• Experience the Bangalore pub scene, mostly around MG Road, Brigade Road, and Church Street.
• Go shopping at Banglore's famous malls and traditional markets, though leave your car as it's almost impossible to find a parking spot over weekends. Some of the more popular malls in Bangalore are 'The Forum', 'Garuda Mall' and 'Bangalore Central'. The city's largest vegetable and fruit market is located in the heart of the ciry called "KR Market". A smaller but more lively one can be found in Gandhi Bazaar Road, Gandhibazaar.
• Try your hand at go-karting.
• Attend a wonderful outdoor concert at Palace Grounds.
• Enjoy the unique shopping experience on Sampige Road at Malleswaram in the traditional south Indian styled shops.
• Visit the beautiful lakes in Bangalore."ulsoor lake" and "sankey tank" offer an enriching, pleasant experience.

Theater

There is a theater hall located in J. P. Nagar, called Rangashankara. 36/2/, 8th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase. Tel: 26592777 or 26494656. Tickets range between Rs. 45 – 100. Usually the evening shows start at 7:30 pm. The theater hall management is very strict about starting time. They will not let you in even one minute after the show has started, so make sure you plan to arrive at least 4-5 minutes earlier. You will not be allowed to bring in any drinks or refreshments. Many local groups perform there, although more often shows are presented by travelling groups touring around India. Quality of the performances varies, but most plays are worth seeing, especially the ones by Indian playwrights and / or directors, as they can show you an "Indian" (or let's say "non-western") perspective. You can visit Rangashankara's website for information on what plays are running. Shows are in various languages, so it is a good idea to double-check whether the play is in English before buying / reserving (“blocking”) tickets.

Movies

Take in a movie at one of the innumerable theaters around the city, splurge at the PVR Gold Class Cinema in Forum Mall or Inox theatre in Garuda Mall. Nani Cinematheque has film series almost every weekend programmed by local film clubs, like Collective Chaos and the Bangalore Film Society. A club membership (around Rs 500/year) is typically required for entrance. The Alliance Francaise and Goethe Institute also host frequent foreign film series and cultural events.

Spa

The professionals of India's "silicon city" work and play hard, and massages and spa treatments are easily available in Bangalore. Visitors might need a little respite from the roaring traffic and fast-paced lifestyle too. Spas are very much a part of Bangalore's East-meets-West culture, and new ones spring up across the city all the time. Among the best day spas is "The 5th Element" Thai spa near Dell office on Inner ringroad [080-41268111] and SPA.ce on Cunningham Road, run by an ex-pat Brit. The Fifth Element Spa is the only spa where all the practitioners are authentic Thai.They specialise in Thai massages,relaxation massages ,exotic scrubs and wraps.It's best to book in advance for these spas.Perfect getaways without checking into a resort or driving a long distance out of the city.

Although Bangalore is not known as a tourist city, there is still a lot to see. If you only have a limited amount of time in the city, you should consider taking one of these:

• The half-day or full-day city tours offered by KSTDC, the government tourist office, are cheap and cover the city's major attractions with English speaking guides.
• The full-day tour, called Bangalore Rounds, organised by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, is conducted in an air-conditioned bus and covers most important tourist spots in the city. It is advisable to book seats the previous day by dialling 080-12667. The tour costs Rs.250.

Typically, the city tours do NOT include entry fees into the attractions. Bangalore, as with the rest of India, has a habit of charging foreigners a lot more than locals. For example, Tipu Sultan's Palace, which is on the half-day tour, charges Rs. 10 for Indians and Rs. 100 (or $2 USD) to non-Indians.

Landmarks

• Vidhana Soudha - The legislative House of the State of Karnataka, this granite building was built by Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, Chief Minister of the then Mysore state 1951 to 1956. The then Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru laid the foundation on 13th July 1951. It was built at an expenditure of Rs 1.84 crores. Marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and one of the most imposing building not only in Bangalore but in India. One of the interesting feature of this building in grand stairs in its front. The grand stairs has a flight of forty-five steps 62 m (204 ft) wide 21 m (70 ft) deep giving a direct access to the foyer of first floor leading to an Assembly Chamber. The architecture of the building is based on Dravidian style, comprising richly carved bases and capitals for pillars, deep friezes, kapotha cornices, chaithya arches, heavy pediments domical finials, etc; At the same time, the construction has been on modern designs, making use of the present-day materials like steel, reinforced cement concrete glass, plastic, etc.
• Vikasa Soudha - Is it possible to gild a lily? Well you judge for yourself. This ultra modern construction, adjacent to majestic Vidhana Soudha built in the same classic style, is supposed to come fitted with the latest gizmos to help govern the state. It was inaugurated sometime in February 2005.
• Seshadari Iyer Memorial is a distinctive building constructed of red sand stone in Cubbon Park. It houses a public library and the Bangalore High Court, while the grounds include a children's recreation area with a toy train, fairground and theater.
• Bangalore Palace was constructed by the Maharajahs of Mysore. For many years the building was neglected as a tourist attraction, but is now open to the public.
• Tipu Sultan's Palace, which dates from about 1790, is the summer retreat for Tipu sultan. The two story structure is made mostly out of wood with finely embellished balconies, pillars and arches.

Temples

• The Bull Temple, located in Basavanagudi, is a typical Dravidian style temple, and is famous for its mammoth bull statue that was carved from a single boulder. Legend has it that the temple was built to appease a marauding bull that stole local crops, and that the offering was effective with the bull subsequently leaving the area. Since then, local farmers have held an annual festival to express their gratitude.
• The Maha Bodhi Society Temple (see 'learn' section) is a relatively new structure, with the main shrine built as a replica of the historic stupa at Bodh Gaya. The temple grounds are very peaceful, and visitors are welcome to stroll around. In addition, the temple houses an excellent library of books on Buddhism, many of which are in English.
• The ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple, built on a hillock in Rajajinagar atop scenic surroundings, is a perfect blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony. The huge cultural complex was built to promote vedic culture and spiritual learning. The annual Krishna and Balarama Rath Yatra is attended by thousands.
• Gavi Gangadeshwara Cave Temple,located in Gavipuram, was built by Kempe Gowda. This temple with four remarkable monolithic pillars is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple also has a rare idol of Agni god of fire. The annual festival is on Makara Shankranti and thousands of devotees flock to see the suns rays fall on the Shivlinga.
• VenkataramanaSwamy Temple is a fine example of Dravidian architecture. This ancient temple was built by Maharaja Chikka Devaraya Wodeyar and is situated next to the summer palace of Tipu Sultan.

• Dodda Ganapathi - one of the oldest temples in Bangalore, is situated adjacent to the Bull Temple.
• Vasanthapura,in South Bangalore, is a small hillock with an ancient temple dedicated to Sri Vasantha Vallabharaya Swamy.
• The Shiva Temple on the Old Airport Road has a massive monolith of Lord Shiva, located in the middle of an artificial pool. There is a cave-like walkthrough behind the statue. It is extremely crowded on the festival of Maha Shivaratri.

Parks

• Cubbon Park. A 121 ha (300 acre) green lung in the center of the city. Sitting in the shade of one its many magnificent trees and watching towering bamboo sway in the breeze, it is hard to imagine that you are in the heart of a metropolis of over 6.0 million people and one of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing cities. There is also a toy train offering children's rides.

