Bangalore is the capital city of the Karnataka state in South India. Kannada is the local language spoken in the city though in the current times, most are well versed in English, and Hindi. There are a huge number who speak and converse in Tamil, Telugu and other Indian languages even though it is not their native language.
The city has established itself undoubtedly as a cosmopolitan city that offers the glimpse of the country and its ability to welcome and live with members from any part of the globe.
The following are the ten things that I can put down as a first-hand guide for a visitor who is new to the city.
1. Bangalore is also known as Bengaluru. Make sure you eat a masala dosa at a darshini in the city. Darshinis are the hotspots of breakfast eat outs that almost run through the day. The ones that have people swarming at the eatery will surely have a good masala dosa. Popular ones are Vidyarthi Bhavan, Adigas, MTR and Maiyyas.
2. Bangalore has a unique climate. The season though is divided between summer, winter, spring and rains; it is not uncommon to find cool and pleasant weather in the mornings and scorching heat in the afternoons. It is again not a rare sight to find a heavy rainy shower in some streets during the rainy season of July-September to have some streets which may be just few yards away a bare dry weather.
When in Bangalore, make sure you visit a good saree store to buy a saree for a loved one. A reasonable good saree ranges between Rs, 1000/- to 10,000. The range can go higher too if you want to buy. A few popular stores are Vijaylakshmi, Prasiddhi, Deepam, Nalli, Soch. Alternatively you can buy a khadi kurta at Desi, Fab India stores and Grameen Angadi at JP Nagar.
3. Bangalore has quite a few scenic temples. If you can make time then do visit Bull Temple at Basavanagudi, Rajrajeshwari temple (for its intricate work), Iskon temple (a temple that has a modern touch to it) and Venkateshwara temple at Banashankari.
4. It is recommended that you dress conservatively when visiting a temple. You can wear trousers and tops but shorts and short skirts are not welcomed at the holy shrines in Bangalore. And yes dressing full covered clothes would save you unwanted stares.
4. Bangalore is home to a few gardens. For a stroll you can visit Lalbagh. Wouldn’t really recommend CubbonPark as it does not appear safe for a visitor and is a scattered space.
5. When it comes to eateries and cuisines then Bangalore has welcomed various cuisines to its city. If you are fine trying a rice dish, then try out a Puliogere or a Bisibelebath. Also if possible take time to have an authentic and grand Karnataka lunch. Good options are at MTR, Pai comforts at JP nagar to name a few. And last but not the least while you may otherwise enjoy cappuccinos and black teas; try a filter coffee –light at any darshini
6. Bangalore has quite a few malls in various parts of the city. The ones that are worth a visit are Phoenix Market city at Whitefield, Mantri Mall at Malleshwaram and Forum at Koramangala.
7. The city has a great patronage for Indian art forms. Almost every single week there are Bharatnatyam performances to classical Indian music shows. Some are conducted at temples, others at specific venues for performing arts. Look in an English daily supplement to find out on the performances in the city. You can attend a few for free too.
8. Bangalore though has a midnight deadline in restaurants and pubs are relatively safe for visitors. However be a little careful about auto rickshaw drivers. It is advisable that you book a cab or have a friend who knows the local language/any Indian language when travelling in the city. Yet most auto rickshaw drivers will understand English. You can also take a pre-booked auto if you inevitably have to travel alone in an auto. You will be cheated on a lesser range! Refrain if possible to travel late evenings if you are a woman.
Bangalore is known for being home to good pubs. A few good ones are Hard Rock café, a few at UB city and around MG road.
9. Bangalore due to its mixed population is home to various inter-state and international cuisines. So if you are missing your home food then you can be assured of finding one restaurant at least that will offer Bengali, Gujrathi, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Andhra, Kerala, Mexican, Thai, Chinese and the Pizza chains. Oh yes there are scores of KFC chains, Subways and McDonalds in the city.
10. Bangalore has a vibrant theatre scene. So right from English plays to French and German and Kannada performances, the city has numerous shows every single day. You will have to plan a bit in advance if you want to attend a theatre perofmance. Good plays are regularly staged at Jagriti at Whitefield, Rangashankara at JP Nagar and Chowdiah Memorial hall near Sankey tank.
Hope you have a good time in Bangalore. Do remember that is there much more to explore in Bangalore but hoping this would be of use to people who want to get a taste of the city when they are here for a brief visit.