Bangalore, now officially known as Bengaluru, has something for everyone. Except, perhaps, the beach-lover. Revel in Garden Cityâs numerous parks and lung spaces (nullthe city boasts streets named Primrose Road, Margosa Road, Rose Garden etc for a reason!). Be a part of its contagious pub culture. And if fascinated by history, lose yourself in its palaces, forts, temples, old buildings and streets. Though Bangaloreans themselves bemoan the loss of green cover and tranquility and complain about the traffic snarls, saying IT City has killed Pensionerâs Paradise, the city is still a pleasant surprise for visitors from other metros. The weatherâs lovely for most of the year and the city still jealously guards its green spaces.
Bangalore is famous for its sandalwood (nullremember, thatâs how even the Kannada film industry is known). But beware, itâs easy to get cheated when dealing with sandalwood products. Itâs best to shop at the state-run Cauvery Emporium on M G Road. Here youâll find sandalwood and sandalwood products, ivory, jewelry, silk and even furniture. Itâs a tad expensive compared to shops outside but at least you know itâs genuine stuff. And you do get stuff for as cheap as Rs 10. Just outside Cauvery, you'll find vendors selling lacquerware toys from Channapatna. The toys belong to a lost era and will have at least the adults back home enthused, if not today's tech-savvy kids!
While on M G Road, also drop into the saree shops there since Karnataka is also famous for its silk. Sarees and scarves are popular giveaways.
But if youâre looking for wholesale rates for silk, head to the City Market area. But be prepared to brave traffic snarls and jostle through crowded streets to get there. And of course, youâll end up spending a lot of time making a choice since thereâs plenty to choose from. Remember to bargain.
The other popular shopping areas are Brigade Road and Commercial Street which are lined with shops selling branded products as well as locally-made ones.
Indian - Zaman
Khansama
Rajdhani
Mirchi
Laajawaab
Jamavar
Indian Affair
Khayal
Moti Mahal
Heera Panna
Dum Pukht Jolly Nabobs
The Urban Nawaab
Copper Chimney
Ebony Bistro
Nawab
Ada Hind Ki
Hyd Mahal
Sahib Sindh Sultan
A Taste of Rampur
Serengeti
Bombay Post
Gramin
Ramanas
More Than Paranthas
Kabab Studio
Umerkot
Roomali with a View
The Terrace Nation
The Village
Tiger Trail
Angeethi
Oye Amritsar
Tandoor
Chandni Chowkh
Ada
Cheenab
9th Mile Dhaba
The Legacy of Punjab
Oh! Calcutta
The Esplanade
6 Ballygunge Place
Bhojohuri Manna
Bangaliana
Daddyâs Deli
The Szechwan Court
Chinese -
Ginseng
Memories of China
Mainland China
Aromas of China
In China
7th Heaven
Continental Restaurant
Nanking
The Rice Bowl
Ping
Three Quarter Chinese
Beijing Bites
Just Oriental
Magnolia Terrace
Chung Wah
Silkwinds
Noble House
Silver Wok
Wok With Chung
18 China Town
Shangrila
Hungry Panda
Taipan
European/Continental/Mediterranean Sixty-Four
Paparazzi
The Only Place
Bangalore Bistro
20 Ft High
Babettes
Herbs and Spice
Road Trip
Casa Piccola
Sundance Bistro
Graze
Zara â The Tapas Bar
The Ugly Duckling
I-T.Alia
Toscano
Aloro
Sunnyâs
Ristorante Italia
Via Milano
Little Italy
Spaghetti Kitchen
Elements Eatery
Fiorano
Incanto
Caperberry
Olive Beach
Casa Del Sol
Taâam Falafel
100-Ft Boutique Restaurant
Zoe Restolounge and Opus
Regional - Bangalore has a number of restaurants serving South Indian food â from spicy Chettinad to fiery Andhra to Konkan cuisine to seafood to local delicacies like Ragi Mudde, Jowar Roti etc etc. We list some:
Karavalli
Dakshin
Emgeeâs
Alampur
Bheemaâs
Coconut Grove
Nandhini
R R
Nandhana Palace
South Indies
Nagarjuna
Mavalli Tiffin Room
Sana-di-ge
Kanua
Shiv Sagar
Annachi
Anjappar
Kubay
3 Storyâs
Empire
Nightlife - Bangalore's also known as Pub City and for a reason. Upmarket areas in and around M G Road, Brigade Road and Residency Road are dotted with pubs that are popular hangouts for college students and young professionals. The only hitch, however, is that you can drink the night away because Bangalore has a Cinderalla hour -- 11pm. But, most youngsters take advantage of happy hours where prices of drinks are halved or the quantity doubled. Some of Bangalore's more popular pubs are:
Ice
I-Bar
Styx
The 13th Floor
The Polo Club
Nasa
The Blue Bar
Pecos
Bling
Tavern at the Inn
Bull and Bush
Geoffreys
Zero G
Sphaira
Purple Haze
Guzzlerâs Inn
Mojos
Le Rock Café
The Chequered Bar
Library Bar
Dublin
Legends of Rock
The Mirage
SOS
Firangi Paani
Indijoe Resto Pub
Zanzibar
The Pub World
The Beach
Enigma
Pebbles
Glacier
Nevada Pub
Retro
The Lalbagh Botanical Garden has been described as a pendant in Bangaloreâs necklace of gardens. Initially designed along the lines of an extensive Mughal garden at Sira in Tumkur near Bangalore, the park now sprawls across 240 acres and is every botanistâs and horticulturistâs delight. Not that its pleasures donât delight the common man who can spend hours walking around, soaking in the tranquility and marvelling at the greenery, the lotus ponds, fountains, the Glass House and stone formations that date back over 3 billion years.
Bangalore is located in the southern part of Karnataka in the Indian Peninsula (null°58?13?N 77°33?37?E). If you enter the city by road from, say a city like Chennai, itâs a bit like walking into an air-conditioned mall. Thatâs why they call it the air-conditioned city. Perched 3,113 feet (null meter) above sea level on a ridge on the Karnataka plateau, it is blessed with pleasant weather for most of the year.
The city has dry, tropical climate with frequent rains. Summers are mild (nullApril-June) though global warming has taken its toll and temperatures have inched to 36 degree centigrade. Winters are cool (nullOctober-February). The city experiences southwestern monsoon rains from June to August and the northeast monsoon in November and December. In between, September and October are windy and rainy because of the retreating monsoon.
If you plan to visit, itâs best to avoid the rainy season. But thatâs easier said than done given Bangaloreâs unpredictable showers. The joke among locals is that Bangalore has four seasons â all in the same day! So when in the city, make sure you have an umbrella always handy.
Surface - Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (nullKSRTC) buses connect Bangalore not only to the rest of Karnataka but also major cities around. There are bus services available from and to Hyderabad, Cochin, Trivandrum, Chennai, Mumbai, Goa and Mysore among others. The main bus station in Bangalore for intercity travel is Majestic bus stand, though there could be pick-up and drop-off points through the city.
Train - Bangalore has three major stations: the City Railway Station at Majestic, Cantonment (null km from Majestic) and Yeshwanthpur (null km from Majestic). Through these stations, the city is well-connected to all major cities in India. It runs several trains a day to Chennai and Mysore alone since people commute frequently between these points.
Air - Bangalore airport is well connected to almost all airports in India and to major international airports too. It is also the connecting point for many places in Karnataka which do not have an international airport. The airport is 40 kilometer (null miles) away from the main railway station near Majestic. It costs about Rs 300 by autorickshaw and Rs 600 by taxi. Pre-paid taxi facilities are available at the airport.
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