East Bangalore
East Bangalore is the eastern part of the city.
Get in
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 HAL Aerospace Museum, Airport-Varthur Rd, ☏ +91 80 2231 8341. Daily 9AM-4:30PM. India's first aerospace museum. Run by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a large aerospace company. It showcases the growth of the Indian aviation industry and HAL over six decades. The museum houses displays of various aircraft, aircraft engine models, flight simulators, a mock Air Traffic Control Tower and an exhibit of Indian aviation history.
Temples
[edit]- 2 Banaswadi Hanuman Temple (between Sri Uma Maheshwari Temple and Bethel Church, northeast 5 km (3.1 mi) from centre). Constructed in Dravidian style, it attracts numerous devotees, especially on weekends. It has smaller temples dedicated to Lord Rama, Shiva and Ganapati within the walled compound.
- 3 Chokkanathaswamy Temple. W 6:00AM–11:30AM and 5:45PM– 8:30PM, Sa 6:00AM– 12:30PM and 5:45PM–9:00PM, otherwise 6AM–11AM and 5:45PM–8:30PM. A 10th-century Chola temple with inscriptions in Kannada and Tamil.
- 4 Shiva Temple (Shiv Mandir), Old Airport Rd (close to Vishweshwara College and Total Mall), ☏ +91 80 2522 8444. This temple has a massive monolith of Lord Shiva in the middle of an artificial pool. There is a cave-like walkthrough behind the statue. It is packed on the festival of Maha Shivaratri. One can't see or feel any kind of Bhakti in this temple, because at each move inside the temple, there will be a person collecting money, which creates such a disturbance for the concentration on Bhakti. On each step, the devotees will be concentrating on the money boxes (huṇḍi), and people standing to ask for money as offerings. Free entrance, camera ₹25.
Do
[edit]- 1 Trash Trail, Daily Dump, ☏ +91 80 41157311, [email protected]. On this journey through the story of waste, you will meet people who silently clean up and transform all the stuff we throw away. In the process, you will visit places you haven't imagined existed!
Lakes
[edit]- 2 Bellandur Lake. Although it has been severely impacted by the bane of urbanisation, the lake is still home to a diverse species of birds, like herons, egrets, wagtails, kites, sandpipers, etc.
- 3 Hosakote Lake.
- 4 Varthur Lake. An integral part of the city, although unplanned urbanisation and industrialisation have led to its contamination, similar to the Bellandur Lake. It has suffered from eutrophication and is now home to diverse algae.
Spas
[edit]- The 5th Element, Inner Ring Rd (near Dell office). Spa. All practitioners are from Thailand and offer authentic Thai massage, scrubs, and wraps.
- Aroma Home Spa, Brookefields, ITPL Main Rd (near Whitefield). Natural eco-friendly products in use. Hydrotherapy massage in addition to therapies suited to individual needs.
Learn
[edit]- 1 Goethe-Institut (Max Mueller Bhavan), 716, CMH Road, Indiranagar 1st Stage (from M.G. Road: go down Old Madras Road; turn right before the Epidemic Diseases Hospital onto 100 Foot Road; at the next traffic light, take a left onto CMH Road), ☏ +91 80 25205305. Offers German language courses, organises cultural events and has a library.
Work
[edit]- 2 International Tech Park Bangalore (ITPB), Whitefield Rd (metro: Pattandur Agrahara Purple ). Home to towering office buildings, busy cafés and diverse techies. The campus is open to the public, although the office buildings may be restricted.
Buy
[edit]- Marathahalli Main Road and Factory Outlets. Some 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. 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.
Books
[edit]- Gangarams Indiranagar, 330/9 Axis Road Domlur Inner Ring Rd. Domlur Layout. Near Indira Nagar Flyover, ☏ +91 80 4038 3838, [email protected]. Daily 10AM-8PM. A wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, including textbooks and professional works, stationery, multimedia, movies, toys, art material and gifts.
- 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 Chai Bar attached offering 69 blends of tea.
- Streelekha, 33/1-9, Thyagaraja Layout, Jaibharath Nagar, ☏ +91 80 2549 2783. 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.
Boutiques
[edit]- Levitate-InDiA in A RooM, 100 Ft. Rd, ☏ +91 80 6452 8190, +91 98 4531 7776, [email protected]. Silver & costume handcrafted Jewellery, Bohemian apparel, Indian kitsch, lifestyle accessories.
- Sakhi by Chandras, 6th main, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar, ☏ +91 80 4115 5551. Combines traditional fabrics and craftsmanship with contemporary themes. Sakhi’s sarees, salwars and kurtis combine kanchivaram, tussar, chiffon, georgette, crêpe, organza and cotton with traditional techniques such as cut work, block print, kalamkari, badla, mirror work, chamki (sequins) and embroidery in a mélange of colours.
