Bangalore is an adventure in itself for all backpackers. You can call Bangalore the Garden city, pensioner’s paradise, the IT hub or the pub capital. But it’s a city of many facades.
Bangalore is a mix of people with contemporary and a cultural background. Bangalore has a way of making first timer backpackers feel right at home, an interesting jumble of academically talented people, to folks with artistic orientation. Mix of people who are inclined towards Music ranging from Heavy metal to Classical Indian not only listening but also playing it. It’s a place many Bands form and break up. People who are religious believers to staunch Atheist’s. The city brings all genres together in idyllic way.
One thing is guaranteed, the city will embrace you with open arms. So if all you want is to get that well deserved rest, enjoy a weekend, drink loads of beer, meet new people and yes try some fantabolous local cuisine, before you head off to your next Indian adventure
It is the diversity which forms Bangalore’s culture, it is definitely not the place, and so you will see smiling faces and hear happy enthusiastic laughs. People enjoying a
Quite time at the theater or people Partying heavy and hard. Bangalore is a world of its own in many different ways that attracts backpackers to visit for sure.
Reaching Bangalore
By Bus
Smooth roads and good bus service connects Bangalore to and from Mysore, Hospet, Chennai and Mumbai.
Mumbai to Bangalore
24 hours with probably two stops. (Costs 300 normal bus and 700 in an AC bus)
Some of the travels agencies you can try are Sharma travels, VRL travels and National Travels from Mumbai.
Or
You can choose to travel by car there is a 4 lane highway (2 lanes in each direction) connecting the 2 cities. The traffic is fairly heavy but the drive is extremely comfortable.
Chennai to Bangalore: 6 hrs, costs around 300 to 500 Rs.
Mysore to Bangalore is just 150 Km and will cost you anywhere between (100 to 150 Rs)
You can take the Government owned Red Buses or the famous Raja Hamsa.
By Train:
Out of the two railway stations of the city, the main station is well linked by daily express trains to all the major Indian cities.
Mysore to Bangalore: The trains are the most recommended. If you’re planning to come to Bangalore (Costs 45 to 50 Rs.) Tippu express is famous and covers the 150 Km in 2.5 hours.
Mumbai to Bangalore: time taken will be 22 hrs, cost approximately 400 rs to 2500 rs.
Chennai to Bangalore: time taken 6 hours (costs 180 rs to 500 rs)
By Plane
Daily domestic flights to and from Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, Mangalore, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram are available and there are direct international flights to and from Muscat, Sharjah and Singapore, London.
Getting Around Bangalore:
The Best way to get around in Bangalore is by Auto-rikshaw’s or the local busses.
The minimum charges for an Auto-rikshaw’s starts at 11 rs (a tip here will be to keep an eye on the meter).
The means of local travel is the BMTC busses, which start of from three Major Depo’s
Majestic, Shivajinagar and Lalhbhag road.
There are Basic BMTC busses, Pushpak and Volvo Ac busses .The rates vary accordingly
Places of Interest:
Bangalore is although not a major spot for Site seeing but definitely a place to chill out for backpackers and get the rest you require to plan your Journey to other parts of south of India, And if you find the time you can go check out
The parliament house (Vidhana soudha)
The high court (for its British architecture)
The Cubbon Park (which makes a beautiful spot for a picnic or just plain simple a nice evening walk.
The Central Library: located at the center of Cubbon Park. This is about 200 yrs old.
The Vishevewarya Museum of Arts: located at the entrance of MG road
The best part about visiting all the above places is that they are around the town center and will take you not more than 2 hours to cover and is at a 2 Km Radius .
If you’re tired and need a drink, then just walk up to MG road or Brigade road and you can find more than 200 pubs and restaurants to choose from.
If you find the sightseeing boring then just stick to drinking beer and eating the local food.
Places to eat:
From Dosa’s to Biryani, Bangalore definitely is the Foodie Paradise.
Non Vegetarian Food is something you will relish if you choose to go to one of those multi-cuisine restaurants.
