circle 12.81357,77.57657 Bannerghatta/Jigani/Anekal buses via Bannerghatta Road - A old temple dedicated to Lord Champakeshwara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Name stands because of the presence of the "Champaka" flowers in the area that was used for worship. A small temple, dedicated to Lord Narasimha is on the hillock. A small Kalyani is present behind the Temple, close to the borders of the Bannerghatta forest in about 700 m walk from top of the Hillock. Visit to the Tank is not allowed in Wintry evening and late evenings owing to presence of elephant movement

Churches

Holy Trinity Church Bangalore Entrance - The entrance to the Holy Trinity Church

• Holy Trinity Church 12.97207,77.62053 at Trinity circle at the east side of the MG Road - This church is a major landmark in Bangalore. It was built in 1851, for the British Regiment stationed in Bangalore. Built in the English Renaissance style and 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 12.984194,77.603886 - The oldest church in Bangalore and the only church in the state which has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica. It is well known for the festivities held during the St. Mary's Feast in the month of September each year, an event that attracts devotees from in and around Bangalore. The basilica is 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 Road, Arekeres - The service is conducted in English and starts from 9:30AM in the morning.

What to do in Bangalore

Indoor activities

• Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium Bangalore Association for Science Education, Sri T. Choudaiah Road, High Grounds 12.98486,77.58954 Opposite Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain, Near Raj Bhavan ☎ +91 80-22379725 Opening Hours: 12:30PM Monday - 4:30PM A very good planetarium for adults and children alike. Shows are offered in Kannada and English. Each show is about 30 minutes long. There are about 200 seats available for each show. A ticket can be used only for the show mentioned on the ticket and is non-refundable if you miss that show. Ticket prices are ₹35 for adults and ₹20 for school students and children (up to 16 years), children below 3 years are not allowed inside the Sky-Theatre. Mondays and second Tuesday are holidays.

Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum - Vishveshvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum

• Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum - VITM - 12.97505,77.59633 Metro: Cubbon Park (Purple) ☎ +91 80-22866200 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 5:30PM Contains many fun learning activities and exhibitions that can be enjoyed by adults and children. Most exhibits are based on simple science, but some have industrial applications. For general visitors entry fee is ₹40. Some groups receive discounts (organised school groups, BPL Category when showing valid BPL card, etc). Entry is free for military and police personnel in uniform and the physically challenged and children below 5 years of age. There is also a 3D show costing an extra ₹25 (for general public). Open on all days of the year except Ganesha Chathurthi and Deepavali.

Outdoor activities and sports

• Adventure clubs: Bangalore is bestowed with rock climbers, aqua sportsmen and aero sportsmen. There are several clubs including Thrillophilia, Nature Admire, Care, Spark, KMA, Capture, Mars, Angel, Wildcraft and Adventure Works.
• Camping, Savandurga, Gunjoor Lake, Bhimeshwari, Rangaswamy betta.
• Cave exploration, Savandurga, Anthargange, Siddarabetta.

• Cycling - , - Art of Bicycle Trips organizes bicycle tours in and around Bangalore. The tours combine cycling with Indian art, culture and legacy.

• Hiking, Nandi hills; Rangaswamy betta, Bhimeshwari - Muttati.
• Hill Climbing, Savandurga, Makalidurga, Kavaledurga (Skandagiri), Kabalidurga, Siddarabetta, Nijakal betta, Shivgange.

• Sports clubs - The Koramangala Club in Koramangala and the Swimming club at the National Games Village (NGV), have facilities such as swimming pools and tennis courts.

• Thrillophilia Adventure Tours Pvt. Ltd. - 4th Floor, 2628, 27th main, 1st sector, HSR layout - ☎ +91 96 8602-0000 Prices start from ₹1000 per person Thrillophilia arranges for adventure tours around Bangalore which includes rappelling, mountain safari, camping, trekking, dirt biking, rafting, jumering, river crossing and quad biking. Micro light flying and paragliding can also be arranged on demand basis. September – May is the best season for most of the adventure activities.

• Trash Trail Daily Dump 12.971062,77.643381 ☎ +91 80 41157311 On this journey through the story of waste, you will meet people who silently clean up and transform all the stuff we throw away. In the process, you will visit places you haven't imagined existed!

• Ultimate Frisbee , - Although in a nascent stage, Ultimate Frisbee games are held on Tuesday Thursday Saturday mornings starting 6:30AM. The teams comprise of players of all skill levels.

• Watch a cricket match M. Chinnaswamy Stadium 12.97884,77.59958 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 - tickets typically get sold out a week before.

Nature and parks

Bangalore Lalbagh IMG 1612 - Lal Bagh Garden, Bangalore Lumbini garden , Hebbal, Bangalore 3001 - Lumbini Garden, Hebbal, Bangalore

• Lalbagh - Lalbagh botanical Garden | 12.95,77.59 Metro: Lalbagh (Green) - Lal Bagh - Glass house in Lalbagh, Bangalore (rotated) - Garden and lake inside-the lake offers a friendly view and is home to some water birds

• J. P. Park - Jayaprakash Narayan Biodiversity Park | Mathikere, Near Yashwanthpur Railway Station 13.03475,77.55057 11 kilometers - The third largest park in Bangalore, covering 85 acres. There are many statues of animals and provision for children's' games. The park includes four lakes, 25 acres of lawns, over 250 varieties of trees and shrubs (including select exotic and aquatic species and a nursery), a nature centre, an exhibition plaza and an amphitheatre.

• HMT Area BEL Junction 13.04560,77.55641 18 kilometers - This area is dotted with parks and green layouts. Examples are General Ayyappa Park and Kittur Rani Chennamma Park. The J.P.Park is nearby. Lodges are available at Mathikere and Jalahalli.

• Ulsoor Lake - Halasuru lake | 12.9825,77.6195 A friendly lake

• Sankey Tank 13.00991,77.57479 A friendly lake

• Dodda Alada Mara - Big Banyan Tree | 12.90944,77.39552 - A giant 400-year-old Banyan tree about 28 kilometers from central Bangalore. This single plant covers 3 acres and is one of the largest of its kind.

• Cubbon Park - Cubbon Park Queen's Statue & Aquarium | 12.9769,77.5989 Metro Purple Line; Opposite to Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium - A Nice forested area in the heart of the City. The entrance from Queen's Statue forms the tourism attraction owing to the presence of the Government Aquarium and Bal Bhavan, a play area for kids. Puttaani Express a small toy train for kids, runs inside the Bal Bhavan attracts kids from far and near. Vidhana Soudha and Karnataka High Court border the other side of Cubbon Park

Fairs & exhibitions

• Aero India 13.13127,77.61548 Held in the second week of February every alternate year (the next one is in 2022), thit is Asia's premier air show. Spanning 5 days but open to the public only on the last 3 days (Friday to Sunday) and the show at Yelahanka Air Force Base in the northern part of Bangalore comprises a defence exhibition and air show. Fighter jets from around the world are on flying and on static display. Normally and 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 were not permitted to register via the website.)

• Chitra Santhe (Paintings market) 12.99053,77.58234 - An annual exhibition, held on the first Sunday of every year in January and 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 for traffic on that day, making it feasible to have a leisurely stroll, admiring and buying the items. Prices range from ₹ 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).

• Kadlekai Parishe (Peanut fair) 12.94500,77.56786 Every year, sometime during the months of November - Dec and the area around Bull Temple Road in South Bangalore hosts a peanut fair. Centuries ago and 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 and 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.

• Flower Show (Biannual) Opening Hours: 9AM to 5PM Rs.50/- entry fees A bi-annual affair at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Bangalore, during the Independence Day (August 15th) & Republic Day (January 26th). Various companies display their floral exhibits in this period, normally held from a week before the above mentioned days. Main epicentre would be a Rose arrangement representing a theme, or a legacy structure, which attracts major crowd from around Bangalore.

• Mango Mela - Opening Hours: 9AM to 5PM Rs.30/- entry fees An annual affair, during the beginning of the summer season and the season for the king of fruits. Normally, Mangoes (raw & ripe), cultivated in the Bangalore rural neighborhoods as well as neighbouring Kolar and Chikballapur neighborhoods are brought and kept for show as well as sale during this period, at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. A must visit for mango fans.

Arts and 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 Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Bryan Adams, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Joe Satriani, Mark Knopfler, Aerosmith, Sting, Uriah Heep, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Machinehead, Scorpions among others.

• Rangashankara 36/2, 8th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase - ☎ +91 80 26592777, +91 80 26494656 Opening Hours: Evening shows start from 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 or directors, as they can show you an Indian (or 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 or reserving (blocking) tickets. Tickets cost ₹ 45–100.

Movies

Take in a movie at one of the innumerable theaters around the town. Some multiplexes:

• Cinemax , Bangalore Central, Bellandur

• Cinepolis Royal Meenakshi Mall, Bannerghatta Road
• Gopalan Cinemas Arch Mall, Mysore Road, - Gopalan Mall, Mysore Road; Gopalan Mall, Near Jayadeva Hospital, Bannerghatta Road ; Gopalan Mal;, Old Madras Road, Near Baiyappanhalli Metro Station

• Inox theatre Bangalore Central, JP Nagar, Fame Cinemas, MG Road, Forum Value Mall, Whitefield, Garuda Mall, Magrath Road, Lido Mall, Ulsoor, Mantri Plaza, Malleshwaram, Garuda Swagath Mall, Jayanagar
• PVR Cinemas Forum Mall, Koramangala, Orion Mall, Malleshwaram, The Phoenix Market City Mall, Whitefield; Vega Mall, JD Mara signal -

Other:

• The Alliance Francaise ,
• Bangalore Film Society , - A club membership (around ₹ 500/year) is typically required for entrance. Foreign film series and cultural events.

• Goethe Institute - Max Mueller Bhavan - 716, CMH Road Indiranagar 1st Stage - From M.G. Road: Go down Old Madras Road. Turn right before the Epidemic Diseases Hospital onto 100 Foot Road. At the next traffic light take a left onto CMH Road. ☎ +91 80 25205305 The Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore (founded in 1960) offers language courses, organises cultural events and has a Library.

• Urvashi Theatre - Urvashi | Lalbagh Road, Bangalore - Near Lalbagh Main gate & MTR - A cool remodified theatre that allows a 1st hand experience in watching movies. One of the oldest theatres and important landmark of the City

• Sampige Theatre - Sampige | Sampige Road, Malleshwaram; Next to Mantri Mall - One of the oldest theatres of Malleshwaram and an important landmark.