• The Lal Bagh. A meticulously cared for garden located on the southern fringes of the city. Throughout its 97 ha (240 acre), there are lotus ponds, fountains, glass houses and stone formations that date back over 3.0 billion years. Described as the most romantic garden in India, it was laid during the 18th century by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. There is a small entrance fee. A flower show is held during the Indian Independence day (August 15) and Republic day (January 26) in the Glass House. This flower show features exquisite flowers and patterns designed by the experienced gardeners of Lalbagh.
• Bannerghatta National Park is located on the southern fringe of the city. This 100 km² national park consists mostly of dense forest and scrub land, and is home to wild animals like bison, leopard, wild boar as well as being an important corridor for elephants migrating between the eastern and western ghats. Other attractions here are a crocodile farm, serpentarium and a newly added butterfly park. In addition, a portion of the park is used as a sanctuary for wild rescued animals.
• Lumbini Gardens. A new attraction in Bangalore. It is located near hebbal flyover and is on the lake front of Nagarvala lake. It has been recently developed with a grant of Rs 10 crore. Major attractions of the park include boat rides, wave pool and children's garden.
• Wonder La Amusement park. A new attraction in Bangalore. It is India's biggest amusement and water park which belongs to V-Guard firm. This park boasts of several rides(both ground & water). This is one of the best spots to visit in Bangalore, which en dazzles in good quality. It is located in the outskirts of the city off Mysore Road. This Park is very expensive so you should have enough money to enjoy. The entry fee is only Rs 450 per head .If two persons are going to Wonderla then I recomend you have at least Rs 1000. Overall, very clean bathrooms and the water, excellent rides, trained operators for the rides, well maintained equipment, decent food in restaurants, fun water rides, enjoy the rain dance and fire crackers/lazer lights in evening. Enough rides to keep you busy all the day; however there were no roller costers. *The park does not allow outside food. You can find out more by visiting the website http://www.wonderla.com/

Scenic spots

Below are listed some lovely locations to visit, outside the city. All of these are within a two hours' drive from the city.

Bangalore Rural District

• Art Of Living Ashram is at a distance of 21 km (13 mi) from the city centre on Kanakpura road (NH-209). It is the ashram of Sri Sri Ravishankar. On regular day satsang is at 7 PM and on sundays its at 4 pm. The ashram is full of greenery and the soothing ambience provides a great place to relax.
• Nrityagram is located in Hessaraghatta, 28 km (17 mi) from the city centre. This unique experimental village is dedicated to gurukula tradition of dance, music, choreography and painting.
• Hesaraghatta Lake is 29 km (18 mi) from the city centre. It is a delightful artificial lake spread over 405 ha (1,000 acre) and provides facilities for sailing. A livestock breeding and poultry center have been established as a part od a Indo-Danish project.
• Muthyala Maduvu , 44 km (27 mi) from Bangalore, is a picnic spot having an enchanting waterfall and a small temple.
• Ghati Subramanya, 52 km (32 mi) from Bangalore, is a famous pilgrimage center and houses a Lord Subramanya Temple. Also located nearby are the rock formations of Makalidurga, which are excellent for trekking.
• Shivaganga , 56 km (35 mi) from Bangalore, is a good trekking site.
• Halenijagal is located around 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore on NH-4 amidst several other exotic hills and valleys.
• Chunchi Falls - are beautiful waterfalls located 85 km (53 mi) from Bangalore. The water from a nearby dam flows down this ravine, and the area is very rocky so one needs to be careful. There are also reports of crocodiles inhabiting the area, though this has not been substantiated. The water from Chunchi flows down to meet Cauvery river at Sangam, a distance of about 15 km.

Chikkaballapur District

• Chamrajsagar Reservoir, 35 km (22 mi) from Bangalore, is an excellent picnic spot near the river Arakavati.
• Devanahalli, located 40 km (25 mi) from the city centre, is close to the airport. It is the birthplace of Tipu Sultan and has a massive fort and some beautiful temples.
• Nandi Hills, 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore, is a beautiful hill station. Apart from being a scenic area it also houses two 10th century Chola temples with Vijayanagara style mantapas. The temples are in excellent condition. One temple is after the entrance to the fortifications half way up the hill and the other at the top. The location is famous for Kannada film shootings.

Ramanagaram District

• Magadi, 46 km (29 mi) from Bangalore, is the birthplace of Kempe Gowda. The place has the remnants of a fort and four temples of unspoilt charm.
• Ramanagara, the district headquarters, is 49 km (30 mi) from Bangalore, on the Bangalore-Mysore highway. The place is a treat for rock climbers.One of the famous hills is the Sri Revanna Sideshwara (SRS) hills. The forests around this place are now proposed as a wildlife sanctuary to not only protect the wildlife of the scrub jungle but also to protect the massive prehistoric rocks and boulders that are present all around. The Bollywood film Sholay was shot among the rocks of Ramanagara.
• Janapada Loka is 53 km (33 mi) from Bangalore, on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, and is spread over 6 ha (15 acre). The center was established for the preservation and promotion of local folk culture and traditions. An art gallery, open air theatre and museum are also located here.
• Kanva Reservoir, 69 km (43 mi) from Bangalore, is an excellent picnic spot and has facilities for fishing.
• Savandurga, 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore, is famous hilltop pilgrim center has temples dedicated to Gangadeshwara, Hanna Devi and a cave spring called Pattala. When viewed from a distance, the outline of the hill looks like the figure of a bull (Nandi) on the east, Lord Ganesha from the west, A cobra from the north and a Shiva linga from the south.
• Mekedatu, meaning 'Goat's Leap',is 98 km (61 mi) from Bangalore. Here, the river Kaveri flows through a spectacular rock chasm, wide enough for only a goat to leap across. This gives Mekedatu its name. It is a very popular picnic spot.
• Sangama is 103 km (64 mi) from Bangalore. Here the river Arakavati joins the Kaveri inside the Chilandavadi forest. The Kaveri has several whirlpools in the stretch between Mekedatu and Sangama and it is not advisable to swim in the river at either of these places.

Each of these places are like a paradise in rural setting including ancient temples as well as scenic picnic spot for the tourists. You may try rural tourism, a one day package offered by RuralZing for groups. Please visit www.ruralzing.com [6]or write to reservation@ruralzing.com to get information on the day trip organized on every weekend.

By plane

The long-awaited new Bangalore International Airport (IATA: BLR) at Devanahalli, 30 km (19 mi) north of downtown Bangalore, finally opened in May 2008. The airport is among India's busiest and most modern, with direct flights to many major European and Asian destinations. Notable international flights are from Frankfurt on Lufthansa, from Singapore on Singapore Airlines, from Kuala Lumpur (KL) on Malaysian Airlines, from London on British Airways, from Dubai on Emirates, from Paris on Air France, Bangkok on Thai Airways, Hong Kong on Dragonair and Singapore on Singapore Airlines.

Cafe Coffee Day on arrival side of terminal on ground floor serves alcohol. Cafe Coffee Day located between arrival and departure on ground floor is very crowded on departure side (go to arrival side and get faster service if you can convince/manage the CISF guy on duty). More food outlets are located after security on departure side on first floor - each and every outlet is prohibitively expensive. There is a subway outside the terminal before you enter departure or after you exit arrival.

Drinking water is available only at one point on departure side - opposite Gate No. 1 - unless you do not mind splurging Rs 20 for 0.5 litre water. You could buy the same water for Rs 15 from Cafe Coffe Day before check in or after arriving. The airport though started in May 2008 is already a mess in June 2008 as the airport operators seem to lack professional approach. Due to aircraft timing and airport capacity constraints, many international flights arrive and depart in the dead of night. For example, British Airways, Lufthansa, JetStar Asia, Emirates and Air France all schedule their flights to arrive and depart between 1am and 4AM. Fortunately, the airport knows and expects this, so it is in full operation 24 hours a day. You won't have any more trouble changing money or finding a taxi at 4am than you would at 4PM.

Domestic flights are also plentiful. Indian Airlines, now renamed as Indian, connects Bangalore with all parts of the country, as do private competitors Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. Paramount Airways is a startup business-class only airline, with service to Chennai and other southern cities. Deccan is a popular no frills airlines that operates to most cities and large towns. Other no-frill airlines that operate from Bangalore include Go Air, Jet lite [2] and SpiceJet.

