text:
Bangalore

Bangalore, now known officially as Bengaluru (Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು Beṅgaḷūru), is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is a large, cosmopolitan city with a large working population. Bangalore is the major centre of India's information technology (IT) industry and is known worldwide as the "Silicon Valley of India".

Understand
Once called the "Garden City of India" and the "Pensioner's Paradise", these epithets don't apply to modern Bangalore.

History
The earliest records of a place named Bengaluru are found in a ninth-century temple in an area now known as "Old Bangalore".

The feudal lord Kempe Gowda has been given credit for developing parts of the city. In 1537, with the assistance of the local king, he constructed three districts protected by a walled fort on the site.

During the next three centuries, Bangalore existed very much in the shadow of the neighbouring city, Mysore, and control of the town changed hands many times. The year 1831 marked a major turning point for the city. Claiming misrule by king Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, the British took control of the Mysore Kingdom and, possibly influenced by the city's salubrious climate, moved the administrative capital to Bangalore. New telecommunication systems were laid, rail connections built, fine government buildings constructed, and the city's famous parks and gardens established. After independence, Bangalore maintained its position as the state capital of Karnataka and continues to grow.

For many years, Bangalore was regarded in India as the greenest, most liberal and forward-thinking city. These attributes have propelled Bangalore to the forefront of India's high-tech industry boom, and it ranks as one of the most developed cities in India and one of the world's fastest-growing urban areas.

A popular myth explaining the name Bengaluru is that it originated from Benda Kaalu Uru (Town of Boiled Beans). The story is told that the name was given to the city by King Vira Ballala who, while lost in the area, was offered boiled beans by an old woman.

Climate
Unlike the major cities of India which are extremely hot in the summer months, Bangalore enjoys a relatively mild climate all year round.

 * Summer – February to May (peak temperature is during April and May)
 * Monsoon – June to October (the heaviest rains are typically between June and August)
 * Winter – November to January (with January being the coldest month)

Summer temperatures can reach and early morning temperatures in the winter hover around. However, Bangalore has unpredictable weather, unlike certain western cities. It is quite common to have a warm sunny day followed by evening showers ending with cool nights. So, be prepared for rain for the better part of the year, especially from May to November.

Talk
Being the capital of Karnataka, the widely spoken and official language in Bangalore is Kannada. Most people can speak and understand English and Hindi. Other Indian languages such as Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Urdu are spoken by the respective migrant and minority communities. As Bangalore is a commercial and cultural hub, it has a smattering of Konkani, Marathi and Tulu speakers.

Most auto rickshaw drivers, bus conductors and shop assistants can have a conversation in at least basic English. Some of them will be able to understand Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Signs are generally written in both Kannada and English. However, a basic knowledge of Kannada comes very handy when interacting with locals.

Airport to central business district

 * Buses Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operates buses between various places in Bangalore to the airport about every 15 minutes. These trips cost between ₹50 and ₹250 depending on the distance. This is the cheapest and an extremely convenient way to get to the airport.
 * Taxis
 * Airport-approved taxis There is a dedicated taxi holding area for travellers arriving at the airport. Taxis at this holding area use meters at the rate of ₹19.5 per kilometer. You will also have to pay the toll charge of ₹120 when you enter the highway. It costs approximately ₹600 to get to Bangalore's central business district, and about ₹700 to Koramangala]. Journeys to anywhere in Bangalore should not cost more than ₹800–1000. More information can be found on the airport site.
 * Unofficial taxis You may be able to find a ride into Bangalore City at a much cheaper rate by taking a taxi not approved by the airport, but only if you are willing to take a risk. Taxi drivers driving such taxis will attempt to negotiate with you a much lower fare than that charged by EasyCabs sometimes as little as ₹200–300 for a ride to the central business district. These taxis can be found just beyond the terminal plaza at the covered walkway that leads to the car park. Once you leave the walkway, some taxi drivers may become fairly aggressive and may try to take your luggage without your permission. The best thing to do is to keep track of and be in control of, your belongings. Even the most aggressive taxi driver or tout will leave you alone if you stand firm and make it clear that you do not want his help. You should only use such taxis if you have an idea of what the appropriate taxi rates are, and are willing to bargain very hard to avoid being swindled. It is recommended that you agree on a price before you enter the cab; no tip is necessary once you arrive at your destination.
 * App-based taxis Smartphone app-based taxi services such as Meru Cabs, Ola, Rapido and Uber operate in Bangalore and many provide services to the airport. These operate from a pickup point a little further outside the terminal building. You can follow the signs for an app-based taxi pickup. You will need to download an app to your smartphone and have an Internet connection to be able to use these services. If you don't have an Indian SIM card or cheap roaming data, it may be better to use one of the other taxi services, as the Airport WiFi can be overloaded at peak times.
 * Uber has a flat rate service from the airport to anywhere in the city for ₹549, including the toll charges.
 * Ola also operates taxis via their app from the airport.
 * Oneness Taxi best Chandigarh to Delhi taxi and Delhi to Chandigarh Taxi Services Provider.
 * Limousines and self-drive cars Hertz and Akbar Travels provide pre-paid limousine and car rental facilities through counters at the airport terminal building. These cost above ₹1,200 for travel to the central business district. A pick up and drop off facility in town and at the airport are offered.
 * Hotel pick-up You can arrange with your hotel to have a driver pick you up at the airport. Some hotels, especially the higher-end ones, provide this service for free if you are staying with them, although some may charge you anything around ₹2,500 (far higher than just taking a taxi). The driver will be waiting in the arrival area of the airport with a sign bearing your name.
 * Helicopter If you are in a hurry and have a lot of money, helicopter services are offered by Birdie and Deccan Aviation. There are eight helipads across Bangalore. A ride from the international airport sets you back by about ₹5,000.

By train
There are many railway stations in Bangalore, each serving certain trains:

Bookings can be done at either the railway stations or at the Indian Railways booking counters in major commercial and residential areas. Booking can also be done online. If you are booking at Bengaluru City and are travelling to Mysore, there is a separate counter for travellers to Mysore. This is to cater for the large number of travellers between Bangalore and Mysore. If travelling to Mysore on a Sunday afternoon, arrive early as there is usually a long line for buying tickets.

As with all Indian railway travel, have some patience for delays. Trains are usually on time (within 20 min of scheduled time), but can sometimes be late. A digital departure board in the station will tell you what platform your train is on and what time it leaves.

For train arrival/departure and PNR status enquiries at various railway stations at Bangalore, call 139 or use ixigo or IRCTC RailYatri apps.

Travelling from Mumbai to Bangalore by train takes a long time (24 hr or so). Buses are comparatively faster and take 18-20 hr, provided there are no traffic jams in Mumbai and Pune en route. Effective travel time by train or bus is long. Air travel is recommended for traveling between Mumbai and Bangalore, the duration of which is about 90 min. Low-cost airlines charge the same fare as AC train or Volvo bus. However, sleeper class (non air-con) train travel from Mumbai to Bangalore is economical and you can have a view of some lush evergreen forests and river valleys across Western India. Traveling to Delhi can take 39 hours (or more) and the flight ticket just double than the amount of the slow train.

