Via Milano

Via Milano [#607, Asha Plaza, 3rd Floor, 80ft Peripheral Road, Koramangala] serves some authentic Italian food in a very elegant and minimalistically decorated restaurant.

Cauvery Emporium

Cauvery Karnataka State Arts & Crafts Emporium [#49, M.G. Road] sells sandalwood and rosewood carvings, carpets and silks. www.cauverycrafts.com

Bangalore Palace

Bangalore Palace [Sankey Road, Vasanth Nagar] (influenced by the architecture of Windsor Palace) is a decrepid building that the owner (Wodayar Raja of Mysore) is in the process of renovating. To pay for these renovations, he charges an exhorbitant Rs. 200 for a tour which consists largely of family photos displayed in rundown rooms and corridors. Don't even think of trying to take a photo, either inside or outside the palace as you will be charged Rs. 500 (about $13) for the privilege. If you want my advise -- skip this place.

Grand Safari

White tiger

Grand Safari combines herbivore, bear, lion, and tiger safaris into an hour long tour of Bannerghatta Biological Park.

Bannerghatta Biological Park

Elephants in the zoo

Bannerghatta Biological Park (also known as Bannerghatta National Park) is located 25km south of Bangalore. The park houses a zoo, an aquarium, and a museum.

Kashmir Government Arts Emporium

Kashmir Government Arts Emporium [#49, Commercial Street] sells beautiful pashmina/woollen shawls, silk/woollen carpets, wood carving items, and chain stitch rugs.

Kashmir Arts & Crafts

Kashmir Arts & Crafts [#175, Commercial Street] offers pashmina shawls, silk scarves, handicrafts, hand-made wall hangings, and table covers at good prices.

100ft

100ft Boutique Restaurant [#777/I, 100ft Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Indira Nagar] is a boutique, a bar, and a restaurant that offers Mediterranean cuisine in a quiet lounge setting. The boutique sells various items ranging from cushions and curtains to coffee mugs and pottery.

St. Mary's Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica, built in Gothic-style, is the oldest church in Bangalore and the only church in Karnataka state that has the status of a basilica.

Gomateshvara statue

Statue of Lord Bahubali

Most people come to Shravana Belagola to see the 1000-year-old giant statue of Lord Bahubali on top of Indragiri Hill. 18-metre high, this is the world's tallest monolithic statue.

Shravana Belagola

View from Indragiri Hill

Shravana Belagola is a small town situated between Indragiri and Chandragiri Hills. It is named after the tank (pond) lying in the middle of the town. In Kannada, bel means white and kola means pond. This important Jain pilgrimmage centre is located 145km west of Bangalore.

Lost in translation

At the entrance of HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) airport there is a sign that reads "Beware of your belongings".

Cricket

Cricket is the most popular sport in India. Indians are very passionate about it. There is even one TV channel that shows cricket matches 24/7! Yesterday, Team India has outplayed the world champions (Team Australia) and had their first tri-series win in Brisbane, Australia. Only a couple of days earlier, the Under-19 team has won the World Cup in Malaysia.

Bindu

Milan with bindu

Bindu is a small dot worn by Hindus in the middle of the forehead or between the eyebrows at the point of the third eye. It is made of red powder (kunkuma), sandalpaste or clay. It is a sign that one is a Hindu. It is also a form of a blessing one receives from the priest in a Hindu temple. It represents the "third eye," or the "mind's eye," which sees things that the physical eyes can't see. Bindu in Sanskrit means "A drop; small particle; a dot." -- from www.experiencefestival.com/bindu

Ayda

Ayda Restaurant [#1, 1st Floor, Church Street] serves Persian along with Indian cuisine.

St. Andrew's Church

St. Andrew's Church

St. Andrew's Church (The 'Kirk') [#27, Cubbon Road] is Scots' Presbyterian church, built in 1864 to the North of the British Cantonment.

Ulsoor Lake

Ulsoor Lake

Ulsoor Lake [close to M.G. Road], spread over 1.5 kilometres, is the biggest and most beautiful lake in Bangalore.

Laundry service

Drying the laundry

Typical scene of how laundry is washed and dried in the outdoors.

Cake Walk

Cake Walk [#297, 100ft Road, Indira Nagar] has excellent selection of cakes and pastries. Their chocolate-almond cake is one of my favourites.

