by Dr Geetha Sharma
Bangalore(Bengaluru) is one of India's most progressive cities blessed with a perennially pleasant climate. The uber-cool city will leave you with a feeling that you want to live the rest of your life here. The reasons are far too many but here are some- its weather, parks, eateries, transport facilities, and local people's warmth.
If you are a connoisseur of music, you visit any quirky cafes or the gigs happening in and around Bangalore. Though Bengaluru is a hub for classical and contemporary music, the dominant music genre in urban Bengaluru is rock music. As India's IT hub, the city is home to a young crowd from all over the country and abroad. Therefore, you see the young generation experimenting with different genres and bands performing in cafes and music hubs in Koramangala, Indiranagar and MG Road. You can listen to all variants of rock-from classic rock n' roll to extreme metal in Bengaluru. Therefore, it isn't a surprise that the city is called the Rock capital of India. Freedom Jam is a movement by musicians for those who love music. In Bengaluru. Sunday Jam is held on the first Sunday of every month. The annual Freedom Jam festival is held in August around Independence Day.
Looking for gastronomic experience? Try the Italian, Burmese, Mediterranean or even the Chinese with an Indian Spin! If you are on a diet, you don't have to be homebound. Numerous salad bars make exotic salads that are meals in themselves. The fine-dining restaurants to the pocket friendly 'Darshinis', you will love it all and the list can be never-ending. Good news to Vegans, Bangalore is also known as India's most Vegan-friendly city.
Bangalore is blessed with green spaces and a striking Victorian architecture that will entice you. The Cubbon Park, Lalbagh, High court are all relics of Bangalore's colonial connect. The magnificent Vidhana Soudha with the skilful blending of ancient and modern 'architectural styles is symbolic of Bangalore's soul- A good mix of culture and modernity in its outlook.
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Bangalore is truly cosmopolitan as it is home to people from various parts of India and the world who work in IT hubs. This Silicon Valley of India has around 250 Software companies.
There are many touristy places in and around Bangalore but isn't it a great idea to get the quaint and yuppie city's local flavour?
To get a feel, take an Uber or hop on to the Metro or BMTC bus. (Karnataka tourism corporation has a one-day local tour of the city with Hop on- Hop off facility. Due to Covid, they might have suspended this service).
Hit any of the Darshinis (a slang for local fast food joints) to kick start your day with a couple of hot steamed idlis or Masala dosas and a piping hot cup of aromatic coffee. Some ultra popular joints in south Bangalore are MTR, Mayya's and Vidyarthibhavan. If you happen to visit these places around lunchtime. In that case, you may want to treat yourself to a delicious portion of 'Bisibelebath', a popular local dish cooked with the goodness of rice, lentils, vegetables and a mix of spices. Shivaji Donne biryani is a famous joint in Jayanagar that every biryani lover vouches for. Hit the V.V.Puram food street to treat yourself to an ala carte of very local dishes.
Book a slot for 'Bangalore by foot', a city tour, that offers an incredible experience of exploring Bangalore's quintessence. There are Food walks, Heritage walks, scheduled walks and what have you!
Greenery is an integral part of Bangalore's life. The city is blessed with green spaces which provide an escape from the urban mayhem. Do visit the Lalbagh and Cubbon Park to enjoy the lush green vegetation. The Bannerghatta Biological park offers visitors a unique experience through Safari and a walk in the butterfly park.
The Turahalli forest is an ideal getaway if you are looking for a break from the urban rut. You can enjoy activities such as biking, cycling and trekking on the terrains of the Turahalli forest. Go cycling in Cubbon park or a dog lover watch the variety of pet dogs that throng Cubbon park on weekend mornings.
Take a lazy stroll on MG road and soak in the upbeat spirit of Bangalore. MG Road is the high street of Bangalore. It sits between Brigade Road (fashion capital of the city) and Commercial street (known as the perfect place for street shopping in Bangalore). It is a suitable shopping destination for street fashion and high budget shopping because of the varied options. MG Road also houses the most favourite book store of Bangaloreans- Blossom Book Store, a must-try for avid readers! Another one right behind MG road is the 'Book Worm' on Church Street. These book stores sell used books from Classics to comics to graphic novels among many others.
M G Road, Bangalore
ISKCON temple is another local landmark-The vast premises of ISKCON Bangalore, houses sprawling lawns on the outer area, and the Sanctum sanctorum of Lord Krishna. ISKON also houses a lecture hall, an exhibition hall, a Vedic Museum showcasing a plethora of ancient artefacts and cultural tokens, and an indoor theatre that shows Vedic films from time to time.
There are some classic Bangalorean slang and Kannada expressions that are heard only in Bangalore. You see it's a Bangalorean thing. Here are some of the most common slangs used by Namma Bengalurinavaru(natives of Bangalore). The city is amazingly tolerant towards non-Bangaloreans, but the locals will feel honoured if one speaks Kannada, the local language.
First of all, it is not Kannad gotilla (I don't know Kannada). Show that you are trying to learn and show off a smattering to say Kannada swalpa gottu (I know a little bit of Kannada). Kannada as in Can+ada(the second part) is the right pronunciation.