Travel Guide Bangalore

Transcription

1 Travel Guide Quick view Travel etiquette Health Phone calls & Internet Top 10 sights Shopping in Restaurants Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels Fotolia 01/12

2 02 Quick view a brief overview Famous as 's IT hub, offers a gentler introduction to, for those put off by the colourful chaos of Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. In 's wide streets, British-era monuments stand shoulder to shoulder with office towers and modern shopping malls and relics from the city's former life as the summer capital of the sultans of Mysore. The city is more famous for food and shopping than tourist sights, but the city's sprawling parks and gardens provide a welcome escape from the tropical heat, and trains run day and night to the palaces and temples of Mysore and Hampi and the beaches of Kerala. Come to and ease your way gently into the n way of life. General Information Country overview is a beautiful and bamboozling place, where holy cows amble along the streets, bask on heavenly beaches next to modern hotels and where ancient temples sit perfectly at home besides shiny new offices. Geography shares borders to the northwest with Pakistan, to the north with China, Nepal and Bhutan, and to the east with Bangladesh and Myanmar. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, to the east the Bay of Bengal and to the south the n Ocean. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are n territory but lie off the coast of Thailand in the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka lies off the southeast coast, and the Maldives off the southwest coast. The far northeastern states and territories are all but separated from the rest of by Bangladesh as it extends northwards from the Bay of Bengal towards Bhutan. is separated from the rest of Asia by mountain ranges, forest, and desert -the Himalayan mountain range in the north, the Thar Desert in the west and the Chin Hills and Patkai ranges in the east. The Indus River runs through the northern disputed territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The most sacred of rivers, the Ganges, is in the east. General knowledge Key facts Population: 1,34 billion (estimate 2017) Population Density (per sq km): 371 Capital: New Delhi. Language 02/12

3 03 Hindi is the official language of. English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide range of official purposes. In addition, 21 regional languages are recognised by the constitution. Currency Rupee (INR; symbol Rs) = 100 paise. Notes are in denominations of Rs 2,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of Rs5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 paise. Notes: In November 2016, 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes were withdrawn from the financial system. New 500 and 2,000 rupee denomination notes are issued to replace those removed from circulation. The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Electricity volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs are of the round two- and three-pin type. Public holidays Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2018 December 2019 period. Note Only the secular holidays of Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi s Birthday are universally observed. (a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Idu l Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Idu l Fitr itself. Idu l Fitr and Id-ul-Zuha may last up to several days, depending on the region. (b) Hindu festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations and it is not possible to forecast the date of their occurrence exactly New Years Day: 1 January 2018 Republic Day: 26 January 2018 Holi: 2 March 2018 Chaitra Sukhladi: 18 March2018 Mahavir Jayanti: 29 March 2018 Good Friday: 30 March 2018 Buddha Purnima (Buddha s Birthday): 30 April 2018 Idu l Fitr: 15 June 2018 Independence Day: 15 August 2018 Id-ul-Zuha (Feast of Sacrifice): 22 August 2018 Janmashtami: 3 September 2018 Muharram: 21 September 2018 Mahatma Gandhi s Birthday: 2 October 2018 Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami): 19 October 2018 Diwali (Festival of Lights): 7 November 2018 Milad un Nabi: 21 November 2018 Guru Nanak Jayanti: 23 November 2018 Christmas: 25 December New Years Day: 1 January /12