For the Foreign Tourist Quota, go to the big building on the left, before entering the train station through the main access. This is the "Unreserved Tickets" building (even if on the side door it says "Reservation Center"). On the first floor, there is the Chief Reservation Supervisor. The official will book the ticket for you (after showing a foreigner passport). They might refer you to the first counter on the main building. But there you must stand in the queue, while here you can sit at the office and wait they book the ticket for you.

By bus
If you have difficulty arranging a plane or railway ticket to/from your next destination, or you prefer a little more adventure, you can go by bus. Government and private buses run services to/from major cities like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirupati, Hyderabad, etc. Buses can be a regular service with only seats and no A/C, a normal luxury bus, a Volvo A/C bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Buses are also good for coming from many towns in Karnataka without a good number of trains due to the increased service - most towns in Karnataka are essentially guaranteed to have service to the state capital.

There are also many unofficial stops that buses will go to on request (even on deluxe buses with reserved seats, you can ask the conductor to stop at such a stop as long as it is in Bangalore/the same city as the stop on your ticket) or even let passengers book tickets from. These places do not have any station infrastructure but are usually located near landmarks, on major streets/circles/squares and of course, can be spotted by the numerous buses crowded around. One particularly useful stop is Yeswanthpur Junction, which is next to the long-distance train station of the same name as well as the Yeswanthpur metro station.

The display boards for long-distance buses bus show the destination in the local language Kannada. If you don't speak Kannada, you will likely need to get some help to get on the right bus. However, the newer Volvo buses are all equipped with electronic displays that show the destination in Kannada and English one after the other. Non-Volvo buses are being gradually retrofitted with these electronic displays; this should make bus travel much simpler if you are unfamiliar with the local language. However, there are still many of the older Ashok Leyland and even some very old Tata buses plying the roads, so it is best to go by timings or ask the conductor where the bus is heading (usually by asking the destination name like its a question, such as "Mysore?", and hearing if the conductor responds with the same name or another one).

Bus companies

 * Durgamba Motors
 * Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)- Operated by Govt. of Karnataka. Counters are present all over the city for reservations, list on the website.
 * KPN Travels - From the direction of Tamil Nadu
 * VRL Travels - From most places north of Bangalore
 * City Travels- From the direction of Tamil Nadu

By car
Driving in India can be very stressful. Lane discipline is practically non-existent, excessive honking, high vehicle density, lack of regard for traffic law, combined with razor thin passing margins are common. One ride in a taxi will most likely convince you that driving yourself is not worth the risk, so if you do want to arrive by car, you will probably want to hire a car and a driver. Cost varies, but most car and driver combinations cost ₹1,400-1,700/day. The fares for hired private taxis are usually in the multiples of 4hr/, fares for which start at around ₹450 for a non-air conditioned small car. Depending on where you are coming from, you may be able to negotiate a lower fare if the trip isn't far, and it may be a higher fare if you are travelling far and your driver has to travel back on his own time. Having an approximate idea of the fare or distance beforehand and persistent bargaining skills can lead to significant savings. Although it costs more, consider requesting an air conditioned car if you aren't used to the heat, especially in summer. An air conditioned car will also help filter out the air pollution, which is considerable, especially on congested roadways. If you want something even more special, such as a fancy car or SUV, be prepared to pay extra.

By metro

The Namma Metro is an efficient cross-city rail service in Bangalore. As of November 2023, there are two lines (green and purple) intersecting at Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic Terminal):

 * Green Line (Nagasandra–Silk Institute)
 * Purple Line (Whitefield (Kadugodi)–Challaghatta)

Tickets can be bought at any station. Fares depend on the number of stations you travel. Minimum fare is ₹10 and maximum is ₹60. A card costing ₹50 will save you from the queues and can be recharged online (recommended to recharge in the counters). The cards offer a 5% discount on the ordinary fare. There is no other concession for seniors, women, etc. Tickets are to be purchased for children above 3 feet in height (independent of age).

If you get a smart token (the single journey ticket), remember that it has to be returned at the station you get off at, so make sure not to lose it during the ride. All trains are 6-coach trains with the front and the back part reserved to women

By bus
Buses are cheap and usually frequent (though expensive compared to other states). But travelling on them can be very difficult if you don't know the system well. Now, most buses have digital signage alternating between the local language Kannada and English but some buses still display the old printed signs with only the route number in English, with the destination and route information written in Kannada. Of course, even with digital signage the buses can take a long time to change the displayed language, meaning that it can be easy to miss your bus. This means you will have to know what route number you need before you get on, which you can find from BMTCRoutes.in website or Desiroutes, entering your starting point and end point on Google maps, or by asking locals.

Not all bus stops are clearly marked, so it can be a little tricky on your first trip. Groups of people standing around can be a good indicator that the bus will stop there. Also, it's a good idea to ask the driver or conductor if they stop at the stop you want to go to (a 500 and a 500Q will not go to all the same stops). Just ask the name in a questioning tone and you will get a response. Conductors (there is one on every bus and they collect fares and issue tickets - they are always in uniform) are also helpful in telling you where/when your stop is if you ask, as are fellow passengers if they frequent the route. Posted route maps of the bus system are rare, although maps are sold at the main bus terminals (Kempegowda Bus Stand and Shivajinagar). BMTC (toll-free).

Watch out: some bus drivers put their route sign on the bottom right side of the windshield instead of its place on the sign holder on the top of the windshield.

Buses with black display boards run within the city. Red board buses cover long-distance and go to adjoining suburbs. The ordinary city buses are white & blue or green in colour. The newer city buses tend to be blue in colour and have LED display boards. There are blue Volvo buses, called Vajra, that operate mainly on IT sector routes like Electronic City, ITPL and Outer Ring Road routes, and to tourist places like Bannerghatta National Park and weekend Services to Wonderla. They offer a comfortable air-conditioned ride at higher prices (1½ to 2 times the regular bus fare) than the regular buses (which are not air-conditioned). Unlike most other buses, the Vajras have illuminated LED display boards on the front and sides which display the destination and route information in English as well as Kannada.

BMTC also operates Vayu Vajra services to Kempegowda International Airport from various destinations across the City. KIAS-9 is the most frequent of the routes, connecting the Airport to the Majestic Bus stand.

City buses are crowded during rush hours, which are at least 7-10AM and 5-9PM (M-Sa) but one can travel with little difficulty during the daytime. Bus services usually start by 5 or 6AM and are less frequent 9:30AM–10PM and rare after 10:30PM. Traffic in Bangalore is notorious: a trip across the city can take up to 4 hr, especially during rush hour times. There are no bus lanes, so buses, cabs and cars face the same traffic jams!

Major buses in the city have seats reserved for ladies in the front, between the front and middle doors. The first seat near the front door is reserved for ladies' senior citizens, while the first seat behind the middle door is for the physically challenged, and the seat facing the door is for senior citizens. Generally, you can board and exit the bus from either door.

