Bengaluru.
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Overview

Bengaluru (Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು Bengaḷūru), formerly Bangalore, is the largest city in southern India and the capital of the state of Karnataka. A cosmopolitan city, Bengaluru was developed around what was once a mud fort of a feudal lord. The city has a population of nearly 13 million (2025), making it India's fourth-largest city.

Known worldwide as the "Silicon Valley of India", Bengaluru is at the core of India's information technology (IT) industry. In addition, the city is nicknamed the "Garden City" for its large array of parks and greenery.

Districts

This article covers the Bengaluru Urban district, which has been divided into the following travel districts.

Central Bengaluru Central Bengaluru is the heart of the city. For a long time, it was the city, or rather the agglomeration of two cities: Bengaluru Pete and Bengaluru Cantonment. The older Pete has narrow alleys and dense living, while the newer Cantonment has wide streets and more greenery.

Understand

Bengaluru (BAYNG-guh-LOO-roo) is a bustling metropolis with a large working population from different parts of India. The city's fast-paced culture provides a sharp contrast to much of the rest of India.

The earliest records of a place named "Bengaluru" (Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು Bengaḷūru) are found in a ninth-century temple in present-day South Bengaluru. A popular myth explaining the name is that it originated from Benda Kaal Uru (Town of Boiled Beans). The story is told that the name was given to the city by King Vira Ballala, who, while lost in the area, was offered boiled beans by an old woman.

The name was officially changed from Bangalore to Bengaluru in 2014. Although both names are common ever since, people who use "Bangalore" are generally non-Kannada speakers, whereas "Bengaluru" users primarily speak Kannada. In mass media, the name "Bengaluru" has become more commonly accepted in order to avoid the city's language controversy. The city is also fondly called namma Bengaḷūru (ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು), meaning "our Bengaluru".

History The feudal lord Kempe Gowda is credited with developing parts of Bengaluru. In 1537, with the assistance of the local king, he constructed three districts protected by a walled fort on the site. Once called the "Pensioner's Paradise", the face of Bengaluru has since changed dramatically due to its explosive growth in 20th and 21st centuries.

During the next three centuries, Bangalore existed very much in the shadow of the neighbouring city, Mysore, and control of the town changed hands many times. The year 1831 marked a major turning point for the city. Claiming misrule by king Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, the British took control of the Mysore Kingdom and, possibly influenced by the city's salubrious climate, moved the administrative capital to Bangalore. New telecommunication systems were laid, rail connections built, fine government buildings constructed, and the city's famous parks and gardens established. After independence, Bangalore maintained its position as the state capital of Karnataka and continues to grow.

For many years, Bangalore was regarded in India as the greenest, most liberal and forward-thinking city. These attributes have propelled the city to the forefront of India's high-tech industry boom, and it ranks as one of the most developed cities in India and one of the world's fastest-growing urban areas.

Unlike the major cities of India which are extremely hot in the summer months, Bengaluru enjoys a relatively mild climate all year round.

Summer – February to May (peak temperature is during April and May) Monsoon – June to October (the heaviest rains are typically between June and August) Winter – November to January (with January being the coldest month)

Summer temperatures can reach and early morning temperatures in the winter hover around . However, Bengaluru has unpredictable weather. It is quite common to have a warm sunny day followed by evening showers ending with cool nights. So, be prepared for rain for the better part of the year, especially from May to November.

Visitor information Official websites: Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Bengaluru Urban District

Talk

Being the capital of Karnataka, the widely spoken and official language in Bengaluru is Kannada. Most people can speak and understand English and Hindi. Other Indian languages such as Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Urdu are spoken by the respective migrant and minority communities. As Bengaluru is a commercial and cultural hub, it has a smattering of Konkani, Marathi and Tulu speakers.

With the rise of Kannada nationalism, language has increasingly become a hot topic in Bengaluru, with many locals encouraging minority communities and travellers to learn Kannada. Some auto-rickshaw drivers may be reluctant to speak any language other than Kannada, and a handful of them even charge higher to passengers who cannot speak Kannada.