Spa & massage

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.

Massages & spas are very much a part of Bangalore's east-meets-west culture, new ones spring up across the city all the time.

• The 5th Element Inner Ring Road - near Dell office - Spa. All practitioners are from Thailand and offer authentic (Thai) massage, scrubs and wraps.

• Aroma Home Spa - Brookefields, ITPL Main Road - Near Whitefield - Natural eco-friendly products in use. Hydro therapy massage in addition to therapies suited to individual needs.

• Ayur Sukha , Malleswaram. - Very nice, clean and professional spa in a nice neighborhood. 1 hours basic Ayurvedic treatment (massage and steam) is about ₹ 1,000.

• SPA.ce - Cunningham Road - Run by an expat Brit offers a variety of massages, scrubs and facials.

• Sundaythespa No.627/628, 5th Cross Road, 15th Main, 80 Feet Road, 4th Block, Koramangala Layout - ☎ +91 80-25520757 +91 80-25520758 - Incorporates Ayurvedic, Indian and East Asian trainings, offers professional services by well-trained staff.

Shopping in Bangalore

Inside a Mall in Koramangala - Inside a mall in Koramangala, Bangalore

Shopping neighborhoods

Bangalore 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, Bangalore provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier.

Many visitors come to Bangalore searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk saris and so miss out on the true Bangalore shopping experience. Here is a low down on shopping - Bangalore 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 has stores like The Collective which is a shop only for men. Armani, Versace, Boss, you name it they have it. There's even Canary Blue and Esprit on the same road.

• Bannerghatta Road 12.91112,77.60010 - Grasshopper is a space that exhibits clothing designs from the most experimental designers in India and also showcases other ideas - lighting design, products and 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.

• Brigade Road/M.G. Road 12.97520,77.60817 M.G. Road station (Metro east-west line) is right next to the intersection of M.G. and Brigade Roads. - The most popular place for tourists. These two roads are filled with shops of every kind, whether it be traditional handicrafts or the latest Western wear (thit is especially true for Brigade Road). Brigade Road, where British soldiers used to buy their necessities, is now the centre of yuppie Bangalore; you'll see hordes of college students on the road any time of day or night. Stores on Brigade Road include: Planet Monday (a huge music store with everything), Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Phillipe, Pepe Jeans, Levis, Lee, SanFrisco Jeans, Nike and Titan (great Indian made watches). There are also many eateries on Brigade road and on the side roads that lead off it. Fast food outlets include KFC (right at the entrance), Pizzas Hut (at the other end of the road) and many cafes including the Indian coffee chain Cafe Coffee Day. Also includes a tattoo studio. M.G. Road is short for Mahatma Gandhi road.

• Commercial Street 12.98219,77.60824 - 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 well known for its body piercing centers. The price of goods here is very competitive and it is a great place to pick a bargain.

• Sampige Road - The heart of Malleswaram neighborhood, connecting Sheshadripuram to IISc. Sampige Road is around 2 km long, 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 Bangalore. If you are tired of going to individual shops you can go to department stores such as Fabmall, Foodworld and Nilgiris.

Shopping malls

Malls typically have higher-end stores retailing apparel, footwear and consumer electronics. Many malls also have food courts (with international cuisine) and movie theatres. Finding a parking spot for your vehicle may not be easy though, especially on weekends.

The heart of the new mall shopping neighborhood is on Victoria Road, with malls like Garuda Mall, Bengaluru Central and Globus, all within easy walking distance.

Some of the more popular malls in Bangalore are:

• Bengaluru Central - Bangalore Central | Residency Road 12.97345,77.61125 Bengaluru Central is more of a large department store than a mall with separate retailers.

• Forum Mall 12.93459,77.61126 On Hosur road, Koramangala suburb - The largest mall in Bangalore in an upscale suburb. Stores range from high international brands to traditional Indian Khadi clothing at the Khadder. The top floor of the mall contains an 11-screen cinema. For eating there is fast food and world cuisines including: Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican and Italian and Indian. The PVR Cinema hall is here too.

• Garuda Mall 12.97004,77.60968 - On the junction of McGrath and Commissariat Roads.

• Gandhi Bazaar 12.94594,77.57058 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.

• Jayanagar Shopping Complex 12.92950,77.58451 From antique jewelry stores and the authentic Gold jewelry stores, saree stores, sweet Meat stores, classic Iyengar bakeries, dress stores and food stores that sell fresh vegetables, fruits, Meat and butter.

• Lifestyle 12.96683,77.61172 Sony World Junction, Koramangala - A two-story store on Victoria Road in the heart of the new mall shopping neighborhood. This 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 nice price.

• Mantri Plaza 12.99161,77.57062 Metro Green: Sampige Road In Malleswaram

• Marathahalli Main Road and Factory Outlets - Some distance from central Bangalore (although not difficult to reach) is Marathahalli (a village in a previous life). The primary street of this suburb is now a haven for factory outlets for all major brands. 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 affordable enough. Although thit is the best place to go to for factory outlet shopping and 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) and these are advertised in newspapers or look for signs posted on major roads.

• Metro shopping mall - near Yeshwanthpur train station and ISKCON temple

• Safina Plaza 12.97977,77.60696 - The sale capital of Bangalore, 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 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).

Markets

The traditional markets have mom-and-pop stores that sell everything from fruits, vegetables, groceries to electronics, music and mobile phones.

• KR Market - City Market, Krishna Rajendra Market | 12.96563,77.57636 - The city's largest vegetable and fruit market is in the heart of the city

}} Smaller but more lively traditional markets can be found in residential areas such as Gandhi Bazaar, N R Colony, Banashankari, Malleswaram, Jayanagar, JP Nagar & Shivajinagar.

For other food options, you can do your grocery at Nature's Basket or Spar, More, FoodWorld, options are huge, all on the 80 ft Road. At the 1st block you can find grocery shops more suited for the local residents, if you want it the traditional way!

• Ulsoor Fish Market , Metro Purple: Halasuru -

Individual stores

Jewellery

• C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons - Diamond Flagship Store - 2-1 Main Cross Road - next to Safina Plaza ☎ +91 80 4000 1869 14,000 sq ft dedicated to the finest Gold and diamond jewellery, spread over two floors.

• C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons-The Heritage Store - 35 & 36 Commercial Street - ☎ +91 80 4000 1869 Dedicated to Gold and silver.

• Giantti Luxury Ensemble , at Shop No. C9, Level 2, The Leela Palace ☎ +91 80 4115 9766 Diamond & Gold jewellery along with silver articles and idols.

Handicraft

• The Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium 45 MG Road - ☎ +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 Road - A government run store promoting traditional Indian hand crafts. The CCIE has major outlets in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai.

• Miras Carpet Industries No.7, Ground Floor, Suryodai Complex, Old Airport Road, Kodihalli - Opp. Hotel Leela Palace ☎ +91 80 4157 1894, +91 80 2521 0786 Opening Hours: 09 am- 09-30 pm No Holidays - Manufacturers and exporters of carpets, rugs, kilims, Indian handicrafts, jewellery, pashmina shawls, cashmere scarfs, silk sarees, etc. Claims to be the biggest dealer of Oriental carpets and rugs in Bangalore, selling high quality and "locally priced" wares. Valet vehicle parking available.

• Chandi - The Divine Gallery MG Road - Shop No. 12, First Floor, Public Utility Building ☎ +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 town. High-quality and locally-priced wares, supposedly no pushy salesmanship.

• Kala Madhyam Store' 2nd floor, Flat No 2, Benson Town #77/8, Nandidurg Road - Benson Cross Road corner 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.

• Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation 45 K.S.H.D.C Complex, MG Road - ☎ +91 80 2558 1118 Specialises in Karnataka handicraft.

• Royal Arts & Crafts ☎ +91 80 2248 4797 - 21 K.H. Rd. Has a particularly wide selection of silk carpets and paper mache products.

Bookstores

• Gangarams book bureau 330/9 Axis Road - Domlur Inner Ring Rd. Domlur Layout. Near Indira Nagar Flyover ☎ +91 80 4038 3838 Started by one of the members of the Gangarams family. They stock books, stationery, multimedia, movies and toys.

• Blossoms Church Street - parallel to MG Road and nearby Coconut Grove Restaurant ☎ +91 80 255 9733 There are 3 full floors of those rare, hard to find old books. All 2nd hand, good condition and at low rates.

• The Bookworm , Church Street, opposite to Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) - Thit is a small used book store. Good bargains on used and new Books are available here.

• Crossword Residency Road - ACR Towers, opp. Gateway Hotel ☎ +91 80 2558 2411-16 A hot spot for Books of various genres combined with seating areas, spacious racks, music and movie section, children's section and a coffee shop. A wonderful hangout to read, browse and shop.

• Elloor Library | Blue Cross Chambers, Infantry Road - close to Commercial Street - A circulating library that has a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, including new titles. Requires membership which includes a deposit.

• Gangarams Indiranagar | 330/9 Axis Road Domlur Inner Ring Rd. Domlur Layout. Near Indira Nagar Flyover - ☎ +91 80 4038 3838 Opening Hours: Daily 10AM Monday - 8PM A wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, including textbooks and professional works, stationery, multimedia, movies, toys, art material and gifts.

• Gangarams Mg road | Triumph Tower, 2nd Floor, 48 Church Street - Opposite High Gates Hotel and Mainland China. Church Street is parallel to Mahatma Gandhi ("MG") Road ☎ +91 80 2512 7888 Opening from Monday to Saturday A wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, including textbooks and professional works.

• Goobes Book Republic - 46-1-1 Church St, Karnataka - in the basement of Church Street Inn, Budget Hotel, near MG Road, ☎ +91 80 4112 4956 Secondhand and new Books on a wide variety of subjects and a very cost effective library option and buy back used books.

• Higginbothams 68 MG Road - ☎ +91 80 2558 7359 +91 80 2558 6574 This bookstore has a good selection of maps, postcards, guides and novels.

• Landmark Luskar Hosur Road, Koramangala - in Forum Mall ☎ +91 80 2206 7777 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.

• 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 Cafe attached offering 69 blends of tea.

• Premier Book Shop 46/1 Church Street - off MG Road ☎ +91 80 2558 8570 A venerable institution that has Books on every conceivable subject literally stacked from floor to ceiling. Although the store may appear to be utterly chaotic and 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.