- Stritva near ITPL, 294, 8th main, BEML Layout, ITPL Main Rd, ☏ +91 963 222 1615. Sells readymade salwar suit, kameez, kurtas, dress material, sarees and nightwear. The store has a good collection at good prices.
Handicrafts
[edit]- Miras Carpet Industries, No.7, Ground Floor, Suryodai Complex, Old Airport Rd, Kodihalli (Opp. Hotel Leela Palace), ☏ +91 80 4157 1894, +91 80 2521 0786, [email protected]. Daily 9AM-9:30PM. Manufacturers and exporters of carpets, rugs, kilims, Indian handicrafts, jewellery, pashmina shawls, cashmere scarfs, silk sarees, etc. Claims to be the biggest dealer of Oriental carpets and rugs in Bangalore, selling high quality and "locally priced" wares. Valet car parking available.
Jewellery
[edit]- Giantti Luxury Ensemble (at Shop No. C9, Level 2, The Leela Palace), ☏ +91 80 4115 9766. Diamond & gold jewellery along with silver articles and idols.
- Bluestone Site No.89/2, Lava Kusha Arcade, Munnekolal Village, Marathahalli Outer Ring Rd.
Shopping malls
[edit]- 1 Park Square Mall, ITPB, Whitefield Rd (metro: Pattandur Agrahara Purple ). A shopping mall where tech and retail cultures converge.
- 2 Phoenix Marketcity. It is the largest mall in Bangalore by area. There is something for everyone in this mall. This mall has many upscale restaurants, electronic shops, bookstores, toy stores and a large selection of clothes, cosmetics, shoes, etc.
Eat
[edit]- 100 ft Boutique, 100 Foot Rd, Indira nagar (after Fab Mall when you are travelling from CMH Rd side, and a few stores after Benetton on the LHS if you're coming from Airport Rd), ☏ +91 80 4150 1781. Comparable to most continental resto-bars. The best part about it is that it's a boutique restaurant, which means you can shop, while waiting for your meal to arrive, even after 9PM, which is when most other shops close in Bangalore. The Boutique houses many young designers. Levitate, showcases a wide array of eclectic street fashion and handcrafted kitsch from all over India.
- 6 Ballygunge Place, 1st Fl., 612, 12th Main, Indira Nagar (above Café Coffee Day). It has been rated best Bengali restaurant by the Times Food Guide Bengaluru. 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 ₹1,000 for two but the food quality is good. The owners have also added Kolkata-style chaat on top floor. ₹1,000 for two.
- Annachi, 100 Ft. Road, Indiranagar. Serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Has some good chettinad style dishes.
- Italia, Indiranagar. Nice vegetarian restaurant in Indira Nagar, a little expensive. Good food.
- Kund, 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage.
- Pongal, Jivan Bima Nagar (near the Indiranagar telephone exchange). Tamil Nadu food. Lots of dosa varieties, Podi dosa, parotta with kurma are good. Ambience is not that great, but this place is for those who need a quick bite without a big pinch on the wallet.
Budget
[edit]- Hotel Empire (Other locations on Centre Street and Koramangala), 14 Pottery Road, Richards Town (Next to Museum Inn), ☏ +91 80 40 414141. 10AM-3PM. Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cuisine until late night. Try the butter chicken, chicken kababs and parathas. Both the non-vegetarian and vegetarian food are good here and well priced.
- Java, ☏ +91 80 4137 8888. G block of Diamond District apartment complex in Kodalli on the old Airport Rd. A hidden gem that serves buffet lunch and dinner for ₹150 on weekdays, ₹250 on weekends (prices 2008). The buffet consists of North and South Indian dishes and caters to vegetarians and to non-vegetarians. Reasonably priced (₹90-120 entree) à-la-carte selection is available outside of lunch and dinner hours.
- 1 Manjit ka Dhaba, 107, 1st Floor, Wheeler Road, Near Railway Cross, Cox Town, ☏ +91 80 4965 3065. noon to 4PM, 7PM-11PM. Budget dhaba. Tasty parathas (with butter) and couple of assorted vegetable curry options. Lassi. Don't expect ambience in dhabas.
- 2 The Rameshwaram Cafe@Indirangar, 12th Main Road, Indiranagar.
- Richies, MM Rd (Off Mosque Rd). Serves the kind of biryani that is the Bangalore original. It is midway on MM Rd, 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 ambiance. A motley bunch of diners cram the place for lunch and dinner (they have added 2nd and 3rd 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 and they are not flavoured with the same masala, or heaven forbid, rice, their kababs are something nice and unique too.