But that said, many auto drivers, bus conductors and shop assistants can have a conversation in at least basic English. Some of them will be able to understand Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Signs are generally written in both Kannada and English. However, a basic knowledge of Kannada comes very handy when interacting with locals.

Get in

Bookings can be done at either the railway stations or at the Indian Railways booking counters in major commercial and residential areas. Booking can also be done online. As with all Indian railway travel, have some patience for delays. Trains are usually on time (within 20 min of scheduled time), but can sometimes be late. A digital departure board in the station will tell you what platform your train is on and what time it leaves.

Travelling from Mumbai to Bengaluru by train takes a long time (24 hr or so). Buses are comparatively faster and take 18-20 hr, provided there are no traffic jams in Mumbai and Pune en route. Effective travel time by train or bus is long. Air travel is recommended for traveling between Mumbai and Bengaluru, the duration of which is about 90 min. However, sleeper class (non air-con) train travel from Mumbai to Bengaluru is economical and you can have a view of some lush evergreen forests and river valleys across Western India. Traveling to Delhi can take 39 hours (or more) and the flight ticket just double than the amount of the slow train.

For the Foreign Tourist Quota, go to the big building on the left, before entering the train station through the main access. This is the "Unreserved Tickets" building (even if on the side door it says "Reservation Centre"). On the first floor, there is the Chief Reservation Supervisor. The official will book the ticket for you (after showing a foreigner passport). They might refer you to the first counter on the main building. But there you must stand in the queue, while here you can sit at the office and wait they book the ticket for you.

Stations There are many railway stations in Bengaluru, each serving certain trains:

If you have difficulty arranging a plane or railway ticket to/from your next destination, or you prefer a little more adventure, you can go by bus. Government and private buses run services to/from major cities like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirupati, Hyderabad, etc. Buses can be a regular service with only seats and no A/C, a normal luxury bus, a Volvo A/C bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Buses are also good for coming from many towns in Karnataka without a good number of trains due to the increased service - most towns in Karnataka are essentially guaranteed to have service to the state capital.

There are also many unofficial stops that buses will go to on request (even on deluxe buses with reserved seats, you can ask the conductor to stop at such a stop as long as it is in Bengaluru/the same city as the stop on your ticket) or even let passengers book tickets from. These places do not have any station infrastructure but are usually located near landmarks, on major streets/circles/squares and of course, can be spotted by the numerous buses crowded around. One particularly useful stop is Yeswanthpur Junction, which is next to the long-distance train station of the same name as well as the Yeswanthpur metro station.

The display boards for long-distance buses bus show the destination in the local language Kannada. If you don't speak Kannada, you will likely need to get some help to get on the right bus. However, the newer Volvo buses are all equipped with electronic displays that show the destination in Kannada and English one after the other. Non-Volvo buses are being gradually retrofitted with these electronic displays; this should make bus travel much simpler if you are unfamiliar with the local language. However, there are still many of the older Ashok Leyland and even some very old Tata buses plying the roads, so it is best to go by timings or ask the conductor where the bus is heading (usually by asking the destination name like it's a question, such as "Mysore?", and hearing if the conductor responds with the same name or another one).

Bus companies Durgamba Motors Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)- Operated by Govt. of Karnataka. Counters are present all over the city for reservations, list on the website. KPN Travels - From the direction of Tamil Nadu VRL Travels - From most places north of Bengaluru City Travels- From the direction of Tamil Nadu

By car Driving in India can be very stressful. Lane discipline is practically non-existent, excessive honking, high vehicle density, lack of regard for traffic law, 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 will probably want to hire a car and a driver. An air conditioned 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.

Get around

Traffic in Bengaluru is generally appalling: it's often ranked as one of India's most congested cities. Allow plenty of time to get around, especially anywhere near rush hour. Heavy rains often cause flooding that can bring traffic to a complete standstill.

The schedules of the metro and buses are integrated into Google Maps.

