The garden city.

Situated at an altitude of 3021 feet above sea level, Bangalore is at the heart of the Deccan Plateau. One of the many reasons why Bangalore is a favorite spot for visitors is the pleasant weather. Bangaloreans are very proud of this God-given gift.

It was way back in 1537 Kempe Gowda-1 designed the city as it exists today.

The best place in the city especially for nature lovers like me is Cubbon Park, a sprawling 300 acre natural garden which attracts joggers in droves.

After a typically hectic day I love to drive down to Lal Bagh, another 240 acre sculpted garden and breathe in the clean, fresh air which is a blessing since the city is rather getting polluted with dust raised from automobiles. On weekends, people flock to the shopping centres of Central Bangalore, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Brigade Road and Commercial Street. Cauvery, The Government Handicraft Store, is a treasure house of beautiful hand made items and I think one can never go empty handed out of the store. Name anything from Household linen to DVDs, the stores have it all.

Quick Tips:

Always carry an umbrella. You never know when the weather may change from bright and sunny to cold and rainy. It is better to always drink mineral water and only the reputed brands. In some areas the drinking water tastes salty.

Best Way To Get Around:

The reasonable way to get around is by a three wheeler called Auto Rickshaw. The minimum fare is Rs.7 and they are mostly available. The drivers understand, [apart from the local language, Kannada], Tamil , Hindi and English too. [at least most of them do]

There are private taxis too for those who do not mind spending more.

'City taxi'is another convenient mode of transportation where you can call and arrange for pick up.They are mostly reliable.

City buses should be avoided except for those who know the local language.

We stayed in this hotel until we found a suitable rented accommodation. Woodlands is a renowned chain of hotels and is known for good service without making your wallets lighter. It is best suited for those who love Indian food, as only North Indian and South Indian cuisine is available here. It is 10km from the airport and is in the center of the city.

Koramangala. That's the locality where Sukh Sagar is. It is a peaceful, residential area which sports beautiful, well-kept bungalows. You can see all kinds of people flocking to this small, but neat place to have a go at the delicious Indian dishes. My favorites are the North Indian Chat items: Bhel puri(a mixture of various ingredients tossed together) and Dahi papdi(a tasty yogurt based dish)

There are self-service counters for those in a hurry, apart from the AC and non AC segments.

The Shiva temple on Airport Road is a sight a visitor to Bangalore should not miss.

The first time I went to the temple I expected the LINGAM- which is how the Hindu God Shiva, the destroyer of all evils is depicted commonly in most parts of India. But what I saw here was a huge statue of Shiva in yoga posture, the biggest in the world. The sight is indeed mesmerising.

The temple was built by the Melwanis, the owners of Kids Kemp on MG Road and Kemp Fort on Airport Road which are departmental stores catering to the elite of Bangalore. The Melwanis are philanthropists who run various charitable institutions.

There is a little pond in front of the idol. People chant 'OM NAMA SHIVAYA' 7 times, think of a wish and throw a coin into the pond. The wish will come true! There is also a box where one can drop a letter to God!!

Oh well, it's the faith that matters. Try it with utmost faith and see whether your wishes are granted.

There are so many pavement hawkers who sell real good stuff for throwaway prices in India and Bangalore is no exception.
Delicate porcelainware, from Rajasthan, a desert state of India, adorns a sidewalk of Jayanagar, a locality in Bangalore.
Porcelain is made up of natural clay, firebaked and sometimes coated with a substance called glaze. These makers of porcelain migrated to Bangalore 15 years ago. Artistic flowerpots, vases, pickle containers and toys are made from raw materials got from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.[northern states of India] They are all handmade and priced between Rs.25 to Rs.2500. They make lovely gifts and momentos.
Among other things these exquisite 'Pavement Porcelain' adorns many a nook in my home.