It is always better to buy a daily pass if you plan to travel the whole day on the bus. The daily pass costs ₹70 as of January 2018 and it comes in handy if you need to travel on several buses in a single day. Daily passes are issued by the on-duty bus conductor or at the bus stand. Using this pass you can travel in any bus (other than the Vajra) for the entire day, any number of times. Senior citizens are given a 25% concession in all buses on the production of valid ID cards (e.g. passports). Children aged 4-12 are given a 50% concession. No charge for children up to 4 years of age.

Buses are available to all major localities of the city from these three bus stands. There have been a lot of developments due to the ongoing metro project as well as efforts to decongest the city. BMTC is adding more bus stations all the time. Better to check their websites for the latest situation.

By train
There are DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) and MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains run by the South Western Railway (SWR), which connect the city centre to various suburbs, especially in the IT corridor areas of Whitefield, Outer Ring Road and Electronic City. However, speeds are low and station infrastructure can be poor.

By auto-rickshaw
Auto-rickshaws (also called "auto") are everywhere at any time of day. They are green-and-yellow or black-and-yellow three wheeled contraptions. They are a fast (but unsafe) way to get around the city - in thick traffic, they are quicker than a taxi or bus.

Auto-rickshaws are supposed to charge fares as per the meter reading, which equals to ₹13 per distance kilometer, a minimum charge of ₹25 for the first or less, and a 50% surcharge after 10PM (called "one and a half"). They generally tend to charge on an ad-hoc basis depending on the distance of the destination, the chances of getting another customer from the mentioned locality, and their mood. You should simply refuse to board an auto where the meter is faulty or the driver refuses to use it. Saying "meter please" will usually do the trick. Drivers will give you endless excuses why they cannot use the meter. Remember that they are required by law to have a working meter and use it, and this will almost always be the cheapest for you too. If they still refuse, walk away: there are plenty of other rickshaws on the roads. In fact, drivers of rickshaws that you flag down from the streets (if practical and possible) will often be more agreeable than those waiting in stands, who demand more fares.

Tourists should be cautious when approaching auto-rickshaws at night, or during heavy rains. Chances are they will charge exorbitant rates (some drivers may demand 100% surcharge after 10PM or 11PM), but you must refuse to board in such a case. Help could be taken from the local traffic police to avail auto-rickshaws during such circumstances. If you are a visitor and do not know the route to the destination, it is a good idea to bargain and fix the fare before boarding to avoid long, convoluted routes being used by the driver - or check the route by recording a GPS track on your mobile.

Auto drivers commonly charge 1.5 rates for timings from 9PM to 6AM. For instance, if the meter reads ₹100, you are to pay ₹150. Catching autos on a normal fare at these times are tough.

Another thing to keep in mind is to be firm but not loud in an argument while travelling in the auto. Some of the less reputable drivers may team up with their friends midway to cause problems. Remember that although Bangaloreans are known for their polite and mild mannered behaviour, auto drivers are normally an exception. Some will think nothing of trying to rip you off. If in doubt, consult a local or your hotel travel desk.

If a rickshaw driver offers to show/drive you to some great places to shop, firmly refuse. A common tactic is to drive you to local shops where you will be pressured to buy Indian crafts that you probably don't want. Know your destination and insist upon it.

Rickshaw drivers are required by law to display their identification on the dashboard or the back of their seats. Refuse to get into a rickshaw that does not display one.

If an auto driver is problematic, their identification number and report to the BBMP Control room which is empowered to withdraw their auto license. This is a very effective technique to deal with them. The BBMP control room number as of December 2009 is.

If you arrive in Bangalore via train, at the main train station there is an office near the taxis/auto-rickshaws which will print out a pre-paid receipt for your ride. The service costs ₹1, but will save you a potentially large amount of money by giving you an accurate value for your ride. This also allows you to avoid haggling with the driver, and acts as an official price agreement in the event that the driver wants to dispute the price of the ride.

By car taxi or bike taxi
Taxis are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Toyota Etios, Tata Indica cars or Mahindra Logan cars, which are much safer than auto-rickshaws, and the drivers are polite. If you are alone or going to an unknown destination, you are strongly advised to choose this option, even though the rates will be double that of an auto-rickshaw. Most taxi companies will charge a flat rate of ₹150 from anywhere to anywhere within city limits. Waiting or return trips will be charged extra, as will a lot of heavy luggage.

Unlike many other countries, taxis are not marked with 'TAXI' signs on the top. Instead, the cars are marked with the logo of the fleet operator or taxi company on the sides of the car. Only some companies like "Meru Taxi" are marked with the sign 'Taxi' on them. Some companies have a yellow sign with an identification number (usually a letter followed by two digits) on the top. Keep in mind that these taxis cannot be hailed from the street, but have to be called by telephone. When you call, you must give the operator your location, destination, and phone number. The operator will in turn tell you the charge (or will inform you that you must go by the meter) as well as the taxi number. The taxi will come to pick you up and call you when they are close. When you go out on the street, look at the license plate for the number they gave you—it will be the last four digits of the license plate. Alternatively, look for the yellow board atop the car with the taxi's identification number.

The license plate number is usually in the format "KA" followed by 01 to 05, followed by two letters, followed by a four-digit number. Taxis generally have yellow license plates with black letters.

On weekdays, especially during rush hours, be prepared to book a taxi a couple of hours in advance. Otherwise, the rush-hour traffic jams and high demand for taxis will make it difficult for a taxi to reach you in time. Private taxis are generally more reliable during this time – in many cases, radio cabs will be overbooked, and you might be unfortunate to be informed that your booking has been cancelled.

Although it can be hard for non-Indians to grasp at first, the system is actually very effective. If in doubt, ask a member of your hotel staff to help you

As early as 2015, Rapido started operating its 2 wheeler bike taxis & autorickshaws which are a great way to get around the city and cost slightly lesser than the traditional autos, and taxis.

Travel agents and hotels can arrange private chauffeur driven cars, and you may also hire cars to drive yourself. While expensive compared to taxis, these are the most trusted, secure, and comfortable ways to travel around the city. Driving in Bangalore can be difficult, because of poor driver discipline, but chauffeur driven services are very reasonable. These can be arranged by travel companies or online from the countries of origin.

By private car
Most taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers will be more than happy to offer you either a daily rate or an hourly rate, and take you around wherever you need to go. Alternately, your hotel or a travel company can arrange a private car.

If you find a good taxi or auto driver, this can be a great way to go for a foreigner. You'll certainly pay a lot more than if you bought individual rides, but you'll always have a driver waiting for you, and he can help with recommending local tourist sites, finding a good restaurant to eat at, and otherwise coping with day-to-day life. This can take a lot of the stress out of traveling.

Rates are generally something like ₹50–100 per hour for an auto-rickshaw, and ₹150–250 per hour for a taxi. Rates for a private car booked via the hotel will probably be more. Like everything else in India, rates are very fluid.