• Sapna Book House - 3rd Main Road, near Kamat Yatri Nivas, Gandhi Nagar - Walking distance from Majestic Bus stand - Thit is a large bookstore and they also have branches in three other locations Sadashivnagar, Jayanagar and Indiranagar. Sapna Book House also provides online book delivery.

• Select Bookshop | Brigade Road - off Brigade Road 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.

• The Strand book stall Dickenson Road - 1st Floor, Manipal Centre ☎ +91 80 2558 0000 Best known for the latest releases in art, design, architecture and all at good prices.

• Streelekha 33/1-9, Thyagaraja Layout, Jaibharath Nagar - ☎ +91 80 2549 2783 Thit 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.

• 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.

Boutiques

Apart from the numerous malls that have taken Bangalore by storm and the crucial element and soul of the city comes through in its myriad small and unique boutiques that are all over the city, tucked away though. Have tried to list the must check out stores.

• Arnav ☎ +91 80 2656 8416 The quaint little jewellery store at Ashoka Pillar, Jayanagar makes for very interesting jewellery buys, a range of antique, restored, contemporary and fusion jewellery are on display. They could help you design a piece of jewellery to suit your needs, an in-house jewellery consultant could help you choose your jewellery.

• Aura Creations Shop No.3, Plot No. 2 Nandagokula Layout, Shampura Main Road - ☎ +91 85 5363 7531 Designer boutique with exclusive dress materials.

• Chilli Billi ☎ +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.

• Levitate-InDiA in A RooM 100 Ft. Road - ☎ +91 80 6452 8190, +91 98 4531 7776 Silver & costume handcrafted Jewellery, Bohemian apparel, Indian souvenirs, lifestyle accessories.

• Mahendra Textiles ☎ +91 80 4124 9900 Sarees and dress materials from Surat, Mumbai, Kolkata, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Kerela and Srilanka.

• Marmalade Magrath Road - Adj to Spratt Salon. Left before Coffee Day, on Brigade Road Extn ☎ +91 80 4122 1814 - Loads of affordable young designer wear.

• Native Place - Behind Museum Road Post Office, Museum road - Loads of interesting merchandise, crafts made by NGOs, c/o The Only Place Restaurant.

• One G ☎ +91 80 4123 1231 (Jewellery) Hatworks Boulevard, Cunningham Rd.

• President's Groom Concepts B.v.k.iyengar Road and Kamraj Road - ☎ +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.

• Sakhi by Chandras - 6th main, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar - ☎ +91 80 4115 5551 Combines traditional fabrics and craftsmanship with contemporary themes. Sakhi’s sarees, salwars and kurtis combine kanchivaram, tussar, chiffon, georgette, crêpe, organza and cotton with traditional techniques such as cut work, block print, kalamkari, badla, mirror work, chamki (sequins) and embroidery in a mélange of colours.

• Stritva near ITPL - 294, 8th main, BEML Layout, ITPL Main Road - ☎ +91 963 222 1615 Sells readymade salwar suit, kameez, kurtas, dress material, sarees and nightwear. The store has a good collection at good prices.

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 closed.

Electronics

The Croma electronics showroom is opposite Lifestyle Mall. eZone, Reliance Digital, Pai, Sony, Panasonic. electronics showrooms are all within the kilometre from here. So thit is the ideal location if you want to do a survey before making your next expensive LCD/LED TV purchase.

Learn

Hinduism

• The Art of Living - Art of Living International Center ,Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth,21st Km, Kanakapura Road,Udayapura - ☎ +91 80 67262626, +91 80 6726262627, +91 80 6726262628 The campus is also the focal point of many service projects such as rural development and education, organic farming initiatives, scientific research into the benefits of ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ While at the ashram, one cannot miss the Satsangs that are held every evening. Satsangs are gatherings where scattered minds unite through music, meditation and wisdom to experience a higher state of consciousness. People from all over the world who know different languages participate in the singing of bhajans, or the repetitive chanting of a word or a verse.

• ISKCON ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra Temple,Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Road - ☎ +91 80-23471956, +91 80-23578346 +91 80-23578625 The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Bangalore city is huge cultural complex that was inaugurated in 1997 to carry out the vision of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, to promote Vedic culture and spiritual learning. ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-chandra Mandir attracts visitors from different parts of the world and it is more than a place of rituals. However, due to the huge flow of foreign visitors, it has mostly become a heavily commercialized place and less of a religious center.

Buddhism

• Choe Khor Sum Ling - Ashwini, No. 24, 1st Floor, Domlur Layout - ☎ +91 80 41486497 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 training 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 trainings.

• Maha Bodhi Society - 14 Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar - ☎ +91 80 2250684 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.

• Thubten Lekshey Ling - Dharma Subhashita - ☎ +91 98 80296930 Nyingma Tibetan Buddhist meditation centre founded by the late His Holiness Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche. The centre is close to MG Road on Ulsoor road, 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.

Work

Indians

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

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. Thit 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.

Being referred as Silicon Valley of India and the city provides plethora of employment opportunities to youngsters from different corners of India.

Non-Indians

With a little hard work and persistence finding a job is quite feasible in Bangalore. 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 and the salary for visitors 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 expats is the Sunday brunches at the 5 Star hotels or at the numerous coffee shops in and around the MG Road area.

Muslim Friendly Food & Restaurants in Bangalore

A large number of hotels near the Bangalore City Railway Station are crowded in the area around the Dargah Tawakkal Mastan , O.T.C. Road, Chickpet, Near Sreenivasa Hospital, one kilometer from the Majestic bus station. Ask for Brahmins Bakery area.

• Citizen Lodge | Lady Curzon Road - near Bowring Hospital, about 1 kilometers from MG Road Double non-A/C room costs around from ₹ 850 Bare bones motel-style establishment is well located but leaves much to be desired in terms of cleanliness and overall quality.

• FabHotel 29th Church's Inn formerly Church Street Inn - #29th Church Street, off M.G. Road - ☎ +91 70424 24242
• Hotel Grand Park OTC Road, near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic - ☎ +91 80 22374786 ₹900
• Hotel Tap Silver Plaza - No 185, Deenas, 3rd Fl, Brigade Road - OPPOSITE McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant) ☎ +91 80 2559 5656 ₹ 1,011-1,742 (approx. US $22-39), including tax 3rd floor has views with floor-to-ceiling windows. Clean and modern decor, clean rooms, all with A/C, hot shower, free Wi-Fi (which gets switched off midnight-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 affordable for what you get. ₹ 1,011-1,742, including tax. For an additional ₹ 50 and the hotel can arrange the use of a non-A/C luxury vehicle for a maximum of 4 hours or 40 kilometers per day.

• Kind host - ☎ +91 98 45180207 Clean rooms, clean attached bathrooms, wifi. Nearby to some Halal restaurants.

• Manju Lodge Near Abhinay Theatre& Menaka Theatre Hospital Road Avenue Road - ☎ +91 80 22200679 ₹600
• Naga Residency OTC Road, near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic - ☎ +91 80 41220539 ₹500 - Omshakthi palace OTC Road, near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic. - ☎ +91 80 26707927 ₹400
• Railway Retirement Room , inside the Central Railway Station ₹850
• Red Mount Lodge OTC Road, near Tavakkal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic - ☎ +91 80 41580000 ₹1,200
• Royal Regency Lodge - S. C. Road - next to Movieland theater ☎ +91 80 4113 0202 From ₹1500? Clean rooms and convenient to the city’s local transports like the City bus station and the City Railway Station.

• Shree Vaishnav Gujarati Samaj Gandhinagar - near Sapna cinema, Kempe Gowda Circle Costs ₹ 50 A secure and nice place to stay if you are there for a day or two. A nice canteen with Gujarati food available. In the vicinity there is another good place available for fast food/lunch named "SLV".

• T. A.P.paradise Hospital Road Avenue Road; cross near Abhinay Theatre & Menaka Theatre - ☎ +91 80 22280522 ₹700
• U. G. Classic OTC Road, Near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic - ₹1,200
• UG Deluxe Majestic, Thulsi Thotta - stop near the small road opposite Upparpet Police station and next to Navaruchi restaurant and 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 - A/C rooms - ₹ 750, Non-A/C rooms - ₹ 550 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.

• Vardhaman Paradise Ganesh Lodge Building OTC Road, near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, Majestic. - ☎ +91 80 26707552 ₹250
• YMCA Nrupathunga Road 12.97109,77.58765 Near Cubbon Park ☎ +91 80 2221 1848 No-frills hotel.

• 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 and they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.

• Art of Living Hostel Kanakapura Road - ☎ +91 8026080204 Rs. 400 - Free food is given three times a day. Accommodation is shared between four people. The campus is undulating in terrain and a free shuttle service is available between the numerous hostels and meditation centers. Very green campus with winding footpaths. Beware of snakes. (This hostel is two hours away from Bangalore city train station in peak traffic.)

Numerous serviced apartments exist in and around the area of Koramangala, though most are on the expensive side. Notable are the Mango suites, Mercure Grand, Lotus suites and Royal Orchid. Cheaper options exist near the JNC college and 1st block.

• 9 Marks Inn - 9 Street Marks Road 12.97926,77.63770 ☎ +91 80 2211-2889
• Airavatam Serviced Apartment 330/7, Axis Road - alight at Axis Books Bus stop ☎ +91 80 4038 1200 From ₹2200 Clean rooms, clean attached bathrooms, wifi. Nearby to some Halal restaurants.

• Ajantha @, @, 22 Mahatma Gandhi Road - ☎ +91 80 2558 4321 Sgl/dbl from ₹1500/₹1900, Cottage A/C ₹2700 Good simple hotel with Vegetarian restaurant.

• Alcove Serviced Apartments Bengaluru - G-301, Raheja Residency, 3rd Block, Koramangala - ☎ +91 99 0057-8231 Check-in : 24/7 / Check-out: Single room, independent 1 or 2 or 3 BHK apartments, air-con 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 Wi-Fi, swimming pool, club house with billiards, table tennis, gym and tennis court.

• Basil Hotel - #8, Sampige road, Malleshwaram 12.99370,77.57132 Next to Sampige Theatre / close to central train station and bus stand ☎ +91 80 4040 2323 Check-in : 24 hours / Check-out: 24 hours From ₹ 2,900 Good service.

• Best Western The Capitol Raj Bhavan Road 12.98246,77.59450 ☎ +91 80 2228 1234, +91 80 2228 1800
• The Bouvice 141C, S.T. Bed Layout, 1st Main Kormangala, Sector 4 - ☎ +91 80 4152 4429, +91 93 4285 6034 A beautiful apartment hotel in Kormangala.

