Bangalore

India’s coolest metropolis, Bangalore, was a sleepy pensioner’s paradise before techno boom in the late-1980s transformed her into country’s slick-generation city. In the pre-IT days, she took pride in Tipu Sultan and her magnificent gardens.

And today, she’s happy to be known as the hub of pubs and spas. Singer and actress Vasundhara Das helps you discover the stylish silicon and swashbuckling heart of Karnataka in the city that never stops to rock. Pass the beer and join the gang.

Bindas Bangalore

India’s coolest metropolis, Bangalore, was a sleepy pensioner’s paradise before techno boom in the late-1980s transformed her into country’s slick-generation city. In the pre-IT days, she took pride in Tipu Sultan and her magnificent gardens. And today, she’s happy to be known as the hub of pubs and spas. So, to know her its best to explore her the way Bangaloreans would. See the gardens, make a trip to Tipu Sultan’s Palace, stop by Vidhana Soudha, take a couple of hours to rejuvenate body and soul and in the evening when you are ready to unwind, hit the pub scene.

Tipu Sultan’s Palace: The two-storey 18th century wooden palace of Mysore’s most famous ruler wears its age on its sleeve. The plaster is peeling and only traces of gilded interior remain. See it before it falls apart. The palace was an audience chamber where Tipu held his darbar. Next to the palace check out the Venkataramanswamy temple built before the palace came up.

Gardens: Of all the gardens in Bangalore, the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden spread over 240 acres is definitely worth a leisurely walk. Set up by Tipu’s father, Haider Ali, Lal Bagh emulates the Mughal and European botanical gardens of its time. Don’t miss its piece de resistance, the iron-glass pavilion, added by the British towards the end of the 19th century. Similar to the Crystal Palace in London, it is the venue for not-to-be missed flower shows (in January and August).

Links to info:

Tipu Sultan’s Palace
(3 km off MG Road),
Albert Victoria Road

Lal Bagh
Lal Bagh Fort Road
The garden has two entrances:
A) West Gate on Residency Road
B) Main gate on Basavangudi Road

For a few rupees more

Bangalore is the city to shop in. From high fashion retail stores, branded clothes, furnishings, knickknacks to latest technological gizmos, the city has it all. If you wish to get the feel of its high street hit the Mahatma Gandhi and Brigade Road intersection, if it’s branded wear and mall experience that you are in the mood for, try the latest hot spot in the city’s new vibrant suburb, Koramangala.

While MG Road, Brigade Road and Vittal Mallaya Road are lined with high fashion outlets (notably Ffolio, Balance, Cue and H2O in Embassy Chambers for funky Indo-western designer wear), hip eateries and pubs, Koramnagala prides itself in its super mall called The Forum Mall, where you can find almost anything from international brands such as Benetton, Tommy Hilfiger, Pepe, Levis, Nike, Swarowski to haute couture boutiques like Mustard, Isis and the Chai shop. Forum also has a PVR multiplex with 11 cinema halls where you can catch up with the latest Bollywood, Hollywood and Kannada film releases besides grabbing a bite at any of the American fast food joints like KFC, Pizza Hut, Café Coffee Day or the mall food court where you can have your fill of Italian, Indian, Mexican, Chinese and even Vietnamese dishes.

Links to info:

Ffolio / Balance/ Cue / H2O
5, Vittal, Mallya Road,
1 Embassy Chambers,
Bangalore
Tel : 080 - 2218142, 2218143

The Forum Mall
Main Hosur Road
Near Madiwala Check-post,
Koramangla,
Bangalore 560095

Measure of leisure

Influx of young professionals with high disposable incomes, has given Bangalore a certain classy edge no other Indian city can boast of. Everybody loves a healthy life. So, its no surprise the country’s best spas should be located here. From hip holistic centres like Soukya to luxurious spa resort of the Banyan Tree group – Angsana - to innumerable Ayurveda and new age healing centres, the city’s latest buzzword is – detoxify, rejuvenate, relax.

Want to try a hydrowash, a Dead Sea mud bath or a Zero Balance treatment? It’s yours for a small fortune at the sprawling 30-acre property, Soukya run by homeopath Dr Issac Mathai and his wife, Suja. The resort’s stress-busting mantra centres round multi-disciplinary healing treatments of Ayurveda, homeopathy, acupuncture, reflexology and whole host of nature inspired treatments.