The Namma Metro is an efficient cross-city rail service in Bengaluru that provides the only realistic way to escape the traffic, but its coverage of the city remains limited. As of August 2025, there are three lines:

Green Line (Maadavara–Silk Institute) Purple Line (Whitefield (Kadugodi)–Challaghatta) Yellow Line (Rashtreeya Vidyalaya (RV) Road-Bommasandra)

Tickets can be bought at any station, either from manned counters (cash accepted) or ticketing machines (UPI only). There are no other concessions for seniors, women, etc. Tickets must be purchased for children above 3 feet in height (independent of age).

Redbus does not and it supports credit cards as well.

If you get a smart token (the single journey ticket), remember that it has to be returned at the station you get off at, so make sure not to lose it during the ride. All trains are 6-coach trains with the front part reserved to women.

Buses are cheap and usually frequent (though expensive compared to other states). But travelling on them can be very difficult if you don't know the system well. Now, most buses have digital signage alternating between the local language Kannada and English but some buses still display the old printed signs with only the route number in English, with the destination and route information written in Kannada. Of course, even with digital signage the buses can take a long time to change the displayed language, meaning that it can be easy to miss your bus. This means you will have to know what route number you need before you get on, which you can find from NammaBMTC website or Desiroutes, entering your starting point and end point on Google maps, or by asking locals.

Not all bus stops are clearly marked, so it can be a little tricky on your first trip. Groups of people standing around can be a good indicator that the bus will stop there. Also, it's a good idea to ask the driver or conductor if they stop at the stop you want to go to (a 500 and a 500Q will not go to all the same stops). Just ask the name in a questioning tone and you will get a response. Posted route maps of the bus system are rare, although maps are sold at the main bus terminals (Kempegowda Bus Stand and Shivajinagar). BMTC (toll-free) .

Watch out: some bus drivers put their route sign on the bottom right side of the windshield instead of its place on the sign holder on the top of the windshield.

Buses with black display boards run within the city. Red board buses cover long-distance and go to adjoining suburbs. The ordinary city buses are white & blue or green in colour. The newer city buses tend to be blue in colour and have LED display boards. There are blue Volvo buses, called Vajra, that operate mainly on IT sector routes like Electronic City, ITPL and Outer Ring Road routes, and to tourist places like Bannerghatta National Park and weekend Services to Wonderla. Unlike most 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.

BMTC also operates Vayu Vajra services to Kempegowda International Airport from various destinations across the City. KIAS-9 is the most frequent of the routes, connecting the Airport to the Majestic Bus stand.

City buses are crowded during rush hours, which are at least 7-11AM and 5-9PM (M-Sa) but one can travel with little difficulty during the daytime. Bus services usually start by 5 or 6AM and are less frequent 9:30AM–10PM and rare after 10:30PM. Traffic in Bengaluru is notorious: a trip across the city can take up to 4 hr, especially during rush hour times. There are no bus lanes, so buses, cabs and cars face the same traffic jams! Major buses in the city have seats reserved for ladies in the front, between the front and middle doors. The first seat near the front door is reserved for ladies' senior citizens, while the first seat behind the middle door is for the physically challenged, and the seat facing the door is for senior citizens. Generally, you can board and exit the bus from either door.

It is always better to buy a daily pass if you plan to travel the whole day on the bus. Daily passes are issued by the on-duty bus conductor or at the bus stand. You need to show any Indian Photo ID Card to purchase daily-pass. Using this pass, you can travel in any bus (other than the Vajra) for the entire day, any number of times. Senior citizens are given a 25% concession in all buses on the production of valid ID cards (e.g. passports). Children aged 4-12 are given a 50% concession. No charge for children up to 4 years of age.

Buses are available to all major localities of the city from these three bus stands. There have been a lot of developments due to the ongoing metro project as well as efforts to decongest the city. BMTC is adding more bus stations all the time. Better to check their websites for the latest situation.

By train There are DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) and MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains run by the South Western Railway (SWR), which connect the city centre to various suburbs, especially in the IT corridor areas of Whitefield, Outer Ring Road and Electronic City. However, speeds are low and station infrastructure can be poor.

Auto-rickshaws (also called "auto") are everywhere at any time of day. They are green-and-yellow or black-and-yellow three wheeled contraptions. They are a fast (but unsafe) way to get around the city - in thick traffic, they are quicker than a taxi or bus.