• Chairman's Club & Resort - No. 14/1, Kodigehalli Main Road, Sahakar Nagar, Hebbal (near Twin Tower) - 22 kilometers from the airport ☎ +91 80-40703703 24 Hours Rooms & Suites, ₹ 2,500-7,000++ Best for Airport transit passengers. It has AC and Suites rooms. It has a lounge café (Lock N' Load), indoor swimming pool, Badminton court, garden restaurant, indoor AC restaurant free Wi-fi and a fitness center.

• Chalet Hospitality A-08, Diamond District, Airport Road - ☎ +91 99 0197-6955 - Luxury serviced apartments.

• D-Habitat Hotel Apartments - ☎ +91 80 4150 1950 Sgl/dbl ₹2500/₹3000 Koramangala Deluxe rooms, suites, studio, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Ideal for short-term and extended stay.

• Fantasy Golf Resort opp ITC-0 mins away from Bengaluru Airport ☎ +91 99 7209-2701
• Fortune Park JP Celestial | Race Course Road - 1.5 kilometers from train station and easy access to airport. ☎ +91 80 4044-1234
• Hotel Bangalore Gate - 9 and 12, Gajanana Towers, K G Road - opp. Maneka Theatre, 500 m away from Majestic & Bengaluru City Train station; Metro Purple Sir M. Visveshwaraya ☎ +91 99 4533 3999 Check-in : noon / Check-out: noon ₹3,600-4,800 Executive, superior and premium rooms. All rooms are A/C with complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi. 24 hours room service, 2 restaurants, ample vehicle parking.

• Hotel Komfort Terraces No 301, 3rd floor, Bluemoon Complex Monday G. Road - ☎ +91 80 4009 7000 Check-in : noon / Check-out: noon ₹2381
• Hotel Presidency No. 22 Sadahalli Gate, Devanahalli Taluk - ☎ +91 80 2846-7175 - 24/7 reception.

• Hotel St. MarksSt. Marks Rd
• Hotel Vrindavan off MG Road and very near to MG. Rd/Brigade Road junction - Nice hotel with great south Indian food.

• Hotel Woodlands No 5, Rajaram Mohan Roy Road - near Richmond Circle ☎ +91 80 2222 5111 Mid-range hotel, very clean, great views of the city, delicious free South Indian breakfast buffet for ₹3,400 per day for an A/C double (two single beds pushed together). Nice location for adventuring the city. Long walk to M.G. Road, Garuda Mall and Commercial Street.

• Live Inn Bangalore Serviced apartments | Team Royal, 1st Main, 6th Block, Venkatareddy layout, 80ft Road, Koramangala - Near Oasis Lifestyle Mall Koramangala ☎ +91 98 8034 9785 Sgl/dbl ₹2000/₹2500 One, two and three bedroom apartments with Wi-Fi, direct telephone services, laundry, A/C, fully equipped kitchen and hot breakfast is served in your room

• Maple Suites - Serviced Apartments - #142 & 143, Dollar Layout. 4th Main, BTM II Stage - Off Bannerghatta Road opp to Mantri Elite. ☎ +91 80 4282 2428 Check-in : 12 noon / Check-out: 12 noon ₹1,999 Long and short term stay.

• Olde Bangalore Tarabanahalli - near Bangalore airport ☎ +91 99004 28729 - Resort and hotel, events, receptions, multi-cuisine food,corporate event facilities, conferences.

• Prakruthi Club & Resort | Plot no. 12A, Hegganahalli village, Kundana Hobli, Devanahalli Taluk - 11 kilometers from the airport ☎ +91 80 2849 4002 Cottages and roms, ₹2,500-₹9,000++ Accommodation for couples, family, or corporate bookings. Conference hall that can seat 120 people and meeting facilities. Coffee shop. Lounge bar, wifi.

• Silicon Hearth - formerly Silicon Suites | 174, Nagvarapalya, Rahat Bagh, Behind Big Bazaar - off Old Madras Road, near Indiranagar ☎ +91 99860 53292
• Stopovers Serviced Apartments - Stopovers - Diamond District, Old Airport Road - Close to old airport road ☎ +91 98 4513 9800 Check-in : 24 hours / Check-out: 24 hours ₹4,500 Contemporary apartments.

• Transit Living Serviced Apartments - serviced apartments in bangalore | #7/8. 2nd floor, Shoukath Building,SJP Road, Bangalore-2 - Diamond District, old airport road, Koramangala, Mysore Road, Indirangar and at Hosur Road ☎ +91 900 800 6487 From ₹1500 Single room, one, two, three bedroom and studio apartments with wireless Internet Wi-Fi, direct telephone services, laundry, A/C, fully equipped kitchen and complimentary breakfast.

• Villa Camelot | #94/95, 4th Cross, ECC Road, Prithvi Layout, Whitefield - ☎ +91 80 3272 3965 From ₹1,500 Bed and breakfast run by a North Indian couple in the back lanes of ITPL. Cozy atmosphere.

• Howard Johnson Bangalore Hebbal 132, Thanisandra Main Road, Nagawara Junction 13.0447417,77.6264511 near Manyata Embassy Business Park ☎ +91 8046 4670 00

• Chancery Pavilion Residency Road 12.96582,77.59868 About $200 Nice business hotel, good service and food

• Lalit Ashok Hotel Kumara Krupa High Grounds 12.99225,77.58188 ☎ +91 80 22 2404 2211 9
• Hotel Royal Orchid - Adjoining KGA Golf Course, Airport Road - ☎ +91 80 2520 5566 Sometimes referred to as the "Royal Orchid Park Plaza". Not to be confused with Royal Orchid Central.

• ITC Gardenia Residency Road 12.96710,77.59570 ☎ +91 80 2211 9898
• ITC Windsor Sankey Road 12.99414,77.58597 ☎ +91 80 22269898
• Le Meridien - Starwood Hotels & Resorts | Web: age=en_US 28, Sankey Road, P B No. 174 12.99038,77.58635 Opp Golf Course and Chief Minister's residence ☎ +91 80 2226 2233
• The Leela Palace Bengaluru Airport Road 12.96076,77.64847 ☎ +91 80 2521 1234
• Oberoi Hotel 37-39 MG Road 12.97349,77.61827 ☎ +91 80 2558 5858
• Park Hotel 14/7 MG Road - Metro Purple: Trinity ☎ +91 80 2559 4666
• The Paul 139/28, Domlur Layout 12.95375,77.63943 off Intermediate Ring Road ☎ +91 80 4047 7777
• Streling Mac Hotel 134, HAL Road - near Manipal Hospital ☎ +91 80 42494949
• The Gateway Hotel, Bengaluru 66, Residency Road 12.976750,77.575280 ☎ +91 8066604545 - The Gateway Hotel Bengaluru is among the superior Muslim friendly lodgings in the city and has won the National Tourism Award for three years in a row.

• Taj West End Race Course Road 13.008140,77.595530 ☎ +91 80 5660-5660 Nestled amidst 20 acres of flora and defined by its illustrious legacy and colonial charm. Started by the Bronsons as a 10-room inn in 1887, it now has 117 magnificent rooms and suites.

• Taj MG Road 41/3 MG Road1 GPS 13.008140,77.595530 ☎ +91 80 6660 4444 A 5-star hotel

Stay safe in Bangalore

Bangalore is a relatively safe city during daytime. However, most of Bangalore practically shuts down a little before midnight - even very safe residential areas can be very desolate by 11PM. In the morning people start getting out from 5 or 6 am, but it's still dark outside at that time, so exercise caution if you are in an unfamiliar area.

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 auto-rickshaw 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, train stations, etc.
• If you are returning late from a party, it is advisable to pre-book cabs through reputed companies such as Meru, Ola, or Uber as against flagging down an auto-rickshaw 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 white and blue collar immigrants, leading to disparities in earnings between local residents and 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.

Telecommunications

The area code for Bangalore is 080. When calling from overseas, dial +91 80 XXXX XXXX. If you don’t 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 Bangalore) 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 pre-paid card on your behalf. Pre-paid cards are sold in a few of the shops that sell mobile equipment.

Public telephones are an excellent option and are available widely. Most shops that offer public phones sport easily visible "STD/ISD/PCO" signages. More often than not, public pay-phones 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.

Cellular

Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. There are many service providers ( Aircel, rtel, BSNL, Idea, MTS]

 Reliance Jio, Tata DoCoMo, Uninor, Vodafone) 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.

Cope in Bangalore

Bangalore is a clean city (compared to other major Indian city's such as Mumbai and 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 (ask for Odomos at local medical stores) or in the electronic form, during the evenings.

Ambulances can be requested by calling 108.

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, or for 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.

Hospitals

• Aster CMI Hospital GPS 13.0546,77.5919 after Bellary Rd/Hebbal Flyover continue straight onto NH44 then take slight left and then turn left ☎ +91 80-43420100 Opening Hours: 24 hours - A super-specialty hospital, part of Aster DM Healthcare group. It has contemporary state-of-the-art facilities accommodating close to 500 beds and offers comprehensive primary care to quaternary care services with Centres of Excellence in Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Gastroenterology Sciences, Surgery and Allied Specialties, Integrated Liver Care, Organ Transplant, Urology and Nephrology, Orthopaedics, Women’s Health and Child & Adolescent Health.

Consulates in Bangalore

Currency Exchange

You will not find money exchange kiosks/counters in all parts of Bangalore, because Bangalore is not a primary destination for most Muslim visitors nor is it the entry point for most Muslim visitors 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 than banks. Some "extraoficial" agencies can be found around the commercial area of M.G. Road. Those will offer a good rate, without asking to take a copy of your passport. Price could be bargained. Always double check the bank notes once the exchange is made.

Where to go next after Bangalore

• Devanahalli Fort - 35 kilometers north of Bangalore city, in Bangalore Rural neighborhood.
• Bannerghatta National Park - a popular tourist destination with a zoo, a pet corner, an animal rescue centre, a butterfly enclosure, an aquarium, a snake house and a safari park.
• Bandipur National Park - A tiger reserve around 225 km away. It is well known for elephants, tigers and precious sandalwood trees. It is spread over an area of 890 km² and considered one of the most stunning wildlife sanctuaries.
• Nandi Hills - It is around 57 km from the city and provides a panoramic view of sunrise and sunset. One of the ways to go there is to go on a bicycle. The hill station has become a popular tourist spot because it is blessed with a friendly environment throughout the year.
• Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Mysore and Chamarajanagar come in a straight line. You will need half a day each for the first two places and two days each for the next two places. South of that line, around 34km east from Mysore, Keshava Temple of Somanathapura offers marvelous architecture and stone sculptures.

