Just thought that I would share what my experience in bangalore over the past 2 months have been - came here cause got a job here ;-) - that is by necessity not choice, and have been trying to find some places where can get some semblence of fun on weekends.
My wife and I have been exploring Banglore each weekend (or rather trying to - more time is spent stuck in traffic jams). Then there is the frustration of finding way from point A to point B - there will always a one-way sign at most inappropiate places causing a 2km detour. Add to that is language problem - if you ask for directions - try hindi (no chance) then english (maybe) - most speak only kannada - makes one wonder if the national language of India is really hindi. The signs are also in kannada so forget them.
I have lived in mumbai and delhi - supposedly notorious for their traffic - but I find bangalore to be worst. In mumbai and delhi there is an order to the madness - people follow some semblence of traffic rules. Here if u follow traffic rules - you are in trouble.
As for roads - what roads - wherever you manage to find a good road, next day it would have been dug up for one reason or another - and then never filled up. Flyovers have been in construction for so long that the iron rods have rusted.
As for places to go - the much hyped MG road, brigade road are nothing but crowded noisy centers of chaos - could not imagine why people like them so much - alll we could see was traffic and people - hordes of people acting like cattle.
Looking forward to the PVR to open as I find that Bangalore lacks good Cinema halls ? the best one is Innovative multiplex ? but even there ? the screens are small, food yucky (guess I am spoiled after the excellent halls in Delhi).
Makes one shudder to think what will happen when the 11 screen PVR multiplex will open @ the Forum. Already it is overcrowded ? it is difficult to find parking place on weekends (and their parking lot is HUGE). The escalators and lifts already r functioning at capacity and how the crowds coming/leaving cinema halls will totally jam the already crowded mall.
Forum is a good place to spend tour sat/sun afternoon/evening ? only if you have the patience to tackle the chaotic Bangalore traffic.
Two good restraunts I have found till date in Bangalore are:
1. Bombay Post
2. Gramin
Bombay Post:
Excellent food - located in same complex as TGIF at Airport road - tasted the best north indian food there after coming from delhi - was longing for good north indian food. BUT VERY COSTLY - be prepared to shell out a lot of dough. Positive side is that their dishes are huge - so ask for remaining to be packed (we were two and could not finish all the dishes) - took food home and had next days lunch from same food :-)
Recommended dish: Pindi chole
{Check out TGIF at your own risk - ok place for a beer but food sucks}
Gramin:
You may want to check out Gramin restraunt in Kormangala. Not only is the food good, it is also reasonably priced. (Veg restraunt)
Located next to Forum - so very convenient if u wanna do some shopping but don’t want 2 eat @ any of the eating places at the Forum - like the ’’Transit’’ (aptly named - lots of people - no soul in the place - feel like u r in a railway station canteen).
Be prepared to wait for a while Gramin is always crowded. You can order sitting outside and waiting (seating provided) Also a good time to try their ’’Zeera Pani’’ - served outside while u r waiting.
In sum - living in Bangalore is a pain -