Free local travel guide
Banglore Travel Guide
Banglore, Karnataka
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Bengaluru wakes slow, with filter coffee steam curling out of darshini windows and the rustle of jacaranda petals on Cubbon Park's pathways. By noon, the city hums with auto rickshaws threading Brigade Road, software engineers spilling out of UB City for lunch, and the smell of masala dosa drifting from corner stalls. Evenings belong to MG Road's neon, rooftop breweries on Church Street, and the soft chant of bells from temples tucked between glass towers. This is a city of layered eras — Tipu's palace stands a kilometre from a co-working space, and a 1,000-year-old temple sits beneath a metro rail. The weather, eternally pleasant, makes every walk feel like a small mercy.
Why is Banglore special?
I'm Anitha, a third-generation Bangalorean who teaches yoga in Malleshwaram. Skip the tourist circuits at peak hour — the city reveals itself in the gullies of old neighbourhoods, in the queue at a tiffin room at 7 AM, and in the quiet courtyards of Basavanagudi temples.
Cosmopolitan but stubbornly local — a startup-hub veneer over deep South Indian roots. Traffic teaches patience; the weather rewards it. Pace shifts neighbourhood to neighbourhood: frantic on MG Road, philosophical in Malleshwaram, indulgent in Indiranagar.
- Year-round 20-28°C climate — no extreme summer, no biting winter
- Hyper-mix of temples, colonial architecture, tech parks and pubs within a 5-km radius
- India's filter coffee and dosa capital, with darshinis on every street corner
- Cubbon Park and Lalbagh — two lungs of greenery in the heart of the metro
- Pub culture predating IT boom; Bangalore had brewpubs before they were cool elsewhere
- Every neighbourhood (Malleshwaram, Basavanagudi, Indiranagar, Koramangala) has a distinct personality
What should you see in Banglore?
ISKCON Bangalore
- what locals do
- Arrive for the 7:15 PM aarti when the entire temple complex lights up; locals walk barefoot up the Hare Krishna Hill in silence, queue for the prasadam khichdi, and circle the gold-leafed shrine clockwise.
- best time
- Weekday evenings 6:30-8:00 PM (avoid Sundays and ekadashi crowds)
- cost
- Free (donation for prasadam meal INR 50-150)
- local tip
- Skip the souvenir corridor near the exit — buy tulsi malas from the small counter near the kitchen instead, where the actual devotees shop.
- observation
- The temple is engineered like a vertical pilgrimage — you climb through five levels of devotion before reaching Krishna, and the architecture forces a pause on every landing.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.7
- Address
- Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Road, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru
Lalbagh Botanical Garden
- what locals do
- Morning walkers do 5 AM laps around the lake; weekend families picnic near the Glass House; serious plant lovers head for the bonsai garden and the 3,000-year-old Peninsular Gneiss rock.
- best time
- 5:30-8:30 AM or during the Republic Day and Independence Day flower shows
- cost
- INR 30 entry (free before 9 AM and after 6 PM)
- local tip
- Enter from the Siddapura gate, not the main Mavalli gate — it's quieter and drops you directly at the rock and bonsai gardens.
- observation
- The lake at the western end is a microclimate — pelicans, cormorants and parakeets in the middle of a city of 13 million.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.4
- Address
- Mavalli, Bengaluru
Bengaluru Palace
- what locals do
- Most Bangaloreans visit only once — for the audio guide and the Wodeyar family photographs. Locals come for the lawn concerts (Iron Maiden, Metallica have played here) and the occasional wedding exhibition.
- best time
- 10:00 AM-12:30 PM on a weekday — afternoon glare blocks photography of the Tudor façade
- cost
- INR 460 for Indians (includes audio guide), INR 920 for foreigners
- local tip
- The camera fee is steep (INR 685) — most visitors hide phones and shoot informally; just don't use flash near the painted ceilings.
- observation
- The palace is one-fourth the size of Windsor Castle but inspired by it — note the elephant-tusk furniture and the hand-painted Belgian glass windows.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.2
- Address
- Bengaluru
HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum
- what locals do
- Father-and-son trips on Saturday mornings, engineering students with sketchbooks, retired Air Force personnel quietly reminiscing in front of the MiG-21 cockpit.
- best time
- Tuesday-Sunday, 9 AM-5 PM (closed Mondays)
- cost
- INR 50 adults, INR 30 children, INR 50 camera fee
- local tip
- Climb into the cockpit simulators in the second hangar — they're free and underused; most tourists rush past them to the aircraft outside.
