TRAVELLER

Tour operators, forex, visa assistance, helplines...

Bengaluru is a traveller’s delight. It starts with the air conditioned Volvo buses and the pre-paid taxi counter at the airport. Not to mention, the pre-paid auto counters at the city’s railway stations. But the finest example is the ease with which you can navigate the central business district of MG Road and around with the Big 10 buses. You can hop on and hop off at any point after your shopping expedition. But the finest experience will be the first reach of the Namma Metro train running from Old Madras Road to MG Road. Happy travels.

GETS ITS OWN LOGO

Bengaluru has become the first Indian city to have its own logo, joining the club of global metros like New York, Paris and Berlin. The logo was unveiled recently, with letters BE and U highlighted, reflecting the city’s ethos where everyone gets a chance to be oneself. The new Bengaluru logo will establish Brand Bengaluru on the global tourism map.

CAR HIRE HYLO CABS

Tel: 4151-9999, hylocabs.com.

YUVAN TRAVEL HOUSE

2A Main Road, 458, Kasturi Nagar Off Outer Ring Road; Tel: 81234-12344

SUHALAYA TRAVELS

16B, 1st Street, Ulsoor Tel: 6568-3566, open 24 hours.

SHREE GIRI CABS & TRAVELS

GF - 015, Kedia Arcade, 92 Infantry Road; Tel: 4130-6855, 9am-9pm

SANKY TRAVELS

34, 3rd Main, 3rd Cross, RMV 2nd Stage, Dollar Colony; Tel: 2351-5905. 10am-6.30pm

FORTUNE TRAVELS

17, 7th Main, CMH Road, 2nd Stage, Indiranagar; Tel: 2520-0058, 9am-10pm

BANGALORE TAXI SERVICES

303, 1st Stage, 5th Main, 6th Phase, WOC Rd, Rajajinagar; Tel: 6800-6800, open 24 hours.

CLASSIC CABS

2, Soundarya Excellence, 3rd Main, Old Binny Mill Road, Ganganagar; Tel: 2343- 8821. 7am-10pm

BANGALORE CABS

1673/A, 2nd Cross, Prakash Nagar, Rajajinagar Tel: 4155-2222, open 24 hours For airport service only.

MEGA CABS

67/A State Highway 104, Baglur Cross, Yelahanka; Tel: 4747-4747, 7100-4747

YES CABS

12/1, 7th Cross, Maruthi Nagar Main Road, Madiwala; Tel: 6999-8999. Open 24 hours.

AUTORIDERS

1,2 & 3, Survey No 218/2, HAL 3rd Stage, Airport Road; Tel: 4126-5010. Open 24 hours

METRO TRAVEL GROUP

38/13, Lake Point, Meanee Avenue, Ulsoor; Tel: 2530-2222, 9am-9pm.

ARJUN TOURS & TRAVELS

8, 1st Floor, St Marks Road; Tel: 2221-7054, 9.30am-7pm.

MOVING AROUND IN BANGALORE APP-BASED CABS

This is a popular and convenient mode of transport for those on the move and an easy-to-book taxi service at your fingertips. Just download the app from Google Playstore on your Android and iOS smartphones. Bonuses: No need to look for parking in the city; comparable to autos in fare; some offer option to pay by card or paytm. l UBER: Cabs, autos & share-cabs l OLA: Cabs, autos & share-cabs

AUTOS

Auto-rickshaws are Bangalore’s ubiquitous mode of transport, easy to hail down, with the metre box that declares the fare fairly. Ideal to use for short distances, or even long ones for that matter, or as a transit transport to get to the metro station.

BUSES

Bangalore has a vast network of BMTC buses plying within the city. The best way is to check locally for routes and bus numbers to reach a particular destination. Be prepared for some wait time though.

METRO

The Bangalore metro rail system offers good connectivity and speed, and is especially useful for cross-city commute to avoid road traffic. Regulars can opt for a metro pass that can be loaded with currency and swiped at stations. (See detailed metro route map inside).