4 04 Republic Day: 26 January 2019 Holi: 20 March 2019 Chaitra Sukhladi: 6 April 2019 Mahavir Jayanti: 17 April 2019 Good Friday: 19 April 2019 Buddha Purnima (Buddha s Birthday): 18 May 2019 Idu l Fitr: 4 June 2018 Independence Day: 15 August 2019 Id-ul-Zuha (Feast of Sacrifice): 11 August 2019 Janmashtami: 24 August 2019 Muharram: 31 August 2019 Mahatma Gandhi s Birthday: 2 October 2019 Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami): 8 October 2019 Diwali (Festival of Lights): 27 October 2019 Milad un Nabi: 10 November 2019 Guru Nanak Jayanti: 12 November 2019 Christmas: 25 December 2019 All information subject to change. Travel etiquette How to fit in Social Conventions The traditional Hindu greeting is to fold the hands, tilt the head forward and say namaste. n women generally prefer not to shake hands. All visitors are asked to remove footwear when entering places of religious worship. Most ns also remove their footwear when entering their homes; visitors should follow suit. Many Hindus are vegetarian and many, especially women, do not drink alcohol. Most Sikhs and Parsis do not smoke. Women are expected to dress modestly and men should also dress respectfully. Women should not wear short skirts and tight or revealing clothing, although there is a more casual approach to clothing in Goa. Health Health Food & Drink Water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is often unpasteurised and should be boiled. Avoid dairy products likely to have been made from non-boiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Do not eat salads, vegetables should be cooked and peel your own fruit. Don't eat street vendor food unless it is piping hot. Tap water is not safe to drink, rely on bottled water which is widely available. However, do check the seal on bottled water. Other Risks Vaccinations are sometimes advised for hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, tuberculosis (for infants), polio and typhoid. Dengue and malaria are both caused by mosquito bites and are prevalent in hot and humid conditions. There are occasional, seasonal outbreaks of dengue fever. Travellers should vigilantly protect themselves against mosquito bites. Malaria prevention is strongly recommended so use insect repellent and wear protective clothing. Obtain anti-malarial medicine from your doctor before travelling. 04/12

5 05 Even seasoned travellers may find themselves at the mercy of travellers diarrhoea. Hygiene standards vary. If possible, travel around with soap or antibacterial gel in order to clean your hands. The culprits that cause diarrhoea are often the microorganisms found in local water supplies, so decrease your chances by drinking bottled or boiled water. You can have alcoholic drinks but say no to ice. Drink carbonated beverages or those with only boiled water like coffee and tea. Carry rehydration solution packets, Pepto Bismol or Imodium in case you are afflicted. Before your travel, seek medical advice about what to take for selftreatment. Wear adequate sunscreen or do like the locals to beat the heat and avoid the sun between 1200 and 1600 when it is at its harshest; don a cotton kameez to keep covered and cool. Note: All visitors aged between 18 and 70 years of age wishing to extend their visa for one year or more are required to take an AIDS test. Contractual physician of Lufthansa Dr. Raghavan, Ravi Consulting office: # SF 8 White House 29 St. Mark`s Road Tel Manipal Hospital Airport Road Tel Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it bear the cost of any treatment. Phone calls & Internet Phone calls & Internet Mobile Telephone Dialing code: +91 Mobile Telephone Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to major towns but is increasing all the time. Internet The internet can be reliably accessed from an increasing number of hotels and from internet cafés across the country, many now with Wi-Fi. Top 10 sights Top 10 sights in Palace Said to be inspired by Windsor Castle in England, the lavish city palace of the 05/12

6 06 Wodeyars of offers a fascinating window onto the extravagant, and often eccentric lives of s ruling classes. The opulent state rooms are still crammed with fading antiques and royal portraits. Palace Road, Vasant Nagar Tel: Mon-Sat Vidhana Soudha The official seat of the Karnataka state legislature, the Vidhana Soudha was constructed in grand Indo-Saracenic style just a few years after gained its independence. The grand facade, constructed from local pink granite and topped by a series of towering onion domes, is a landmark, but the interiors are only accessible with prior permission. Dr Ambedkar Road, Sampangi Ramnagar By appointment kla.kar.nic.in Tipu Sultan s Palace The summer escape of Tipu Sultan, who ruled large parts of southern before falling in battle with the British in 1799, this handsome palace is set in elegant gardens near the Jama Masjid mosque. It s not quite as outrageous as some of the sultan s other palaces, but the main pavilion is lavishly decorated with frescoes and carved teak columns. Albert Victor Road, Chamrajpet Tel: Mon-Sat Lalbagh Botanical Garden When citizens need to escape the city crush, they come to Lalbagh Gardens for shady strolls beneath the trees and peaceful picnics among the ornamental flower beds. The garden was founded by the sultan Hyder Ali but massively expanded by the British, who constructed the Kew Gardens-style greenhouses at the heart of the gardens. Lalbagh Fort Road Tel: Daily National Gallery of Modern Art s most important gallery is worth a visit as much for its setting (in a grand mansion formerly used as a summer house by the sultan of Mysore) as for the impressive collection of art inside. The collection is split into works created before and after independence, charting s progress towards nationhood. Manekyavelu Mansion, 49 Palace 06/12

