Bengaluru

Understand

Once called the "Pensioner's Paradise" and the "Garden City", the face of Bangalore has since changed dramatically due to its explosive growth in 20th and 21st centuries.

Name

The name "Bangalore" (bang-guh-LOHR) is an anglicisation of the Kannada name Beṅgaḷūru (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, behng-guh-lloo-roo). The earliest records of a place named "Bengaluru" are found in a ninth-century temple in present-day South Bangalore. 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. Although the city was officially renamed to "Bengaluru" in 2014, aligning with the Kannada name, the anglicism "Bangalore" is still stuck to some people for decades since, especially by the outsiders. On the other hand, the official name "Bengaluru" has been widely adopted by various newspapers and organisations since then. Both names are considered valid, and this article uses the former name. However, you should use "Bengaluru" to show respect to the locals, who are vigorously proud of their culture and heritage.

History The feudal lord Kempe Gowda is credited with developing parts of Bangalore. In 1537, with the assistance of the local king, he constructed three districts protected by a walled fort on the site. 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 Bangalore 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.

Climate

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

Summer – February to May (peak temperature is during April

Getting there

By plane

1 Kempegowda International Airport (BLR IATA), Devanahalli (40 km (25 mi) from Central Bangalore (Mahatma Gandhi Road) and 30 km (19 mi) from KSR Bengaluru City railway station), ☏ +91 80 6678-2255, +91 80 6678-2251, toll-free: +1 800 425 4425, [email protected]. The airport is occasionally subject to operational restrictions due to fog from 15 November to 15 February between 3AM-8:30AM (IST). Flight delays and diversions may occur on some mornings due to the morning fog. The airport is among India's busiest and most modern. The airport is host to 10 domestic airlines and 21 international airlines connecting the city to about 50 destinations. There are two terminals, so check which one your flight is departing from, as well as restrictions on times for baggage check-in: for flights leaving in the early hours of the morning (such as 3AM), you may need to check in your bags as much as 2½ hours in advance. Bring a copy of your boarding pass or ticket, it will be checked at the entrance.

By train

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 Bangalore 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 Bangalore, the duration of which is about 90 min. Low-cost airlines charge the same fare as AC train or Volvo bus. However, sleeper class (non air-con) train travel from Mumbai to Bangalore 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

Getting around

Traffic in Bangalore 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.

By metro

The Namma Metro is an efficient cross-city rail service in Bangalore 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 2 (Maadavara–Silk Institute) Purple Line 1 (Whitefield (Kadugodi)–Challaghatta) Yellow Line 3 (Rashtreeya Vidyalaya (RV) Road-Bommasandra) Tickets can be bought at any station, either from manned counters (cash accepted) or ticketing machines (UPI only). Fares depend on the number of stations you travel. Minimum fare is ₹10 and maximum is ₹90. Pick up a RuPay smart card for ₹50 to save you from the queue and get a 5% discount on the regular fare; it will also work in any other metro system across India. There are no other concessions for seniors, women, etc. Tickets must be purchased for children above 3 feet in height (independent of age). QR tickets can also be purchased on various apps, but most of them require an Indian phone number and access to UPI. 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.

By bus

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'

See

Individual listings can be found in Bangalore's district articles

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. Bangalore, like the rest of India, has a habit of charging foreigners a lot more than locals for attractions. For example, Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, which is on the half-day tour, charges ₹15 for Indians/SAARC and ₹200 for non-Indians.

