The rush and tumble of the 21st century has been vigorous in jostling aside the laidback ambience of Bangalore - the garden city of yesteryears. While the gorgeous gardens and the old mansions and street culture carry on the battle to keep their heads up to retain that mystique, an early visit to this still charming city comes highly recommended.
Follow the pathways of old Bangaloreans as you trawl the richly nuanced spaces of South Bangalore - one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Wander around Basavanagudi and soak in the overtones of the century-old buildings and elegant heritage homes; then spend some moments at the time-worn Bull Temple. In Gandhi Bazaar, enjoy eat treats of South Indian fare at eateries and cafes, eaten the way old-school Bangaloreans still do in this local market. An excellent custodian of the neighborhood’s history, it offers a mirror to the old-world pursuits of society in these parts.
Walk the talk about Lalbagh, the 'green lung', pleasure garden of a sultan, and royal garden of the Mysore rulers marks the great divide between the leisurely old ways of Bangalore and its present-day avatar as a hectic IT hub. Much renowned for its great wealth of botanical heritage and historic structures, Lalbagh features the 16th-century pillared edifice known as mandapam, a national Geological Monument made of rock said to date back 3000 million years.
Push the present-day clamour and hectic pace aside and delve into the history lessons and cultural richness of this over 1000-year-old city as you wander through the oldest sections of this pete (city). Enjoy the rich old-world patina shaded into busy market streets, the line-up of small shops, bookstalls, ancient shrines, and some of the city's oldest eateries in town. Discover new narratives of the city's olden, golden days as you chat up old traders, craftsmen, astrologers, wrestlers, and tea stall owners while sauntering from one place to the next.
The olden-day suburb of Malleswaram serves up a quintessential slice of the southern life, evocative still of a strong sense of nostalgia and curiosity among younger Bangaloreans. While enjoying the slow-paced charm of some of the gracious old bungalows that are still around, you will love the vibrant marketplace awash with sellers of vegetables, fruits, and flowers.
Eras may come and go in this over the 1000-year-old city, but the Bangalore of the golden days of leisurely living still clings fiercely to the moorings of its old neighborhoods. So, when the frantic pace of present-day Bangalore gets too much, just slip away here to seek solace and calm.