Bangalore special
Inspiring images from Brussels Airlines’ Indian destinations
Young dancers practice their moves for one of the many
classical music and dance performances that Bangalore is famous for
Shiva, the Hindu god of transformation, watches over this
rapidly changing modern metropolis
Coloured powders are piled up
at a market stall in readiness for the
colourful and exuberant Holi festival
Images Photolibrary.com, National Geographic Society
10 reasons to…
visit Bangalore
1 Its history
Perhaps more than any other city, Bangalore captures the bold new mood of industrial India. To the uninitiated, the Karnatakan capital can seem all slick call centres, huge IT companies and Western franchises. But look a little closer and you’ll discover ‘Old Bangalore’, a city steeped in history. Must-sees include the 16th-century Nandi (Bull) Temple, the 19th-century Bangalore Palace and nationalist hero Tipu Sultan’s Palace.
2 Its gardens
Bangalore is known as the ‘Garden City’. The most temperate city in India, its climate has allowed verdant parks and tree-lined avenues to flourish. Gardens like Lal Bagh – home to the famous Glass House, Tipu Sultan’s mango trees and exotic flowers from around the globe – and Cubbon Park, packed with exotic plant life and surrounded by grand buildings like the red stone Karnataka High Court, stand in calming contrast to the city’s bracingly high-tech side.
3 Its culture
Bangalore has a rich cultural life. There’s contemporary Indian theatre at the Ranga Shankara Theatre and Roerich paintings, Tagore drawings and folk art on display at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, the city’s college of fine arts. If you’re interested in classical Indian dance, the Kalakshithi cultural school holds classes, while the Smriti-Nandan centre stages shows.
4 The beer
The home of India’s most famous brewery, Kingfisher, Bangalore has been called ‘the pub city’. Beer plays a pivotal role in the city’s social life and there are more drinking dens here than anywhere else in India. Koshy’s (St Mark’s Rd) does full beer tastings, Dewar’s Bar (Cockburn Rd) is the oldest pub in the city, and Pecos (Brigade Rd) is probably the city’s most talked-about bar, serving only draught beer.
5 The shopping
If you only visit one market, make it the KR City Market. It sells just about everything – flowers, fruit, spices, framed pictures of Hindu deities – and is perfect if you’re after a shot of local colour. If you’ve got more time, squeeze in a trip to Russel Market, good for fruit, vegetables and fish, and charming Malleswaram, with stalls selling baskets of blossoms and heaped garlands.
6 Its national parks
Three of India’s best national parks are just a couple of hours’ drive away. Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is supposed to be the most densely populated reserve in South India. Come here to see elephants, leopards, sloth bears and 250 species of birds. Then there’s the stunning wilderness of Nagarhole National Park, home to panthers, jackals, civet cats and hyenas. Finally, there’s Bandipur National Park, best known for its famous Tiger Reserve.
7 Mysore
150km south of Bangalore, Mysore is Karnataka’s cultural hub and perhaps the state’s biggest tourist attraction. Its resplendent Indo-Saracenic Ambavilas Palace, which is lit up with 97,000 bulbs on Sunday evenings, is well worth seeing. But you should also make time to visit the Folk Art Museum on the University campus, which houses one of Gandhi’s portable spinning wheels.
8 Its pampering properties
Holistic health comes high on the list of priorities in Karnataka, and you’d be hard pushed to find a holiday destination that puts more emphasis on pampering. While Mysore is the Ashtanga yoga capital of the world, there are some amazing Ayurvedic spas in and around Bangalore. The Leela Palace is perhaps the most luxurious in the city, while the Soukya healing centre has played host to everyone from Deepak Chopra to Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
9 Its birdlife
With over 550 species of birds, Karnataka is a twitcher’s paradise. The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is 130km from Bangalore but well worth the journey. Set on several islands in the Mugger crocodile-infested Cauvery River, the park is home to storks, shags, spoonbills, kingfisher and cormorants.
10 It’s within easy reach of the Maldives
Bangalore is only an hour’s flight from the Maldives, so it’s easy to tag on a trip to this island nation. Its pristine white beaches and quiet lagoons will come as a welcome respite after the sensory assault of the city.
Hotel with a view
THE LEELA PALACE KEMPINSKI
Where is it? 23 Airport Road, Bangalore, tel. +91 (0)80 2521 1234, theleela.com What’s the view? Either the lush green gardens or the huge spotlit swimming pool surrounded by palm trees.
What to expect Lots of cream, polished wood and clean lines in the deluxe rooms. Move up to the suites, though, and any minimalist pretensions fall by the wayside, with interiors more in keeping with the hotel’s grand carved façade. Expect old- colonial décor, richly patterned carpets, intricate latticework and plenty of gold leaf.
Need to know The hotel has three restaurants: Citrus, which serves up light salads and risottos, Jamavar, which does contemporary Indian, and Zen, which is pan-Asian. Yoga classes are held at poolside pavilion, and the best equipped gym in the city is on-site. The club rooms, spread over the top two floors of the hotel, have their own butler.
Why go there? The seven-star hotel has been called the most luxurious in India, with some justification. Fittingly for a hotel that sits on the periphery of the ‘Garden City’, it’s surrounded by 3.6 hectares of perfectly manicured grounds. But the big draw is the huge spa here, offering a sauna, steam room, whirlpool bath, hydrotherapy centre and a menu of Ayurveda- inspired treatments. Get the signature Indian Magic therapy or a luxury milk bath with a dusting of rose petal powder.
What does it cost? Rooms from €266 per night.
Make sure you try…
Blue Ginger
Set in the grounds of The Taj West End, Blue Ginger (23 Race Course Road, Bangalore, tel. +91 (0)80 6660 5660) is Bangalore’s first Vietnamese restaurant and is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best places to eat in the city. Try the tenderloin with star fruit and green banana salad, or lotus stem salad with shrimp and raw mango.
Get an i-full
When you’ve had enough of old-world grandeur, you might want to head to i-BAR (14/7 Mahatma Gandhi Road). Part of the Terence Conran- designed The Park, Bangalore’s first contemporary boutique hotel, its bold modernism and long cocktail list have made it a favourite with the fashion pack.
And relax… Yoga retreat
In a state known for its holistic health centres, Shreyas (www.shreyasretreat.com) is perhaps Bangalore’s most renowned yoga retreat. As expected, there’s plenty of yoga here, but you’re also positively encouraged to spend a healthy amount of time doing nothing much, with classes on guided meditation and massages thrown in as a job lot.
Insider tip
Tanya Dalton of Greaves Travel (greavesindia.com), a company that offers tailored trips around India, recommends you arm yourself with a copy of Love Bangalore by Fiona Caulfield (lovetravel guides.com).
No comments yet.
