overhyped Bangalore?

davyd · Dec 7th, 2005, 11:51

Friends, I know, for Indians Bangalore is a showcase of their achievments and for foreigners Bangalore gives some rest and familiar food.
Yes, there are some nice places to stay (Taj West End), to eat (Infinitea) and to dance (Spinn), but overall it seemed to me quite sleepy conservative town - after 10PM almost all pubs, lounges closed, not possible even to buy beer, all convinient holes in the walls were guarded by riot cowboy cops.
What to do in Bangalore tonight?
By the way, I spent 2 hours trying to find accomodation near City Railway Station and visited 10 hotels - many of them refused to receive foreigners, first time this happened with me in India.

Digital Drifter · Dec 7th, 2005, 12:07

errr...it's the law. the bars/pubs are supposed to close by 10.30/11pm.

& don't trust adverts...that's all I'm saying.

phantom · Dec 7th, 2005, 12:16

Good news guys. The law is being amended again. Perhaps in 2 months time the bars and dance floors will open again

kiwi_razz · Dec 7th, 2005, 12:30

too bad, I leave in a week.
2004 in Bangalore was so much more funner than 2005.

Sigh!

Priyamav · Dec 17th, 2005, 20:37

Phantom, can you give more info on this "new law". Moving back in January and really enjoyed the late-night-life last time around (Insomnia, Club X, etc.).

Nick-H · Dec 17th, 2005, 20:54

Nightlife. Much over-rated!

A nice evening at home with IM.com and an early night ... ... ...

davyd · Dec 17th, 2005, 21:31

Friends, maybe I was too unfriendly towards Bangalore, but that was first impression. I remember how I was almost caught by police when I tried to buy a beer after 11 PM.
South India overall seem to me more traditionally Indian, conservative and not westernised as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Himalayas or Rajasthan. And very poor. That is very surprising because people in the north think of Karnataka or Tamil Nadu as very prosperous states. They are not. Maybe Kerala is diffirent, all travellers say due to communist impact it is looking more rich and healthy. Am I wrong?

Priyamav · Dec 17th, 2005, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Nightlife. Much over-rated!

A nice evening at home with IM.com and an early night ... ... ...

But Nick, you're a married man and settling into the married life (perhaps a few youngsters on the way?)...as for me, I am 25, just graduated and will be starting my career in Bangalore...

GoanCanuck · Dec 18th, 2005, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyd

And very poor. That is very surprising because people in the north think of Karnataka or Tamil Nadu as very prosperous states. They are not. Maybe Kerala is diffirent, all travellers say due to communist impact it is looking more rich and healthy. Am I wrong?

You are quite right. Kerala and Punjab are the only states in India which have a fairly equitable distribution of wealth. Karnataka is a paradox. Bangalore is overdeveloped while the rest of Karnataka is underdeveloped. People in the interior of Karnataka can be found to be living in abject poverty and there is very poor infrastructure with lousy roads. The same scenario exists in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

phantom · Dec 19th, 2005, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Priyamav

Phantom, can you give more info on this "new law". Moving back in January and really enjoyed the late-night-life last time around (Insomnia, Club X, etc.).

Well.. it all started with the dance bars in Mumbai being used as centres of flesh-trade. So Maharashtra govt. passed a bill in their house banning all the live bands, dance bars. Karnataka govt went one step ahead and banned all form of dancing in a open-to-public place after 7 pm.
Some days back they have started a review of this ban and it is supposed to go off after the owners of the bars and pubs and discotheques acquire the licenses, with very strict conditions.

Hopefully everything will be sorted out before the New Yr. celebrations start.

SHIMLA · Dec 19th, 2005, 13:23

Soon it will be overhyped "Bengaluru" !

bijapuri · Dec 19th, 2005, 13:39

There's NEVER been anything to see or do in BLR for the foreign traveler in the last 35 years I have known the place. It used to be a nice place to live. Now it's a one-purpose town:

MAKE MONEY.

Great rail and road connections, use them to skip the place!

