Bangalore – the garden city of India

Bangalore today is a bustling metro with flyovers crisscrossing throughout the city and the Namma Metro, a metro rail, also added to reduce travel strains and sufferings of commuters.
My association with Bangalore, the garden city of India, dates back to 1975 when I had arrived in the city to attend an interview. In those days, even in Bangalore city proper, those who were not able to speak in the local dialect were viewed with suspicion. The sprawling bus terminus at Majestic that one can see today was not even on the drawing board of the city bigwigs – it was a huge enclosed area with buses parked all along its periphery.
Majestic area and Chikpet were also devoid of much hustle and bustle.
However, over the last forty odd years, the city has transformed dramatically because of an influx of outsiders who have been attracted by the IT revolution that has brought along with it hopes and aspirations of not just Bangaloreans but of India as a whole. Bangalore is affectionately called the Silicon Valley of India and it has attracted foreign investments unparalleled in recent times. Examples are evident all over the city in the form of shopping malls, multi storied buildings and thousands of four wheelers on the roads.
During this 40 year period, I have had several opportunities to visit this wonderful city. My family and I have fallen in love with it. Making Bangalore as the base, we have traveled to various Southern destinations like Mysore, Ooty and Sravanbelagola. And – of course – we have never missed the conducted tours of the city proper. Shopping in the Cauvery Emporium for genuine sandalwood products, or bargaining in Chikpet for Mysore silk saris, or strolling aimlessly on Brigade Road or getting an overview of Ulsoor Lake – the time flies.
It used to be a highly conservative city where non vegetarianism was taboo but, today it offers innumerable varieties of fish, chicken, mutton and egg dishes. Hindi and English are the link languages. The city of idli-dosa has embraced chana-bhatura with equal ease and aplomb. This, in itself speaks volumes for the people of the garden city.
When I came here in December 2002, a flower show was on in the glass house in Lalbagh. It was an unforgettable experience. The sheer variety of flowers and plants on display was mind blogging. The city really deserves its name - the Garden city.
Later, between 2009 and 2010 I visited the city a number of times because my son was employed there and have seen the changes even in areas like Tippasandra and Malleshpalya.