Connectivity to the Airport

• Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operates buses from various points of the city every 15 minutes to the Bangalore International Airport (BiAL). A total of 156 buses ply to and from the airport. 40 of these buses are air-conditioned Volvo buses, called Vayu Vajra. The cost for each trip in these buses ranges between Rs. 20 and maximum Rs 200 depending on the distance. This is the cheapest and an extremely convenient way to get to the airport. More information on this service is available at [3]

• Taxi services to and from the airport have been designed to suit everyone’s requirements and budget.

• • Post-paid taxi facilities

BIAL has selected MERU and EASYCAB to provide basic taxi services. The taxi operators will have basic AC cars, all equipped with tracking devices to ensure safety and transparency. Both operators have professional call centres. Hence, Guests coming to the airport can call the cab call centres and a cab will pick them up and drop them at the airport. For Guests arriving at the airport, there is a dedicated taxi holding area where the Guest can get a cab. The post paid taxi facility will be available on meter charges @ Rs.15/- per km (subject to Govt regulation).

• • Pre-paid facilities

Hertz and Akbar Travels will provide pre paid Limousine and car rental facilities. Hertz will launch a fleet of Mercedes - C and E class cars and will expand the fleet depending on the demand and business objectives. Limousine services will be available at the limo service counters at the terminal building arrival and based on special tariffs applicable for BIAL.

• Self Drive

Cars will also be available on self drive basis. There will be three ranges of self drive cars - the compact category (Suzuki Swift), the intermediate range (Ford Fiesta), the standard category (Toyota corolla), Multi Utility Vehicles (Toyota Innova) and Sports Utility Vehicles (Ford Endeavour). These cars will be given to the Guest with a full fuel tank and the car has to be returned with full fuel tank. A flexible pick up and drop off facility in town and at the airport will be offered. The Guest can pick up the car at the airport and then drop it off anywhere in the city or in Hyderabad or Chennai. Similarly, the car can be picked up at any of these cities and dropped off at the airport. Conditions Apply (the Guest has to be over 21 yrs of age and possess a valid Indian license).

• Another option is to arrange with your hotel in Bangalore [4] to have a driver pick you up at the airport. Some hotels, especially those in the higher price ranges, provide this service for free if you are staying with them. If it's your first time traveling to Bangalore, this is by far the easiest way to get from the airport to your hotel. The driver will be found outside the airport with a card bearing your name, the only difficulty being that about 100 other drivers will also be waiting outside the airport, all vying for your attention. Luckily there is a short fenced walkway that separates the drivers from those leaving the airport, giving you some time and space to find, and if necessary negotiate, your ride into Bangalore. Once you leave the walkway, some drivers may become fairly aggressive, and might try to take your bag without your permission. The best thing to do is to keep track of, and in control of, your belongings. Even the most aggressive taxi driver or tout will leave you alone if you stand firm and make it clear that you do not want their help. Upon arriving at your destination a tip of 20-40 Indian Rupees is plenty.

By train

Bangalore has two major railway terminals. The Bangalore City (IR station code : SBC) railway station is situated in the heart of the city, around the Majestic Bus stand. Most trains, both local and long-distance, arrive and depart from here. The other terminal is Yeswantpur Junction (IR station code : YPR) located on NH-4 (Tumkur Road). A few (mostly long-distance) trains arrive and depart from here.

Bookings can be done at either the railway stations or at the Indian Railways booking counters located in major residential areas. Booking can also be done online [5]. Note that if you are booking at Bangalore City and are traveling to Mysore, there is a separate counter for travellers to Mysore. This is to cater for the large amount of travelers between Bangalore and Mysore. If travelling to Mysore on a Sunday afternoon, arrive early as there is usually a long line for buying tickets!

As with all Indian railway travel, bring some patience for delays. Trains are usually on time, but can sometimes be several hours late. A video departure board in the station will tell you what platform your train is on and what time it leaves.

Train travel is usually fairly cheap. For example, a ticket to Chennai, about 360 km (5-6 hrs) away, costs anywhere from Rs 125 for the lowest class to Rs 1105 for the highest class.

For train arrival/departure and PNR status inquiries at various railway stations at Bangalore, call 139.

Here is a list of useful trains to Bangalore:

Note: Travelling from Mumbai to Bangalore by train is not recommended as it takes a very long time (23-24 hours). It is advisable to travel by buses, which are much faster (18-19 hrs).

Also see Rail travel in India

By bus

If you have difficulty in arranging a plane or railway ticket to your next destination, or you prefer a little more adventure, you can go by bus. There are both government and private busses that run services to major nearby cities like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai etc. Buses can be a normal luxury bus, a Volvo A/C bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Some bus operators like Karnataka State Road Transport Corpration/ redBus/Raj National Express/KPN Travels/Customer Needz offer online bookings.

All intercity buses arrive and depart from Bangalore bus stand, which is located opposite the city railway station. Officially named after the founder of Bangalore, 'Kempegowda Bus Station' is more commonly known as 'the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand' or 'the Majestic Bus Station'. It handles buses that connect Bangalore to all major cities and states in south India. The main bus stand of 'the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) ,' which maintains bus services within the city, is located next to the Kempegowda Bus Station. BMTC has now introduced Air conditioned Volvo buses in order to maintain the status of the IT city.

Unlike other metros, the display boards in the bus show the destination in Kannada. Even the bus numbers are only in Kannada sometime. Occasionally it is also in Roman numerals. If you don't speak Kannada, you will likely need to get some help to get on the right bus.

By car

Driving in India can be very stressful. Use of the horn is mandatory in all situations. Lane splitting is the rule, not the exception. And games of chicken, combined with razor thin passing margins are common. One ride in a taxi will most likely convince you that driving yourself is not worth the risk, so if you do want to arrive by car you'll probably want to hire both a car and a driver. Cost varies, but most car/driver combinations cost Rs 1400 to Rs 1700/day. Depending on where you are coming from, you may be able to negotiate a lower fare if the trip isn't far, and it may be a higher fare if you are traveling far and your driver has to travel back on his own time. Be aware that South India, including Bangalore, can get very hot and humid, even in the winter. Although it costs more, consider requesting an air conditioned car if you aren't used to the heat. An "Air Con" car will also help filter out the air pollution, which is considerable, especially on congested roadways. If you want something even more special, such as a fancy car or SUV, be prepared to pay extra.

By bus

Buses in Bangalore are cheap and usually frequent, but traveling on them can be very difficult if you don't know the system well. Ordinary city buses display only the route number in English, with the destination and route information is written in Kannada. This means you will have to know what route number you need before you get on, which you can find from the BMTC website or by asking locals. Unlike many Western countries, posted route maps of the bus system are rare, although maps are sold at the main bus terminals (Kempegowda Bus Stand and Shivajinagar).

Buses with black display boards run within the city. Red board buses covers long distance and go to adjoining suburbs. There is a Pushpak service with better seating; these buses are tan rather than the usual blue. There are red Volvo buses, called Vajra, that operate on certain routes within the city. They offer a comfortable air-conditioned ride at slightly higher prices than the regular buses (which are not air-conditioned). These are a good way to get around the city. Unlike other buses, the Vajras have illuminated LED display boards on the front and sides which display the destination and route information in English as well as Kannada.

City buses are crowded during rush hours but one can travel with little difficulty during the daytime. Bus service is less frequent after 9:30 - 10:00 pm and becomes rare after 10:30 pm.

It is always better to buy a daily pass if you plan to travel the whole day on the bus. The daily pass costs Rs 30 and it comes handy if you need to travel on several buses in a single day. Daily passes are issued by the on-duty bus conductor or at the bus stand. Using this pass you can travel in any bus (other than the Vajra) for the entire day, any number of times. It is a very economical option for travel in Bangalore.

