A Quick Guide To Bengaluru

An erstwhile cantonment, a region that saw succession of South Indian dynasties, a present-day megacity and the nation&rsquos IT hub, Bengaluru is a fine place indeed. If you are a newbie and were wondering what to expect from a megacity, here are some ideas.

EAT
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Spoil yourself silly during your first meal of the day because the city has some great eateries, that, mind you, do open early (and won&rsquot burn a hole in your pocket). Start your day with breakfast at Koshy&rsquos at St Mark&rsquos Road, or if you are in and around Koramangala, head to The Hole in the Wall or Cafe Terra (among many). Also, when in Bengaluru, eat local. My personal favourites were ragi mudde (ragi balls), bisi bele bath (hot lentil rice) and obbattu. Ragi mudde&mdashrich in nutrients&mdashwas fun to eat. It came with one rule&mdashdon&rsquot chew, only swallow. That&rsquos the way to have it, and once you get past swallowing little balls of ragi, follow it up with mutton or chicken curry. You&rsquoll come across small street-side stalls selling hot piping dosas. Throw in some freshly fried crispy murukkus while you&rsquore at it.

SEE
You are in city of all cities Bengaluru is not called a megacity for nothing. But the city isn&rsquot only about high-rises and concrete. The city&rsquos green spots are a visual delight. For some greenery, Lalbagh Botanical Garden&mdash40 acres of garden space built in 1760 by Hyder Ali, father of Tipu Sultan&mdashis home to 1,854 species of plants Cubbon Park&mdashspread over an area of 300 acres, this massive park is home to some 6000 species of trees and plants. Keep an eye out for snakes if you happen to walk around dried tree stumps or pile rocky outcrops]. These two parks are great for leisure walks.
Vidhan Soudha&mdashone of the largest legislative buildings in Bengaluru&mdashis a fine example of Dravidian architecture.
For history buffs, must-visits are Bangalore Palace and Tipu Sultan Palace. Bangalore Palace is a popular tourist spot. From the fine interiors to the magnificent display of art, the Palace is a place to be in if you are a fan of art and history. The Tipu Sultan Palace is a pure teakwood marvel.

DO
Drink. Bengaluru is also known for its microbreweries. With so many breweries up and about and to choose from, there are no dull moments for a beer lover. Toit in Indiranagar, Prost Brew Pub in Koramangala, Brewsky in J.P. Nagar, Windmills Craftworks, Arbor and Biergarten in Whitefield are just some of the many options you&rsquoll find in the city. Read more about the breweries here.&nbspCheers

SHOP
Make a beeline for Commercial Street for junk jewellery, Chickpet Market for sarees (and silver and gold) and Brigade Road if you want to shop. And that too without hurting your bank balance While you are at it, go to Blossom Book House in Church Street&mdasha haven for book lovers.

STAY
From luxury hotels to budget bed & breakfasts, Bengaluru has a lot of options to choose from. Some of the luxury options are The Oberoi Bangalore, The Leela Palace Bangalore, ITC Windsor, ITC Royal Gardenia and the new entrant, The Den Bengaluru. For more budget-friendly options, you can check out hostels like goStops Bengaluru, Zostel Bangalore, Be Animal, to name a few.

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