HOP-ON HOP-OFF

l Look out for BMTC is operating ‘Bangalore Darshini’ service to facilitate city sightseeing, with 2 AC buses. Bangalore Darshini-1: Starts from Kempegowda Bus Station at 8.45am and covers Tippu Palace, Dodda Basavanna Temple, Gavigangadareshwara Temple, Banashankari Temple, Lalbagh, Vishveshwarayya Museum, Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain, Iskcon, Prasanna Anjaneya Temple, and returns to Kempegowda Bus Station at 8pm. Bangalore Darshini-2: Starts from Kempegowda Bus Station at 8.45am and covers Iskcon, Prasanna Anjaneya Temple, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain, Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, Vishveshwarayya Museum, Lalbagh, Banashankari Temple, Dodda Basavanna Temple, Gavigangadareshwara Temple, Tippu Palace, and returns to Kempegowda Bus Station at 7.50pm. Fare: Adult Rs 400, Child Rs 300.

For advance seat reservation, visit www.ksrtc.in or any KSRTC reservation counter. BMTC EZY TRIP Helpline: 1-800-425-1663

CLIPPER HOLIDAYS

Hamd Buliding, 12/3 Alexander Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond Town; Tel: 4112-3480 10am-6pm

SURABHI TOURS & TRAVEL

13th Main, Palace Road, Vasanthnagar; Tel: 2220-2911, 8am-7pm.

SKYWAY INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS

8, Tourism House, Papanna Street St Marks Road; Tel: 2211-1401, 10am-7pm.

MERU CABS

89/1, Raja Icon Bldg, Opp Park Plaza, Outer Ring Road, Marathahalli; Tel: 4422-4422

JANANI TOURS & RESORTS PVT. LTD.

L170/171, 6 Sector, Ring Road, HSR Layout; Tel: 4070-8090, open 24 hours.

TOUR OPERATORS UTTARAKHAND TOURISM

29/2, 2nd Floor, Nanjappa Mansion K.H.Road, Shanthinagar; Tel: 2224-9378, 10.30am-6pm; Sat-10.30am-1pm

COMFORT HOLIDAYS

28A, Michael Palya, Indiranagar 1st Stage; Tel: 2529-5828, 2528-6086, 9.30am-8pm,

COX & KINGS INDIA

22, BMH Complex, KH Road; Tel: 2207-1000, 2223-9192, 9.30am-6.30pm,

THOMAS COOK INDIA

70, Vimal Chambers, MG Road; Tel: 6717-8800/01/02, 9.30am-6pm,

KSTDC

BMTC Bus Depot, Ground Floor, Yeshwantpur; Tel: 4334-4334. 9am-9pm.

HAMMOCK LEISURE HOLIDAYS

3291, 1st Floor, 12th Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar; Tel: 4202-3333, 9.30am-6pm.

CONTI TRAVELS

66, Gandhi Tower, Richmond Road; Tel: 2221-1632, 9.30am-8pm.

MARCOPOLO TRAVELS & TOURS

2, Janardhan Towers, Residency Road; Tel: 4242-5858, 9.30am-7.30pm.

GLOBAL TRAVEL SERVICES

11, First Floor, Infantry Road; Tel: 2286-8077, 4113-0380, 9.30am-6pm.

SM TRAVELS

733/1, 10th Cross, 10th Main, 2nd Stage, (Opp to HDFC Bank) Indiranagar; Tel: 4853-0351, 90087-80821, 10am-10pm

SOUTHERN TRAVELS

l Hotel Rajkamal Complex, Kumara Park(E) Tel: 2226-2633, 2237-5536, 93799-23236 l 3D, Yeshwanthpur Metro Rail Station, Near Govarthan Theater, Tel: 4124-3268, 93799-23236, 9am-9pm.

