Travel
24 Hours In… Bengaluru
Slide Nr 1At the turn of the century, few would have pegged Bengaluru as an IT hotbed and start-up hub. Until then, this once-laid-back city wooed visitors with its generally mild weather, cosmopolitan culture, Indo-Saracenic architecture, tree-lined boulevards, tranquil lakes and bustling pub scene. But when it put itself on the map as India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru became a booming metropolis almost overnight – with all the soaring real estate prices, traffic congestion and lagging infrastructure that tends to accompany such a distinction. Yet the city continues to lure, steadily sprouting snazzy nosh spots, hip craft breweries, posh boutiques and new metro links, while keeping many of its historical pleasures still intact. [Photo: raghavvidya/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 27AM: Scenic Stroll – Take a leisurely stroll (or book beforehand online for a weekends-only, medieval guided walk) through the city’s centrally located, 300-acre Chamarajendra Park (popularly called Cubbon Park). Housing Pompeian-red neoclassical government buildings including a museum, public library and High Court, it may not be the botanical paradise that is Lalbagh, but you can certainly get your fix of the early morning air as you hear the twittering of garden birds amid exotic tree clusters, and catch glimpses of fitness enthusiasts and pet lovers going about their daily routines. [Photo: raghavvidya/Flickr]
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 38AM: Bangalorean Breakfast – Stroll past Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium and the Bible Society to the flagship MTR restaurant’s swankier cousin on St Marks Road. The menu is legendary, the prices are affordable and the food is just as finger-lickin’ good as that of the main restaurant on Lalbagh Road. Feast on crispy benne (or butter) dosas served with spicy sambar and chutney on the side, and savour the joys of piping-hot filter kaapi (South Indian drip coffee). The medu vadas (savoury South Indian lentil donuts) and badam milk (non-vegan almond milk) are also worth sampling.
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 49:30AM: Temple Treat – Hop on the metro at MG Road, alight at Soap Factory or Mahalakshmi, and walk a short distance to witness a modern architectural marvel and one of the largest ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna temples in the world. A fusion of modern and traditional styles, the temple features 6 shrines adorned with intricately carved, gold-tipped gopurams and glass canopies. The daily mangala aartis (puja ceremonies) are a grand spectacle; the free prasadams (sacred offerings) are most sought-after, and the flourishing eatables market towards the exit is great for a casual bite. [Photo: Incredible India]
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 511:30AM: Royal Retreat – Next, hail an autorickshaw and make your way to the resplendent 19th-century Tudor and Scottish Gothic-style palace belonging to the Wodeyars of Mysore. Take a tour around, admiring its granite and vine-covered façade as well as its tasteful interiors, and see the striking resemblance to Britain’s Windsor Castle. Cared for by the descendants of the royal family, the Bangalore Palace is a wonderful place to enjoy a step back in time, looking at treasured possessions and imagining the lavish lives of the Maharajas and Maharanis of the erstwhile Mysore Empire. [Photo: John Hoey/Wiki Commons]
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 61PM: South Indian Lunch – From there, a short Uber ride will take you to upscale ITC Windsor Hotel (also the fictional ‘Pushpak hotel’ in the silent Indian movie Pushpak) on Golf Course Road. Follow your nose to their renowned ‘Dakshin’ restaurant – favoured for upscale cuisine from across the 4 southern Indian states – and make like a South Indian savouring adais, banana-flavoured dosais, kunni paniyarams and coconut milk-based Kerala appams alongside a traditional pajchakari stew, but don’t forget to save some space for their signature ‘Elaneer Payasam’ (tender coconut dessert).
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 72PM: Boutique Break – A good way to work off those accumulated calories is to indulge in some shopping at the quaint Raintree boutique, a former colonial bungalow right across the street from the hotel. They have some quirky and classy ethnic jewellery, unique décor objects, Indian wear from popular labels (eg., Anokhi, Wendell Rodricks, Shades of India etc.,) and handcrafted shoes. In addition, the boutique also hosts a variety of exhibitions from across the subcontinent throughout the year, making it a perfect haunt for something unusual, Indian and handcrafted.