Mid-range
[edit]- 100ft Restaurant, 100 Foot Rd. Indira Nagar. Westernised cooking, but notably better than any other pasta serving restaurant in the area. The restaurant is a bit of a hybrid of store/restaurant. ₹300-500.
- Little Italy, 100 Foot Rd. Indiranagar. A chic Italian vegetarian restaurant, faddish and overpriced. Sometimes the staff switch off A/C if the tables are less than half-filled.
- Sue's Food Place, Krishna Temple Rd, Indira Nagar. 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. A la carte menu is available on certain days. ₹200-500
Splurge
[edit]- The Leela Palace Bengaluru Dining. All-you-can-eat/drink brunch on Sunday is ₹2,000. They have 4 restaurants, Citrus Lounge (Brasserie kitchen), Zen (Pan Asian), Library Bar (serves all cuisine) and Jamavar (Authentic Indian). Generally overpriced compared to the Taj outlets (Blue Ginger, Graze, Karavalli)
Chinese cuisine
[edit]- Golden Lights, No.4032, 100ft Rd, HAL-II Stage, Indiranagar, ☏ +91 80 2559 7722.
- Mainland China, 100 Foot Rd. Indiranagar.
Malayali cuisine
[edit]- BigBoy Fried Chicken, (BFC), Vignan Nagar.
- Continental Spice, Airport Rd (close to Diamond District).
- Gokulam Mess, GM Palya (3 km (1.9 mi) from Indiranagar).
- Hotel New Malabar, Kaggadasapura (Near level crossing).
- Hotel Ruchi, Vignana Nagar.
- K K Bakers, Malleshpalaya.
- Kaayal, AECS Layout; Jeevan Bima Nagar.
- Kalavara, Vignana Nagar.
- Kerala Pavilion, 100 feet Road Indiranagar. Authentic Kerala food
- Priyam Restaurant, Jagadish Nagar (Behind BEML).
Drink
[edit]Mid-range
[edit]- Beer Joint Pub, (aka BJP), Indiranagar, ☏ +91 80 2525 0346.
- Cake Walk, #297, 100 Feet Rd, Indira Nagar, ☏ +91 80 2520 5393.
- Take 5, 54, MSK Plaza, HAL II Stage Indiranagar. A Jazz themed restaurant that serves great American style food and offers a large selection of beers. They don't always play jazz but the food and drink is consistently good.
Splurge
[edit]- Athena, The Leela Hotel, Airport Rd. Really popular on most days of the week. The upper VIP lounge is the best part of the club, but the rest of the club is beautifully appointed and attracts a hip crowd.
- The Beach, 100 Foot Rd. Indiranagar. Make a reservation. Starts with retro music, plays some good hip-hop and house towards the end. Makes you feel like you are in Goa.
- Geoffrey's, Royal Orchid, Airport Rd. Really nice place
- Toit, Indiranagar. Microbrewery
- Windmills Craftworks, #331, Road 5B, EPIP Zone, Whitefield, ☏ +91 80 2569 2012, +91 72 5902 4652, [email protected]. Microbrewery
Sleep
[edit]This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
Budget | Under ₹1,500 |
Mid-range | ₹1,500-4,500 |
Splurge | Over ₹4,500 |
Mid-range
[edit]- Silicon Hearth (formerly Silicon Suites), 174, Nagvarapalya, Rahat Bagh, Behind Big Bazaar (off Old Madras Rd, near Indiranagar), ☏ +91 99860 53292, [email protected].
- 1 Treebo Trend 9 Marks Inn, 9 St Marks Rd, ☏ +91 93228 00100. Complementary breakfast.
- UPAR Hotels Indiranagar, 614-615, 12th Main Rd, 7th Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, ☏ +91 78248 24969.
- Villa Camelot, #94/95, 4th Cross, ECC Rd, Prithvi Layout, Whitefield, ☏ +91 80 3272 3965, [email protected]. Bed and breakfast run by a North Indian couple in the back lanes of ITPL. Cosy atmosphere. From ₹1,500.
Splurge
[edit]- 2 Bengaluru Marriott Hotel White, 8th Rd, Whitefield, ☏ +91 80 4943 5000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. ₹19,423.
- 3 Hotel Royal Orchid, Adjoining KGA Golf Course, Airport Rd, ☏ +91 80 2520 5566, [email protected]. Sometimes referred to as the "Royal Orchid Park Plaza". Not to be confused with Royal Orchid Central.
- 4 The Leela Palace Bengaluru, Airport Rd, ☏ +91 80 2521 1234, [email protected].
- 5 The Paul, 139/28, Domlur Layout (off Intermediate Ring Rd), ☏ +91 80 4047 7777.
- Streling Mac Hotel, 134, HAL Rd, ☏ +91 80 42494949.
- 6 Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield, Whitefield Rd, ☏ +91 80 66933333. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹7,616.