ISKCON Temple

ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Temple

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Temple [Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Road] is one of the most popular (and highly commercialized) places of worship in Bangalore. www.iskconbangalore.org

Bengaluru International Airport

On March 31, Bangalore will get a brand new airport -- Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) at Devanahalli, about 45 minutes northeast of city centre. www.bialairport.com

International Tech Park, Bangalore

The International Tech Park, Bangalore or ITPB (also known as International Tech Park Limited or ITPL) [Whitefield Road, Whitefield] is one of India's first world-class IT parks. ITPB consists of six buildings named Discoverer, Innovator, Creator, Explorer, Inventor, and Navigator. Over 130 IT companies have their offices located here. www.intltechpark.com

Very, very Indian

Indian food is very tasty. But often, it is very hot (spicy), very salty, and very greasy -- none of which is good for one's health.

Cubbon Park

Quiet time in the park

Cubbon Park is Bangalore's version of Central Park. It was created in 1864 and named after Sir Mark Cubbon who was Bangalore's Commissioner.

Ebony

Ebony Restaurant [Barton Centre 13th Floor, #84, M.G. Road], located at the top of Barton Centre, has the best view on town centre. Their mutton dhansak (mutton in lentil gravy), a traditional Parsi dish, is very delicious.

Bombay Store

The Bombay Store [#99, M.G. Road] is another well supplied shop for gifts and souvenirs conveniently located at M.G. Road. It has men & ladies clothing, linens, jewellery, wall hangings, curtains, stationary, teas, as well as crafts and nick-nacks. www.thebombaystore.com

Railway Station

Waiting for the train

Bengaluru City railway station is Bangalore's main train station and most trains arrive here. Directly in front of the train station is Bangalore's Central Bus Stand.

Treat

Treat Restaurant [#3047, 80ft Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Indira Nagar] offers Indian, Punjabi, and Tandoori cuisines. Their lamb kebobs are excellent.

Commercial Street

Commercial Street

Commercial Street is the place to go for shopping for souvenirs or just about anything a tourist may desire. It offers restaurants, clothing stores, souvenir shops etc. It is also one of the rare pedestrian friendly streets in Bangalore (though not exactly a vehicle-free street). Bangalore is a great place to shop for silk, sandalwood, and rosewood items.

Karnataka State Museum

Karnataka State Museum building

Karnataka State Museum (Government Museum) and the neighbouring Venkatappa Art Gallery are located in Cubbon Park. Karnataka State Museum [Kasturba Road] houses a nice collection of stone carvings (mostly Hoysala style), while the next door Venkatappa Art Gallery [Kasturba Road] houses landscape paintings (mostly scenes of Ooty) by Mysore artist Sri K Venkatappa (1887-1962). The gallery also exhibits contemporary Indian art.

City Market

Vegetable sellers at the City Market

Sri Krishna Rajendra Market (City Market) is the bustling local market, southwest of Cubbon Park. It is the busiest place in town during weekends. It contains fruit and vegetable bazaars, a flower market, a spice market, as well as plenty of shops (pottery, tools, tailors etc.)

Flower market

Flower market

Flower market is located in the heart of the City Market and it is the most colourful. These bright-coloured rounds are flower leis used at weddings and in temples.

Tika seller

Tika seller

Typical scene at the City Market.

K. C. Das

K. C. Das Pvt. Ltd. [#48 Church Street, at the corner of St. Mark's Road] is the best confectioners in town! They are well known for their Bengali sweetmeats. Rossogolla, the national sweet of India, was invented by Krishna Chandra Das' father in the 1860's. www.kcdas.co.in

Fruit stand

Fruit stand at Brigade Road

This is one of many fruit stands in the city.

Gangarams Book Bureau

Gangarams Book Bureau [#72, Mahatma Gandhi Road] has an impressive collection of books, magazines, stationery, and beautiful postcards from around India. www.gangarams.com

Bull Temple

Bull Temple

Bull Temple [Bugle Hill, Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi] is one of Bangalore's oldest temples. It was built by Kempegowda (founder of Bengaluru) in the Dravidian style in the 16th century and it contains a huge granite monolith of Nandi bull that is 4.5 metres high and 6.5 metres long.