There are three major bus stands:

• Kempegowda bus stand ,also known as the Majestic Bus Stand, near Gandhi Nagar is directly opposite the Bangalore City railway station. It is quite neatly organized and is easily navigable. There is an inquiry office near platform number 1 on ‘Majestic’ where you can ask the bus number and platform for your desired destination. You can find a large map on display, which you can use to find the bus number you need to take if you know the area you are going to. You can of course always ask the conductor or other passengers. Route maps are also sold on the platforms.
• City Market is around 2 km (1.2 mi) to 3 km (1.8 mi) away from Majestic and could daunt newcomers, since it is very disorganized. It is a large dirt parking lot under an overhead highway, and there isn't much order to where buses park.
• Shivajinagar is in the north. This is also neatly organized and there is an enquiry window to find about buses. You can find a large map on display here too, which you can use to find the bus number you need to take if you know the area you are going to. Route maps are also sold on the platforms.

Buses are available to all major localities of the city from these three bus stands.

Other important bus stands are:

• Shantinagar, Central
• Jayanagar, South
• Banashankari, South
• BTM Layout, South East
• Vijaynagar, West
• Malleswaram, North West
• Yeshwantpur, North West
• Domlur, East
• Kadugodi, East
• Hebbal, North
• Shivaji Nagar

By auto-rickshaw

Auto-rickshaw drivers are the nightmare of the city, even if you live here they can be the most difficult group of people to deal with. Auto-rickshaws are supposed to charge fares as per the meter reading, which most often equals to 7 INR x Distance (in Kms.) (Minimum charge of Rs.14 for the first 2 km. or less), they generally tend to charge on an ad-hoc basis depending on the distance of the destination or the chances of getting another customer from the mentioned locality. However, a bad business sense and the inexplicable reasons elicited by them for refusing to ferry a customer have earned them enough brick-bats. Tourists should be tactful when approaching an auto-rickshaw during night, or during heavy rains. Chances are they will charge exorbitant rates. Help could be taken from the local traffic police to avail auto-rickshaws during such circumstances.

Auto-rickshaws are everywhere at any time of day. They are yellow three wheeled contraptions that use simple two-stroke engines and belch out pollutants. Nevertheless, they are a fast way to get around the city.

Autos are supposed to charge according to the meter, and you should simply refuse to board one where the meter is faulty or the driver refuses to use it. Saying "meter please" will usually do the trick. If you are desperate to get somewhere, you should at least negotiate the fare before boarding.

Autos add a 50% surcharge after 10 pm (called "one and half" and is the legal charge). Some drivers may demand 100% surcharge after 10PM or 11PM but you must refuse to board in such a case. Heavy luggage costs an additional fee of around Rs10 or 20.

Rickshaw drivers are required by law to display their identification on the dashboard or the back of their seats. Refuse to get into a rickshaw that does not.

If a rickshaw driver offers to show/drive you to some great places to shop, firmly refuse. A common tactic is to drive you to local shops where you will be pressured to buy Indian crafts that you probably don't want. Know your destination and insist upon it. Be firm.

The minimum charge as of February 2008, is Rs 14 for the first 2km and Rs 7 for every additional km. A trip from the old airport to Brigade road costs about Rs.55 including (a good) tip.

Finally, although Bangaloreans are known for their polite and mild manners, some auto drivers are an exception. Therefore be careful in dealing with them. Some will think nothing of trying to rip you off.....if in doubt consult a local or your hotel travel desk....dont pay exorbitant prices, you are only ruining it for the locals....

By taxi

The taxis in Bangalore are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Maruti Omni Vans or Tata Indica cars, which are much safer than Auto rickshaws, and the drivers are polite. If you are alone or going to an unknown destination, you are strongly advised to choose this option, even though the rates will be double that of an auto. Most taxi companies will charge a flat rate of Rs 150 for a pick-up and drop from anywhere to anywhere within city limits. Waiting or return trips will be charged extra, as will a lot of heavy luggage.

Unlike many other countries, taxis are not marked with 'TAXI' signs on the top. Instead, the cars will be marked with the logo of the fleet operator or taxi company on the sides of the car. Some companies have a yellow sign with a identification number (usually an alphabet followed by two digits) on the top. Keep in mind that these taxis cannot be hailed from the street, but have to be called by telephone. When you call, you must give the operator your location, destination as well as phone number, who will in turn tell you the charge (or will inform you that you must go by the meter) as well as the taxi number. The taxi will come pick you up, and call you when they are close. When you go out on the street, look at the license plate for the number they gave you -- it will be the last four digits of the license plate. Alternatively, look for the yellow board atop the car with the taxi's identification number. The licenceplate number is usually in the format "KA" followed by 01 to 05, followed by two alphabets, followed by a four digit number. Taxis generally have yellow license plates with black letters.

Although it can be hard for non-Indians to grasp at first, the system is actually very effective. If in doubt, ask a member of your hotel staff to help you, and when your taxi comes be sure to tip them Rs. 10 or Rs. 15 for the assistance. Call just Dial 23333333 for any info

• Bengalooru Cabs,
• Celcabs,
• City Safari
• Garden City Taxis,
• Gopinath Radio Taxi Services,
• KK City Taxi,
• RK City Taxi,
• Roman Taxis,
• Spot Taxis,

By private car

Most taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers will be more than happy to offer you either a daily rate or an hourly rate, and take you around wherever you need to go. Alternately, your hotel or a travel company can arrange a private car.

If you find a good taxi or auto driver, this can be a great way to go for a foreigner. You'll certainly pay a lot more than if you bought individual rides, but you'll always have a driver waiting for you, and he can help with recommending local tourist sites, finding a good restaurant to eat at, and otherwise coping with day-to-day life. This can take a lot of the stress out of traveling.

Rates are generally something like Rs. 50 to 100 per hour for an auto-rickshaw, and Rs 150 to 250 per hour for a taxi. Rates for a private car booked via the hotel will probably be more. Like everything else in India, rates are very fluid.

Handicraft

• Chandi - The Divine Gallery, Shop No. 12, First Floor, Public Utility Building, M.G. Road +91 80 4112-3590/41123610, specializing in Indian divine figures in all mediums. Claims to have the biggest collection of Ganeshas in Bangalore. High-quality and locally-priced wares, no pushy salesmanship.
• The Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium, 45 M G Road, +91 80 2558-1118, is a large store, offering a wide selection of some of Karnataka's best hand made products. The carvings made of Mysore sandalwood are an especially good buy.
• Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), M G Road - A government run store promoting traditional Indian hand crafts. The CCIE has major outlets in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai.
• Royal Arts & Crafts, 21 K.H. Road, +91 80 2248-4797 has a particularly wide selection of silk carpets and paper mache products.
• Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, 45 K.S.H.D.C Complex, M.G.Road, +91 80 2558-1118 - specializes in Karnataka handicraft.

• Kala Madhyam Store located in Benson Town show cases over 15 exquisite folk and tribal art paintings, handicrafts from across India, clothing for women and specialises in wall murals (of folk and tribal art as well as terra cotta). Please visit: #77/8, Nandidurg Road, (Benson Cross Road Corner, Second Floor, Flat No 2, Benson Town, Bangalore - 560 046. Email: mail@kalamadhyam.org www.kalamadhyam.org