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 83PM: Art Attack – Within walking distance, tucked away on quiet, leafy Palace Road, lies the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) housed in the restored Manikyavelu mansion. Among the permanent exhibits on display here are paintings and artworks by renowned Indian artists including Raja Ravi Verma, Amrita Sher-Gill and Anjolie Ela Menon. And the best part: the sprawling gallery offers a tranquil setting away from the hustle of the city, so you can wander around and stare at art for as long as you like without jostling with crowds or tourists for the best views. [Photo: Rameshng/Wiki Commons]
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 94:30PM: Booze And Browse – Next, wing by the Biere Club on Lavelle Road, Bengaluru’s first craft brewery (about 20 mins via Uber from NGMA). If you’re feeling peckish, grab some lip-smacking aperitifs and wash them down with a pour of chilled lager, brewed in-house. Close by on Walton Road and also worth seeking out is Nicobar, a conscious design concept store where you can browse modern Indian fashions, stylish homewares and comfy travel accessories. From there, walk up Vittal Mallya Road to check out some of Bengaluru’s best high-end fashions at UB City.
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 118:30PM: Taste of Tuscany – In recent years, Bengaluru’s dining scene has blossomed in new and exciting ways, with a variety of restaurants opening up everywhere. For a delightful Italian dinner al fresco, hit up Toscano on level 2 of UB City. The menu is not an ‘Indianised Italian’ that you often see at branded international restaurants in Bengaluru, but a wonderful blend of traditional and modern Italian cuisine. The ‘Spaghetti Aglio Olio Peperoncino’ is a popular local favourite; or you could try their lasagnas followed by a ‘Chocolate Kahlua Mousse’ for dessert. On cooler evenings, consider a helping of mulled wine – a perfect accompaniment to the nostalgic mood created by the live band that plays there.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 129:30PM: Cocktails At Skyye – After dinner, head straight up to the 16th floor to Skyye lounge – the city’s undisputed hangout spot for inventive drinks, good music and dancing after dark. This upscale rooftop lounge with under-lit floors and DJ-driven music will lift your spirits (literally and figuratively), and the illuminated cityscape at night makes a fantastic backdrop while sipping a cocktail or two. [Photo: Ming-yen Hsu /Flickr]
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 13Tips & Takeaways – Traffic can be bothersome, and if you’re time-constrained, the least painful way to see the place is to focus on exploring a few closely connected areas really well. Speed up commute time by riding the ‘Namma Metro’ wherever possible; else hail an Uber/Ola cab or a regular metered/Ola auto. For souvenirs, consider the charming wooden channapatna toys available at airport shops and the Cauvery Emporium on MG Road. Or stop by the ITC Gardenia hotel’s Fabelle chocolate boutique for some utterly decadent ganache or milk chocolates – perfect to nibble while sharing stories of your trip back home.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 14Watch Before You Go – A nationally and internationally acclaimed movie without dialogue from the beloved ‘80s, Pushpak is perhaps the most popular film set in old Bangalore (okay, focused on a few select parts, at least). Paying tribute to Charles Chaplin’s City of Lights (1931) with Indian actor Kamal Hassan in the lead playing an unemployed tramp, it’s certainly not the most flattering representation of pre-globalised Bangalore, but nonetheless, it’ll bring on a few good laughs. To get a sense of the city’s history, landmarks and culture, watch the documentary Namma Bengaluru: Beautiful Bengaluru.
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24 Hours In… Bengaluru.
Slide Nr 16Read Before You Go – We suggest Multiple City, Writings on Bangalore, edited by Aditi De. Presenting a multifaceted view of the city through the eyes of literary stalwarts including R.K Narayan, Rajmohan Gandhi, Thomas L. Friedman, William Dalrymple and Ramchandra Guha, among others, this delightful anthology of writings provides a fascinating insight into the history, culture and transformation of Bengaluru from lake and garden paradise to India’s scientific research capital and IT hub.
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