Although the advent of IT has helped Bangalore emerge as a global business hub, the city has a plethora of assets and surprises to offer a tourist in terms of leisure, entertainment, shopping etc. A multitude of factors have led to dramatic transformations in the people's lifestyle and attitude. The mantra today is style and fashion. There has been a stark metamorphosis in standard of living, entertainment, hobbies, lifestyle and fashion. It is a veritable paradise for shopping and offers some of the most exquisite variety of silks, handicrafts, handlooms etc. This apart, the city has an uncanny reputation of having a very high number of pubs, cocktail lounges and restaurants in the country.
Since the recent explosion of software companies in Bangalore, it has seen a rise in the number of western-style Malls, such as The Forum, Bangalore Central and The Garuda . These malls are evolving as the current "hang-outs" for both the young and the old, with trendy stores, restaurants and the latest crop of clubs (such as The Hint, at Bangalore Central). Another change has been the gradual decline of single-screen theaters and the increase of multiplex theatres, hosted by the same burgeoning malls.
The coffee capital of India 's coffee state is a natural Mecca for lovers of the hellish brew - and also for the love of just hanging out! The old time favourite, of course, is India Coffee House, newly renovated but with the same, familiar aroma of the brew. Coffee bar culture is alive and kicking at the many Coffee Day, Barista and Cybercafés outlets throughout the city, and at Java City on Lavelle Road, where you can nibble at confectionery and other sinful treats while you sip at your beverage. The Garden Café at Fabindia is lovely for a coffee break and catching up with old friends. And another delightful café for a quick rendezvous is a little German bakery called Café Schorlemmer at Max Mueller on Lavelle Road .
The city is teeming with hundreds of eat outs and cocktail lounges, which have proliferated in high numbers owing to the enhanced spending power and mobility of the younger generation. Visitors frequent the city's nouvelle fine dining outlets and cocktail lounges expecting a whole new dining experience that would inevitably leave them spellbound. Truly so, tourists are bound to discover a few exhilarating places in the most mystical and magical moments. Deluxe hotels, golf courts, shopping malls, health resorts, bowling alleys, coffee bars add to the already enchanting mix of the handicrafts, Mysore silk, jasmine.
If you enjoy shopping, you will enjoy Bangalore. From the air-conditioned ambience of Malls & super stores like Shopper's Stop and Kemp Fort to the bustling by-lanes of Chickpet, Bangalore has something to offer every kind of shopper.
Shopping is a delightful experience in Bangalore . You'll find some of the most exquisite silks here. You can also take home handicrafts in sandalwood and rose wood, available in state-owned emporia and private stores. For gold and jewellery, you can visit the quaint Jeweller's Street. Some of the favourite shopping haunts are M.G.Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road and Commercial Street . Bargain hunters tend to favour K.G.Road, Malleswaram and Shivajinagar. Bangalore is a good place to pick up incense, silks, authentic tribal jewellery, brass and copper ware, soapstone statues, aromatic sandalwood and rosewood carvings and lacquer work.
Given below are some of Bangalore 's more popular shopping areas:
Shopping Malls: These Malls are a city within themselves. well equipped with all facilities, these malls are shoppers paradise.. One can shop at these malls while eating or if they are bored, can watch a movie in any of the multiplexes within the malls. These malls are fast becoming the most popular hangouts of Bangalore . Major Malls include The Forum, Garuda Mall, Sigma Mall and Bangalore Central.
Commercial Street: Commercial Street is one of Bangalore 's busiest commercial areas. While garment, hosiery and textile stores are in a majority here, you can also find shops selling shoes, art supplies, stationery, novelties, jewellery, travel kits, sports and general goods. Commercial Street has a formidable reputation as a shopping area. There's a mix of funky nouveau ethnic western clothing as well as very traditional and very stunning hand embroidered silk saris. Prices are lower than at the staid emporia and this is a place to have fun. You'll realize that it spills off the up market MG Road in other ways than just geographically. Shops open fairly early and shut at around 8 in the evening. However, most take a 3 hour lunch (and siesta) break around 1pm to 4pm.
Mahatma Gandhi Road: Known as South Parade in the days of the British, Mahatma Gandhi Road still retains its old world charm, while at the same time exuding the energetic, modern spirit of India's Silicon Valley. Here you can get everything from electronic equipment to books, magazines, photography supplies, silk saris, antiques, textiles, garments and general goods. MG Road is lined with swish and swanky stores that have some great stuff.
Brigade Road:
Extremely popular with the youth, Brigade Road is a beehive of commercial activity. You can get anything here from electronic equipment like TV sets and music systems to refrigerators, garments, pots and pans, toys, music and shoes.