Books

• The Strand book stall, 1st Floor, Manipal Centre, Dickenson Road, +91 80 2558-0000, [11]. Best known for the latest releases in art, design, architecture and all at good prices.
• Gangarams, 72 M G Road, +91 80 2558-6743, +91 80 2558-7277. Four floors crammed with books makes this book store one of the largest (as well the most organized) book store in India.
• Crossword, ACR Towers, Opp. Gateway Hotel, Residency Road, 91-80-25582411 - 16 A hot spot for books of various genres combined with seating areas, spacious racks- music and movie section, children's section and a coffee sho- this proves to be a wonderful hangout to read, browse and shop.
• Higginbothams, 68 M G Road, +91 80 2558-7359, +91 80 2558-6574 - a good selection of maps, postcards, guides and novels
• Premier Book Shop, 46/1 Church Street (off M G Road), +91 80 2558-8570. Is a venerable Bangalore institution that has books on every conceivable subject literally stacked from floor to ceiling. Although the store may appear to be utterly chaotic, the owner knows where every piece of his stock lies - just be careful with those elbows, a slight nudge and the whole place will come tumbling down!
• Landmark, In Forum Mall on Luskar Hosur Road, Koramangala, +91 80 2206-7777 / 78 / 80 - a modern bookshop. A good place to pick up the most recent publications. Various household appliances; CDs and DVDs of music albums, computer and video games (the quality varying from time-to-time) and movies can also be found on the next floor.
• Blossoms, near Coconut Grove Restaurant, Church Street (parallel to MG Road),+91 80-2559733,+91 80-25320400 - For those rare- hard to get old books, there are 3 full floors of them- all second hand- good condition and at low rates. You definitely won't leave disappointed.
• Select Bookshop, off Brigade Road Behind Curzon Court Hotel, Brigade Road - Used to be the only old bookstore. Mr Murthy, who runs the bookstore, is one of the most knowledgeable people. His grandfather started the bookstore. He also has a collection of lithographs, stained glass paintings and collectors copies of antique books.
• Oxford Book Store, At the Leela Galleria (next to Hotel Leela Palace) - Has some of the latest collection of books and magazines but, doesn't offer any discounts. It has a Cha Bar attached offering 69 blends of tea.
• Tata Book House, At the Indian Institute of Science, Malleswaram - Has a large collection of technical books, on which it offers a flat 20 percent discount. Lots of books in a small place. Also worth visiting just because it is in IISc.
• Bangalore Book shop,on 17th cross,Margosa Road Malleswaram has a wide range of books on Technical and other books spread over 5000 sq fts.This is one of the best places to buy books in Malleswaram. This is owned by the same people who run Tata Book House, above.
• Streelekha, This is a great bookstore to explore the feminist literature and activism that is being produced in India, as well as other texts on the research and work of Indian NGOs. The atmosphere is relaxing and inviting. The bookstore is located at 33/1-9, Thyagaraja Layout in Jaibharath Nagar, telephone: 91 80 25492783.
• Sapna Book House, [12] This is a large bookstore on 3rd Main road, near Kamat Yatri Nivas, Gandhi Nagar (Walking distance from Majestic Bus stand). They also have branches in three other locations Sadashivnagar, Jayanagar, and Indiranagar. Sapna Book House also provides online book delivery through http://www.sapnaonline.com.
• Fusion Rental, First time in Bangalore, Company offering a service of online renting of books & movies. Vast collection of both books & movies at one place. Free Pick up & Delivery all over Bangalore. http://www.fusionrental.com
• The Bookworm, This is a small used book store in one of the by-lanes perpendicular to Brigade Road (near McDonalds). Good bargains on used and new books are available here.

• Elloor Library, A circulating library that has a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, including new titles. Located at Blue Cross Chambers on Infantry Road, close to Commercial Street. Requires membership which includes a deposit.

Shopping

Bangalore provides a wide range of options for shoppers. One can buy many things ranging from clothing to electronic goods and vehicles. Being an IT city, Bangalore provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier.

Many visitors come to Bangalore searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk saris and so miss out on the true Bangalore shopping experience. Here is a low down on shopping - Bangalore style:

The M.G Road/Brigade Road area is the most popular place for tourists, and these two roads are filled with shops of every kind, whether it be traditional handicrafts or the latest western wear (this is especially true for Brigade Road).

Bannerghatta Road a tiresome approach it used to be (sounds yodaish)...but now it's much better..and you have 'Grasshopper' a space that exhibits clothing design from the most experimental designers in India and also showcases other ideas - lighting design, products, theatre, music - an open space for expression! and if that's too boring, you can keep driving and you have a thousand ways that you can take to enjoy the wildlife and the myriad resevoirs strewn across the area - you can still find your very own private haven. Enjoy

Brigade Road used to be where British soldiers bought their necessities. Today Brigade Road is the centre of yuppie Bangalore; you'll see hordes of college students on the road anytime of day or night. Some of the stores on Brigade Road include: Planet M (a huge music store with everything), Louis Phillipe, Pepe Jeans, Levis,Lee, SanFrisco Jeans, Nike, Titan (great Indian made watches) just to name a few... There are also many eateries on the road and on the side roads that lead off of Brigade road, so that you can refuel yourself for shopping! There are your fast food outlets: KFC (right at the entrance), Pizza Hut at the other end of the road and many cafes including the Indian Coffee Chain Cafe Coffee Day. Also includes a Tattoo studio(BRAMHA TATTOO STUDIO, PHONE;O 94482 00145)

Commercial Street a legacy of the British is another shopping mecca that sells international brands (similar to Brigade road) alongside locally produced items. Commercial Street has more of a bazaar feel than Brigade Road. In addition, it is famous for its body piercing centers. The price of goods here is very competitive and it is a great place to pick a bargain.

Malls in India are a recent phenomenon, the first opened back in 1999, since then there has been a boom with malls around every corner in large cities (now also in smaller cities). Bangalore is no exception! Here is list of the major Malls in Bangalore, but beware that there are at least a dozen in the planning and construction stages!

• Forum Mall - The Forum on Hosur road is in the upmarket suburb of Koramangla, fast becoming a key shopping hub in Bangalore. It is the largest mall in Bangalore, covering an area of 6.5 lakh square feet of retail space. Again like other shopping areas, you can find anything at the Forum, high international brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Swarovski Crystals to traditional Indian Khadi clothing at the Khadder. Other brands with outlets include: United Colours of Bennetton (much cheaper here than in the west), Pepe Jeans U.K, William Penn, Wrangler Jeans, Weekender and of course Nike. The Forum incorporates the clothing from international brands as well as haute couture boutiques including: Mustard, Isis, B and the Chai shop. For books head straight to Landmark and huge store has everything from books to perfumes and music. On the top floor of the mall you will find a PVR multiplex comprising 11 cinemas. For eating there is everything, Fast food (KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway) Cafe Coffee Day and a food court with world cuisines including: Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican and Italian and Indian. Not to be missed is the Indian cuisine at Sahib Sindh Sultan and the British style pub, Firangi Pani. So that is a forum for all your shopping needs under one roof! Its just a must see, especially the outside.

• Garuda Mall - Located on the corner of McGrath and Commissariat Roads, is the newest and the second largest mall in Bangalore.

• Bangalore Central - Opened around the same as the Forum, Bangalore Central is more of a large department store than a mall with separate retailers.

• Safina Plaza - is the sale capital of Bangalore, located on Infantry Road. Every week there is sale going on of any type. One week it might be home furnishings and the next men's wear. Good place to find some bargains. Many exhibitions are also held here, although there are retailers (Dockers, Lee Jeans, Titan too name a few) here too. So for quiet shopping come here (much less crowded than the other malls). Its best to visit during end of season sales (summer, monsoon) or during festivals (New Year, Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi).

• Lifestyle - This two-storey store is located on Victoria Road in the heart of the new mall shopping district with malls like Garuda Mall, Bangalore Central and Globus, all within easy walking distance and was one of the most coveted stores until the malls came along. It's an easy place to go shopping when you don't want too many options to confuse you or when you're tired and don't want to visit too many shops - you can get everything under one roof here. Good for clothes, cosmetics, watches, jewellery, shoes etc. You also get stylish furniture and other home and living items for a decent price.

Sampige Road,Malleswaram Tired of going to mall, and indulging in window shopping.Try Sampige (a flower name) Road. Sampige Road is the heart of Malleswaram and connects Sheshadripuram to IISc.Sampige Road is around 2 km, has a wide range of shops that sells books, electronic items, silk sarees, handicrafts, cloth materials, Hindu pooja materials, sweets and all the trivial things you can buy on earth. Also try Malleswaram 8th cross on Sampige road(aptly named Brigade Road of Malleswram) for a vibrant shopping experience.Sampige Road is also home to best flower market and fruits market in Bangalore. If you are tired of going to individual shops you can go for the best departmental stores in Bangalore like Fabmall, foodworld, Nilgiris.