Do

Individual listings can be found in Bangalore's district articles

Outdoor activities Bangalore 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. Balahalli Reserved Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Cricket Bangalore is also popular for playing cricket. Bangalore also has the M Chinaswamy Stadium and is home to the Royal Challengers Bangalore 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 Bangalore 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:

Cinemax (Bangalore Central, Bellandur). Cinepolis, Royal Meenakshi Mall, Bannerghatta Rd; ETA Mall, Binny Pete; Forum Shantiniketan, Whitefield. Gopalan Cinemas, Arch Mall, Mysore Rd,. Gopalan Mall, Mysore Road; Gopalan Mall, Near Jayadeva Hospital, Bannerghatta Road ; Gopalan Mal;, Old Madras Road, Near Baiyappanhalli Metro Station Inox theatre, Bangalore Central, JP Nagar, Fame Cinemas, MG Road, Forum Value Mall, Whitefield, Garuda Mall, Magrath Road, Lido Mall, Ulsoor, Mantri Square, Malleshwaram, Garuda Swagath Mall, Jayanagar. PVR Cinemas, Nexus Mall, Koramangala, Orion Mall, Malleshwaram, The Phoenix Market City Mall, Whitefield; Vega Mall, JD Mara signal. Bangalore Film Society. A club membership (around ₹500/year) is typically required for entrance. Foreign film series and cultural events.

Spas Spas and massages are very much a part of Bangalore's east-meets-west culture, new ones spring up across the city all the time. Beware th

Buy

Individual listings can be found in Bangalore's district articles 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 city's true shopping experience.

Boutiques Apart from the numerous malls 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.

Chilli Billi, ☏ +91 92 4179 9105. 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, B.v.k.iyengar Rd and Kamraj Rd, ☏ +91 80 4147 0910. 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 80 ft (24 m) 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

Individual listings can be found in Bangalore's district articles Bangalore 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. A coconut goes for ₹25-30 (some stands may have smaller coconuts for ₹10-15). Sugar cane juice runs ₹10-15 per cup. 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 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 serves nice North Indian food at a very reasonable price. 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.

Chains

The Adiga's chain. Restaurants to the south of Bangalore. Prominent among them are in: Jayanagar 4th Block, take the road facing BHS First Grade College, Basavanagudi. Beijing Bites. 11AM-3:30PM, 7PM-11PM. Chain restaurant inspired by Chinese & Thai cuisines, spread across Bangalore. ₹200-₹400. Kamat Yatrinivas, Majestic; All around the city. Authentic Mangalorean meals. Mast Kalandar, All around the city. Very nice North India cuisine. It is very reasonably pric

Drink & nightlife

Individual listings can be found in Bangalore's district articles 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.

Cafes Barista Lavazza, ☏ +91 80 4207 5023, [email protected]. 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 Bangalore with 32 retail outlets, most of them near IT corporate offices. Coffee World, ☏ +91 80 4111 2111, +91-9845296898. Can be found all over Bangalore. Costa Coffee, ☏ +91 80 4348 8888. 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 Bangalore. 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 Bangalore; its members are interns, expats, volunteers and exchange students residing in the city. Formerly having a reputation as the Pub City of India, Bangalore's buoyant pub and nightlife has been curtailed by police and regulatory action, and all bars and nightclu

Sleep

Individual listings can be found in Bangalore's district articles 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, 1 km (0.62 mi) 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.

Go next

Anshi National Park or Kali Tiger Reserve (500 km (310 mi) from Bangalore — River rafting and Kayaking is offered at Kali River near Dandeli. Badami — A town in Bagakot district known for magnificent temple architecture of the Chalukya period. World Heriage site Pattadakal and Aihole are nearby to Badami. Bandipur National Park (225 km (140 mi)) — Famous for elephants, tigers, and precious sandalwood trees. It is spread over an area of 890 square kilometres (340 sq mi) and is considered one of the most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries. Bhadra Tiger Reserve (280 km (170 mi)) — A tiger reserve on the catchment area of river Bhadra. Nagarhole National Park or Rajiv Gandhi National Park (220 km (140 mi)) Nandi Hills (57 km (35 mi)) — provides a panoramic view of sunrise and sunset. One of the ways to go there is to go on a bicycle. The hill station has become a popular tourist spot because it is blessed with a pleasant environment throughout the year. Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Mysore and Chamarajanagar come in a straight line. You will need half a day each for the first two places and two days each for the next two places. South of that line, around 34 km (21 mi) east from Mysore, Keshava Temple of Somanathapura offers marvellous architecture and stone sculptures.