Residency Road: On Residency Road you can find steel furniture and handicrafts in metal, clay and wood. Quite a few government handicrafts emporia are located on this road.
Other Areas
Apart form those shopping areas described above, Bangalore has lots of other commercial areas famous in their own way for the products they have on offer. Richard Square in Russell Market, for instance, is known for cutlery, crockery and household items. Chickpet is famous for its silk saris, silver and gold jewellery and textiles. If it's metal items like brass, silver and copperware that you are looking for, make a beeline for Arcot Srinivaschari Street . On B.V.K. Iyengar Road you'll find wood products, plywood, paper and electrical goods. Avenue Road is known for its stationery, stainless steel ware and silver jewellery.
Given Below are some of the well known shops in Bangalore
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Aanchal Silks
Shop No. 65, Bluemoon Complex,
M G Road, Bangalore
Tel: 080-5589847 |
Ajanta Silk Palace
Quadrant Road, Shivaji Nagar,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5303201 |
Angadi Silks
No. 514/39, 46th
Cross,
Jayanagar,
Bangalore - 41
Tel: 080-6638034 |
Deepam Silk International
# 67, M G Road,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5588760
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Kuberan Silks
No. 226, Old Sita Lakshmi Hall
Building, Ground Floor, Chikpet,
Bangalore – 53
Tel: 080-2206514, 2206843 |
KSIC Mysore Silk Showroom
No. 44/45, Leo Complex,
Residency Cross Road,
Bangalore – 25
Tel: 080-5582118 |
Mysore Silk Emporium
No. 47, BVK Iyengar Road,
Bangalore –1
Tel: 080-2250695
Also at Gupta Market, K G Road.
Tel: 2262077
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Gokal's Silk and Sarees
Santhosh Cinema Complex, Kempegowda Road,
Bangalore – 9
Tel: 080-2874371 |
Karishma Silks
No. 45, M G Road,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5581606 |
Karnataka Silks
#69, Al Ameen Towers, Hosur Road,Bangalore – 27
Tel: 080-2236833 |
Janardhana Silk House
F1, Unity Building, J C Road,
Bangalore – 2
Tel: 080-2223969 |
Kumidhini Silks
Prestige Centrepoint, Cunningham Road,
Bangalore – 52
Tel: 080-2262354
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Mega Silk Udyog
No. 69, M G Road,
Bangalore – 560 001
Tel: 080-5321119 |
Mysore Saree Udyog
No. 294, 1 st Floor, Kamraj Road,
Bangalore – 560 042
Tel: 080-5583255
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Sri Venugopal Stores
No. 20, Quadrant Road, Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5512761 |
Saboo Collections
Trinity Circle, M G Road,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5585519 |
Saree Paradise
No. 759, Jhingade Market,
Basement Floor, Chikpet,
Bangalore – 53
Tel: 080-2205941 |
Sudarshan Silks and Sarees
No. 915, Opposite Rukmini Hall, hikpet,
Bangalore – 53
Tel: 080-2381046-47
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Shakti Silks
B-Block, Unity Building, J C Road, Bangalore – 560 002
Tel: 080-2239983 |
Vijayalakshmi Silks and Sarees
Bluemoon Complex, M G Road,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5587395 |
| Handicrafts And Coir Products |
Top |
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All India Handicrafts Emporium
No. 806/1,
New Thippasandra Main Road,
Bangalore – 38 |
Cauvery Arts Emporium
No. 49, M G Road,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5580317 |
Central Cottage Industries
Emporium
No. 144, M G Road,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5584083 |
Cottage Arts Emporium
No. 133, Farah Winsford,
Infantry Road,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-2865805
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Handicrafts Corporation
No. 58, M G Road,
Bangalore – 560 001
Tel: 080-5580466 |
Handicrafts Museum
No. 121, Commercial Street,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5583516 |
Karnataka State Coir Development Corporation
VITC Building, Kasturba Road,
Bangalore – 560 001
Tel: 080-2865995
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Janatha Khadi Bhandar.
K R Road,
Bangalore – 2
Tel: 080-6702937 |
Khadi Bhandar
No. 142, Dispensary Road,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5598911 |
Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan
# 97/98, S J P Road,
Bangalore –560 002
Tel: 080-2223146
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Khadi Kutir
Airport Road, Murugeshpalya,
Bangalore – 27
Tel: 080-5281816 |
Rajasthan Handloom Emporium
No. 142, Commercial Street,
Bangalore – 1
Tel: 080-5598753 |
Priyadarshini Handloom House
No. 10, BCC Complex, T B Road,
Bangalore – 560 009
Tel: 080-2269476 |
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