Marathahalli Main Road and Factory Outlets Located a distance from central Bangalore (although not difficult to reach), is Marathahalli (a village in a previous life). The main road of this suburb is now a haven for factory outlets for all major brands: Nike, Adidas, Pepe Jeans, Killer Jeans, Louis Phillipe, Levi's, Reebok etc.. You can expect prices here to be cheaper than in the Malls, at least 20-30% price difference but can be up to 50% cheaper when it comes to some of the major denim brands! As if India wasn't cheap enough. Although this is the best place to go to for factory outlet shopping, there are smaller factory outlets scattered across the city. Also look out for sales held by the major brands to get rid of end of season stock (again end of summer or end of monsoon), these are usually advertised in newspapers or look for signs posted on major roads.

Metro shopping mall Near Yashwanthpura railway station and ISKON temple.

Boutiques

Apart from the numerous malls that have that have taken Bangalore by storm, the essential element and soul of the city comes through in its myriad small and unique boutiques that are all over the city, usually tucked away though. Have tried to list the must check out stores..

Levitate - InDiA in A RooM, 100 Ft. Road Indiranagar, Tel:+91 80 64528190/ Mob: +91 9845317776, email: levitateindia@gmail.com. Silver & Costume handcrafted Jewelry, Bohemian Apparel, Indian Kitsch, Amazing Life & Style Accessories at unbelievable prices! All in 1 Room! C/o 100 Ft. Boutique Restaurant(mezz floor), 777/1, 100 Ft. Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore-38

Native Place, Behind Museum Road Post Office, Museum road. - Loads of interesting merchandise, crafts made by NGOs, c/o The Only Place Restaurant.

One G -(jewelry) Hatworks Boulevard, Cunningham Road. Tel: +91 80 41231231

"Ambara" , Ulsoor Lake. Tel: +9180 25572829 - apparel, Jewelry, pottery, plants from Indo-American hybrid & a lovely little cafe aptly called Secret Garden, tucked away at the back!

Marmalade, Adj to Spratt Salon, Magrath Road, (Left before Coffee Day, on Brigade Rd Extn), Tel: +91 80 41221814. Loads of affordable young designerwear.

Arnav, Tel:2656 8416/99860 01216, [13]. The quaint little jewellery store located at Ashoka Pillar, Jayanagar makes for very interesting jewellery buys, a range of antique, restored, contemporary and fusion jewellery are on display. They could help you design a piece of jewellery to suit your needs, an in-house jewellery consultant could help you choose your jewellery.

Music and movies

• Habitat, "Movies and Music", Church Street, Off Brigade Road is tiny compared to other retail music/movie stores, but its a delight for lovers of good music especially Jazz. Has an excellent and varied selection of DVDs for rent as well, though membership is currently closed.

• Hotel Empire, Church Street(next to museum inn), & 2 other locations on Center Street and Koramangala, [14]. 10 am - 3 am daily. Serves Indian, Chinese, and Middle eastern cuisine until late night. Try Butter Chicken, Chicken Kababs and Parathas. budget.  edit

Bangalore is far from the sea, and as such the quality of seafood can vary. Some of the higher end and popular seafood places manage this well, but foreign travelers may want to tread a bit carefully.

Budget

Bangalore literally has hundreds of fast food joints serving south Indian vegetarian food. They usually are identified with small round steel tables and diners standing around them having food. Dosas, idlis, vada's, curd rice, Vegetable Pulao, rice with sambar, lemon rice are usually standard fare. Quality widely varies, since most of them cater to working people.

• Janani, J.P.Nagar.It is a great place to have breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can have idly and Sambar for Rs. 8/- and a cup of tea for Rs. 6/-. You can have a north Indian Roti Curri for Rs. 12. If you want to have good Punjabi food, go upstairs and get a good meals under Rs. 150

• Anupams Coastal Express ,Shivanand Circle .. If you want to taste some real good sea food , you ought to go to this place. They make fantastic fish dishes . Neer Dosa with Chicken Pulimunchi ,Kori Roti and Chicken Ghee Roast are some things you really cant miss.

• Hotel Empire, Church Street(next to museum inn), & 2 other locations on Center Street and Koramangala, [15]. 10 am - 3 am daily. Serves Indian, Chinese, and Middle eastern cuisine until late night. Try Butter Chicken, Chicken Kababs and Parathas. budget.  edit

