emmagus

I have never been to India but am going to Bangalore in May for work. I am a bit disappointed by what I read about Bangalore and am trying to figure out how to make it an interesting trip in between work obligations. I am writing about India so I would really like to experience both the changing modern India (Bangalore) as well as a glimpse of the more traditional India and its values. Any suggestions? I admit, i am a bit nervous travelling alone there.

What is the best way to get around? How expensive are things compared to New York? I hear the traffic is always a snarled mess so not sure how walkable it is.

thank you

thursdaysd

If you have some free time you might visit Mysore, which is a bit nicer than a lot of Indian cities, and has an over-the-top palace. Or you could get out in the country in Coorg. The train system in India is good, or you can hire a car and driver more reasonably than you might expect - don't even think of driving yourself in India, and make sure you're not on the roads after dark.

For my visit to Coorg see: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...ters-in-coorg/

For Mysore: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...6/more-mysore/

For train timetables: http://www.cleartrip.com/trains - you want AC First Class, AC 2 Tier, or AC Chair Class. See http://www.seat61.com/India.htm for more.

emmagus

Just curious, why not on the roads after dark? Crime or just difficult to see because of the bad conditions?

thursdaysd

Indian roads are shared, indiscriminately, by pedestrians, bikes, motorbikes, carts drawn by buffalo or camels, cars, (large) trucks, buses, cows, and probably some other conveyances I've forgotten. Most don't have lights, those that do may not use them, none have lane discipline, and the roads are almost uniformly bad - by which I mean they may be anywhere from half a lane wide up, and potholed. There are a few better roads these days, but you can't count on one. If you have to travel at night, take a train. If your trip is more than four hours or so, take a train. Or fly - the train is more interesting, though.

thursdaysd

BTW - I just noticed you say you are writing about India. What are you writing about? (Given you've never been there.)

emmagus

Thanks so much.Train seems the way to go. I am researching gender inequality in the work place and we are starting to focus more on India.
Still wondering if there is much to do in Bangalore beyond shopping (I really don't like to shop!) unless it is for something distinctly from that country and even then.....that is only for about 2 hours and I am done.

thursdaysd

Well, you should have no shortage of research material.

I only paused briefly in Bangalore between trains. I saw the Botanical Gardens and ate on a vary westernized street (in 2001). From what I've read Bangalore may be the least "Indian" city in India, and you do realize that the women working for the tech companies and the call centers are a very small fraction of the population - in workplace terms the elite of the elite?

Have you read this thread? http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...d-in-india.cfm

emmagus

Yes, thanks, I work for an organization that advocates for women in the workplace and do know the "Golden Ticket" women are a tiny fraction of the labor force. But there are people I need to meet who are in Bangalore and so that is the city I am going to.

thursdaysd

Good luck! If you read the thread I linked you'll see I am very much in favor of improving the lot of women in India.

Jaya

Gender inequality is a very broad term. Do you have an area of focus? It will be much harder to have access to lower wage workers because of language barriers. Also, "modern" India and "traditional" India are intertwined, it's not one or the other.

inquest

I've been in and out of Bangalore many times in the past.Its a chaotic city,with a poor public transport system.The only available forms of transport are the city buses. These are often over crowded,much like the trains in Mumbai.One needs to be a acrobat to jump in and out of a bus which come to a brief (read,a few seconds) at stops.If you happen to get inside you are jostled around,or rather automatically pushed towards the center.Trying to get off at your destination becomes an ordeal.So my advise is not to attempt it altogether.

The other means of popular transport is the tuk tuk. They are 'efficient',as in,they weave their way thru traffic and reach the destination.Pl dont ask how.you need the nerves of steel to travel in one.There is absolutely no traffic sense. Thats the only way 'they' know.

The third option is to hire a cab.Loads of them around.Call one of them and book them for the entire duration,your work demands.An aircon cab is a must.Ask for metered cabs (Olx,Meru,City Cabs, are some of the operators.Take the help of a collegue,Indians are very hospitable'sometimes overly at that).