By bicycle
The weather in Bangalore is extremely pleasant, but the traffic is equally hectic. So if your plan is not to go towards crowded city, you can go around cycling.

Most of the sightseeing locations are within a range of, so you can consider covering them on bicycle. Bicycle dealers charge ₹100-300 for entire day and you have to submit identity proof to hire bicycle.

By rental scooter
Travelling by rental scooter (light motorcycle) is increasingly common. Companies like Bounce, VOGO and YULU offer rental scooters and electric cycles (solar powered models are available), to be unlocked using an app on your smartphone. VOGO and YULU have certain hubs where the vehicle has to be parked, whereas Bounce scooters can be parked anywhere. The rates charged are comparable with those of auto rickshaws, or may be slightly higher at times. You should carry your own helmet since most of these vehicles don't come equipped. The flip side to these services is that the price charged in the end is final and cannot be bargained and sometimes these apps have poor customer services.

See
There are city tours that can show you the city efficiently if you are short on time. Typically, tours do not include entry fees into the attractions. Bangalore, like the rest of India, has a habit of charging foreigners a lot more than locals for attractions. For example, Tipu Sultan's Palace, which is on the half-day tour, charges ₹15 for Indians/SAARC and ₹200 for non-Indians.

Outdoor activities and sports

 * Adventure clubs: Bangalore is bestowed with rock climbers, aqua sportsmen and aero sportsmen. There are several clubs including Nature Admire, Care, Spark, KMA, Capture, Mars, Angel, Wildcraft and Adventure Works.
 * Camping, Savandurga, Gunjoor Lake, Bhimeshwari, Rangaswamy betta.
 * Cave exploration, Savandurga, Anthargange, Siddarabetta.
 * Hiking, Nandi hills; Rangaswamy betta, Bhimeshwari - Muttati.
 * Hill Climbing, Savandurga, Makalidurga, Kavaledurga (Skandagiri), Kabalidurga, Siddarabetta, Nijakal betta, Shivgange.
 * Hill Climbing, Savandurga, Makalidurga, Kavaledurga (Skandagiri), Kabalidurga, Siddarabetta, Nijakal betta, Shivgange.

Parks and stadiums

 * Lumbini Gardens. A public park on the banks of the Nagawara Lake in Bangalore, Karnataka. It contains an eco-friendly boating park and a 12,500 square foot artificial beach and children's pool.
 * Lumbini Gardens. A public park on the banks of the Nagawara Lake in Bangalore, Karnataka. It contains an eco-friendly boating park and a 12,500 square foot artificial beach and children's pool.
 * Lumbini Gardens. A public park on the banks of the Nagawara Lake in Bangalore, Karnataka. It contains an eco-friendly boating park and a 12,500 square foot artificial beach and children's pool.
 * Lumbini Gardens. A public park on the banks of the Nagawara Lake in Bangalore, Karnataka. It contains an eco-friendly boating park and a 12,500 square foot artificial beach and children's pool.
 * Lumbini Gardens. A public park on the banks of the Nagawara Lake in Bangalore, Karnataka. It contains an eco-friendly boating park and a 12,500 square foot artificial beach and children's pool.
 * Lumbini Gardens. A public park on the banks of the Nagawara Lake in Bangalore, Karnataka. It contains an eco-friendly boating park and a 12,500 square foot artificial beach and children's pool.
 * Lumbini Gardens. A public park on the banks of the Nagawara Lake in Bangalore, Karnataka. It contains an eco-friendly boating park and a 12,500 square foot artificial beach and children's pool.

Movies
Take in a movie at one of the innumerable theaters around the city. Some multiplexes:

Other:

Spa & massage
Massages & spas are very much a part of Bangalore's east-meets-west culture, new ones spring up across the city all the time.

Shopping districts
Bangalore provides a wide range of options for shoppers. One can buy many things ranging from clothing to electronic goods and vehicles. Being an IT city, Bangalore provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier.

Many visitors come to Bangalore searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk saris and so miss out on the true Bangalore shopping experience. Here is a low down on shopping - Bangalore style:

 * The UB City and Vittal Mallya Road are Page-3 shopping areas. You'll find brands like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Kimaya in the UB City. Vittal Mallya Road has stores like The Collective which is a shop only for men. Armani, Versace, Boss, you name it they have it. There's even Canary Blue and Esprit on the same road.

Shopping malls
Malls typically have higher-end stores retailing apparel, footwear, and consumer electronics. Many malls also have food courts (with international cuisine) and movie theatres. Finding a parking spot for your car may not be easy though, especially on weekends.

The heart of the new mall shopping district is on Victoria Road, with malls like Garuda Mall, Bengaluru Central and Globus, all within easy walking distance.

Some of the more popular malls in Bangalore are:

Markets
The traditional markets have mom-and-pop stores that sell everything from fruits, vegetables, groceries to electronics, music, and mobile phones. Smaller but more lively traditional markets can be found in residential areas such as Gandhi Bazaar, N R Colony, Banashankari, Malleswaram, Jayanagar, JP Nagar & Shivajinagar.

For other food options, you can do your grocery at Nature's Basket or Spar, More, FoodWorld, options are huge, all on the Road. At the 1st block you can find grocery shops more suited for the local residents, if you want it the traditional way!

Jewellery

 * Bluestone Site No.89/2, Lava Kusha Arcade, Munnekolal Village, Marathahalli Outer Ring Rd.
 * Bluestone Site No.89/2, Lava Kusha Arcade, Munnekolal Village, Marathahalli Outer Ring Rd.
 * Bluestone Site No.89/2, Lava Kusha Arcade, Munnekolal Village, Marathahalli Outer Ring Rd.
 * Bluestone Site No.89/2, Lava Kusha Arcade, Munnekolal Village, Marathahalli Outer Ring Rd.

Boutiques
Apart from the numerous malls that have taken Bangalore by storm, the essential element and soul of the city comes through in its myriad small and unique boutiques that are all over the city, usually tucked away though. Have tried to list the must check out stores.

Electronics
The Croma electronics showroom is opposite Lifestyle Mall. eZone, Reliance Digital, Pai, Sony, Panasonic electronics showrooms are all within the kilometre from here. So this is the ideal location if you want to do a survey before making your next expensive LCD/LED TV purchase.

Indians
The best way to find employment in Bangalore is through job fairs, job portals, applying directly to companies of interest, and through headhunters.

Being referred as Silicon Valley of India, the city provides plethora of employment opportunities to youngsters from different corners of India.

Non-Indians
With a little hard work and persistence finding a job is quite possible in Bangalore. Most of the available positions are in the IT field but not necessarily IT based. Several expats do marketing, quality assurance, accent training and translation among other things. All jobs in India require an employment visa which must be obtained abroad and sponsored by the hiring company in India. In general, the salary for expats is very high compared to the local Indian wage. The best resource for jobs is through the expat community. Ask around but a good place to meet expats is the Sunday brunches at the 5-star hotels or at the numerous coffee shops in and around the MG Road area.