• Fanoos. Adjoining Johnson Market, off Brigade Road. One of the best joints for getting Sheekh (beef) Rolls in Bangalore. They come in various sizes - sheekh roll, sheekh jumbo, sheekh mambo, sheekh rambo and sheekh sambo - the latter of which is almost 2 inches thick. There are other options like chicken, mutton and paneer rolls as well as kababs and shawarma. Rs. 30-100 per head.
• Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR), 11 Lal Bagh Road, +91 80 2222-0022, +91 80 2222-1706. One of the very old traditional breakfast places in Bangalore. There are a few people who have been having their breakfast at MTR everyday for the past 15 years. Closed between 2.45 and 3.30 PM. Expect a long wait on weekends. Traditional 12 course Karnataka lunches are also available here for around Rs.90 per head. Advance reservations recommended at weekends. Their Rava idlis, Dosas and Bisi Bele Bath are excellent. It has maintained its excellent quality over the years and is very famous. It is on the road perpendicular to Lal bagh main gate.
• New Shanti Sagar. This is an reasonably reliable chain of (veg) south Indian restaurants. Branches scattered all over the city, notably in Koramangala 80ft road, Jayanagar, Domlur, etc. Rs 50-200.
• The Adiga's chain of restaurants to the south of Bangalore. Prominent among them are the joints located in: Jayanagar 4th Block, take the road facing BHS First Grade College, Basavanagudi. Here is the list: Adiga's Park 585,10th Main,42nd cross,5th Block Jayanagar. 2. Adiga's Foodline,502,40th Cross,8th block. 3. Adiga's Delicacy,105,Dickenson's road,Manipal Centre. 4. Adiga's Majestic, Next to Fkcci Bldg, KG Road. 5. Adiga's Nalapaka, Opp.to HSBC Complex,Bannerghatta, Arikere
• Sree Krishna joint a little further from the road connecting Lalbagh Westgate with Basavanagudi.
• SLV chain of restaurants. Prominent among them are located in:Banashankari 2nd Stage, opposite BDA park and the one in J.P.Nagar 2nd Phase near Ragigudda Temple
• Vidhyarthi Bhavan, just off Gandhi Bazar in Basavanagudi - A gastronomic haven - offering some of the best Masala Dosa in the world! This quaint little place is so famous that it has not even bothered to change it's age old sign board (who needs it anyway, the aroma wafting through the air is a good enough indication that you are in the vicinity of the place)!!! Get there early for a breakfast, there's always a bee-line for places to sit.
• Hotel Janatha, 8th Cross Road, Malleswaram - Makes some of the best Vada Sambhar and Masala Dosa in town.
• Corner House, Residency Road (2558-3262), BTM Road, Koramangala (Off 80ft Road), Airport Road (Arlton Towers), Marthahalli (Whitefield Road)and Shivananda Circle is one of the best ice cream parlours offering a variety of treats. Their famed 'Death by Chocolate' (popularly known as DBC) is a must for all chocolate lovers and has attained a cult status. Can be tricky to find a spot during peak times and you may find yourself being 'encouraged' by the staff to leave quickly once you do.
• Central Tiffin Room (a.k.a CTR), Margosa Road, Malleswaram - Another landmark hotel, dishing out some divine 'Benne Masala Dosa', which literally melts in the mouth.
• Upahara Darshini, on DVG road, Basavanagudi. Another of Bangalore's new found Darshinis dishing out top notch Masala Dosa and Vada Sambhar
• Lake View Milk Bar, MG Road. Tel: +91 80 2558-7410 - excellent ice creams, club sandwiches and burgers.
• McDonalds, Forum Mall, Koramangala - Don't expect to find any beef items.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC) Indiranagar Serves good chicken and fast food.
• Shiv Sagar, Narayan Pillai Street, Off Commercial Street. Tel: +91 80 509-8892 - Don't get put off by the location! It's a great place to eat.
• Coconut Grove, Church Street - try the appams and Kerala parottas with a chicken source dish. Their lunch offer for 80rs is also really good. A pretty good choice for reasonably priced quality seafood. Coco-Grove the outdoor 'beer cafe' extension is also worth a look.
• Koshy's, St. Marks Road (below Church St). A Bangalore institution, serving a smattering of Western favorites (like fish and chips) along with the usual South Indian fare in a bohemian-for-India atmosphere. On weekends, they serve up greasy Western-style breakfast, including omelettes and Bombay (i.e., French) Toast. Appam and Stew is their Sunday breakfast special and a must eat. Turn right at the entrance for the more expensive (and decidedly less charming) AC room. Rs 50-200. Smoky, with sluggish service, and not particularly clean Koshy's still has plenty of character and history but its getting harder to justify their skyrocketing prices.
• KC Das, St. Marks Road and Church St. The most famous Bengali sweets shop in Bangalore. Stop here for infinite variations on rasgullah.
• Udupi Garden, 16th Main BTM Layout. Simple Udupi restaurant. Serves very good south indian dishes at nominal prices. Also serves north indian food.
• Nandini, the Andhra fast food chain serves some excellent biriyani and chicken dishes
• Shezan, on Lavelle Road and Cunningham Road, +91 80 22249319 +91 80 22249667 +91 80 22287895 +91 80 22262195, proposes Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines with a good menu choice where beef, fish, prawn, mutton and chicken meat are available. Excellent steaks.
• Savera Tea Shop. 24-hour tea shops near Russell Market in Shivajinagar and on MG Road. Good place to go for a cup of tea in the dead of the night. Serves tea, Suleimani (honey+lemon) tea and a variety of biscuits. Rs. 3-15
• Kanti Sweets. KG Road, Majestic, Malleswaram Circle, RT Nagar. Very good samosas, kachoris and North Indian sweets like rasmalai. Rapidly expanding chain, so there are plenty of branches all over the city now, which serve parathas and other food items as well. The main branch in Majestic is the best, and serves only samosas, kachoris and sweets. Rs. 10-50 per head.
• Kohinoor, Brigade Road. Serves very reasonably priced Kerala muslim style food.
• Java, (Phone: 080-4137-8888) in the G block of Diamond District apartment complex in Kodalli on the old Airport Road, is a hidden gem that serves buffet lunch and dinner for Rs 150 on weekdays, Rs 250 on weekends (as of 2008-06-30). The buffet consists of both North and South Indian dishes and caters to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Reasonably priced (Rs 90 to Rs 120 entree) a-la-carte selection is available outside of lunch and dinner hours.
• Richies on MMRoad off Mosque Road serves the kind of biryani that is the Bangalore original. It is located midway on MM Road, and hard to miss because of the crowds that throng its takeaway counter. One visits Richies only for the food—tables and chairs made of synthetic wood, and dim light from gaudy chandeliers don’t exactly make for great ambience. A motley bunch of diners cram the place for lunch and dinner (they have only recently built the second and third floors). The biryani here is delicious, and you must love meat to love Richies. The menu is limited; but the mutton and chicken biryani stand out from each other—they are not flavoured with the same masala, or heaven forbid, rice, their kababs are something nice and unique too.

Mid-range

• HOT WOK - #297,100 Feet Road, Indra Nagar. "It's not a restaurant, it's a way of life." It serves good food in a nice ambience. Rs 150-500
• Sue's Food Place - Krishna Temple Road, Indira Nagar - It is a Caribbean style restaurant run by Sue (Susan John from Trinidad and Tobago). It has an excellent buffet. (Their Jamaican jerk chicken, salads and desserts are lovely.) Alacarte menu is available too on certain days. Rs 200-500
• 100ft Restaurant - 100 Feet Road, Indra Nagar. westernized cooking, but notably better than any other pasta serving restaurant in the area. The restaurant is a bit of a hybrid, as a store/restaurant. rs 300-500.
• Ebony, MG Road. On the 13th floor of the tallest building on MG Road, this stylish eatery offers excellent evening views of the city. Service is a bit slow, but the ambience makes it worth the wait. Book ahead for a terrace seat. Rs 200-400
• Little Italy, 100 Ft Road, Indiranagar. A chic italian vegetarian restaurant, faddish and over priced. Sometimes the staff switches off air conditioning if the tables are less than half-filled!
• Mainland China, Church Street (near Museum Road), +91 80 2227-7722, 2224-5864. Upscale Chinese food. Good, fairly authentic food and excellent service. Serves a decent lunch buffet. New outlet on 100ft Road, Indiranagar. Rs 500-800.
• Sahib Sindh Sultan, Address:Level 2, Forum Mall, Hosur Road, Koramangala, Phone: 22067878 Train-themed restaurant with a delicious, upscale menu. It is supposed to showcase NWFP good. Their kakori kebabs are excellent. It also serves wine with the food. Expect a long wait. Or book ahead and roam around the mall or grab a few drinks from the adjoining Firangi Paani. Rs 150-500
• Samarkand, Gem Plaza, 66, Infantry Road (East of Central St), +91 80 4111-3366. North West frontier food (i.e., kebabs, Afghani) in a kitschy atmosphere but the food is great. You will need to book on weekends. Rs 300-600.
• Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine, 2nd Floor, #12 CMH Road, Indiranagar (next to Citibank ATM), +91 80 4116-1800, [16]. This restaurant offers the some of the most authentic South East Asian/Thai food in Bangalore. Rs 150-500
• T.G.I Friday's, Carlton Towers & Airport Road - Don't expect cheap Indian prices. But Happy Hours (1 + 1 free on alcoholic beverages) in the evening should make up for that.
• Pinx, Manipal center (off MG Road). A great place for Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet. Rs 200-400 per head.
• Canopy , PU Building, M.G.Road, Open air, multi-cuisine North-Indian food. Cooking techniques date back to the independence era offering the unique taste.Great outdoor ambiance in the middle of the Central Business District. Rs.125-750
• Le Rock Pub Cafe, Rest House Road, (off Brigade Road), +91 80 41231001, Hot Coffee to chilled Kingfisher beer on the tap awesome cocktails and even hand rolled Havana Cigars from Salads, Sandwiches, Jacket Baked Potatoes to Entree's. LRC also offers an Oxy Bar Bangalore's first. A must for every tourist visiting this city. Affordable prices.
• Mugen, 100 Ft Road, Indiranagar,http//mugen.co.in, +91 80 41481414 / 9945300004. Bangalore's new fine dining restaurant with an oriental twist, Mugen promises you an unforgettable journey through the world of flavors from Indonesia, Thailand and China... where exotic and authentic dishes cooked with the freshest ingredients and served in a truly breathtaking environment promises you a perfect culinary symphony of the Far East!