Many roads in Bangalore have no sidewalks/pavements.Even if they do,there could be an occasional slab,covering the rain water drain, missing.So watch you step.The city is filled with reckless riders on two wheelers. They on occasions use the side walks to 'ease' the traffic jams,in their own way,especially during rush hour.Do not ever attempt to cross the road except at traffic junctions.There is no respect for pedestrians in Bangalore,for that matter in India.The green signal for the Zebra crossing lasts a few seconds.So get fit to 'jog across' if situation demands,but not without looking left nor right,for there is a occasional idiot who'll jump lights.
Bangalore has been the melting pot for a decade and a half.People of diverse India have made Bangalore their home.So the outlook is cosmopolitan.There is a heady mix of tradition and contemporary.The influx of the young techie generation has brought about change.A once a pretty little city,covered with green and a salubrious climate,gardens every where and charming colonial bunglows,has given way to apartment and office blocks.A virtual concrete jungle.I have seen it change from my first visit in the late '70s.
A sizable and active expat community exists there.Lounge bars,pubs and speciality restaurants have sprung up everywhere.Be it Greek,Italian,Chinese,Lebanese,you name it.They happily co-exist.Night life is vibrant.The fun lasts till 11.30pm.
Despite its various drawbacks.I had many a great experience.Met good people.Go there with an open mind.Thats the way I do it.Sure you'll enjoy its uniqueness.

I've heard of a womens organisation call Vimochana. They have something to do with empowerment of women.Google them.See if they could be of help for your research.

I do know a little about Bangalore.Will be glad to help with any specific queries.Cheers.

thursdaysd

Are you suggesting that the traffic and sidewalks in Bangalore are any worse than anywhere else in India? I don't use city buses but I do use rickshaws (they aren't called tuk tuks in India) and walk - although with due care and attention.

Jaya

Don't use city buses in India. Even Indians avoid them.

thursdaysd

More on transport.

If your rickshaw (unlikely) or taxi (more likely) uses a meter: check the route beforehand (ask your hotel about one way streets) and board holding a map. Be prepared to stop the driver and get out if he (it will always be a he) goes the long way round. Note that this warning also applies to a car and driver hired on a km basis - better to negotiate for a city to city rate.

If the local transport doesn't use meters: you will have to bargain. Find out the going rate ahead of time. You will not get the locals' rate, but you should know what you're aiming for. In your case your colleagues should know, otherwise ask your hotel or take a good guidebook (Lonely Planet is more likely to be of help with this than Fodors). If you can't get a driver down to what you're willing to pay, go round the corner and try again - all the drivers in a given spot will ask the same rate. Also, better not to try in front of posh hotels.

Clothes: it's like to be hot and humid. You can probably get away with showing some skin in Bangalore, but elsewhere you should be more conservative.

I suggest that you read some of the TRs here to get a feel for traveling in India (click on my name for mine), although a lot of posters here travel only with a car and driver.

emmagus

Inquest, that is really helpful. Not sure HOW to get around the city.....walking??? I live in NY and walk a lot but Bangalore sounds nuts. And how is the crime rate?
ThursdaysD: Some Skin? I am hoping I don't have to wear stockings and that sandals are O.K. but not sure.....
Jaya Gender inequality is a very broad term, yes, but without going into details of my work which isn't really relative here, we work to get women into leadership roles in the hopes that they will work to pull women up behind them.

thursdaysd

Sandals are fine, but if you're walking be careful about where you tread, and not just for holes in the pavement. Not sure whether Bangalore is better in this regard, but you are likely to be sharing the street with cows, plus Indian men use sidewalks as urinals - I walked on the road side.

I do walk in Indian cities, but if you're going any distance take a rickshaw or taxi. You may want the taxi for the AC - rickshaws generate a nice breeze, but only when they're moving.

Jaya

emmagus, sorry if I came across as prying, I was just being curious. It's a complex topic given all of the social and cultural components of Indian families/society and gender dynamics.

inquest

Bangalore is a relatively safe city as compared to Delhi or some cities in the North.It has its share of crime like any metro around the world.But nothing alarming.The usual precautions one should take anywhere.Muggings are not common.Occasionally reported on the outskirts of the city,that to in the late hrs.So don't get worked up on that issue for,I presume,you are unlikely to work/stay in those areas.If you do plan late nights,a pre-booked taxi from a reputed agency is absolutely safe.
Thursdaysd,there are not many cows you can encounter as far as Bangalore is concerned .Maybe the dairy industry is dying out or the civic authorities have sat up and taken notice or better still,the bovines don't find the roads safe to loll around.
Though,urinating is a common phenomenon,its more confined to bye-lanes.
May tends to be a wee hot,around 35deg,there could be thunder showers,if the monsoons set in early.The temperatures drop would make things pleasant.
You could comfortably wear what you wear back home,as mentioned Bangalore has a very cosmo outlook.light cotton clothes are better off for the month of May.

inquest

BTW thursdaysd,thx for correcting me,yes its not tuk tuks,it auto-rickshaws.I was trying hard to get the word.

emmagus

Thanks everyone this is all very helpful. I am sorry I probably won't get to travel a lot beyond Bangalore. I was told to bring an Rx for Cipro and tamiflu? Does that seem about right? Malaria pills for in the city? Is that overkill? Thanks