Eat
Bangalore has a wide variety of food options. Foreigners will want to look for cleanliness in choosing a place to eat. Also don't expect the exterior to be too fancy, observe the cleanliness of the inside and the servers when choosing a place to eat! Eating options include high end restaurants to chains to temples to mom and pop shops and of course street vendors! Restaurants usually label if they serve only vegetarian (veg or pure veg) or both veg and non-veg cuisine. If you haven't been in India long, it is safer to take bottled water. But juices and other drinks are usually ok.

There are numerous established south Indian joints that serve authentic dosais and idlis such as MTR, CTR, Vidyarthi Bhavan and so on! Make sure to try out the classic Benne Masala Dose and a cup of filter coffee at one of these places.

There are also hundreds of young coconut and sugar cane juice stands! A nice refresher as you go around town! Both are good for keeping cool and energized. A coconut goes for ₹25-30 (some stands may have smaller coconuts for ₹10-15). Sugar cane juice runs ₹10-15 per cup. Bangalore is far from the sea, and as such the quality of seafood can vary. Some of the higher end and popular seafood places manage this well, but foreign travellers may want to tread a bit carefully.

Foreigners might want to only drink bottled water and eat only chutneys that are made with bottled or filtered water. Also, beef is forbidden to be on the menu in Karnataka restaurants.

The Road is the Eat Street of Koramangala. Pizza Hut, Domino's, KFC, Taco Bell, Au Bon Pain are all found here. There are also many non-chains serving local Indian cuisine. Chandni Chowk is a great option if you want the rural Punjabi dhaba experience.

Wisdom Cafe, near the AlienWare showroom is a really cosy place to have some snacks or lunch. So is the Hole in the Wall cafe, on the back street behind Maharaja Hotel. Serves great coffee and English breakfast. So does Cafe Terra, near Wipro park crossing. Adjacent to it is a really popular food joint called Little Home. It serves nice North Indian food at a very reasonable price. It's really popular with the young working populace. Naturals Ice cream parlour is a hit with the hip crowd; on weekend nights you may find queues outside.

Budget
Bangalore has hundreds of fast food joints serving South Indian vegetarian food. They usually are identified with small round steel tables and diners standing around them having food. Dosas, idlis, vadas, curd rice, vegetable pulao, rice with sambar, lemon rice are usually standard fare. Quality widely varies, since most of them cater to working people.

 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.
 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.
 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.
 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.
 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.
 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.
 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.
 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.
 * Anand Bhavan, Koramangala. This is a mostly breakfast and sweet place. It has many native foods such as Dosa, Idli, Vada, and Chutney. It has a wide range of Indian sweets such as Jalebis, and Rasgullas.

Mid-range

 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003
 * 1947 Restaurant. Shop No:47, 4th Floor, 15th Cross Rd, Above Girias, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003

North Indian

 * Kund. 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.
 * Kund. 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.
 * Kund. 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.
 * Kund. 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.
 * Kund. 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.
 * Kund. 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.
 * Kund. 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.
 * Kund. 303, Ashoka Terrace, 5th Main Rd, Indira Nagar 1st Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.

Dhabas

 * There are few dhabas catering to all tastes. South and North Indian fare is available at most places and is clean and cheap. A special mention is the green park dhaba on the outskirts on Bellary Road and Golconda Chimney on the old airport road in Marthahalli, opposite Shankara Eye Hospital. Golconda Chimmney has been renovated and has A/C and non-A/C sections, the non-veg spread is simply amazing, but the rates are steep if you have a traditional dhaba in mind. The ambience is nice. Try the chicken kathi rolls and the biryani.

Drink

 * In Koramangala, Legends of Rock is near the Pizza Hut on 80 ft. Road.
 * Also great is the Jimi's Beer Cafe nearby, has a really nice ambience.
 * Firangi Paani at Forum Mall is a nice but expensive option.
 * Costa Coffee, Barista and CCD have their presence near Maharaja Hotel. Young working people spend a lot of their time here. You can get a truly multi national multi cultural feeling as there are several restaurants serving Spanish, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Mexican food. Hence, it is really popular with expatriates.
 * The area around Jyoti Nivas college is a popular hangout for the college going crowd, with a lot of eateries and cafes in the area. This area has a very hip/ fashionable feel to it.

Pubs and bars
The pub scene is concentrated around the commercial business district in the heart of Bangalore. MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, St. Marks Road, and Church Street have numerous pubs. Happy hours is typically between 6-8PM and at most pubs, the time for the last order is around 10:30PM.

Formerly having a reputation as the Pub City of India, Bangalore's buoyant pub and nightlife has been curtailed by police and regulatory action, and all bars and nightclubs must now close no later than midnight.

Budget
Most bars and pubs in the city are somewhat upscale, but many inexpensive restaurants serve beer and good quality food.

If you just need to go out you could go to one of the bars, but if you would like to have a great social experience and are in the city for a considerable period of time consider becoming a member of one of the social expat clubs in the city. The IVES Club offers a meeting for its members every Saturday at one or the other popular nightclubs in Bangalore; its members are interns, expats, volunteers and exchange students residing in the city.

Splurge
Most hotels have spiffy bars with every imaginable concoction of drinks available.

 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in
 * Xtreme Sports Bara & Grill At Earthen Bowl, Ferns City, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, 77609 44477, support@earthenbowl.in

Budget
A large number of budget hotels near the Bangalore City Railway Station are crowded in the area around the Dargah Tawakkal Mastan, O.T.C. Road, Chickpet, Near Sreenivasa Hospital, from the Majestic bus station. Ask for Brahmins Bakery area.

 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
 * Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.

Mid-range

 * UPAR Hotels Indiranagar, 614-615, 12th Main Rd, 7th Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar ☏ +91 78248 24969. Hotel is situated within 2 kilomteres from Indirangar Metro Station and within 200 meteres from 80 feet road
 * UPAR Hotels Indiranagar, 614-615, 12th Main Rd, 7th Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar ☏ +91 78248 24969. Hotel is situated within 2 kilomteres from Indirangar Metro Station and within 200 meteres from 80 feet road
 * UPAR Hotels Indiranagar, 614-615, 12th Main Rd, 7th Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar ☏ +91 78248 24969. Hotel is situated within 2 kilomteres from Indirangar Metro Station and within 200 meteres from 80 feet road
 * UPAR Hotels Indiranagar, 614-615, 12th Main Rd, 7th Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar ☏ +91 78248 24969. Hotel is situated within 2 kilomteres from Indirangar Metro Station and within 200 meteres from 80 feet road
 * UPAR Hotels Indiranagar, 614-615, 12th Main Rd, 7th Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar ☏ +91 78248 24969. Hotel is situated within 2 kilomteres from Indirangar Metro Station and within 200 meteres from 80 feet road
 * UPAR Hotels Indiranagar, 614-615, 12th Main Rd, 7th Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar ☏ +91 78248 24969. Hotel is situated within 2 kilomteres from Indirangar Metro Station and within 200 meteres from 80 feet road

Stay safe
Bangalore is a relatively safe city during day time. However, most of Bangalore practically shuts down a little before midnight, even very safe residential areas can be very desolate by 11PM. In the morning people start getting out from 5AM or 6AM, but it's usually still dark outside at that time, so exercise caution if you are in an unfamiliar area.