Digital Drifter · Dec 19th, 2005, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by bijapuri

There's NEVER been anything to see or do in BLR for the foreign traveler in the last 35 years I have known the place. It used to be a nice place to live. Now it's a one-purpose town:

MAKE MONEY.

Great rail and road connections, use them to skip the place!

second that!

speaking as a wanking software Engineer, that's about all Bangalore is, we came, we work and screwed the pooch.

jyotirmoy · Dec 19th, 2005, 15:14

There is nothing for a foreign traveller to do in Bangalore?

Digital Drifter · Dec 19th, 2005, 18:39

errr...no apart from a few government buildings and some parks,you wouldn't miss much.

OTOH, the weather, doing drugs, clubs, bars and watching s/w enggs. act as if they own the place(like me for instance), it's one place in continous transit ot nowhere.

Well, what do you expect of a contonment and pensioner's place?

Watch out for the building which has on it's walls

'government's work is God's work'

or some such stuff.

That'll make your day.

Dec 7th, 2005, 11:51	#1
davyd just a traveler Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 323	overhyped Bangalore? Friends, I know, for Indians Bangalore is a showcase of their achievments and for foreigners Bangalore gives some rest and familiar food. Yes, there are some nice places to stay (Taj West End), to eat (Infinitea) and to dance (Spinn), but overall it seemed to me quite sleepy conservative town - after 10PM almost all pubs, lounges closed, not possible even to buy beer, all convinient holes in the walls were guarded by riot cowboy cops. What to do in Bangalore tonight? By the way, I spent 2 hours trying to find accomodation near City Railway Station and visited 10 hotels - many of them refused to receive foreigners, first time this happened with me in India.

Dec 7th, 2005, 12:07	#2
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	errr...it's the law. the bars/pubs are supposed to close by 10.30/11pm. & don't trust adverts...that's all I'm saying. __________________ Click here for the Indiamike train guide in PDF

Dec 17th, 2005, 20:54	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Nightlife. Much over-rated! A nice evening at home with IM.com and an early night ... ... ... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 19th, 2005, 13:23	#11
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	Soon it will be overhyped "Bengaluru" ! __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Dec 19th, 2005, 13:39	#12
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	There's NEVER been anything to see or do in BLR for the foreign traveler in the last 35 years I have known the place. It used to be a nice place to live. Now it's a one-purpose town: MAKE MONEY. Great rail and road connections, use them to skip the place! __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Dec 7th, 2005, 12:16	#3
phantom Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,215	Good news guys. The law is being amended again. Perhaps in 2 months time the bars and dance floors will open again

Dec 7th, 2005, 12:30	#4
kiwi_razz Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 410	too bad, I leave in a week. 2004 in Bangalore was so much more funner than 2005. Sigh!

Dec 17th, 2005, 20:37	#5
Priyamav Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India (Bangalore, Pondicherry) Posts: 162	Phantom, can you give more info on this "new law". Moving back in January and really enjoyed the late-night-life last time around (Insomnia, Club X, etc.).

Dec 17th, 2005, 21:31	#7
davyd just a traveler Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 323	Friends, maybe I was too unfriendly towards Bangalore, but that was first impression. I remember how I was almost caught by police when I tried to buy a beer after 11 PM. South India overall seem to me more traditionally Indian, conservative and not westernised as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Himalayas or Rajasthan. And very poor. That is very surprising because people in the north think of Karnataka or Tamil Nadu as very prosperous states. They are not. Maybe Kerala is diffirent, all travellers say due to communist impact it is looking more rich and healthy. Am I wrong?

Dec 19th, 2005, 15:14	#14
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	There is nothing for a foreign traveller to do in Bangalore?

Dec 19th, 2005, 18:39	#15
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	errr...no apart from a few government buildings and some parks,you wouldn't miss much. OTOH, the weather, doing drugs, clubs, bars and watching s/w enggs. act as if they own the place(like me for instance), it's one place in continous transit ot nowhere. Well, what do you expect of a contonment and pensioner's place? Watch out for the building which has on it's walls 'government's work is God's work' or some such stuff. That'll make your day.

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