Metro secrets - Bangalore
EAT
The place: ‘Harima, Bangalore’
Where: 4th Floor, Devatha Plaza, Residency Road
Why it’s hot: For some of the best Japanese cuisine in Bangalore, drop in at Harima. It’s run by Japanese owners with a Japanese chef. The hotel doesn’t have an elaborate pan-Asian menu but restricts itself to everything Japanese— an unending range of delicacies.
Must try: Sushi Platter, Yaki Niku
Cost: Approx. Rs 1,200 for two
Open: 12 noon-3 p.m. and 6.30-11 p.m
Contact: 080-41325757
The place: Mavalli Tiffin Room
Where: Lalbagh Road
Why it’s hot: This place has remained popular over many years. The Maiyya family from Udupi district opened it in 1924 close to Lalbagh main entrance. The family has protected the culinary secrets and handed them down over the generations.
Must try: Kharabath and dosa
Cost: Approx. Rs 150 for two
Open: Breakfast 6.30-11 a.m.; Lunch: 12.30-2.30 p.m. ; Dinner: 8-9.30 p.m. Monday closed
Contact: 080-22220022
Economy class
Where: Vishweshwarapuram
Why it’s hot: The place is known as much for its food as for its temples. The food bazaar is a small stretch of road with shops on either side selling vegetarian delicacies from 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. The shops initially sold only idli, vada, dosa etc., but have lately added north Indian and Chinese items in sync with the city’s cosmopolitan character.
Must try: Idli, dosa
Cost: Approx. Rs 60 for two
Open: 7-10.30 p.m
STEP OUT
Short trip
The place: Savandurga
Where: 60 km west of Bangalore
Why it’s a must visit: This is among the largest monolith hills in the world surrounded by forests and water bodies. The hill rises 1,226 metres above sea level and the place is home to the threatened yellow-throated Bulbuls, the sloth bear and leopards. The hilltop provides a panoramic view of Bangalore and the water bodies below.
Warning: Visitors must carry food and water as the place has no eating joint.
How to reach: Take Magadi Road and turn left 1 km before you reach Magadi town.
Shorter trip
The place: Thippagondanahally Reservoir
Where: 35 km from Bangalore City
Why it’s a must visit: It’s a reservoir built across river Arkavathy which provides drinking water to the city. While the reservoir provides a panoramic view, the backwaters are even more thrilling. Often, the receding waters expose the Sangameshwara Temple at the middle of the reservoir.
How to reach: Take Magadi Road from the city.
CHECK OUT
1. The place: Attara Kutcheri
Where: Opposite Vidhana Soudha
Why you must see it: The majestic building built in 1867 amidst the sprawling Cubbon Park was the government headquarters of Mysore State under British Rule. It was here that the erstwhile Mysore Assembly held meetings till the present Vidhana Soudha was built. The heritage building now houses the Karnataka High Court.
Open: Monday to Friday. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Entry fee: Free
2. The place: Halasooru Someshwara Temple
Where: Ulsoor, Bangalore
Why you must see it: This is one of the oldest and biggest temples of Bangalore. Built by the Kings of the Chola dynasty, it is a sort of museum for Vijayanagar style of architecture in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Open: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Entry fee: Free
3. The place: Gavigangadhareshwara Temple
Where: Gavipura
Why you must see it: The temple is famous for caves that are about 3,000 years old. Legend has it that the caves go up to Shivaganga, another temple town about 40 km from the city. Take a walk here and revisit history.
Open: 6.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Entry fee: Free
WALK
The place: St Mark’s Road-Vittal Mallya Road-Lavelle Road-Residency Road
Why you should take this walk: This area houses the finest British buildings, both Catholic schools as well as offices of state-owned companies. Start your walk from Koshy’s, an iconic restaurant on St. Marks Road and stroll past Bowring Club. Walk down Vittal Mallya Road, which houses the last few large mansions left in the city. Turn left onto Lavelle Road and up to the back gate of Bangalore Club, once the residence of the city’s British commissioner. Walk past Residency Road with the Bishop Cotton Boys School and back round to St Marks Road.
After the walk: Head straight to Koshy’s for breakfast.
SURF
The place: Premier Bookshop
Where: 46/1, Church Street
Why it’s a must visit: When it threatened to shut shop in April 2006, the city’s bibliophiles went into a state of mourning. Spread across 600 square metres, T.S. Shanbag’s shop is simply amazing. Old timers such as Ramachandra Guha swear by his ability to dig out the most obscure titles and give you a generous discount. Hundreds of regulars also swear by Shanbag and his corner shop.
Open: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Contact: 080-25588570
My favourite bookstore
Anita Nair, author: Blossom is the only bookshop where I can find all my favourite writers, outside of the British Council libraries. Newer bookshops offer you many other products besides books and this is an unwelcome distraction for me.
SHOP
The place: Sigma Mall
Where: 15/16/17 Cunnigham Road
Why you must shop here: This is the latest addition to the growing list of malls in India’s IT city. The mall has stores of almost all top designers as well as foreign brands ranging from iconic denim stores like Levi’s to formal wear labels like Urban Yoga.
Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