Some of the lower-income areas can be somewhat unsafe once it gets dark. Exercising caution and good sense will increase your chances of staying safe.

 * It is not advisable to walk alone along deserted alleyways or lanes after dark. Avoid doing so in areas that you are not sure are reasonably safe
 * Avoid using an auto-rickshaw if the driver is not alone, especially at night
 * Do not flaunt jewellery, high-end mobile phones, laptops, watches etc.
 * Do not withdraw large amounts of cash from ATMs in deserted areas.
 * Beware of pickpockets in crowded areas such as exhibitions, cricket matches, train stations, etc.
 * If you are returning late from a party, it is advisable to pre-book cabs through reputed companies such as Meru, Ola, or Uber as against flagging down an auto-rickshaw on the road
 * Exercise caution in stopping to help if you see a broken down vehicle at night, especially in lonely streets and in cases where you will be outnumbered

Rising incomes has brought an influx of people including white and blue collar immigrants, leading to disparities in earnings between locals, the casual labour immigrants and expatriates (people from other parts of the state and also from other countries) which arguably has resulted in a substantial increase in crime rates.

Connect
The area code for Bangalore is 080. When calling from overseas, dial +91 80 XXXX XXXX (if the phone is a land-line connection). If you don’t have an Indian phone number, it is strongly recommended that you get a pre-paid calling card if you plan on using your phone frequently. Because of new government regulations, you need a photocopy of your passport (visa and the ID pages), a color photo, and proof of local address (in Bangalore) when buying a pre-paid card. If you do not have the required paperwork, it is recommended that you ask a local friend to buy a pre-paid card on your behalf. Pre-paid cards are sold in a few of the shops that sell mobile equipment.

Public telephones are a good option and are available widely. Most shops that offer public phones sport easily visible "STD/ISD/PCO" signages. More often than not, public pay-phones are post-pay and there will be a person at the shop to take the payments. Check the bill generated from the machine and make the payment accordingly. Payments are always in Indian Rupees.

Cellular
Mobile phone coverage in the city is excellent. There are many service providers (Airtel, BSNL, Reliance Jio, Idea-Vodafone) offering a wide variety of plans. If you are planning on travelling around outside the metropolitan area it might be a good idea to buy a mobile phone and use one of the pre-paid plans to get yourself connected whilst you are still in the city. However, there may be network congestion in certain areas and hence, slow internet connections.

Internet
There are plenty of Internet centres which charge between ₹10-₹25 per hr. If you have a laptop with Wi-Fi connection, free internet services are available at some malls, restaurants, and hotels. However, free public Wi-Fi is not the norm. MG Road and Brigade road now has street-wide free Wi-Fi. Hop on to the Namma Wi-Fi wireless network and register using your mobile number for a one-time password for internet access.

High speed USB data cards are very common and all telecom providers (see Connect section) offer these over-the-counter at their stores. Typically need some proof of identity and address to activate these. Nowadays, it is easier to just buy a sim card with 4G data and host a WiFi hotspot.

Cope
Bangalore is a clean city (compared to other major Indian cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata) and epidemics are rare. However, foreign tourists should be cautious about consuming water and eating at roadside stalls. It is recommended to use bottled water if the source of drinking water is unknown.

It is recommended to use mosquito repellents, either as a cream applied on the skin (ask for Odomos at local medical stores) or in the electronic form, during the evenings.

It is always a good idea to carry a minimal medicine kit with medicines for common diseases and conditions. Most of the international medicines are available in medical stores, though the name and brand may be different. So, it is advisable to do some research on the alternatives or consult a general physician, if needed.

Ambulances can be requested by calling 108.

Pharmacies
Pharmacies are dime a dozen and you should not have any problem locating one. You do not need any prescription for Modern Medicine Over the Counter drugs, or for ayurvedic medicine (proprietary and traditional), which are available for most common ailments like fever, headache, etc., But you will need prescription for other medicines, which are categorized as Schedule H drugs.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Currency Exchange
You will not find money exchange kiosks/counters in all parts of Bangalore, because Bangalore is not a primary destination for most tourists nor is it the entry point for most tourists entering the region. However, most banks offer currency exchange in all their branch offices, as do some travel agencies. Exchange rates can vary somewhat, so it is advisable to shop around. Typically, travel agencies will offer a better exchange rate than banks. Some "extraoficial" agencies can be found around the commercial area of M.G. Road. Those will offer a good rate, without asking to take a copy of your passport. Price could be bargained. Always double check the bank notes once the exchange is made.

Go next

 * Anshi National Park or Kali Tiger Reserve ( from Bangalore — River rafting and Kayaking is offered at Kali River near Dandeli.
 * Badami — A town in Bagakot district known for magnificent temple architecture of the Chalukya period. World Heriage site Pattadakal and Aihole are nearby to Badami.
 * Bandipur National Park — Famous for elephants, tigers, and precious sandalwood trees. It is spread over an area of 890 km2 and is considered one of the most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries.
 * Bangalore Rural — Home to Bangalore Airport and Devanahalli Fort
 * Bannerghatta National Park - a popular tourist destination with a zoo, a pet corner, an animal rescue centre, a butterfly enclosure, an aquarium, a snake house and a safari park.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve  — A tiger reserve on the catchment area of river Bhadra.
 * Nagarhole National Park or Rajiv Gandhi National Park
 * Nandi Hills — Provides a panoramic view of sunrise and sunset. One of the ways to go there is to go on a bicycle. The hill station has become a popular tourist spot because it is blessed with a pleasant environment throughout the year.
 * Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Mysore and Chamarajanagar come in a straight line. You will need half a day each for the first two places and two days each for the next two places. South of that line, around east from Mysore, Keshava Temple of Somanathapura offers marvellous architecture and stone sculptures.

title: Bangalore


text:
Bangalore Rural

Bangalore Rural is a rural area at the northern outskirts of Bangalore.

By plane
is in Bangalore Rural.

By train
There are local trains from north, west and east of Bangalore.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Bangalore Rural


text:
Bangalow

Bangalow is a village in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. It is near Lismore, Nimbin, and about an hour's drive inland from Byron Bay.

Understand
Bangalow features a single main street, where the buildings are all done in a consistent Federation style. You'll find the cafes and restaurants are more upscale than your typical small country town. Bangalow makes a great day trip from the Gold Coast or Byron Bay.

