Welcome to Namma Bengaluru!
No matter which route you take to arrive at our beautiful city, if
you are not being met, we recommend you take the pre-paid auto / taxi
service available at the airport, railway station and bus-stand.
If you are an international visitor arriving in Bangalore for the
first time, this is a traveller and resident's guide
Pre-paid
Auto Facility
Pre-paid Auto Facility at the Bangalore City Railway Station
is available 24-hours. It is popular due to its many advantages.
The charge per kilometer is Rs 4 with no extra baggage charges.
Between 10 pm and 5 am you are charged one and half times the metered
fare.
You have to pay the amount only after reaching your destination. The
minimum service charge you have to pre pay while hiring an
auto is Rs 1. This one rupee goes to the Drivers Welfare Fund,
to help them in the event of any accident or for their education.
You are issued a receipt which contains particulars such as date,
time, vehicle number, destination, hiring fare, etc. You know in advance
how much you have to pay, which eliminates many problems. If there
are any grievances, you can call the 24-hour Railway Police Control
Room.
Railway Police Control Room - Phone: 2287 1291
Superintendent's Office - Phone: 2287 2149
HEALTH
& SAFETY
* Dehydration: Replace
body fluids, especially when engaging in Karnataka's many strenuous
outdoor activities. If you feel symptoms such as intense thirst, dizziness
and higher heart and breath rates, drink lots of fluids.
* Giardia: Hikers and backpackers
should be sure to purify stream and lake waters before
taking a sip. Cramps and diarrhea, symptomatic of the parasite Giardia,
could result from injesting contaminated water.We recommend drinking
mineral water and carrying an extra bottle along. When buying mineral
water, be sure the seals are not tampered with.
Bangalore is famous for its flavoured chais
and corner kapi joints. Drink piping hot tea served in
earthen pots or coffee in stainless steel glasses for an authentic
Bangalorean experience. While we recommend you cut your own fruits
and vegetables, be adventurous! We have a wonderful array of hot delicacies
- steamed fish in banana leaf...mmmm...
For
health related emergencies click
here.
CRIME
 Relatively
speaking, Bangalore is still one of the safest places to live in.
However, beware of the occasional chain / purse snatchers. Irreplaceable
items like passports and other important documents should be locked
up in your room, in your hotel's safe or in a pouch / money belt
on your person.
For the police control room, click
here.
STAYING
IN TOUCH
Our old public phone protocol is: you dial
the number first and then slide the one rupee coin in after your
party picks the phone up. For the new machines, slide the coin in
first and then dial the number. If the number does not go through,
the coin is spat out and you can try the process again. Or one can
even look for the phone booths with the STD & ISD signs and
pay the metred charges. You can also use our postal services to
stay in touch, send gifts or parcels.. The General
Post Office (GPO)
on Ambedkar Veedhi is efficient and open
from 10.00 am - 7.00 pm from Monday to Saturday and till 1.00 pm
on Sunday.
BARGAINING
 Asking
for a discount is part of the shopping experience - you might be
lucky and the shopkeepers may oblige. Otherwise the prices are more
or less fixed at most places. Bargaining is a religion, if you happen
to be shopping on the streets. Remember, it's a game you should
both enjoy and if you get "swindled", you are contributing
to the local economy!
ETIQUETTE
By nature, Bangaloreans are warm and friendly.
They will go all out to make you feel at home. Remember to take
your shoes off before you enter a Bangalorean's home. Also, while
visiting temples / places of worship one should always leave one's
footwear outside.
DRESS
 The
only dress code Bangaloreans subscribe to is dictated by the weather!
Laidback, cosmopolitan and trendy - Indian and western clothes are
worn with equal elan. Weddings bring out traditional splendour in
jewellery, flowers and clothes. To know more about the latest fashion
trends in Bangalore, click
here.
EATING
OUT
 When
you are eating out, usually last orders are taken by 10:30 pm and
the restaurants close by 11 through the Cinderella hour. Likewise
pubs close around 11:00 pm. Really late night dining is best done
in a 24 hour coffee shop, in star hotels. To know more about some
of the eatouts in Bangalore,
click here.
TIPPING
 Porters
and bellboys expect at least Rs 10/- per bag. Taxi-drivers, barbers
and hairdressers expect 10-15%. Service charges are not normally
included in the bill. When the service has been pleasant, a 10-15%
tip based on the price of the meal would be ideal.
BEGGARS
 If
you encounter beggars, which is rare in Bangalore, give in kind
rather than in cash.
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