7 07 Road Tel: Tue-Sun ngmaindia.gov.in/ngma_bangaluru.asp Iskcon Temple The towering temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness offers a modernist take on the traditional Dravidian style of temple building, with a central pyramid flanked by gopurams (traditional temple spires). Inside, colourful displays explore the legends of Lord Krishna and the history of the Hare Krishna movement. Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Road Tel: Daily and Basavani Gudi Temple s rainbow-coloured bull temple is famous for its monumental statue of Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva. Built in classic Dravidian style, the temple is thronged by devotees, who also pay homage at the nearby Dodda Ganapati temple, with a similarly monumental statue of Lord Ganesh. Bull Temple Road, Basavangudi Daily Cubbon Park Sprawling across 120 hectares in the centre of, Cubbon Park was founded by the British as an escape from the city heat. Today, locals throng to this green expanse for romantic walks, family picnics or just to sleep in the cool, calm grounds. The park includes a small government museum and art gallery. Kasturba Road Daily 24 hours (garden) Tue-Sun (museum) Attara Kacheri Flanking Cubbon Park, the Karnataka High Court is one of 's most eyecatching landmarks, built by the British in 1868 in the style of the grand civic buildings of Whitehall in London. Painted vivid red, the courthouse was marked for demolition in 1982, but was saved following a vigorous campaign by local residents. High Court of Karnataka, Ambedkar Veedhi Tel: Mon-Sat karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in 07/12

8 08 St Mary s Basilica s most important church was constructed in 1875 in classic British colonial style. Every September, Christian pilgrims from across South flock to the church to celebrate the Feast of St Mary, when an ancient statue of Mother Mary is paraded through the streets in a wooden chariot. MF Noronha Road, Shivaji Nagar Tel: Daily Shopping in Shopping in Key Areas MG Road is the city s shopping hub, attracting huge crowds of shoppers day and night. Dotted along the strip are some of the city s best souvenir emporiums, selling arts and crafts from across. Markets The city s bustling Krishnarajendra Market (Kalasipalyam) is fast-paced and frenetic, selling everything under the sun, from saffron to saris. The rainbowcoloured flower market in the central atrium offers one of the city s best photo opportunities. Shopping Centres With s rising fortunes, international-style malls are opening up all over the city, packed with global brands. The most glamorous address is UB City on Vittal Mallya Road, with plenty of designer labels among the international fashion names. Also in the centre, the Garuda Mall on Magrath Road has lots of famous names. There are more malls in the rapidly expanding Whitefield area, east of the centre. Restaurants Restaurants in With its colonial heritage and international IT industry, it should be no surprise to learn that offers some of s best modern European cuisine, alongside richly spiced grills from North and fragrant vegetarian curries from the south.note that chilli is used prodigiously in South n dishes; order a sweet lassi (n drinking yoghurt) on the side to douse the flames. Dum Puhkt Jolly Nabob At Dum Puhkt Jolly Nabob, the emphasis is on Nawabi curries and grills, served in elegant surroundings that bring to mind the dining hall in a colonial hunting lodge. Manekyavelu Mansion, 49 Palace Road Tel: Price: Expensive 08/12

