Two Years in Bangalore

Bangalore Experience

When I’m travelling, I try to take in as many sights as possible, and experience as much of the local culture and cuisine as I can in my short stay in a new place. Yet, I’ve lived in Bangalore for over two years, and have missed out on some incredible Bangalore experiences. So I decided I’m going to list all things Bangalore that I want to experience – and I am going to complete this list in the next one year (I know one year sounds like a long time for such a small list, but let’s give a try).

1. Kannada Gothilla: Quite shameful that I still can’t speak Kannada, after over 2 years in Bangalore. Even more shameful considering Telugu is a close cousin. I even went to Kannada classes (Team mates and friends of neighborhood) for a couple of days, and picked up a smattering of the language, but those skills are rusted from lack of practice.

2. Kannada Movies at the Theatre: I’ve wanted to watch a Kannada movie in a theatre ever since I moved here, and never got around to it. I did see Mungaru Male in a bus once, but watching it in a local theatre is the real deal. Mostly it is because there are usually so many movies I’m desperate to watch in a week that this fancy takes a backseat.

3. MTR: Sigh! So I’ve never had lunch at the legendary Mavalli Tiffin Rooms. Went there, and still didn’t get to eat there. When i went, I was super hungry, and couldn’t quite handle the long wait, so i left after half an hour and went elsewhere for lunch. Maybe second time lucky.

4. Bangalore Palace: It’s rather sad that I’ve never visited the Bangalore palace, given how I’m really into palaces and forts and other historical structures. When I’m travelling, I try and visit as many historical places as possible – so it’s ironic that I’ve not been to a palace just a few kilometers from where I live.

5. India Coffee House: Now this is a place that tourists associate with Bangalore, and I have not stepped into its hallowed portals once in the two years I have lived here. It’s funny really – I’ve even directed foreign tourists to the India Coffee House, and yet never been there myself.

6. Lalbagh: Okay, before you gasp, I have been to Lalbagh. That’s too on an Independence day. But the rain ruined the whole visit.

7. Breakfast @ Max Mueller Bhavan: Puzzling why I’ve never tried the famous breakfast at Max Mueller Bhavan, given how I love continental breakfasts, and considering I’ve lived in kasturinagar for so long. It probably has to do with the fact that I never managed to get up early enough for breakfast on weekends.

8. Bannerghatta National Park: All right, I know this is not a typical Bangalore thing to do, but heard that BNP made for a fun day trip, and yet never got around to doing it.

9. Shopping @KSIC/ Mysore Saree Udyog: Every female I know who’s ever visited Bangalore has bought Mysore silk sarees, either for themselves, or to take to relatives back home. My unfortunate mother has certainly not been the recipient of any such gift from me in all the years I’ve lived in Bangalore.

10. Places visited:

• Mekedatu
• Sri Rangapatna
• Mysore
• Hogenakal
• Nisarga Dhama
• Talakaveri
• Kushal Nagar
• Coorg
• Baghamandala
• Ramachandrapura
• Kannur
• Ooty
• Nelamangala
• Ghati Subramanya
• Chikka Thirupathi
• Ranganathittu
• Yercaud
• Bababudangiri
• Jog
• Mrudeshwara
• Gokarna

11. Places in and around still to visit: 

• Sri Ram Betta
• Rangasthala
• Savana Durga
• Nandi hills
• Revanasiddesh betta
• Shiva gange
• Antharagange
• Kanva reservoir
• Kaivara
• Sheebi
• Devarayana durga
• Kokkare Belluru
• Kudumalai
• Melukote
• Muththathhi
• Vidurashwatha
• Bheemeswari
• Karighatta
• Shivasamudram
• Adi chunchanagiri
• Lepakshi
• Mahadevapura
• Shravana Belugola
• KRS, Balamuri
• Mudukuthore
• Talakadu
• Chunchana katte
• Kadiri
• Nanjanagudu
• T. Narasipur
• Sathanur dam
• Somanathapur
• Hemagiri
• Ramanathapura
• Tiruvannamalai
• Halebeedu
• B. R . Hills
• Bandipur
• Gopalaswamy betta
• Harangi
• Kabini
• Nagarahole
• Belur
• Mudumalai
• Irpu
• Kemmannugundi
• Kudrehabbe
• Bhadra
• Manikyadhara
• Muthodi
• Subramanya
• M. M. Hills 
• Bisle
• Gajanur
• Horanadu
• Mandagadde
• Shringeri
• Ulvi
• Nagar
• Coonoor
• Ikkeri
• Keladi
• Dharmasthala
• Hampi
• Kudremukh
• Mantralaya
• T.B. Dam
• Varadahalli
• Agumbe
• Moodabidiri
• Gudavi
• Humbucha
• Karkala
• Kaup
• St. Mary's Island
• Katil
• Devarahole
• Magodu falls
• Satodi falls
• Udupi
• Honnavar
• Maravanthe
• Badami & Aihole
• Kollur
• Kollur forest
• Yana
• Gokak falls 
• Varaahi
• Koravangala
• Ridge
• Mosale
• Doddagadduvalli
• Munnar