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What to do in Bangalore

Indoor activities

• Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium Bangalore Association for Science Education, Sri T. Choudaiah Road, High Grounds 12.98486,77.58954 Opposite Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain, Near Raj Bhavan ☎ +91 80-22379725 Opening Hours: 12:30PM Monday - 4:30PM A very good planetarium for adults and children alike. Shows are offered in Kannada and English. Each show is about 30 minutes long. There are about 200 seats available for each show. A ticket can be used only for the show mentioned on the ticket and is non-refundable if you miss that show. Ticket prices are ₹35 for adults and ₹20 for school students and children (up to 16 years), children below 3 years are not allowed inside the Sky-Theatre. Mondays and second Tuesday are holidays.

Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum - Vishveshvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum

• Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum - VITM - 12.97505,77.59633 Metro: Cubbon Park (Purple) ☎ +91 80-22866200 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 5:30PM Contains many fun learning activities and exhibitions that can be enjoyed by adults and children. Most exhibits are based on simple science, but some have industrial applications. For general visitors entry fee is ₹40. Some groups receive discounts (organised school groups, BPL Category when showing valid BPL card, etc). Entry is free for military and police personnel in uniform and the physically challenged and children below 5 years of age. There is also a 3D show costing an extra ₹25 (for general public). Open on all days of the year except Ganesha Chathurthi and Deepavali.

Outdoor activities and sports

• Adventure clubs: Bangalore is bestowed with rock climbers, aqua sportsmen and aero sportsmen. There are several clubs including Thrillophilia, Nature Admire, Care, Spark, KMA, Capture, Mars, Angel, Wildcraft and Adventure Works.
• Camping, Savandurga, Gunjoor Lake, Bhimeshwari, Rangaswamy betta.
• Cave exploration, Savandurga, Anthargange, Siddarabetta.

• Cycling - , - Art of Bicycle Trips organizes bicycle tours in and around Bangalore. The tours combine cycling with Indian art, culture and legacy.

• Hiking, Nandi hills; Rangaswamy betta, Bhimeshwari - Muttati.
• Hill Climbing, Savandurga, Makalidurga, Kavaledurga (Skandagiri), Kabalidurga, Siddarabetta, Nijakal betta, Shivgange.

• Sports clubs - The Koramangala Club in Koramangala and the Swimming club at the National Games Village (NGV), have facilities such as swimming pools and tennis courts.

• Thrillophilia Adventure Tours Pvt. Ltd. - 4th Floor, 2628, 27th main, 1st sector, HSR layout - ☎ +91 96 8602-0000 Prices start from ₹1000 per person Thrillophilia arranges for adventure tours around Bangalore which includes rappelling, mountain safari, camping, trekking, dirt biking, rafting, jumering, river crossing and quad biking. Micro light flying and paragliding can also be arranged on demand basis. September – May is the best season for most of the adventure activities.

• Trash Trail Daily Dump 12.971062,77.643381 ☎ +91 80 41157311 On this journey through the story of waste, you will meet people who silently clean up and transform all the stuff we throw away. In the process, you will visit places you haven't imagined existed!

• Ultimate Frisbee , - Although in a nascent stage, Ultimate Frisbee games are held on Tuesday Thursday Saturday mornings starting 6:30AM. The teams comprise of players of all skill levels.

• Watch a cricket match M. Chinnaswamy Stadium 12.97884,77.59958 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 - tickets typically get sold out a week before.

Nature and parks

Bangalore Lalbagh IMG 1612 - Lal Bagh Garden, Bangalore Lumbini garden , Hebbal, Bangalore 3001 - Lumbini Garden, Hebbal, Bangalore

• Lalbagh - Lalbagh botanical Garden | 12.95,77.59 Metro: Lalbagh (Green) - Lal Bagh - Glass house in Lalbagh, Bangalore (rotated) - Garden and lake inside-the lake offers a friendly view and is home to some water birds

• J. P. Park - Jayaprakash Narayan Biodiversity Park | Mathikere, Near Yashwanthpur Railway Station 13.03475,77.55057 11 kilometers - The third largest park in Bangalore, covering 85 acres. There are many statues of animals and provision for children's' games. The park includes four lakes, 25 acres of lawns, over 250 varieties of trees and shrubs (including select exotic and aquatic species and a nursery), a nature centre, an exhibition plaza and an amphitheatre.

• HMT Area BEL Junction 13.04560,77.55641 18 kilometers - This area is dotted with parks and green layouts. Examples are General Ayyappa Park and Kittur Rani Chennamma Park. The J.P.Park is nearby. Lodges are available at Mathikere and Jalahalli.

• Ulsoor Lake - Halasuru lake | 12.9825,77.6195 A friendly lake

• Sankey Tank 13.00991,77.57479 A friendly lake

• Dodda Alada Mara - Big Banyan Tree | 12.90944,77.39552 - A giant 400-year-old Banyan tree about 28 kilometers from central Bangalore. This single plant covers 3 acres and is one of the largest of its kind.

• Cubbon Park - Cubbon Park Queen's Statue & Aquarium | 12.9769,77.5989 Metro Purple Line; Opposite to Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium - A Nice forested area in the heart of the City. The entrance from Queen's Statue forms the tourism attraction owing to the presence of the Government Aquarium and Bal Bhavan, a play area for kids. Puttaani Express a small toy train for kids, runs inside the Bal Bhavan attracts kids from far and near. Vidhana Soudha and Karnataka High Court border the other side of Cubbon Park

Fairs & exhibitions

• Aero India 13.13127,77.61548 Held in the second week of February every alternate year (the next one is in 2022), thit is Asia's premier air show. Spanning 5 days but open to the public only on the last 3 days (Friday to Sunday) and the show at Yelahanka Air Force Base in the northern part of Bangalore comprises a defence exhibition and air show. Fighter jets from around the world are on flying and on static display. Normally and 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 were not permitted to register via the website.)

• Chitra Santhe (Paintings market) 12.99053,77.58234 - An annual exhibition, held on the first Sunday of every year in January and 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 for traffic on that day, making it feasible to have a leisurely stroll, admiring and buying the items. Prices range from ₹ 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).

• Kadlekai Parishe (Peanut fair) 12.94500,77.56786 Every year, sometime during the months of November - Dec and the area around Bull Temple Road in South Bangalore hosts a peanut fair. Centuries ago and 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 and 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.

• Flower Show (Biannual) Opening Hours: 9AM to 5PM Rs.50/- entry fees A bi-annual affair at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Bangalore, during the Independence Day (August 15th) & Republic Day (January 26th). Various companies display their floral exhibits in this period, normally held from a week before the above mentioned days. Main epicentre would be a Rose arrangement representing a theme, or a legacy structure, which attracts major crowd from around Bangalore.

• Mango Mela - Opening Hours: 9AM to 5PM Rs.30/- entry fees An annual affair, during the beginning of the summer season and the season for the king of fruits. Normally, Mangoes (raw & ripe), cultivated in the Bangalore rural neighborhoods as well as neighbouring Kolar and Chikballapur neighborhoods are brought and kept for show as well as sale during this period, at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. A must visit for mango fans.

Arts and 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 Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Bryan Adams, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Joe Satriani, Mark Knopfler, Aerosmith, Sting, Uriah Heep, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Machinehead, Scorpions among others.

• Rangashankara 36/2, 8th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase - ☎ +91 80 26592777, +91 80 26494656 Opening Hours: Evening shows start from 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 or directors, as they can show you an Indian (or 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 or reserving (blocking) tickets. Tickets cost ₹ 45–100.

Movies

Take in a movie at one of the innumerable theaters around the town. Some multiplexes:

• Cinemax , Bangalore Central, Bellandur

• Cinepolis Royal Meenakshi Mall, Bannerghatta Road
• Gopalan Cinemas Arch Mall, Mysore Road, - Gopalan Mall, Mysore Road; Gopalan Mall, Near Jayadeva Hospital, Bannerghatta Road ; Gopalan Mal;, Old Madras Road, Near Baiyappanhalli Metro Station

• Inox theatre Bangalore Central, JP Nagar, Fame Cinemas, MG Road, Forum Value Mall, Whitefield, Garuda Mall, Magrath Road, Lido Mall, Ulsoor, Mantri Plaza, Malleshwaram, Garuda Swagath Mall, Jayanagar
• PVR Cinemas Forum Mall, Koramangala, Orion Mall, Malleshwaram, The Phoenix Market City Mall, Whitefield; Vega Mall, JD Mara signal -

Other:

• The Alliance Francaise ,
• Bangalore Film Society , - A club membership (around ₹ 500/year) is typically required for entrance. Foreign film series and cultural events.

• Goethe Institute - Max Mueller Bhavan - 716, CMH Road Indiranagar 1st Stage - From M.G. Road: Go down Old Madras Road. Turn right before the Epidemic Diseases Hospital onto 100 Foot Road. At the next traffic light take a left onto CMH Road. ☎ +91 80 25205305 The Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore (founded in 1960) offers language courses, organises cultural events and has a Library.

• Urvashi Theatre - Urvashi | Lalbagh Road, Bangalore - Near Lalbagh Main gate & MTR - A cool remodified theatre that allows a 1st hand experience in watching movies. One of the oldest theatres and important landmark of the City

• Sampige Theatre - Sampige | Sampige Road, Malleshwaram; Next to Mantri Mall - One of the oldest theatres of Malleshwaram and an important landmark.

Spa & massage

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.

Massages & spas are very much a part of Bangalore's east-meets-west culture, new ones spring up across the city all the time.

• The 5th Element Inner Ring Road - near Dell office - Spa. All practitioners are from Thailand and offer authentic (Thai) massage, scrubs and wraps.

• Aroma Home Spa - Brookefields, ITPL Main Road - Near Whitefield - Natural eco-friendly products in use. Hydro therapy massage in addition to therapies suited to individual needs.

• Ayur Sukha , Malleswaram. - Very nice, clean and professional spa in a nice neighborhood. 1 hours basic Ayurvedic treatment (massage and steam) is about ₹ 1,000.

• SPA.ce - Cunningham Road - Run by an expat Brit offers a variety of massages, scrubs and facials.

