Thoughts on Bengaluru International

flagpolecorner

I've just travelled in and out of Bangalore earlier this year so can give you my observations.

First of all - the smell has gone. You may find this a strange thing for me to comment on but as a kid I would step off the plane and onto the airbridge into the terminal and be hit by the wall of stench that you can only get in India! I'll always remember a European traveller last year who landed in Bangalore on the phone to the people he was staying with saying "there's this strange smell that I've never smelt before, what is it?". I suppose it's a good thing it's gone!

More seriously ; arrivals is very easy. There are maybe 20 or so immigration desks and when I arrived via Lufthansa (midnight) most of them were being used. Immigration is quick and easy for Indian passport holders and there were lots of foreigners who were on the flight and also breezed through. Immigration hall is a very short walk from the gates and there are toilets there. The lufthansa flight was full (~300+) and there was enough space to accomodate everyone here but I do wonder what it will be like when 2 or 3 plane loads arrive simultaneously. I know it's not an issue internationally at the moment but as more air links develop I think it may well be. Generally I think this is a running theme throughout the airport.

One thing I do not understand is that immediately after the immigration desks there were two officers checking everyone's passports. This was the case in the old HAL airport too - why? I'm not sure what they're doing and why it's necessary to double check what their apparently trained colleagues have done. Maybe i'm missing something here though.

Baggage hall is standard and has a small duty free store there which seemed a bit pointless. Would have been much more helpful if there was a small store selling water bottles etc. Baggage came through a little slowly but this was the day of the blasts and I think every bag was screened again. There are more than enough trollies for baggage claim but like the above, probably isnt enough space. Toilets are right at the back of the hall but the signs do not point to it very clearly at all. Superbly clean though.

You are requested to hand in the bottom portion of the landing cards to the officers before leaving baggage claim to check you have taken what is yours so dont throw those away when immigration hands it back to you.

The terminal between baggage claim and the outside had a small coffee day store I think plus a couple of things like car rental and hotels. I cant remember if there is still a prepaid taxi booth although there are tons of white taxis in the airport which are apparently reliable and safe. Someone mentioned it was about 650 rupees to Srinagar (south) from the airport.

Outside the airport is nowhere near as crazy as the old. Which in a peverse and romantic kind of way (much like the smell!) is a bit of a disappointment. I'm sure i'm probably on my own in this though and most people after a 10hour flight dont want stray dogs running around them or autorickshaws (which arent allowed in the new airport) driving around like crazy.

There is a waiting area, like the old airport, just outside arrivals. This is completely sheltered also though it can get a bit chilly because of the wind. Under the roof there are a few stalls that sell coffee/tea/snacks etc. and a subway takeaway restaurant.

Car parking is adequate and easy to leave quickly. The airport IS far away no doubt. We clocked it at about 43km to Banashankari. Of course at 1am the traffic is non existent and this journey took less than an hour. Returning back to the airport at around 11pm took us probably another half an hour. Not terrible as the roads once you pass the ringroad and by and large very good.

Departures are much the same really although I think there is a little extra space. Check in desks are downstairs, immigration upstairs which is also very quick. The waiting lounge almost certainly does not have enough seats and the gates were quite crowded as Air France and Lufthansa were leaving within 10 minutes of eachother. There is the Kingfisher bar for drinks and food, a Pizza hut takeaway and a few duty free shops. The old tiny bookstore (a classic) has been replaced by a bigger one which also sells other gifts and electronics. Like arrivals, it would be nice to have a general store in the departure lounge selling water, sweets etc. I was desperate for some chewing gum (for my ears as they get quite bad during landing) but nowhere to buy it.

General thoughts are that the airport is good - if not great. It is obviously much much better than the old airport and looks like a proper international airport. Although as someone who looks forward to the hustle and bustle of the city and loved the calamity of the old airport, the new one is a bit sterile. I suppose that's how things are going. If the flight load continues to grow as it has done in the last 5-10 years then the current airport will be too small I feel. There is a LOT of land around the airport and things are still being built (though that may have been the transport links) so there is room for expansion but can't help but feel the airport will become too small in 5 years time. Jet and Air India will probably service a direct flight to the UK soon and Lufthansa is flying a packed 747 every single day so wouldn't surprise me if another 1 or 2 flights were added per week eventually and I wonder if there will be the need to do a 1 per week direct flight to the US. Maybe not. Transportation links HAVE to be improved and i'm sure they will be eventually. As it is there is absolutely no point getting a flight to Madras as the time getting to the airport negates it. May as well get a train.

The new airport won't go the same way as the old HAL site but I cant help but wish that a proper sized airport, in line with the growth of the city had been built in the first place. It will need to be expanded and probably sooner than expected.

capt_mahajan

Nice detailed write up; thanks.

jinjapaleskin

We hadn't intended on visiting bangalore but due to logistics we got a flight there. Hey Lonely Planet we felt like right fools when we found out where the blinking new airport was, we thought it was in town.
Should've read im!!

brishti

BIAL to RT Nagar.
where does one get off when taking the bus from the airport to town?


thanks.
:brishti

karuna

Hey- I was just about to ask that same question!

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brishti

gee - couldn't riks so aksed.
[ where's kabaary - lotta typo's for him ]


:brishti

wildmacaw

As much as I remember, the bus from BIA goes right through RT Nagar, you could get down at the last stop or anywhere earlier, alternatively ask the conductor, most of the Volvo bus conductors know either Hindi or English besides Kannada and are unexpectedly helpful.

karuna

Thank you. They have conductors? Do they look like conductors (uniform) or is it some guy who yells? (Delhi-ishtyle)

wildmacaw

yes there are conductors present, dressed in sparkling white uniform , no they do not yell and actually come around the bus issuing electronic tickets!

KABAARY

How did I miss this out ? I can't beer the thought...(yes, yes, I know...typos !)

Agree with the comment that it will need to be expanded in the not too distant future. There seems to be lots of surplus land around to enable the same....but then again, maybe not if whispers of land in the vicinity having been bought up by the influential (in anticipation of price rise) are to be believed.

Appearance on demand...a table top dance too for m'lady ?

Typo corrections :
Should be read as : Goo - couldn't be risque so arsed
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Ogo Brishti porey Tapur Tupur
Sense dictates I go for the [(t)winsome] latter
So Brishti is dumped in the pukur
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brishti

fantastic url of the bus routes from BIAL

karuna: your bus to RT Nagar would be BIAS 4 - and the stop would be JP Nagar, or ask them to drop you off at the TV tower which is a couple yards further



:brishti




is that on demand as well ? sans tapur tupur, but of course

libertycanyon

The bus from the airport is great! I forget the actual price but it is very affordable and a nice ride. And not that long a trip as I recall, though a Sunday morning is probably a good time to be on it to avoid traffic. The bus drivers are very helpful. Just tell them the area you want to go and they will get you on the right bus. I never knew what bus to take in India and would simply show up whenever and ask the bus drivers and conductors which one to take to get to X place and I never was sent on the wrong bus! People in the stations can also be really helpful with this.

And can I say how marvelous the bathrooms are in the Airport!? I can and I will! Cleaner than I was, they were.