They generally tend to charge on an ad-hoc basis depending on the distance of the destination, the chances of getting another customer from the mentioned locality, and their mood. You should simply refuse to board an auto where the meter is faulty or the driver refuses to use it. Saying "meter please" will usually do the trick. Drivers will give you endless excuses why they cannot use the meter. Remember that they are required by law to have a working meter and use it, and this will almost always be the cheapest for you too. If they still refuse, walk away: there are plenty of other rickshaws on the roads.

Tourists should be cautious when approaching auto-rickshaws at night, or during heavy rains. In such circumstances you could ask local traffic police to avail an auto-rickshaw.

Another thing to keep in mind is to be firm but not loud in an argument while travelling in the auto. Some of the less reputable drivers may team up with their friends midway to cause problems. Remember that although Bengaluruans are known for their polite and mild mannered behaviour, auto drivers are normally an exception. Some will think nothing of trying to rip you off. If in doubt, consult a local or your hotel travel desk.

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.

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 display one.

If an auto driver is problematic, get their identification number and report to the BBMP Control room which is empowered to withdraw their auto license. This is a very effective technique to deal with them. The BBMP control room number as of December 2009 is .

If you arrive in Bangalore via train, at the main train station there is an office near the taxis/auto-rickshaws which will print out a pre-paid receipt for your ride.

Taxis are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Toyota Etios, Tata Indica cars or Mahindra Logan cars, which are much safer than auto-rickshaws, and the drivers are polite. Waiting or return trips will be charged extra, as will a lot of heavy luggage. As of 2025 January, Uber, Ola and Namma Yatri have become preferred modes to book Taxi using their Mobile Apps.

Unlike many other cities, taxis are not marked with 'TAXI' signs on the top. Instead, the cars are marked with the logo of the fleet operator or taxi company on the sides of the car. Only some companies like "Meru Taxi" are marked with the sign 'Taxi' on them. Some companies have a yellow sign with an identification number (usually a letter followed by two digits) on the top. The operator 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 to 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 number plate is usually in the format "KA" followed by 01 to 05, followed by two letters, followed by a four-digit number. Taxis generally have yellow number plates with black letters.

On weekdays, especially during rush hours, be prepared to book a taxi a couple of hours in advance. Otherwise, the rush-hour traffic jams and high demand for taxis will make it difficult for a taxi to reach you in time. Private taxis are generally more reliable during this time – in many cases, radio cabs will be overbooked, and you might be unfortunate to be informed that your booking has been cancelled.

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

Travel agents and hotels can arrange private chauffeur driven cars, and you may also hire cars to drive yourself. While expensive compared to taxis, these are the most trusted, secure, and comfortable ways to travel around the city. Driving in Bengaluru can be difficult, because of poor driver discipline, but chauffeur driven services are very reasonable. These can be arranged by travel companies or online from the countries of origin.

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.

By bicycle The weather in Bengaluru is extremely pleasant, but the traffic is equally hectic. So if your plan is not to go towards crowded city, you can go around cycling.

Most of the sightseeing locations are within a range of , so you can consider covering them on bicycle.

By rental scooter Travelling by rental scooter (light motorcycle) is increasingly common. Companies like Bounce, VOGO and YULU offer rental scooters and electric cycles (solar powered models are available), to be unlocked using an app on your smartphone. VOGO and YULU have certain hubs where the vehicle has to be parked, whereas Bounce scooters can be parked anywhere. You should carry your own helmet since most of these vehicles don't come equipped.

See

There are city tours that can show you the city efficiently if you are short on time. Typically, tours do not include entry fees into the attractions. Bengaluru, like the rest of India, has a habit of charging foreigners a lot more than locals for attractions.

Do

Outdoor activities Bengaluru is bestowed with rock climbers, aqua sportsmen and aero sportsmen. There are several clubs, including Nature Admire, Care, Spark, KMA, Capture, Mars, Angel, Wildcraft and Adventure Works.

Camping facilities are available at Savandurga, Gunjoor Lake, Bhimeshwari, Rangaswamy betta.

The Art of Bicycle Trips organises bicycle tours in and around the city, which combine cycling with art and heritage.