• Sundaythespa No.627/628, 5th Cross Road, 15th Main, 80 Feet Road, 4th Block, Koramangala Layout - ☎ +91 80-25520757 +91 80-25520758 - Incorporates Ayurvedic, Indian and East Asian trainings, offers professional services by well-trained staff.

Shopping in Template:Bangalore

Inside a Mall in Koramangala - Inside a mall in Koramangala, Bangalore

Shopping neighborhoods

Bangalore 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, Bangalore provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier.

Many visitors come to Bangalore searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk saris and so miss out on the true Bangalore shopping experience. Here is a low down on shopping - Bangalore 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 has stores like The Collective which is a shop only for men. Armani, Versace, Boss, you name it they have it. There's even Canary Blue and Esprit on the same road.

• Bannerghatta Road 12.91112,77.60010 - Grasshopper is a space that exhibits clothing designs from the most experimental designers in India and also showcases other ideas - lighting design, products and 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.

• Brigade Road/M.G. Road 12.97520,77.60817 M.G. Road station (Metro east-west line) is right next to the intersection of M.G. and Brigade Roads. - The most popular place for tourists. These two roads are filled with shops of every kind, whether it be traditional handicrafts or the latest Western wear (thit is especially true for Brigade Road). Brigade Road, where British soldiers used to buy their necessities, is now the centre of yuppie Bangalore; you'll see hordes of college students on the road any time of day or night. Stores on Brigade Road include: Planet Monday (a huge music store with everything), Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Phillipe, Pepe Jeans, Levis, Lee, SanFrisco Jeans, Nike and Titan (great Indian made watches). There are also many eateries on Brigade road and on the side roads that lead off it. Fast food outlets include KFC (right at the entrance), Pizzas Hut (at the other end of the road) and many cafes including the Indian coffee chain Cafe Coffee Day. Also includes a tattoo studio. M.G. Road is short for Mahatma Gandhi road.

• Commercial Street 12.98219,77.60824 - 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 well known for its body piercing centers. The price of goods here is very competitive and it is a great place to pick a bargain.

• Sampige Road - The heart of Malleswaram neighborhood, connecting Sheshadripuram to IISc. Sampige Road is around 2 km long, 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 Bangalore. If you are tired of going to individual shops you can go to department stores such as Fabmall, Foodworld and Nilgiris.

Shopping malls

Malls typically have higher-end stores retailing apparel, footwear and consumer electronics. Many malls also have food courts (with international cuisine) and movie theatres. Finding a parking spot for your vehicle may not be easy though, especially on weekends.

The heart of the new mall shopping neighborhood is on Victoria Road, with malls like Garuda Mall, Bengaluru Central and Globus, all within easy walking distance.

Some of the more popular malls in Bangalore are:

• Bengaluru Central - Bangalore Central | Residency Road 12.97345,77.61125 Bengaluru Central is more of a large department store than a mall with separate retailers.

• Forum Mall 12.93459,77.61126 On Hosur road, Koramangala suburb - The largest mall in Bangalore in an upscale suburb. Stores range from high international brands to traditional Indian Khadi clothing at the Khadder. The top floor of the mall contains an 11-screen cinema. For eating there is fast food and world cuisines including: Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican and Italian and Indian. The PVR Cinema hall is here too.

• Garuda Mall 12.97004,77.60968 - On the junction of McGrath and Commissariat Roads.

• Gandhi Bazaar 12.94594,77.57058 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.

• Jayanagar Shopping Complex 12.92950,77.58451 From antique jewelry stores and the authentic Gold jewelry stores, saree stores, sweet Meat stores, classic Iyengar bakeries, dress stores and food stores that sell fresh vegetables, fruits, Meat and butter.

• Lifestyle 12.96683,77.61172 Sony World Junction, Koramangala - A two-story store on Victoria Road in the heart of the new mall shopping neighborhood. This 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 nice price.

• Mantri Plaza 12.99161,77.57062 Metro Green: Sampige Road In Malleswaram

• Marathahalli Main Road and Factory Outlets - Some distance from central Bangalore (although not difficult to reach) is Marathahalli (a village in a previous life). The primary street of this suburb is now a haven for factory outlets for all major brands. 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 affordable enough. Although thit is the best place to go to for factory outlet shopping and 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) and these are advertised in newspapers or look for signs posted on major roads.

• Metro shopping mall - near Yeshwanthpur train station and ISKCON temple

• Safina Plaza 12.97977,77.60696 - The sale capital of Bangalore, 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 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).

Markets

The traditional markets have mom-and-pop stores that sell everything from fruits, vegetables, groceries to electronics, music and mobile phones.

• KR Market - City Market, Krishna Rajendra Market | 12.96563,77.57636 - The city's largest vegetable and fruit market is in the heart of the city

}} Smaller but more lively traditional markets can be found in residential areas such as Gandhi Bazaar, N R Colony, Banashankari, Malleswaram, Jayanagar, JP Nagar & Shivajinagar.

For other food options, you can do your grocery at Nature's Basket or Spar, More, FoodWorld, options are huge, all on the 80 ft Road. At the 1st block you can find grocery shops more suited for the local residents, if you want it the traditional way!

• Ulsoor Fish Market , Metro Purple: Halasuru -

Individual stores

Jewellery

• C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons - Diamond Flagship Store - 2-1 Main Cross Road - next to Safina Plaza ☎ +91 80 4000 1869 14,000 sq ft dedicated to the finest Gold and diamond jewellery, spread over two floors.

• C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons-The Heritage Store - 35 & 36 Commercial Street - ☎ +91 80 4000 1869 Dedicated to Gold and silver.

• Giantti Luxury Ensemble , at Shop No. C9, Level 2, The Leela Palace ☎ +91 80 4115 9766 Diamond & Gold jewellery along with silver articles and idols.

Handicraft

• The Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium 45 MG Road - ☎ +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 Road - A government run store promoting traditional Indian hand crafts. The CCIE has major outlets in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai.

• Miras Carpet Industries No.7, Ground Floor, Suryodai Complex, Old Airport Road, Kodihalli - Opp. Hotel Leela Palace ☎ +91 80 4157 1894, +91 80 2521 0786 Opening Hours: 09 am- 09-30 pm No Holidays - Manufacturers and exporters of carpets, rugs, kilims, Indian handicrafts, jewellery, pashmina shawls, cashmere scarfs, silk sarees, etc. Claims to be the biggest dealer of Oriental carpets and rugs in Bangalore, selling high quality and "locally priced" wares. Valet vehicle parking available.

• Chandi - The Divine Gallery MG Road - Shop No. 12, First Floor, Public Utility Building ☎ +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 town. High-quality and locally-priced wares, supposedly no pushy salesmanship.

• Kala Madhyam Store' 2nd floor, Flat No 2, Benson Town #77/8, Nandidurg Road - Benson Cross Road corner 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.

• Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation 45 K.S.H.D.C Complex, MG Road - ☎ +91 80 2558 1118 Specialises in Karnataka handicraft.

• Royal Arts & Crafts ☎ +91 80 2248 4797 - 21 K.H. Rd. Has a particularly wide selection of silk carpets and paper mache products.

Bookstores

• Gangarams book bureau 330/9 Axis Road - Domlur Inner Ring Rd. Domlur Layout. Near Indira Nagar Flyover ☎ +91 80 4038 3838 Started by one of the members of the Gangarams family. They stock books, stationery, multimedia, movies and toys.

• Blossoms Church Street - parallel to MG Road and nearby Coconut Grove Restaurant ☎ +91 80 255 9733 There are 3 full floors of those rare, hard to find old books. All 2nd hand, good condition and at low rates.

• The Bookworm , Church Street, opposite to Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) - Thit is a small used book store. Good bargains on used and new Books are available here.

• Crossword Residency Road - ACR Towers, opp. Gateway Hotel ☎ +91 80 2558 2411-16 A hot spot for Books of various genres combined with seating areas, spacious racks, music and movie section, children's section and a coffee shop. A wonderful hangout to read, browse and shop.

• Elloor Library | Blue Cross Chambers, Infantry Road - close to Commercial Street - A circulating library that has a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, including new titles. Requires membership which includes a deposit.

• Gangarams Indiranagar | 330/9 Axis Road Domlur Inner Ring Rd. Domlur Layout. Near Indira Nagar Flyover - ☎ +91 80 4038 3838 Opening Hours: Daily 10AM Monday - 8PM A wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, including textbooks and professional works, stationery, multimedia, movies, toys, art material and gifts.

• Gangarams Mg road | Triumph Tower, 2nd Floor, 48 Church Street - Opposite High Gates Hotel and Mainland China. Church Street is parallel to Mahatma Gandhi ("MG") Road ☎ +91 80 2512 7888 Opening from Monday to Saturday A wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, including textbooks and professional works.

• Goobes Book Republic - 46-1-1 Church St, Karnataka - in the basement of Church Street Inn, Budget Hotel, near MG Road, ☎ +91 80 4112 4956 Secondhand and new Books on a wide variety of subjects and a very cost effective library option and buy back used books.

• Higginbothams 68 MG Road - ☎ +91 80 2558 7359 +91 80 2558 6574 This bookstore has a good selection of maps, postcards, guides and novels.

• Landmark Luskar Hosur Road, Koramangala - in Forum Mall ☎ +91 80 2206 7777 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.

• 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 Cafe attached offering 69 blends of tea.

• Premier Book Shop 46/1 Church Street - off MG Road ☎ +91 80 2558 8570 A venerable institution that has Books on every conceivable subject literally stacked from floor to ceiling. Although the store may appear to be utterly chaotic and 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.

• Sapna Book House - 3rd Main Road, near Kamat Yatri Nivas, Gandhi Nagar - Walking distance from Majestic Bus stand - Thit is a large bookstore and they also have branches in three other locations Sadashivnagar, Jayanagar and Indiranagar. Sapna Book House also provides online book delivery.

• Select Bookshop | Brigade Road - off Brigade Road 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.

• The Strand book stall Dickenson Road - 1st Floor, Manipal Centre ☎ +91 80 2558 0000 Best known for the latest releases in art, design, architecture and all at good prices.

• Streelekha 33/1-9, Thyagaraja Layout, Jaibharath Nagar - ☎ +91 80 2549 2783 Thit 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.

• 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.

Boutiques

Apart from the numerous malls that have taken Bangalore by storm and the crucial element and soul of the city comes through in its myriad small and unique boutiques that are all over the city, tucked away though. Have tried to list the must check out stores.