Get in
The only way you can get into Bangalow is by car. The Sydney to Brisbane train does not run here. Not to worry, the route to get here from either Brissie or Coffs are pretty easy, with most of it being a motorway. From Brisbane, head south onto the Pacific Highway until B62. Once at B62, exit and then turn right towards Bangalow and Casino. Go around 500m and you've arrived. From Coffs, it's the same except that you take the Pacific Motorway northbound, and exit onto B62 and turn left and continue for about 400m.

title: Bangalow


text:
Bangar

Bangar is the administrative centre of the Temburong District of Brunei. The quiet small town is relatively isolated as Temburong is separated from the main part of the country (where the capital Bandar Seri Begawan is located) by Sarawak's Limbang district. The town centre is on the downstream banks of the Temburong River. The market food hall, mosque, and community centre are on the west bank and the government centre, grocery store and hospital are on the east bank.

Temburong is not very developed and still has a lot of pristine rainforest. The Ulu Temburong National Park and the Batu Apoi Forest Reserve are excellent for experiencing the jungle.

By boat
Speed boats between Bandar Seri Begawan and Bangar run from 7AM to 5PM. One way fares are $6 and the journey takes 45 minutes. The boat ride is a highlight, as the boats weave through the many river channels at the mouth of the Temburong and Brunei Rivers. Boats dock at the main jetty in town while in Bandar, they leave from the jetty near the foodstalls at Jalan Residency just east of the city centre across the Sungai Kianggeh bridge. You'll briefly pass through Malaysian territory, but there are no checkpoints of any description.

By road
The Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge connecting Temburong with the rest of Brunei opened in 2020, meaning that you can now drive directly from Bandar Seri Begawan to Temburong without passing through Malaysian customs and immigration.

You will likely find yourself going through Temburong if you are travelling overland between the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. See Kota Kinabalu to Brunei by land.

By bus
There are no direct buses from Bandar Seri Begawan or any other part of Brunei to Temburong. Neither are there any direct buses to Temburong from neighbouring Sarawak.
 * To/from Bandar Seri Begawan or Limbang: If you must take the bus (there are direct speedboats to Bangar from Bandar), you will have to take the bus from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kuala Lurah (see Brunei | Get in section for details) and the catch another bus to Limbang. From Limbang, take a Pandaruan bus which will bring you to the border. Cross the Pandaruan River by ferry or boat and proceed to Bangar by taxi. You can get your Malaysian exit stamp at Pandaruan and your Brunei entry stamp at the Puni immigration post.
 * To/from Lawas: A local bus is supposed to go from Lawas to Trusan in Sarawak. This is as close as you will get to Temburong by bus and from there, you will have to take a Malaysian taxi to the Brunei-Malaysia border at Labu, and then change to a Bruneian taxi to Bangar. Get your Malaysian exit stamp at Trusan. The Bruneian entry stamp can be obtained at the border.

By taxi
Like buses, strict Bruneian laws prevent Malaysian taxis from bringing passengers into Temburong. From Limbang, you will have to catch a taxi to Pandaruan, cross the river by ferry or boat, then catch a Bruneian taxi to Bangar. If you are coming from Bandar Seri Begawan, you will have to find your way to Limbang first. Coming from the east, taxis run from Lawas to the Labu border checkpoint via Trusan (where you have to get your Malaysian exit stamp). Change to a Bruneian taxi at Labu to get to Bangar.

Get around
Bangar is small enough for you to walk around, although it could be quite a hike in the hot sun to get to the administrative offices across the river from the commercial area.

Temburong basically has two main roads, one stretching from its eastern border with Sarawak at Puni, through Bangar, to the western border, again with Sarawak, at Labu, a total of about 25 km. The other main road runs south from Bangar to Batang Duri.

You will have to resort to taxis to move around in Temburong if you do not have your own set of wheels. There are no buses. Taxis can cost a bit - Bangar to Labu is about B$30.

You can also hire bicycles from the Maryani Camping Shop at Bangar for B$30 a day.

Buy
There are three ATMs in town, that accept international cards.

There is a small marketplace and shops.

Budget

 * Pusat Belia: is a youth hostel. An immaculately clean and affordable hostel.

Go next

 * Miri
 * Kuala Belait
 * Seria
 * Tutong
 * Sengkurong
 * Jerudong
 * Berakas
 * Bandar Seri Begawan
 * Limbang
 * Lawas

Commons:Category:Bangar, Temburong

title: Bangar


text:
Bangka

There is more than one place called Bangka:

Indonesia

 * Bangka (Sulawesi) - an island off the northeastern tip of Sulawesi
 * Bangka (Sumatra) - an island off the coast of South Sumatra
 * Bangka-Belitung - a province that covers the Sumatran Bangka and neighboring islands

title: Bangka


text:
Bangka (Sulawesi)

Bangka is a group of islands off the coast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia: Bangka, Gangga, Talise and Sahaung islands.

Understand
The Bangka area is one of Indonesia's most famous dive areas, and it draws scuba divers from all over the world. The islands are part of the districts of West Likupang and East Likupang, in the regency of North Minahasa, about 15 km off the coast of the town of Likupang.

Bangka area is not part of the Bunaken Marine park, so there is no fee or permit. However, most resort offer diving in the neighboring dive area's, Bunaken and Lembeh Strait, as well as these are only about an hour away by boat.

Flora and fauna
Except for the very largest pelagics, nearly everything can be found at Bungka. Reef inhabitants include white and black tip reef sharks, giant sea turtles, napoleonfish, pygmy seahorses and dugongs. You may frequently run into dolphins, and occasionally schools of whales. On the Island Bangka you can even see wild deer, the tarsius and the maleo.

Get in
Bangka is about 90 minutes Manado, using a combination of car and boat. Most resorts will arrange transfers from the airport for their guests. A public boat leaves daily except Sunday around 4PM from Likupang, or you can charter a boat anytime. The Public boat usually goes to the village but you can ask to drop point, if you already book a resort. Altidor, one of the boat based in Lihunu village, the cost from Likupang Village around 3,5 USD per person, you can contact the boat directly at +62 852-5422-9800 once you arrived at Manado. The boat will start from Likupang Public harbor, to reach Likupang with public bus it's only from Manado, so if you arrived early in bandara sam ratulangi (like 05.00-08.00), you can ask the taxi in Airport to drop you directly to Likupang harbor. The second way you walk out from airport gate and book online for grab, gojek or indrive, but the "cheapest" way wait for the small blue car and ask to drop you to Likupang Terminal you can just ask if you're alone use two sits in the middle and pay Rp20,000, or 1,5 USD, and they will happy to drop you at the Likupang Bus terminal. When you arrived in Likupang Terminal just ask where is the Bus to Likupang, put your bag and buy something to eat lot's of small store if you hungry, the bus usually took long because not many people use it's cost around Rp20,000 to Rp23,000 or 1,5-2 USD. It's around 1,5 hour to Likupang Terminal, and you can walk from Terminal to Boat Terminal if you want or text Altidor number they will wait for you.

Get around
There are no real roads on Bangka, and only a couple of villages. The best way to go from a resort to one of the villages is by boat. Watch out if walking along the coastline, as the beach may disappear when the high tide rolls in.

Do
Dive, dive, dive. Diving around Bangka is very varied and possible for both beginning and advanced divers. There are also good opportunities for snorkeling.