The Koramangala Club in Koramangala, and the Swimming club at the National Games Village (NGV), have facilities such as swimming pools and tennis courts.

Bengaluru is also popular for playing cricket. Bengaluru also has the M Chinaswamy Stadium and is home to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League and Women's Premier League. Chinaswamy Stadium also hosts international matches against teams. Chinaswamy Stadium is also known for its energetic crowd in cheering the Royal Challengers Bengaluru former captain Virat Kohli and the rest of the team, especially when they win. Book tickets early especially for IPL matches because when Royal Challengers Bengaluru is playing, the tickets get sold out within seconds. If you arrive in January or February, book tickets for the Women's Premier League as it takes place in those months and is often less crowded than the IPL matches. Always carry a water bottle while travelling to Chinaswamy Stadium.

Movies Take in a movie at one of the innumerable theaters around the city. Some multiplexes:

Gopalan Cinemas. Gopalan Mall, Mysore Road; Gopalan Mall, Near Jayadeva Hospital, Bannerghatta Road ; Gopalan Mal;, Old Madras Road, Near Baiyappanhalli Metro Station

Bangalore Film Society. Foreign film series and cultural events.

Spas Spas and massages are very much a part of Bengaluru's east-meets-west culture, new ones spring up across the city all the time. Beware that many of the "massage" classifieds in local newspapers may be fronts for prostitution. Prostitution is illegal and if caught in a raid, you may end up spending a night in the cooler before being eligible for bail. Most legitimate spas and massage parlours have detailed websites and are run professionally.

Learn

Choe Khor Sum Ling. This Tibetan Buddhist meditation and study centre is in Domlur Layout near Shanti Sagar Restaurant on Airport Road. CKSL is a centre for the study and practice of Mahayana Buddhism following the lineage and example of Lord Buddha. The Centre, whose name means 'The Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma' was founded in 2003 by Lama Zopa Rinpoche under the guidance of HH the XIVth Dalai Lama. The Centre offers courses in various Buddhist meditation techniques and teachings on different aspects of Buddhism. Teachings are offered free to the public and are conducted in English or in Tibetan (with translation in English). In addition to regular teachings, every few weeks the Centre invites senior Lamas to give talks on important aspects of the Buddhist path. Such talks are also accompanied by instructions and initiations by the Lama into different meditation practices.

Maha Bodhi Society. This temple has a very active schedule. There are teachings on the Dharma in English on the first two and last Sundays of every month from 9:30-11:30AM, while on the 3rd Sunday there is a meditation retreat. Anyone is welcome to attend. The temple also has a good library and a beautiful garden - a great place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis outside.

Thubten Lekshey Ling. Nyingma Tibetan Buddhist meditation centre founded by the late His Holiness Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche. The centre is close to MG Road on Ulsoor road, on the side of Manipal Centre. The centre conducts meditation classes, spiritual discourses and advanced study programs. Weekend teachings in meditation and philosophy are offered by lamas from Namdroling Monastery, Bylakupee.

Work

Being referred as Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru provides plethora of employment opportunities to youngsters from different corners of India. There are two business clusters where jobs are concentrated: Electronic City in South Bengaluru, and Whitefield in East Bengaluru.

The best way to find employment in Bengaluru is through job fairs, job portals, applying directly to companies of interest, and through headhunters.

With a little hard work and persistence finding a job is quite possible in Bengaluru. Most of the available positions are in the IT field but not necessarily IT based. Several expats do marketing, quality assurance, accent training and translation among other things. All jobs in India require an employment visa which must be obtained abroad and sponsored by the hiring company in India. In general, the salary for expats is very high compared to the local Indian wage. The best resource for jobs is through the expat community. Ask around but a good place to meet expats is the Sunday brunches at the 5-star hotels or at the numerous coffee shops in and around the MG Road area.

Buy

Bengaluru 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, Bengaluru provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier.

Many visitors come to Bengaluru searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk saris and so miss out on the city's true shopping experience.

Boutiques Apart from the numerous malls that have taken Bengaluru 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.

