That thing about Bangalore.
So here I am on a week-long getaway from the usual rut. Bangalore is supposedly the third most populous city in India. But it’s nothing like its counterparts Mumbai and Delhi where everyday day is cacophony of events. Maybe it’s because I’m on a vacation. Nevertheless, there’s something about Bangalore which instills this odd soothing cadence.
The sun is almost always accompanied by some customary clouds. The climate is beautifully moderate, with more than occasional rains and no absolute sign of any harsh sunlight. Although Bangalore is undeniably urban, the city swaddles in lush greenery, with abundant trees like a protective bubble wrap.
The city is acquaint with all the world class restaurants serving immaculate food. From Nando’s Peri peri chicken to Taco bell’s chalupa, Swensen’s outrageous sundaes to cable carfaits, Bangalore has everything. A number of state-of-the art microbreweries like Arbor brewing company, The Biere club, Barleys, Prost brew pub serving a number of ale, lager , stout , wheat , seasonal brews apart from the signature brews catering to everyone’s likes and dislikes in beer. Without underestimating the taste of local cuisine, which is quintessentially south-indian comprising of ghee dipped idlis and crispy paper thin dosas from Shree sagar and MTR kitchens. The food in Bangalore is undoubtedly lip-smacking.
Bangalore is sometimes called as the "Pub Capital of India" and the "Rock/Metal capital of India" because of its underground music scene and it is one of the premier places to hold international rock concerts. The city boasts of a number places which hosts gigs and concerts on a regular basis. Apart from the 11 o’clock shutdown, which has smothered the nightlife of Bangalore to an extent, nevertheless the music scene still thrives.
However according to me, it is essentially an ultra-modern city mostly due to the anti-misogynist psyche of Bangaloreans. The substantial 75.60% of the literacy rate might be one of the reasons. You’ll feel this eccentric matriarchy, rarely seen in the cities like Delhi and Mumbai which harbour male chauvinism. In the wake of the nationwide furrow over the rising number of gang rapes in India. The city should essentially breed a generation of young men not intimated by young and successful women. And Bangalore does just that!
Women are treated with respect even the taxi drivers will be courteous, making this city perfect even for a single woman traveller.
I’m about to head homewards. Before I write this blog at a quaint coffee shop sipping on black and white Shekarato which they claim is made of richest Arabica beans is supremely delectable. And definitely worth a shot! Before I secede,
Here is an (unconventional) list of 5 must-see places in Bangalore:
Koshys(St Mark's Road, Bangalore) : Koshy's is a very popular restaurant founded in 1940, it retains an old-world charm with huge pillars and large fans. The main building has Parade Cafe, restaurant and a bakery. It is said that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Nikita Khrushchev, Queen Elizabeth II are some of the dignitaries to have dined here. It has also won MTV's award for the Most Stylish Place in Bangalore.
Magazines (# 55, Prestige P.R. Church Street ) : an exclusive store for magazines on Brigade Road. Rows and rows of magazines are all you’ll find here. On every topic under the sun – motorbikes, health, photography, Architecture, Designing – you name it and chances are that you’ll find something. They have both new and second-hand magazines. What makes this place different from any other magazine store are the felines. This place shelters as many as 19 cats most of which are Persian. The owner of Magazines Yahya Sait, alleges that most of the customers come to the store for the cats than for the magazines. However the cats have served as publicity stunt for the store, the business rose by leaps and bounds, after Sait starting sheltering the cats. The place is pleasant, and the cats are delightful, it’s not only for the booklovers but also for the feline fetish.
Select Bookshop( 71, Brigade Road Cross, Brigade road, 560001) : Established in 1945 it has a wealth of rare first editions and books on every conceivable topic. Bangalore’s favourite bookshop, Select has survived the onslaught of air-conditioned giant book stores with quiet grace. You can browse for hours undisturbed, unless you need the help. It’s amazing how quickly Mr Murthy, the owner, finds the book you are looking for in his enormous collection. This charming paradise for book lovers has an illustrious and eclectic clientele, united by their love for the written word.
Counter Culture (4th cross Whitefield Road): It began as a restaurant, a bar and an open space. But now its more than that, it’s a space that encourages and showcases alternative ideas. It encourages live performance in music, theatre, dance and comedy. Counter Culture has been a host to a number of gigs and concerts right from Raghu Dixit Project to Bass foundation and the most recent stand-up comedy gig by Rohan Joshi and Tanmay Bhatt accompanied by metal madness of The Scribe. This place is naïve and gives you a refreshing interlude, breaking the monotony for most of us.
Hysteria ( 6, Srinagar complex, ground floor, church street): Hysteria is home to a number There are a lot of things you can do by remote control now. But experiencing a performance isn’t one of them. It’s a lot like travelling; no matter how many people you talk to and how many photographs you look through, you won’t know what it’s like till you get there.
That’s why we only feature live artists. We like the journey. We like the energy. We like the way it all comes together unexpectedly. To be honest, we can’t describe it either, you’d have to be here to get it. So come, watch, listen, experience. Get Live. of music-related merchandise, everything in their store is legit. Amongst music merchandise, you will find vintage posters right from the glorious 60’s they have Bob Dylan, The Beatles, ABBA, Elvis Presley, The doors, Pink Floyd, The Metallica, Foo Fighters, you name it and they have it. There are interesting band posters that range from the conventional style to even 3D ones. They also stock textile posters (posters made out of cloth). You will find a host of other music-related merchandise such as apparel, wallets, key chains, figurines of your favourite artistes, and even alarm clocks for procrastinators. They have some cool miniature guitars, and drum sets on display as well, which are definitely worth checking out.