• Arnav ☎ +91 80 2656 8416 The quaint little jewellery store at Ashoka Pillar, Jayanagar makes for very interesting jewellery buys, a range of antique, restored, contemporary and fusion jewellery are on display. They could help you design a piece of jewellery to suit your needs, an in-house jewellery consultant could help you choose your jewellery.

• Aura Creations Shop No.3, Plot No. 2 Nandagokula Layout, Shampura Main Road - ☎ +91 85 5363 7531 Designer boutique with exclusive dress materials.

• Chilli Billi ☎ +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.

• Levitate-InDiA in A RooM 100 Ft. Road - ☎ +91 80 6452 8190, +91 98 4531 7776 Silver & costume handcrafted Jewellery, Bohemian apparel, Indian souvenirs, lifestyle accessories.

• Mahendra Textiles ☎ +91 80 4124 9900 Sarees and dress materials from Surat, Mumbai, Kolkata, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Kerela and Srilanka.

• Marmalade Magrath Road - Adj to Spratt Salon. Left before Coffee Day, on Brigade Road Extn ☎ +91 80 4122 1814 - Loads of affordable young designer wear.

• Native Place - Behind Museum Road Post Office, Museum road - Loads of interesting merchandise, crafts made by NGOs, c/o The Only Place Restaurant.

• One G ☎ +91 80 4123 1231 (Jewellery) Hatworks Boulevard, Cunningham Rd.

• President's Groom Concepts B.v.k.iyengar Road and Kamraj Road - ☎ +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.

• Sakhi by Chandras - 6th main, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar - ☎ +91 80 4115 5551 Combines traditional fabrics and craftsmanship with contemporary themes. Sakhi’s sarees, salwars and kurtis combine kanchivaram, tussar, chiffon, georgette, crêpe, organza and cotton with traditional techniques such as cut work, block print, kalamkari, badla, mirror work, chamki (sequins) and embroidery in a mélange of colours.

• Stritva near ITPL - 294, 8th main, BEML Layout, ITPL Main Road - ☎ +91 963 222 1615 Sells readymade salwar suit, kameez, kurtas, dress material, sarees and nightwear. The store has a good collection at good prices.

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 closed.

Electronics

The Croma electronics showroom is opposite Lifestyle Mall. eZone, Reliance Digital, Pai, Sony, Panasonic. electronics showrooms are all within the kilometre from here. So thit is the ideal location if you want to do a survey before making your next expensive LCD/LED TV purchase.

Learn

Hinduism

• The Art of Living - Art of Living International Center ,Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth,21st Km, Kanakapura Road,Udayapura - ☎ +91 80 67262626, +91 80 6726262627, +91 80 6726262628 The campus is also the focal point of many service projects such as rural development and education, organic farming initiatives, scientific research into the benefits of ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ While at the ashram, one cannot miss the Satsangs that are held every evening. Satsangs are gatherings where scattered minds unite through music, meditation and wisdom to experience a higher state of consciousness. People from all over the world who know different languages participate in the singing of bhajans, or the repetitive chanting of a word or a verse.

• ISKCON ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra Temple,Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Road - ☎ +91 80-23471956, +91 80-23578346 +91 80-23578625 The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Bangalore city is huge cultural complex that was inaugurated in 1997 to carry out the vision of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, to promote Vedic culture and spiritual learning. ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-chandra Mandir attracts visitors from different parts of the world and it is more than a place of rituals. However, due to the huge flow of foreign visitors, it has mostly become a heavily commercialized place and less of a religious center.

Buddhism

• Choe Khor Sum Ling - Ashwini, No. 24, 1st Floor, Domlur Layout - ☎ +91 80 41486497 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 training 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 trainings.

• Maha Bodhi Society - 14 Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar - ☎ +91 80 2250684 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.

• Thubten Lekshey Ling - Dharma Subhashita - ☎ +91 98 80296930 Nyingma Tibetan Buddhist meditation centre founded by the late His Holiness Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche. The centre is close to MG Road on Ulsoor road, 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.

Work

Indians

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

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. Thit 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.

Being referred as Silicon Valley of India and the city provides plethora of employment opportunities to youngsters from different corners of India.

Non-Indians

With a little hard work and persistence finding a job is quite feasible in Bangalore. 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 and the salary for visitors 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 expats is the Sunday brunches at the 5 Star hotels or at the numerous coffee shops in and around the MG Road area.

Muslim Friendly Food & Restaurants in Template:Bangalore

A large number of hotels near the Bangalore City Railway Station are crowded in the area around the Dargah Tawakkal Mastan , O.T.C. Road, Chickpet, Near Sreenivasa Hospital, one kilometer from the Majestic bus station. Ask for Brahmins Bakery area.

• Citizen Lodge | Lady Curzon Road - near Bowring Hospital, about 1 kilometers from MG Road Double non-A/C room costs around from ₹ 850 Bare bones motel-style establishment is well located but leaves much to be desired in terms of cleanliness and overall quality.

• FabHotel 29th Church's Inn formerly Church Street Inn - #29th Church Street, off M.G. Road - ☎ +91 70424 24242
• Hotel Grand Park OTC Road, near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic - ☎ +91 80 22374786 ₹900
• Hotel Tap Silver Plaza - No 185, Deenas, 3rd Fl, Brigade Road - OPPOSITE McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant) ☎ +91 80 2559 5656 ₹ 1,011-1,742 (approx. US $22-39), including tax 3rd floor has views with floor-to-ceiling windows. Clean and modern decor, clean rooms, all with A/C, hot shower, free Wi-Fi (which gets switched off midnight-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 affordable for what you get. ₹ 1,011-1,742, including tax. For an additional ₹ 50 and the hotel can arrange the use of a non-A/C luxury vehicle for a maximum of 4 hours or 40 kilometers per day.

• Kind host - ☎ +91 98 45180207 Clean rooms, clean attached bathrooms, wifi. Nearby to some Halal restaurants.

• Manju Lodge Near Abhinay Theatre& Menaka Theatre Hospital Road Avenue Road - ☎ +91 80 22200679 ₹600
• Naga Residency OTC Road, near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic - ☎ +91 80 41220539 ₹500 - Omshakthi palace OTC Road, near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic. - ☎ +91 80 26707927 ₹400
• Railway Retirement Room , inside the Central Railway Station ₹850
• Red Mount Lodge OTC Road, near Tavakkal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic - ☎ +91 80 41580000 ₹1,200
• Royal Regency Lodge - S. C. Road - next to Movieland theater ☎ +91 80 4113 0202 From ₹1500? Clean rooms and convenient to the city’s local transports like the City bus station and the City Railway Station.

• Shree Vaishnav Gujarati Samaj Gandhinagar - near Sapna cinema, Kempe Gowda Circle Costs ₹ 50 A secure and nice place to stay if you are there for a day or two. A nice canteen with Gujarati food available. In the vicinity there is another good place available for fast food/lunch named "SLV".

• T. A.P.paradise Hospital Road Avenue Road; cross near Abhinay Theatre & Menaka Theatre - ☎ +91 80 22280522 ₹700
• U. G. Classic OTC Road, Near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, near Majestic - ₹1,200
• UG Deluxe Majestic, Thulsi Thotta - stop near the small road opposite Upparpet Police station and next to Navaruchi restaurant and 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 - A/C rooms - ₹ 750, Non-A/C rooms - ₹ 550 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.

• Vardhaman Paradise Ganesh Lodge Building OTC Road, near Tavakal Mastan Dargah, Cottonpet, Majestic. - ☎ +91 80 26707552 ₹250
• YMCA Nrupathunga Road 12.97109,77.58765 Near Cubbon Park ☎ +91 80 2221 1848 No-frills hotel.

• 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 and they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.

• Art of Living Hostel Kanakapura Road - ☎ +91 8026080204 Rs. 400 - Free food is given three times a day. Accommodation is shared between four people. The campus is undulating in terrain and a free shuttle service is available between the numerous hostels and meditation centers. Very green campus with winding footpaths. Beware of snakes. (This hostel is two hours away from Bangalore city train station in peak traffic.)

Numerous serviced apartments exist in and around the area of Koramangala, though most are on the expensive side. Notable are the Mango suites, Mercure Grand, Lotus suites and Royal Orchid. Cheaper options exist near the JNC college and 1st block.

• 9 Marks Inn - 9 Street Marks Road 12.97926,77.63770 ☎ +91 80 2211-2889
• Airavatam Serviced Apartment 330/7, Axis Road - alight at Axis Books Bus stop ☎ +91 80 4038 1200 From ₹2200 Clean rooms, clean attached bathrooms, wifi. Nearby to some Halal restaurants.

• Ajantha @, @, 22 Mahatma Gandhi Road - ☎ +91 80 2558 4321 Sgl/dbl from ₹1500/₹1900, Cottage A/C ₹2700 Good simple hotel with Vegetarian restaurant.

• Alcove Serviced Apartments Bengaluru - G-301, Raheja Residency, 3rd Block, Koramangala - ☎ +91 99 0057-8231 Check-in : 24/7 / Check-out: Single room, independent 1 or 2 or 3 BHK apartments, air-con 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 Wi-Fi, swimming pool, club house with billiards, table tennis, gym and tennis court.

• Basil Hotel - #8, Sampige road, Malleshwaram 12.99370,77.57132 Next to Sampige Theatre / close to central train station and bus stand ☎ +91 80 4040 2323 Check-in : 24 hours / Check-out: 24 hours From ₹ 2,900 Good service.

• Best Western The Capitol Raj Bhavan Road 12.98246,77.59450 ☎ +91 80 2228 1234, +91 80 2228 1800
• The Bouvice 141C, S.T. Bed Layout, 1st Main Kormangala, Sector 4 - ☎ +91 80 4152 4429, +91 93 4285 6034 A beautiful apartment hotel in Kormangala.

• Chairman's Club & Resort - No. 14/1, Kodigehalli Main Road, Sahakar Nagar, Hebbal (near Twin Tower) - 22 kilometers from the airport ☎ +91 80-40703703 24 Hours Rooms & Suites, ₹ 2,500-7,000++ Best for Airport transit passengers. It has AC and Suites rooms. It has a lounge café (Lock N' Load), indoor swimming pool, Badminton court, garden restaurant, indoor AC restaurant free Wi-fi and a fitness center.

• Chalet Hospitality A-08, Diamond District, Airport Road - ☎ +91 99 0197-6955 - Luxury serviced apartments.

