“So, how you managing in Bangalore?”
“You must be missing Mumbai naah?”
“Which is better, Mumbai or Bangalore?”
These were the questions I was bombarded with on regular basis for at least first six months after I moved to Bangalore post shaadi. While I have no intention of getting into a comparative study about Mumbai and Bangalore, this review is just supposed to be your survival guide to this City of Gardens and the Silicon Capital of India.
Expect – Nice people in general who will help you out with everything including addresses (they tell you if they don’t know!), tell you who is the best grocer around, get your servants (tell you how much to pay them) and in general help you settle in the new environment.
Don’t Expect – Service levels in general… be it at a restaurant or in a shop. Be ready to wait at times even for 15mins to just get a menu card or to never find a salesman who can tell you why is one microwave better than other. They usually are extremely disinterested in doing business in the first place.
Expect – Tree lined roads almost everywhere in this city. A couple of parks in every area. Especially the old Bangalore suburbs like Jayanagar, JP Nagar, Malleshwaram etc. So if you like your morning walk, just walk around a bit you will find a well maintained park with tiled walker’s lane in place.
Don’t Expect – Those lovely tree lined roads being without potholes the size of craters on the moon, bad traffic sense and very few streetlights, all of which get worse during rains.
Expect – Soft idlis, crisp dosas, hot khaara bath, very specific to Bangalore Gobi Manchuri (chinks would die!) and the BEST filter coffee at any of the udipi / darshini joints across the city (one found approx every 500mtrs) and if you like your food spicy, lot of Andhra joints whose “meals” are to die for. Must try if you can find a joint in your locality is Davengere Butter Dosa – its just yummylicious! Great sandwiches across the board and cheap aani best juices at every Shree Ganesh Juice Centre.
Don’t Expect – The “chaat” called “chat” to be ANY good in multitude of places. Avoid every darshini or streetside shop that claims to sell “chat” because you don’t to be turned off chaat forever by having one of these. There are total of maximum say 10 places that serve authentic stuff in Bangalore. Avoid ordering paneer butter masalas nad the works in Sagars… stick to meals or dosas. (its just the way Mumbai udipis don’t make idli thas AS good as out here!)
Expect – Skyrocketing rents and general inflation with the dialogue “Software Saar, you can afford” even if you are just a banking professional. Be ready to pay 10times the rent as your deposit (Delhi guys might faint!) and some areas that face regular electricity issues (trouble for Mumbaikars!).
Don’t Expect – Houses that you would like or which seem to deserve the astronomical sums being asked for. Brokers to understand what you REALLY want and making you see one bad house after the other with tiny staircases n pink walls.
Expect – The lack of public transport or rather the fact that it becomes inaccessible because boards are in Kannada only (though that is changing with swanky Volvo buses with English route boards!). Also you will hardly find direct buses from one point to another, making the whole exercise tiring. Auto guys who overcharge and hold you ransom with demand of anywhere between Rs.5 to Rs.30 extra for no apparent reason. Of course this is IF they agree to take you in the first place which most of them wont.
Don’t Expect – That you can survive without your own vehicle. You don’t want to suffer auto tantrums especially at night when you are at their mercy. So get a two-wheeler at least as soon as you move here.
Expect – Biggest / Best international artists to perform here. From Bryan Adams to Jethro Tull to Blue and the works. They hardly visit other cities.
Don’t Expect – They performing later than 11 or rather even your pubs staying open after 1130pm because of the silly police clamps. So please make sure you even have your khaana before 1130 or you will sleep hungry!
Expect – Gorgeously cuddly weather almost throughout the year! : ) Get ready to be spoilt by it. You hardly sweat and you hardly ever freeze. It’s just beautiful.
Don’t Expect – Rains Gods to be at your mercy and follow a three month cycle. Carry you chhaata or raincoat everyday from June to December at least
Above all, expect a more sedate style of living, actually having time to eat out or watch movies without waiting for weekend. Expect to be less tired at the end of the day thanx to the weather and not so long distances. Expect to get fresh veggies and fruits at reasonable prices everywhere. Expect awesome weekend destinations that you can keep exploring.
Bangalore is a lovely city, right now reeling under influx of people it still cannot manage. That’s why we crib about infrastructure or rather lack of it so much. If this act can come together and folks get l’il more service oriented this will be THE city of choice for future growth and investment. A long way to go, but hopefully not impossible.
All in all, as of now I cant even THINK of moving out of this city where first two years of my married life, just made it better!
Is it WORTH the Bang… Almost!