If you’re on a budget we recommend that you stick to the Local Places which serve authentic South Indian food mostly vegetarian.
MTR:
If you are a true connoisseur of food and will endure anything for a good meal, Mavalli Tiffin Rooms is the place to be.
One of the oldest and well known places amongst the Indian backpackers for its mouthwatering South Indian breakfast and the multi course lunch, MTR has been the favorite restaurant .Try the Bisi bele bath and chow chow Bath,
MTR is open Tuesday to Sunday 6:30am-noon, 12:30-2:30pm, and 7:30-9pm. It is closed on Mondays.
Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR)
#11, Lalbagh Road,
BANGALORE - 560 027,
INDIA.
Phone: 22220022
.
Vidhyarthi Bhavan
IF THERE IS ANY PLACE FOR TASTY, SOUTH INDIAN MASALA DOSA, IT IS ONE AND ONLY VIDYARTHI BHAVAN. ITS IS LOCATED ON THE GANDHI BAZAAR MAIN ROAD NEAR THAT INTERSECTION WITH THE D.V.G ROAD. The Value for money is great and the food is definitely awesome.
Queens Place
Next to brigade towers is a 60 year old joint which serves amazing Chicken biryani and sells it like hot cakes, so if you are in a mood for some Hot Mughlai biryani then this is the place you want to try out.
Parallel road to Commercial Street is another Dosa/Idli street. It serves Dosa made of Ghee and soft idlis the Chennai style.
Kamat
again is another chain of restaurants for a quick bite and has a large array of south Indian cuisine
Halli Mane
Serves Dishes which are popular in South Kanara district, you can try the streamed rice cakes with a vegetable curry.
Pecos Pub on Brigade road
Pecos is definitely the first Pub you should Visit. It poses the long lost hippy culture which has left its reminiscence. It’s a cozy place, offers great food, from Mexican Taco’s to dosa’s and chicken curry and beer to go with it. Also serves English breakfast on weekends and is considered as a backpacker’s paradise.
It’s open from 11.00 am to 11.30 pm. The staff is friendly (don’t Miss the Manager Kiran) and the legendary musicians and concert posters.
Mojo’s:
Is a part of Pecos located on residency road and is a cool place to hang out.
Tavern Inn at the museum INN off Church Street can be expensive but is a great place to spend the weekend.
Windsor Pub
Another great place to chill out, have Lager served in Chilled Mugs, and great Food. Next to Kodava samaj.
If you would like to taste some continental food then you can always visit places like “20 Ft High”, “the only place” “Millers 49” for juicy steaks.
There are over 200 pubs and restaurants that you can choose from to have a chilled out time. So Cheers! To Bangalore.
Places to Shop
Bangalore has gone designer in the past decade, But still a major part of the shopping streets are a collections of Indian makes.
Commercial Street is the main High street where you can find Indian garments to western. Accessories on the streets are a usual scene. So you can pick out colorful bangles, earrings and cool yet cheap footwear.
Chikpet
You can find stuff at dirt cheap prices, but be ready to walk around in a very crowded area of Bangalore and get one of the best deals.
Levitate
This boutique is part of a restaurant 100 Ft Boutique restaurant on 100 Ft road Indiranagar owned by a young entrepreneur, whose passion for collecting things takes her places and she shares it with the world , you can find interesting jewelry, chillums , Handicrafts, summer wear . If you want to go Hippy then you can find your stuff here. Its averagely expensive but worth a visit.
If you want to go the Khadi way, then try the Khadi Bhandar on dispensary road parallel to Commercial Street.
Commercial Street is the main High street where you can find Indian garments to western. Accessories on the streets are a usual scene. So you can pick out colorful bangles, earrings and cool yet cheap footwear.
If you’re the kind who likes to buy Artifacts, then you can visit the Kaveri Emporium. Right at the beginning of Brigade road.
There are also some Kashmir and Kerala emporiums selling artifacts as well. All in and around Brigade road and MG road. If you have the time then you can also choose to Visit Ghandi Bajar.
Article by Ranjeetha D Mello
An Indian Backpacker from Bangalore
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