Chilli Billi. Great for women's westernwear, especially the dresses, good collection of bags, shoes and jewellery. They also offer home decor solutions.

President's Groom Concepts. Two menswear fashion stores. Fine fabrics for made-to-order and a large ready-to-wear collection. Bespoke suits and made to order clothing including tuxedos, business wear to traditional Indian kurtas and sherwanis.

Electronics The Croma electronics showroom is opposite Lifestyle Mall. eZone, Reliance Digital, Pai, Sony, Panasonic electronics showrooms are all within the kilometre from here. So this is the ideal location if you want to do a survey before making your next expensive LCD/LED TV purchase.

Markets The traditional markets have mom-and-pop stores that sell everything from fruits, vegetables, groceries to electronics, music, and mobile phones.

Smaller but more lively traditional markets can be found in residential areas such as Gandhi Bazaar, N R Colony, Banashankari, Malleswaram, Jayanagar, JP Nagar & Shivajinagar.

For other food options, you can do your grocery at Nature's Basket or Spar, More, FoodWorld, options are huge, all on the Road. At the 1st block you can find grocery shops more suited for the local residents, if you want it the traditional way!

Shopping malls Malls typically have higher-end stores retailing apparel, footwear, and consumer electronics. Many malls also have food courts (with international cuisine) and movie theatres. Finding a parking spot for your car may not be easy though, especially on weekends.

The heart of the new mall shopping district is on Victoria Road, with malls like Garuda Mall, Bengaluru Central and Globus, all within easy walking distance.

Eat

Bengaluru has a wide variety of food options. Foreigners will want to look for cleanliness in choosing a place to eat. Also don't expect the exterior to be too fancy, observe the cleanliness of the inside and the servers when choosing a place to eat! Eating options include high end restaurants to chains to temples to mom and pop shops and of course street vendors! Restaurants usually label if they serve only vegetarian (veg or pure veg) or both veg and non-veg cuisine. If you haven't been in India long, it is safer to take bottled water. But juices and other drinks are usually OK.

There are also hundreds of young coconut and sugarcane juice stands! A nice refresher as you go around town! Both are good for keeping cool and energized.

Bengaluru 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 travellers may want to tread a bit carefully.

Foreigners might want to only drink bottled water and eat only chutneys that are made with bottled or filtered water. Also, beef is forbidden to be on the menu in Karnataka restaurants.

The 80 Feet Road is the Eat Street of Koramangala. Pizza Hut, Domino's, KFC, Taco Bell, Au Bon Pain are all found here. There are also many non-chains serving local Indian cuisine. Chandni Chowk is a great option if you want the rural Punjabi dhaba experience.

Wisdom Cafe, near the AlienWare showroom is a really cosy place to have some snacks or lunch. So is the Hole in the Wall cafe, on the back street behind Maharaja Hotel. Serves great coffee and English breakfast. So does Cafe Terra, near Wipro park crossing. Adjacent to it is a really popular food joint called Little Home. It's really popular with the young working populace. Naturals Ice cream parlour is a hit with the hip crowd; on weekend nights you may find queues outside.

The Adiga's chain. Restaurants to the south of Bengaluru. Prominent among them are in: Jayanagar 4th Block, take the road facing BHS First Grade College, Basavanagudi.

Beijing Bites. Chain restaurant inspired by Chinese & Thai cuisines, spread across Bengaluru.

Kamat Yatrinivas. Authentic Mangalorean meals.

Mast Kalandar. Very nice North India cuisine. It is very reasonably priced.

Nagarjuna Chimney. Possibly have a few more branches elsewehere in Bengaluru. The biryani is great, as are their meals which are served ritually on a banana leaf. Reach early for lunch, for there are always hordes waiting.

Upaahara Darshini. One of Bengaluru's oldest food joints. Amazing dosas.

Corner House. 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.

Kanti Sweets. KG Rd, 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.

Nandini. The Andhra fast food chain serves some excellent biriyani and chicken dishes.

New Shanti Sagar. This is a reasonably reliable chain of vegetarian south Indian restaurants. Branches scattered all over the city, notably in Koramangala Jayanagar, Domlur.