If Soukya uses a holistic Indian approach to healing, Angsana Oasis and Spa Resort is about Haute Couture lifestyle solution for stress management. It’s about body polish and sinful leisure in the lap of manicured nature – a perfect playboy getaway from the everyday rat race.

Links to info:

Soukya International Holistic Health Centre,
Soukya Road,
Samethanahalli,
Whitefield,
Bangalore – 560 067
Tel: 080-7945001 / 02
E-mail: info@soukya.com

Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort Bangalore
Northwest Country
Main Doddaballapur Road
Rajankunte
Bangalore 560064
Tel: 080 -284 68892/ 93
E-mail: bangalore@angsana.com

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Tee time

Not many people know that India has one of the finest and the oldest golf courses in the world among which the Royal Calcutta Gold Club established in 1829 and the Bangalore Golf Club set up in 1876 are the oldest. First country to adopt golf outside Great Britain, Indians started playing the game much before Europe and America woke up to its existence. Today, there are some 160 different golf courses littering the country in some of the most spectacular places on earth - in the laps of Himalayas, green oasis of Rajasthan, undulating valleys of Coorg, sprawling imperial city of Delhi and the lush green fields of Bangalore. While Delhi has the most number of golf courses, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai come a close second.

Bangalore today offers three world-class golf courses that the visitors can try teeing in. Top of the line comes Karnataka Golf Association’s 18-hole championship golf course designed by Peter Thompson, which holds such tournaments as Wills Southern Open and All India Ladies Amateur Golf Championship. Other golfing centres in the city include, above mentioned, Bangalore Golf Club and the Eagleton Golf Resort considered as one of the finest golf courses in the country.

Links to info:

Bangalore Golf Club
No. 2, Sankey Road,
High Grounds,
Bangalore - 560 001
Holes: 18
Par: 71
Tel: 080 - 22266713 / 22281876

Karnataka Golf Association
No. 1, Golf Avenue,
Kodihalli,
Bangalore -560 008
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Tel: 080 – 5298845
Email Address: golf@bgl.vsnl.net.in

Eagleton - The Golf Resort
29th Km, Bangalore-Mysore Highway
Bangalore,
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Tel: 080-6764403
Email: eagleton@giasbg01.vsnl.net.in
Web Site: www.eagletonindia.com

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After MTR Tiffin

There was a time when the Bangalorians, wanna-be Bangalorians and out of town Bangalorians would party into the wee hours of the morning belting Bryan Adam’s “18 till I die”. Attempts to control girlie bars by the government, however, has led to a strict rule directing most of the establishments to close by 11-11.30 p.m.

That doesn’t really mean that Bangalorians have swapped their nocturnal life for snores, but it does mean that most restaurants, pubs and lounges are no longer all night affairs. Exception to the rule are some night clubs among which Inferno The Club situated in the outskirts of the town, rates high on popularity charts.

For the rest its best to dine, wine and slug beer at MG, Brigade or Residency road restaurants (like 13th Floor, with the best views of the city) and multi-level lounges like 180 Proof (where cues are always long but the food, music and atmosphere worth the wait) or Olive Beach (an all white lounge-cum-restaurant launched recently by singer, Sagarika) Alternatively, hit the five star circuit among which Blue Bar at Taj West End is know to attract hip crowds. Among the restaurants worth their salt try Halli Mane for old Mysorian delicacies and Katpadi Junction for Mudaliar cuisine. But most of all, do take time to make your way to the crowded Gandhi Bazar in Basavangudi, where a small eatery Vidhyarthi Bhawan sells one of the best Mysore Masala dosas in the city. Customers like Karnataka’s Chief Minister, SM Krishna and actor and playwright, Girish Karnad vouch for it.

Links to info:

Olive Beach
Wood Street
(off Richmond Road).
Tel: 080 – 51128400

13th Floor
Barton Centre,
M.G. Road,
Bangalore
Tel: 080 - 2558-9333

180 Proof
40,St. Marks Road,
Bangalore – 560001,
Tel: 80-22997290

Inferno, The Club
7th Mile, Mysore Road,
Bangalore - 560039.
Tel: 080 - 8600768.

The Taj West End
Race Course Road,
Bangalore –560 001,
Tel: 80-5660 5660

Katpadi Junction
Garuda Mall,
Bangalore,
Tel: 080 – 57722016

Halli Mane
Malleswaram,
Bangalore,
Tel: 080 – 51279754

Vidhyarthi Bhawan
Gandhi Bazaar,
Basavangudi,
Tel: 080-2667 7588

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