AIRPORT LOUNGES

ABOVE GROUND LEVEL LOUNGE

GSE Bldg, 2, Kempegowda International Airport, Devanahalli; Tel: 6678-7647. Open 24 hrs. New VIP Lounge designed for passengers to relax and unwind in luxury. With gourmet food, alcoholic beverages, recharging stations, business centre and other thoughtful features.

PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE

Level 1, Kempegowda International Airport, Devanahalli; Tel: 6678-4833. Open 24 hrs. Awarded as World Best Independent Airport Lounge. With state-of-the-art lounge services, transit hotel, concierge, meeting facilities, airport dining, spa, massage and beauty services.

CHARTERED ACCOUNTS R SINGHVI & ASSOCIATES

Sai Complex, 2&3rd Floor, MG Road , Next to Corporation Bank; Tel: 2228-1573.

SIGHTS, HIGHLIGHTS, LANDMARKS Parks, landmarks, places of religious interest...

With Bengaluru, the sobriquets keep getting added up. From Air Conditioned City to Aviation Capital to Garden City, this small town turned technopolis has added a new word to the

American lexicon: ‘Bangalored’. It means ‘to lose one’s job’ as a result of off shoring work to India.

That’s not all. The city is emerging as a medical tourism hub in India by offering ‘First World Service at Third World Cost’. What’s more, the best and the brightest multinationals are spicing up the retail scene by test-marketing large format stores like Reebok,

Levi’s, Adidas, Esprit and Nautica. It’s become a ‘yuppie heaven’. Now that’s yet another sobriquet for the city. With the Metro Rail opening in phases, things are getting better by the day. Visit the city and be bowled over.

UP TO 40 % off On Entire Stock

VIDHAN SOUDHA

Dr Ambedkar Veddi Road, North of Cubbon Park Built of granite and porphyry, this is the seat of the Secretariat and the State Legislature. Built in 1956, it has a dome, Rajasthani Jharokhas and Indo- Saracenic pillars. Things to watch out for: the sandalwood door to the Cabinet Room, and the Speaker’s Chair which is made of Mysore rosewood. Established in 1866 and located on Kasturba Road, this is one of the oldest museums in India. Housed in a red stucco Neo-Classical building with Corinthian columns, it has 18 sections with a fine collection of jewellery,

BANGALORE PALACE

Sankey Road

Built in 1880 at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, the Bangalore Palace was modeled on Windsor Castle, complete with fortified towers and Old Airport Road, Lord Shiva in lotus position. It has the backdrop of Mount Kailash, Shiva’s heavenly abode and the river Ganga flowing from his matted locks.

turreted parapets. It stands amid undulating lawns, partly converted into a formal garden with axial paths.

ATTARA KACHERI

Ambedkar Veedhi, Opp Vidhan Soudha.

Formerly offices of the secretariat, the two-storey structure of stone and brick Enterprises which also consists of the

structure is now home to the Karnataka High Court Built in Greco-Roman style, this bright-red building is spread over 1.95 lakh sq ft of space.

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PLANETARIUM

High Grounds, T Chowdiah Road Founded in 1989, the sky theatre inside comprises a dome that is fifteen metres in diameter and has a seating capacity of 225.

GOVERNMENT MUSEUM

Kasturba Road, Bangalore GPO miniature paintings, sculpture, artifacts from Mohenjo-Daro and much more.

SHIVA STATUE

Kemp Fort, Old Airport Road

Located behind on this statue is 65 feet tall, depicting

WORLD TRADE CENTER

Rajajinagar Also known as North Star is a 32-floor building. It was constructed by Brigade There are two shows held every day.

Sheraton hotel, Colombia Asia hospital, the Orion Mall, and so on. WTC Bangalore is recognised for international trade and opportunities.

176/3 Commercial Street, next to Woody’s Tel: 4205-8319, 2559-9744 M: 96867-99744. Email: linensanddrapes@gmail.com www.linensndrapes.com