• D-Habitat Hotel Apartments - ☎ +91 80 4150 1950 Sgl/dbl ₹2500/₹3000 Koramangala Deluxe rooms, suites, studio, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Ideal for short-term and extended stay.

• Fantasy Golf Resort - , opp ITC-0 mins away from Bengaluru Airport ☎ +91 99 7209-2701
• Fortune Park JP Celestial | Race Course Road - 1.5 kilometers from train station and easy access to airport. ☎ +91 80 4044-1234
• Hotel Bangalore Gate - 9 and 12, Gajanana Towers, K G Road - opp. Maneka Theatre, 500 m away from Majestic & Bengaluru City Train station; Metro Purple Sir M. Visveshwaraya ☎ +91 99 4533 3999 Check-in : noon / Check-out: noon ₹3,600-4,800 Executive, superior and premium rooms. All rooms are A/C with complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi. 24 hours room service, 2 restaurants, ample vehicle parking.

• Hotel Komfort Terraces No 301, 3rd floor, Bluemoon Complex Monday G. Road - ☎ +91 80 4009 7000 Check-in : noon / Check-out: noon ₹2381
• Hotel Presidency No. 22 Sadahalli Gate, Devanahalli Taluk - ☎ +91 80 2846-7175 - 24/7 reception.

• Hotel St. Marks St. Marks Road
• Hotel Vrindavan off MG Road and very near to MG. Rd/Brigade Road junction - Nice hotel with great south Indian food.

• Hotel Woodlands No 5, Rajaram Mohan Roy Road - near Richmond Circle ☎ +91 80 2222 5111 Mid-range hotel, very clean, great views of the city, delicious free South Indian breakfast buffet for ₹3,400 per day for an A/C double (two single beds pushed together). Nice location for adventuring the city. Long walk to M.G. Road, Garuda Mall and Commercial Street.

• Live Inn Bangalore Serviced apartments - Team Royal, 1st Main, 6th Block, Venkatareddy layout, 80ft Road, Koramangala - Near Oasis Lifestyle Mall Koramangala ☎ +91 98 8034 9785 Sgl/dbl ₹2000/₹2500 One, two and three bedroom apartments with Wi-Fi, direct telephone services, laundry, A/C, fully equipped kitchen and hot breakfast is served in your room

• Maple Suites - Serviced Apartments - #142 & 143, Dollar Layout. 4th Main, BTM II Stage - Off Bannerghatta Road opp to Mantri Elite. ☎ +91 80 4282 2428 Check-in : 12 noon / Check-out: 12 noon ₹1,999 Long and short term stay.

• Olde Bangalore Tarabanahalli - near Bangalore airport ☎ +91 99004 28729 - Resort and hotel, events, receptions, multi-cuisine food,corporate event facilities, conferences.

• Prakruthi Club & Resort - Plot no. 12A, Hegganahalli village, Kundana Hobli, Devanahalli Taluk - 11 kilometers from the airport ☎ +91 80 2849 4002 Cottages and roms, ₹2,500-₹9,000++ Accommodation for couples, family, or corporate bookings. Conference hall that can seat 120 people and meeting facilities. Coffee shop. Lounge bar, wifi.

• Silicon Hearth - formerly Silicon Suites | 174, Nagvarapalya, Rahat Bagh, Behind Big Bazaar - off Old Madras Road, near Indiranagar ☎ +91 99860 53292
• Stopovers Serviced Apartments - Stopovers - Diamond District, Old Airport Road - Close to old airport road ☎ +91 98 4513 9800 Check-in : 24 hours / Check-out: 24 hours ₹4,500 Contemporary apartments.

• Transit Living Serviced Apartments - serviced apartments in bangalore - #7/8. 2nd floor, Shoukath Building,SJP Road, Bangalore-2 - Diamond District, old airport road, Koramangala, Mysore Road, Indirangar and at Hosur Road ☎ +91 900 800 6487 From ₹1500 Single room, one, two, three bedroom and studio apartments with wireless Internet Wi-Fi, direct telephone services, laundry, A/C, fully equipped kitchen and complimentary breakfast.

• Villa Camelot - villacamelot9495@ #94/95, 4th Cross, ECC Road, Prithvi Layout, Whitefield - ☎ +91 80 3272 3965 From ₹1,500 Bed and breakfast run by a North Indian couple in the back lanes of ITPL. Cozy atmosphere.

• Howard Johnson Bangalore Hebbal 132, Thanisandra Main Road, Nagawara Junction 13.0447417,77.6264511 near Manyata Embassy Business Park ☎ +91 8046 4670 00

• Chancery Pavilion Residency Road 12.96582,77.59868 About $200 Nice business hotel, good service and food

• Lalit Ashok Hotel Kumara Krupa High Grounds 12.99225,77.58188 ☎ +91 80 22 2404 2211 9
• Hotel Royal Orchid Adjoining KGA Golf Course, Airport Road - ☎ +91 80 2520 5566 Sometimes referred to as the "Royal Orchid Park Plaza". Not to be confused with Royal Orchid Central.

• ITC Gardenia Residency Road 12.96710,77.59570 ☎ +91 80 2211 9898
• ITC Windsor Sankey Road 12.99414,77.58597 ☎ +91 80 22269898
• Le Meridien - Starwood Hotels & Resorts | Web: age=en_US 28, Sankey Road, P B No. 174 12.99038,77.58635 Opp Golf Course and Chief Minister's residence ☎ +91 80 2226 2233
• The Leela Palace Bengaluru Airport Road 12.96076,77.64847 ☎ +91 80 2521 1234
• Oberoi Hotel 37-39 MG Road 12.97349,77.61827 ☎ +91 80 2558 5858
• Park Hotel 14/7 MG Road - Metro Purple: Trinity ☎ +91 80 2559 4666
• The Paul 139/28, Domlur Layout 12.95375,77.63943 off Intermediate Ring Road ☎ +91 80 4047 7777
• Streling Mac Hotel 134, HAL Road - near Manipal Hospital ☎ +91 80 42494949
• The Gateway Hotel, Bengaluru 66, Residency Road 12.976750,77.575280 ☎ +91 8066604545 - The Gateway Hotel Bengaluru is among the superior Muslim friendly lodgings in the city and has won the National Tourism Award for three years in a row.

• Taj West End Race Course Road 13.008140,77.595530 ☎ +91 80 5660-5660 Nestled amidst 20 acres of flora and defined by its illustrious legacy and colonial charm. Started by the Bronsons as a 10-room inn in 1887, it now has 117 magnificent rooms and suites.

• Taj MG Road 41/3 MG Road1 13.008140,77.595530 ☎ +91 80 6660 4444 A 5-star hotel

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Stay safe in Template:Bangalore

Bangalore is a relatively safe city during day time. However, most of Bangalore practically shuts down a little before midnight - even very safe residential areas can be very desolate by 11PM. In the morning people start getting out from 5 or 6 am, but it's still dark outside at that time, so exercise caution if you are in an unfamiliar area.

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 auto-rickshaw 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, train stations, etc.
• If you are returning late from a party, it is advisable to pre-book cabs through reputed companies such as Meru, Ola, or Uber as against flagging down an auto-rickshaw 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 white and blue collar immigrants, leading to disparities in earnings between local residents and 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.

Telecommunications

The area code for Bangalore is 080. When calling from overseas, dial +91 80 XXXX XXXX. If you don’t 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 Bangalore) 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 pre-paid card on your behalf. Pre-paid cards are sold in a few of the shops that sell mobile equipment.

Public telephones are an excellent option and are available widely. Most shops that offer public phones sport easily visible "STD/ISD/PCO" signages. More often than not, public pay-phones 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.

Cellular

Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. There are many service providers ( Aircel, rtel, BSNL, Idea, MTS]

 Reliance Jio, Tata DoCoMo, Uninor, Vodafone) 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.

Internet Cafe's in Template:Bangalore

There are plenty of Internet centres which charge between ₹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 WiFi is not the norm. MG Road and Brigade road now has street-wide free WiFi. Hop on to the Namma WiFi wireless network and register using your mobile number for a one-time password for internet access.

High speed USB data cards are very common and all telecom providers (see Connect section) offer these over-the-counter at their stores. Typically need some proof of identity and address to activate these.

Cope in Template:Bangalore

Bangalore is a clean city (compared to other major Indian city's such as Mumbai and 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 (ask for Odomos at local medical stores) or in the electronic form, during the evenings.

Ambulances can be requested by calling 108.

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, or for 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.

Hospitals

• Aster CMI Hospital 13.0546,77.5919 after Bellary Rd/Hebbal Flyover continue straight onto NH44 then take slight left and then turn left ☎ +91 80-43420100 Opening Hours: 24 hours - A super-specialty hospital, part of Aster DM Healthcare group. It has contemporary state-of-the-art facilities accommodating close to 500 beds and offers comprehensive primary care to quaternary care services with Centres of Excellence in Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Gastroenterology Sciences, Surgery and Allied Specialties, Integrated Liver Care, Organ Transplant, Urology and Nephrology, Orthopaedics, Women’s Health and Child & Adolescent Health.

Consulates in Template:Bangalore

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Currency Exchange

You will not find money exchange kiosks/counters in all parts of Bangalore, because Bangalore is not a primary destination for most Muslim visitors nor is it the entry point for most Muslim visitors 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 than banks. Some "extraoficial" agencies can be found around the commercial area of M.G. Road. Those will offer a good rate, without asking to take a copy of your passport. Price could be bargained. Always double check the bank notes once the exchange is made.

Where to go next after Template:Bangalore

• Devanahalli Fort - 35 kilometers north of Bangalore city, in Bangalore Rural neighborhood.
• Bannerghatta National Park - a popular tourist destination with a zoo, a pet corner, an animal rescue centre, a butterfly enclosure, an aquarium, a snake house and a safari park.
• Bandipur National Park - A tiger reserve around 225 km away. It is well known for elephants, tigers and precious sandalwood trees. It is spread over an area of 890 km² and considered one of the most stunning wildlife sanctuaries.
• Nandi Hills - It is around 57 km from the city and provides a panoramic view of sunrise and sunset. One of the ways to go there is to go on a bicycle. The hill station has become a popular tourist spot because it is blessed with a friendly environment throughout the year.
• Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Mysore and Chamarajanagar come in a straight line. You will need half a day each for the first two places and two days each for the next two places. South of that line, around 34km east from Mysore, Keshava Temple of Somanathapura offers marvelous architecture and stone sculptures.

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