Splurge

• Bombay Post, Airport Road, next to TGIF - The menu of Bombay Post brings together the different flavours that make up Bombay’s crowded platter. In addition, the restaurant also serves specialties from Lucknow and Amritsar. So you can choose from street food like chat and kulfi, starters such as shahi rolls, kababs, or a main course comprising chicken, mutton and seafood delicacies.
• Blue Ginger, Race Course Road (in the Taj West End). This high-end Vietnamese restaurant has a beautiful setting and excellent food. You may be shocked by the bill, though. Just next door to Blue Bar.
• Cafe Mozaic, 41/3 MG Road (in the Taj Residency). Western-style dining in a casual atmosphere with some pool-side seating. Sundays before 3:30 PM, there is an all-you-can-eat/drink champagne brunch for Rs 1000.
• Grasshopper, 45 Kalena Agrahara, Bannerghata Road, +91 80 2659-3999 (+91 98 4545-2646). Freshly prepared seven course meal served on the table. Reservation required. Closed on mondays. Prix fixe.
• Leela Palace has several upscale restaurants. All-you-can-eat/drink brunch on Sunday is Rs 2000. They have four restaurants, Citrus Lounge (Brasserie Kitchen), Zen (Pan Asian), Library Bar(serves all cuisine) and Jamavar(Authentic Indian).
• Monsoon is a 24 hour cafe in The Park Hotel on Old Madras Road and next to Taj Residency. It offers a variety of Continental Dishes, Indian, South East Asian and Mediterranean. Ideal location for private parties.
• Sunny's at Embassy Diamante, 34, Vittal Mallya Road. +91 80 5132 9366/ +91 80 5132 9391/ +91 80 2212 0496. About Rs. 1,200 for a three-course meal for two, excluding drinks. Among the best restaurants in Bangalore. Try the excellent range of starters with fantastic sauces (salads are fine here!) and the Pasta with a bottle of Grovers is to die for! Also recommend the Hot sandwiches for a lunch-time feast. Owned by an Indian Film director.
• The Raj Pavillion ITC Windsor Manor, Golf Course Road. 24-hour restaurant that offers the taste of the British Raj. Anglo-Lucknowi, Far East and Continental cusine is served. Amongst the best in Bangalore.

Regional Cuisine

• Tijouri. North Indian restaurant inside the Hotel Atria.
• Kamat Yatrinivas, Gandhinagar. Serves special N Karnataka meals with jowar(Sorghum) rotis. They now have a branch on Bull temple road where they have local artists perform when you have dinner.
• Kadambam. Authentic Iyengar cuisine ranging from Puliogare, Sakkare Pongal, Thayir Sadham, of course Kadambam (which is actually a type of heavenly concoction of Sambhar and rice, akin to Bisibele Huliyanna), and a wide array of traditional Iyengar sweets. It has two branches, one on Bull Temple Road, near Ramakrishna Ashram and another just off West of Chord road, near Modi eye Hospital in Rajajinagar.

Continental

• Herbs & Spices, On 80ft rd above Planet M, 100m north of Reliance Fresh. Great pasta, pizza, and desserts.
• Casa Picola, [17] has interesting, tasty Italian and continental food in a casual ambience. An old favourite for many locals, it has a few branches.
• Spiga , 76/A Vittal Mallya Road, +91 80 22996781. (Shut down now. However, Spiga runs the kitchen at "couch", the lounge bar on MG Road)
• Friends Fast Food, Jyoti Nivas College Road, Koramangala (300m from Forum). Great Conti food at college prices. Casa Picola fans will like this one.
• Cafe Y, Langford Road (Near Prestige Elgin, Hosur Road-Langford Road junction), +91 80 511-44561. Amazing sizzlers and steaks, nice ambience.
• Indi Joe, 1 Airport Road (Carlton Towers), +91 80 4111-3636, +91 80 4112-1234. Offers fondue, pizza, steak and Mexican food. Their Lunch buffet is good.
• Rendezvous, 80 Ft Road, Koramangala. Near Barista and Maharaja Hotel.

Maharashtrian Food

• Kollapuri's, 429/31 30th Cross, 4th Block Jaya Nagar (Near Jain Mandir), ☎ 080-41211693, 26535207.

An authentic Maharashtrian hotel run by Savaji.It serves bhakri,chapati and "Sheckle Edme" special Savaji stuffed roti with spicy sabjis.  edit

• Rajvardhan Foods, 1291 25th Main Road, 9th Block Jaya Nagar East (Near Big Bazaar), ☎ 080-26540132.

Best known for its Vadapav, Sabudana Vada, Khichdi .It also offers bhakri,chapati. The snacks / food offered here is comparatively expensive. edit

South Karnataka

• Karavalli, Residency Road (at the Gateway Hotel), +91 80 2558-4545. Mangalorean, Goa, Karwar, and Kerala style cuisine.
• Konkan, 6th cross, 6th Block, Koramangala, +91 80 2552-1530. Mangalorean and Goan style cuisine.
• Vidyarthi Bhavan, 32 Gandhi Bazaar, 91 80 2667-7588. Another very old and traditional breakfast place, exclusively known for its Masala Dosa. Similar to MTR, you can find people who have been having breakfast here since times immemorial.
• The Palms, 33 Church Street (at the Highgates Hotel), +91 80 2559-7172. Mangalorean, Coorgi, and Malabari style. (shut for renovations)
• Janatha Hotel, 8th Cross, Malleshwaram. Another great place, famous for its Butter Masala Dosas and Vadas.
• Halli Mane, 3rd Cross, Malleswaram (close to Malleswaram Circle). Truly authentic and top notch traditional Kannada fare
• Kamath Yatrinivas...Majestic, authentic Mangalorean meals
• Kamath Lookaruchi.... On Mysore Road just before Channapatna...amazing food and ambience.Authentic mangalorean meals
• Upaahara Darshini.... On of the bangalore's oldest food joints. Amazing dosas (pancakes!)

• krishna darshini.. vasavi temple street, basavanagudi offers replicas of mtr's delicacies, damn reasonable
• kudla.. for sea-food, attached to Ramashree comforts serves excellent dishes.

Bengali

• Bangaliana, 355, 1st 'B' Main, 7th Block, Koramangala, (Opp. HDFC Bank) Tel: +91 80 2571-1058 - Authentic Bengali Delicacies (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Restaurant, Take-away, Catering. Specialities: fish, mutton chicken and, of course, sweets.
• Sonar Bangla, 88/1, Shubh Arcade, 1st floor, 16th Cross, Margosa Road, Malleswaram. Tel: +91 80 336-7622 - The restaurant undertakes orders of authentic Bengali food for gourmets who fancy a whole meal and also delivers it at the doorstep. Fish is considered sacred in the coastal state and is consumed universally. So, all fish lovers can take heart as the non-vegetarian cuisine is delivered, but not served at the restaurant.
• 6 Ballygunge Place, 1F., 612, 12th Main, Indira Nagar (above Café Coffee Day). It has been rated best bengali restaurant by times food guide bangalore. It serves excellent fish (esp their Chital peti roast), Dab Chingri and Luchis. (Its mocktails are avoidable however). Prices are slightly on higher side. May cost around Rs 1000 for two but the food quality is good. The owners have added calcutta style chaat on top floor also recently.
• Cinnamon, CMH Road (opp BATA Showroom).
• Bhuchu's, 80ft Road .
• Thontiz, 180ft Road .
• 36 Chowringhee Lane, 100ft Road, BTM Layout. Opp Reliance Fresh.Tel:+91 80 4124-0979 - Authentic Bengali Cuisine.

Andhra

• Bheemas, Church Street, Off Brigade Road, The 'meals' here are to-die-for! Every dish is crafted to perfection by their cooks in strict Andhra tradition. If you have the penchant for spice this place is meant for you.
• RRs, Off Brigade Road, A renovation of the vintage RRs, the fun doubles here with the double storeyed restaurant, one serving Andhra and the other Hyderabadi cuisines. There's also alcohol, all the more reason to indulge on a saturday afternoon.
• Nagarjuna Chimney,(1) Residency Road, Near Old Galaxy Theatre, (2) Jayanagar 3rd Block, Near ICICI Bank, Possibly have a few more branches elsewehere in Bangalore. The Biryani is almost intoxicating, not to mention their 'meals' which are served ritually on a banana leaf. Reach early for lunch, for, there are hordes in the waiting always.
• Nandhini Palace,Koramangala, Near BDA Complex,.Very tasty and spicy food.
• Nandhini Palace,Devasandra, BEL Road, RMV 2nd Stage.