Eat
There are no restaurants on Bangka, but each resort has its own restaurant. Dishes include lots of traditional Indonesian food but usually they also have some western meals. Since you're on an island, it's fish almost every day, but the resorts usually have some meat as well.

Drink
Natural drinking water is available in some resorts, but not all! All resorts offer bottled mineral water, so if you don't trust the source you can ask for bottled water. Local spirits Cap Tikus literally "rat brand" made from distilled palm wine (a type of moonshine), actually quite nice "on the rocks with a slice of lemon".

Sleep
Most people choose to sleep at their dive resorts, almost all of which offer full board and attractive package offers (prices listed in the currencies quoted by the resorts).

 * Homestay in Lihunu
 * Homestay in Lihunu
 * Homestay in Lihunu
 * Homestay in Lihunu
 * Homestay in Lihunu

Stay safe
There are no unusual health risks in the park, aside from the standard set of easily avoided venomous marine critters. Sharks and crocodiles are both absent, and jellyfish are found only occasionally, primarily during the change of the seasons in spring/fall.

Go next

 * Bitung — main sea port on the eastern side of North Sulawesi.
 * Bunaken — nearby world-famous dive site.

title: Bangka (Sulawesi)


text:
Bangka (Sumatra)

Bangka  is one of the two main islands of the Bangka-Belitung province in Indonesia. This island has developed as an economic center.

Cities

 * — capital of Bangka-Belitung province
 * — capital of West Bangka regency
 * — capital of Central Bangka regency
 * — capital of Bangka regency
 * — capital of South Bangka regency

Climate
The average rainy season occurs from October to April.

Do
Surf at Tanjung Kerasak beach, South Bangka.

Buy
White pepper, a commonly used ingerdient in Chinese, Thai, and Portuguese cuisines.

Stay safe
West Bangka region is a highly malarious area.

Go next

 * South Sumatra — nearby province on the mainland of Sumatra.

title: Bangka (Sumatra)


text:
Bangka-Belitung

Bangka-Belitung, cutely abbreviated Babel, is a province in Indonesia consisting of the islands of Bangka and Belitung (Billiton), just off the south-eastern coast of Sumatra.

Bangka

 * Pangkalpinang City
 * Bangka Regency
 * Central Bangka Regency
 * South Bangka Regency
 * West Bangka Regency

Belitung

 * Belitung Regency
 * East Belitung Regency

Cities

 * — capital of Bangka-Belitung province
 * — capital of East Belitung regency
 * — capital of West Bangka regency
 * — capital of Central Bangka regency
 * — capital of Bangka regency
 * — capital of Belitung regency
 * — capital of South Bangka regency

Understand
Both Bangka and Belitung, which are outlying islands off the coast of Sumatra, are slowly but surely flourishing as economic and tourism centers. Bangka is noticeably more developed because of a greater population and larger land area and the presence of the province's capital, Pangkal Pinang.

However an increasing number of tourists and hospitality professionals have been shifting their attention to Belitung. It has some of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia, and one of the most unique in Southeast Asia. There, the turquoise sea and the blue sky meets the white sandy beach and the grey granite boulders.

Bangka and Belitung serve as relaxing weekend breaks for office-goers in Jakarta and Palembang.

People
Bangka Belitung has a long history of Chinese in-migration, mainly Hakka. Chinese people in the 13th century had started to migrate into the Bangka region. In the 17th century, the rulers of Palembang saw there was extraordinary potential and later they founded tin mines in Belitung. The tin mine was the main reason the Dutch decided to bring contract workers from mainland China, resettling in Belitung. The tin helped drive the island's development and make it the place it is today. Since then, some of the Chinese migrants returned to china while others decided to stay.

Many Chinese from both islands have moved to other provinces, and some of them come back to visit their older relatives on Chinese New Year. So several days before Chinese New Year and 2 weeks after it, airlines add extra flights, but they also greatly increase prices, and hotels follow suit.

Climate
Bangka Belitung Islands have tropical climate influenced monsoons are experiencing a wet month for seven months throughout the year and dry month for five months continuously. In 2007 the dry months occurred in August to October with rainy days 11–15 days per month. For the month of wet rainy days 16–27 days per month, occurred in January to July and November to December.

Flora and fauna
Bangka Belitung has various kinds of quality wood that is traded outside the region, such as pelawan, meranti, ramin, mambalong, mandaru, bulin and kerengas. Other forest plants found in the island are keramunting, buk-buk, mate ayem, kapuk, jelutung, pulai, gelam, meranti rawa, mentagor, mahang, various species of mangrove, and others.

Fauna in Bangka Belitung have more common similarities with the fauna in the Riau Archipelago and Peninsular Malaysia than with Sumatra. Some of the animals that can be found in Bangka Belitung are deer, wild boar, beruk, eagle, weasel, and hare, among others.

By plane
Both Pangkal Pinang on Bangka and Tanjung Pandan on Belitung  have airports with frequent flights to Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. In addition, Pangkal Pinang is has flights to Palembang and Batam.

By ferry
There are daily slow overnight ferries (~11 hours) and fast Bahari Express hydrofoils several times a day (~3 hours) from Palembang to Mentok, on the western side of Bangka.

PELNI's giant ferries visit the island about once every two weeks, running either from Jakarta to Bangka and onward to Batam, or from Jakarta to Belitung and across to Pontianak in Sumatra. The Jakarta-Bangka leg takes about 24 hours.

Get around
Local transportation is shabby at best and it would be advisable to either rent a car or a motorcycle, but be careful to avoid colliding with reckless drivers from palm oil plantations.

Bahari hydrofoils travel between Pangkal Pinang on Bangka and Tanjung Pandan on Belitung daily (~4 hours). Flights between the two are on and off, enquire locally.

See
The main attraction of these islands are the lovely, long, clean and tout-free beaches, with crystal clear and surprisingly calm turquoise blue seawater. This makes for fantastic swimming diving, snorkeling and sun bathing. The sand is very fine, clean and brilliant white. Numerous island just off shore (some can be reached by swimming) make for great day trips and views. One small island off Belitung houses a 18 story Dutch lighthouse built in 1889 that can be climbed.

The society's cultures are dominated by Malay and Hakka Chinese. Large numbers of Bugis and Javanese also live here. The Chinese, Bugis and Javanese we're all brought there as contract labourers by the Dutch to mine tin and help domestically. The tin mining used giant dredging boats, that is one reason for the large population of, normally seafaring, Bugis people. There are also some Balinese kampongs and Madurese villages, moved there in Suharto era transmigration plans.

Itineraries
Both Bangka and Belitung offer similar experiences for the tourist, but Belitung is considerably more laid back of the two. At Tanjung Kelayang in Belitung, Kelayang Beach Cottages can arrange tours both inland and on the water.

Sleep
There are many resorts in both islands.

Stay safe
Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) are present within the rivers of both Bangka and Belitung Islands, but they are rarely sighted near popular tourist areas. West Bangka region is a highly malarious area.

Go next

 * South Sumatra — nearby province on the mainland of Sumatra.

title: Bangka-Belitung