9 09 Caperberry A little piece of Spain transplanted to Karnataka, Caperberry cleans up at the food awards most years with its groundbreaking menu of elegantly presented Spanish dishes. Unit 203, Second Floor, The Collection, Price: Expensive UB City, 24 Vittal Mallya Road Karavalli The restaurant at The Gateway Hotel casts its net across the seas of southern n, hauling in sumptuous seafood dishes from as far afield as Goa and Mangalore. The Gateway Hotel, 66 Residency Road Price: Moderate Olive Beach A secret escape in Ashok Nagar, with a private courtyard lit by flickering candles and a thoroughly modern menu that hops around the Mediterranean. 16 Wood Street, Ashok Nagar Price: Moderate Koshy s Bar & Restaurant A institution, Koshy s is the lunch stop of choice for journalists, artists, actors and travellers; the menu runs to tasty North n curries and fish and chips. 39 St Mark s Road Price: Cheap Nightlife Nightlife in Cosmopolitan has always had a reputation for excellent nightlife, and that s despite licensing laws that require bars and clubs to close at 11.30pm.To get around this restriction, nights out start early, with drinks over dinner, before revellers move onto a cocktail lounge or club. Skyye Lounge The rooftop bar at the glitzy UB City mall attracts s bright young things, who sip cocktails looking out over the bright lights of the city. Uber level, Canberra Block, UB City, 09/12

10 10 Vittal Mallya Road The Biere Club has a reputation as the beer capital of, and this microbrewery with DJs and handcrafted beers provides the ideal opportunity to put that claim to the test. 20/2 Vittal Mallya Road Pebble Top DJs strike a beat and party people fill the dancefloor at this legendary dance club near the Palace. 3 Princess Academy, Ramanna Maharishi Road, Palace Grounds Toit An American style brewpub, with cool brews, a globe-trotting snack menu and lively local crowd Feet Road, Indiranagar Shiro Buddha statues, dangling chandeliers and flowing drapes set the scene at this stylish cocktail lounge, a favourite with high flyers. Uber level, Canberra Block, UB City, Vittal Mallya Road Calendar of events Calendar of events Holi Timed to coincide with the full moon, this Hindi water festival involves people throwing water, paint and coloured powders over each other and is great fun to witness. 1-2 March /12

11 11 Venue: Various venues Dussehra This 9- or 10-day festival celebrates the victory of good over evil. It takes many different forms depending on the locally worshipped god, but in Bengaluru and Mysore it celebrates Rama's victory over Ravana and includes theatre performances of Rama Lila, the Life of Rama October 2018 Venue: Various venues Diwali This is one of the biggest Hindu festivals. It marks Rama and Sita's homecoming, and includes the lighting of lamps and firecrackers and the giving and receiving of sweets November Venue: Various Venues in Hotels Hotels in has hotels in every price range, from the simple transit hotels loved by frugal backpackers to luxurious 5-star chains.heritage options are limited to the graceful Taj West End, but modern business-class hotels abound, both in the bustling centre and dotted around the suburbs. Taj West End Founded as a retreat for the British ruling classes, the historic Taj West End sits serenely in sprawling gardens, with rooms that conjure up the extravagance of the Raj. 25 Race Course Road Category: Expensive The Ritz-Carlton, Supreme comfort and soaring city views are benchmarks of quality at the gleaming Ritz-Carlton near Cubbon Park. 99 Residency Road Category: Expensive Mövenpick Hotel & Spa Towering over the city near the northern ring road, the Mövenpick offers sparkling modernity, with sleek bars and restaurants and an indulgent spa. 11/12

12 Gokula Extension, HMT Road Category: Moderate Iris Hotel A reliable business-class hotel in a handy central location, with spick-and-span rooms, a spa and a rooftop pool. 70 Brigade Road Category: Moderate jüsta MG Road Comfortable rooms with blissfully cool air-con in a prime location for the MG Road shopping strip. 21/14 Craig Park Layout, MG Road Category: Cheap 12/12