The Rameshwaram Cafe. A well-known restaurant chain famous for its extra crispy ghee dosas. Standing room only and hugely popular, all food is made to order so at peak meal times you may need to wait for an hour or longer.

Savera Tea Shop. 24 hr tea shops near Russell Market in Shivajinagar and on MG Rd. 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.

Shezan. Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines with a good menu choice where beef, fish, prawn, mutton and chicken meat are available. Excellent steaks.

SLV chain. Prominent among them are in: Banashankari 2nd stage, opposite BDA park and the one in J.P.Nagar 2nd Phase near Ragigudda Temple

Sree Krishna. Fast food a little further from the road connecting Lalbagh Westgate with Basavanagudi.

Richie Rich Ice Cream Parlour. Three branches around the city, with a variety of natural ice creams, softies and many fast food items such as pav bhaji and vada pav.. Try the 'Elvis Presley' specialty or the traffic jam or 'Richie Rich' special. The 3 locations are on St. Marks Rd, Airport Rd. and Kumara Park East.

Swensen's. The ultimate sundae experience.

South Indian cuisine Bengaluru 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. There are numerous established South Indian joints that serve authentic dosas and idlis such as MTR, CTR, Vidyarthi Bhavan and so on! Make sure to try out the classic Benne Masala Dose and a cup of filter coffee at one of these places. Quality widely varies, since most of them cater to working people.

Dhabas There are a few dhabas catering to all tastes. A special mention is the green park dhaba on the outskirts on Bellary Road and Golconda Chimney on the old airport road in Marathahalli, opposite Shankara Eye Hospital. The ambience is nice. Try the chicken kathi rolls and the biryani.

Drink

In Koramangala, Legends of Rock is near the Pizza Hut on 80 ft. Road. Also great is the Jimi's Beer Cafe nearby, has a really nice ambience. Costa Coffee, Barista and CCD have their presence near Maharaja Hotel. Young working people spend a lot of their time here. You can get a truly multi national multi cultural feeling as there are several restaurants serving Spanish, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Mexican food. Hence, it is really popular with expatriates. The area around Jyoti Nivas college is a popular hangout for the college going crowd, with a lot of eateries and cafes in the area. This area has a very hip/ fashionable feel to it.

Barista Lavazza. A cafe chain established in 1997 and more commonly known as Barista and now owned by Lavazza. The chain has more than 200 stores in India. It is found all over Bengaluru with 32 retail outlets, most of them near IT corporate offices.

Coffee World. Can be found all over Bengaluru.

Costa Coffee. British coffeehouse chain. Koramangala 4th Block, in Indranagar and another opposite Goethe-Institut, RMZ Eco Space on Sarjapur Rd and Sigma Mall, Brookesfield, Cunningham Rd, JNC Rd, and Jayanagar. Besides Coffee, Costa lays heavy emphasis on food with sandwiches, paninis, tostatos, pastas, many kinds of desserts, English muffins, and a wide variety of cakes.

Travel on Menu Café. Popular for TOM Coffee.

Pubs and bars The pub scene is concentrated around the commercial business district in the heart of Bengaluru. MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, St. Marks Road, and Church Street have numerous pubs. Happy hours is typically between 6-8PM and at most pubs, the time for the last order is around 10:30PM.

Most bars and pubs in the city are somewhat upscale, but many inexpensive restaurants serve beer and good quality food.

If you just need to go out you could go to one of the bars, but if you would like to have a great social experience and are in the city for a considerable period of time consider becoming a member of one of the social expat clubs in the city. The IVES Club offers a meeting for its members every Saturday at one or the other popular nightclubs in Bengaluru; its members are interns, expats, volunteers and exchange students residing in the city.

Formerly having a reputation as the Pub City of India, Bengaluru's buoyant pub and nightlife has been curtailed by police and regulatory action, and all bars and nightclubs must now close no later than midnight.

Sleep

A large number of budget hotels near KSR railway station are crowded in the area around the Dargah Tawakkal Mastan, O.T.C. Road, Chickpet, Near Sreenivasa Hospital, from the Majestic bus station. Ask for the Brahmins Bakery area.

If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majestic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.