Try not to breathe

Try not to breathe when walking near the drains (i.e., near the open sewage canals) or your gag reflex may kick in. Often you may see people holding handkerchiefs or scarfs over their noses to protect themselves from the awful stink.

Street signs

"Do not overspeed -- It thrills, but it kills" and "You only have one head -- Protect it with helmet" signs can be seen on many major intersections.

Don't stop the dance

Dancing has been banned in Bangalore's clubs and any other places where alcohol is served.

Haircut

Today I had a haircut at Giri's Gents Parlour [#34, 100ft Inner Ring Road, Koramangala]. It cost only Rs. 30 (less than $1 Canadian!) Hairdressing is a male profession in India.

The Leela Palace

The Leela Palace, Kempinski Bangalore

The Leela Palace, Kempinski Bangalore [#23, Airport Road] is the most lavish hotel in Bangalore, located in the Diamond District. Galleria Leela, within Leela palace, is Bangalore's largest shopping mall. www.theleela.com

Shiva Temple

Statue of Lord Shiva

Shiva Temple at Airport Road has the biggest statue of Lord Shiva in Bangalore. The statue is 65 feet high showing Lord Shiva seated in lotus position.

Tangerine

Tangerine [#311, 100ft Road, Indira Nagar] offers a wide selection of veg and non-veg sizzlers. The portions are generous but make sure to leave some room for dessert. Their hot chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream is simply amazing.

Ayurvedic massage

Wow! What an amazing experience that was. I never knew what exactly ayurvedic massage was about, but after I experienced it at the Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa [#794, 9th A Main Road, HAL 1st Stage, Indira Nagar] -- I surely love it! Being massaged by two masseurs at the same time is a fantastic feeling. I had a Sarvakaya Abhyangam (general body massage). All those scented oils (lots of it!), calm chanting music and a room lit by candles have brought relaxation to my mind, body and soul. www.keralavaidyashala.com

Cinema Lido

I went to see American Gangster in Cinema Lido [Lido Mall, M.G. Road]. The cinema theatre looks exactly the same as any theatre in Vancouver, except for one thing -- the back row of recliner seats. They definitely know how to enjoy the movies. "Feel like at home" concept has been brought to another level.

South Indies

South Indies [#840/A, 100ft Road, Indira Nagar] serves delicious food from four neighbouring states in South India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.) My favourite dish is appam with kai kari stew from Kerala.

Little Italy

Little Italy Ristorante [#1135, 100ft Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Indira Nagar] is a cousy little Italian restaurant in Indiranagar. It offers vegetarian versions of traditional Italian (pastas and thin crust pizzas) and Mexican dishes. www.littleitaly-india.com

Lalbagh Botanical Garden

Rose garden

Lalbagh Botanical Garden is a 240-acre park founded in 1760 by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. It was named Lalbagh (Red Garden) for its lavish display of red roses.

Mavalli Tiffin Rooms

Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, locally known as M.T.R. [#14, Lal Bagh Road] near Lalbagh Gardens, is the traditional South Indian restaurant known for its mouth-watering tiffins (rava idlis, sambhar vadas, masala dosas etc.) It is one of Bangalore’s hottest South Indian eating destination. It is the place where local families go when they are looking for excellent "no fuss" meals.

Tipu Sultan's Palace

Teak pillars of Tipu Sultan's Palace

Tipu's Palace was completed by Tipu in 1791. It is made of teak wood and it was beautifully decorated with floral motifs on the walls and ceilings. Most of the painted decorations have been destroyed.

Jumma Masjid Bangalore

Jumma Masjid mosque in Bangalore

Impressively massive Jumma Masjid, located near the City Market, is the oldest mosque in the city and is dedicated to the great Indian hero -- Tipu Sultan. The name Jumma Masjid is a reference to the weekly congregation observed on Friday at the mosque.

Koshy's Bar & Restaurant

Koshy's [#39, St. Mark's Road, Richmond Town] has been run by the same family for three generations. It has two dining rooms (a bar and a restaurant) and it is the perfect place for Indian, Chinese, and Western cuisine. I enjoyed their North Indian style fish biryani.

Brigade Road

Brigade Road

Bangalore's major shopping area is bounded by M.G. Rd, Brigade Rd, St. Mark's Rd, and Residency Rd.