The curious case of Bangalore: An intern’s guide to the city that gets younger every day

From being not more than a sleepy town half a century back, Bangalore has transformed itself into the reason why American children do their homework well. On the way, it has shed a little of the green that earned it the name “The garden city” and expanded to house some of the finest restaurants, malls and pubs in India. Bangalore is the representative of the New India, the one that is beginning to shine, with no Victorian mammoth lining its skies or no colonial legacy to back it up.

Before you land:  If Kolkata is a patriarch who has lost his teeth and Mumbai the newlywed bride, Bangalore would be a teenage grandson. If you are interning in summer, there can’t be a better city in India as far as the climate and energy level go. The temperature usually stays within the 15-35 degrees band. English and Hindi work well with the bangaloreans, though some basic Kannada wouldn’t hurt.

When in Bangalore: This is one metro that is truly Indian. Some say that the city has lost its soul on the way to become global. But others think it has simply transformed itself, to serve the needs of the times. Make sure that you get a taste of nightlife since it is the best in India. Also, Kannada culture has not been explored much except for Udupi Hotels. Get past the glory of the city and experience Karnataka.

Moving around: Inexpensive buses don’t have boards in English or Hindi. Either ask a local or dial 1800 425 1663, BMTC toll free to know which route to take. If you are going to travel a lot during a particular day, a better option would be obtaining a daily pass. Namma metro provides a decent experience, though it doesn’t live upto all the hype around it and trains are not as frequent as its Delhi counterpart. Auto rickshaws and taxis run by meter but the auto drivers are notorious in this part of the world as well. An option unique to Bangalore would be cycle rides. If your destination is not far away, grab a bicycle and ride.

Food: Minu, a law student recommends,

1. Central Tiffin room – Benne Masala Dosai.
2. Coconut Grove – Kerala parathas, spicy Kerala dishes.
3. Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR) – Bisi Bele Baath.
4. Anupams Coastal Express – Chicken pulimunchy.

Hangout points:

1. Malls: Gopalan Mall, Royal Meenakshi Mall, Mantri square, The Collection, The Forum, Leela Galleria, Banalore Central and Total Mall
2. Nature: Shivasamudram, Lal Bagh, Cubbon gardens, Bannerghetta national park, Big Banyan tree, Savandurga and Lumbini Gardens
3. Coffee: Mynt, Mocha, Indian Coffee House, Java City, Pinxx, Café Coffee Days, Brewhaha, Café Teraa, Lime Light, Coffee World, Global Tree and Barista.
4. Landmarks: Attara Kacheri, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore Palace, Jumma Masjid, The Bull Temple, Gavi Gandhareshwara Temple, Shiva Statue, Tippu Sultan Palace and Seshadri Iyer Memorial
5. Movies: PVR Cinema, Forum Mall, Inox Theatre, Nani Cinematheque, Collective Chaos and Bangaluru Film Society.
6. Theatre: Rangashankara
7. Pubs: Skyy Lounge, Guzzlers Inn, Hint, Xtreme, Opus In The Creek, The Biere club, Jimi’s, Banana Beach, Purple Haze, Styx, Tavern at the Inn and Legend of Rock.

Shopping: Bangalore’s streets are almost as famous as Delhi’s underground markets for selling fashionable clothes for dirt cheap rates. MG Road and Brigade Road offer great shopping experience. But if you are looking to invest a chunk of your stipend in revamping your wardrobe, or go window shopping there is the UB City and Vittal Mallya road, where world’s leading brands are housed.

What to do

1. When is the last time you rode a bicycle? Go green with a bonus of gaining washboard abs.
2. Learn about ham radio and be one. Bangalore is the amateur radio capital of India.
3. CNN and Huffington post think you should eat Masala Dosai before you die. Head to an Udupi hotel and get it from the masters whose ancestors supposedly created Dosai.
4. Bangalore has listened to Concerts by the likes of Metallica, Aerosmith and Bryan Adams. Most international ones happen at the Palace grounds. So check out if there are any concerts happening and get an internship accordingly!
5. Lalbagh – It is the identity of Bangalore. Visit one of the gardens and lose yourself when you still can. They don’t look like they are going to last much.

Words of caution: Bangalore is no more the pensioner’s paradise it used to be. Change brings good things and bad things alike. Despite what your parents might tell you expect a metro in full blast, not a gentle retirement haven. Cool weather also brings fog with it. Ensure that your flight is scheduled to land a day or two before the start date of internship inorder to be on time in the first day. Bangaloreans are generally gentle helpful people, but ever since the nightlife began to take root, violations against women have been growing. Party hard, but be safe.

All in all, Bangalore is a pleasant city to intern. Have you been there lately? Or planning to intern sometime soon? Is there anything you would like to add about Bangalore? Share with us your stories and worries to make this a complete guide to Bangalore.

Thanks Minu and Annapurna.

Want to do an Internship? Check out the latest Internships in Bangalore.