- observation
- India's aviation story sits in this complex — from the first HF-24 Marut to the Tejas wind-tunnel model, with engineering notes hand-written by the designers.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.4
- Address
- Police Station, Near HAL, HAL Old Airport Road, Marathahalli, Bengaluru
St. Mary's Basilica, Bengaluru
- what locals do
- Devotees come every Thursday — the basilica's traditional day — and walk barefoot from Shivajinagar bus stand carrying candles. The September feast week draws lakhs.
- best time
- Thursday evenings 5-7 PM, or Sunday morning mass at 8 AM
- cost
- Free
- local tip
- Light a candle at the side grotto, not the main altar — that's where regulars whisper their petitions.
- observation
- The Gothic spires rise unexpectedly above the chaos of Russell Market and the meat lanes — one of Karnataka's oldest churches, granted 'minor basilica' status by the Pope in 1973.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.6
- Address
- XJM3+QQ3, MF Norrona Street, Shivaji Nagar, Bengaluru
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath
- what locals do
- Art students sketch in the courtyards, parents bring children to the folk art galleries, and the institution's bookshop sells affordable original prints by emerging Karnataka painters.
- best time
- Wednesday-Monday, 10 AM-5 PM (closed Tuesdays)
- cost
- INR 10-50 depending on gallery
- local tip
- Check the noticeboard near the entrance — there's almost always a free artist talk, film screening or temporary exhibition you can wander into.
- observation
- The leather puppet gallery upstairs is the most overlooked — these are the actual shadow puppets used in Karnataka's Togalu Gombeyaata performances.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.5
- Address
- Art Complex, near The Lalit Hotel, 1, Kumarakrupa Road, Kumara Park East, Seshadripuram, Bengaluru
Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum
- what locals do
- School excursions dominate weekday mornings; on weekends it's families with kids who lose three hours in the Engine Hall and the Fun Science section. The vintage car display in the basement is a quiet favourite.
- best time
- Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 AM-6 PM (weekdays less crowded)
- cost
- INR 90 adults, INR 40 children
- local tip
- Don't skip the rooftop — the science exhibits continue there with solar tracking demos and a tiny planetarium that few visitors find.
- observation
- The Wright Brothers replica in the entrance hall was built in Bengaluru in 1968 — the only authorised replica in Asia.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.6
- Address
- near Chinna Swamy Stadium, 5216, Kasturba Road, Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru
Shri Gavi Gangadhareshwara Swamy Temple
- what locals do
- Devotees throng on Makara Sankranti (mid-January) when the setting sun's rays pass through a stone window and fall exactly on the Shiva linga — a 16th-century astronomical feat.
- best time
- Early morning 6:30-9 AM, or for the Makara Sankranti sun-alignment phenomenon
- cost
- Free
- local tip
- Carry a small torch — the inner cave sanctum is genuinely dark, and reading the carvings on the monolithic Trishul and Damaru pillars is half the experience.
- observation
- The entire temple is carved out of a single rock outcrop — believed to be commissioned by Kempegowda, Bengaluru's founder, in the 1500s.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.7
- Address
- WHX7+64Q, 5th Main Road, Kempegowda Nagar, Bengaluru
Snow City Bengaluru
- what locals do
- Mostly young couples on a 'experience-the-cold-without-leaving-the-city' date, school groups, and families with small children who want to throw a snowball in 28°C Bengaluru.
- best time
- Weekday afternoons (lower queues); avoid Sunday evenings
- cost
- INR 450-650 per adult (varies by package), INR 350-500 children
- local tip
- They provide jackets and boots but socks are pay-extra; carry your own thick socks to save INR 50 and keep your feet warm longer.
- observation
- It's kitsch, it's air-conditioned to -5°C, and it's the only place in South India where you can ride an actual snow tube — judge it accordingly.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.1
- Address
- 1st floor, Snow city, Fun World Complex, opposite TV Tower, Jayamahal Main Road, J.C.Nagar, Bengaluru
Bengaluru Fort
- what locals do
- Architecture buffs and history students photograph the Delhi Gate carvings; most regular Bangaloreans pass by without ever entering — making it surprisingly serene inside.
- best time
- Morning 9-11 AM (afternoon glare and KR Market chaos nearby)
- cost
- INR 25 Indians, INR 300 foreigners
- local tip
- Combine with KR Market flower market next door — enter the fort early, exit by 10:30 AM and walk into the market when the flower auction is in full swing.
- observation
- Built by Kempegowda in 1537 and rebuilt in stone by Hyder Ali, only the Delhi Gate and a few bastions survive — but the surviving carvings of Ganesha on the gate are spectacular.
- Google Maps rating
- 4
- Address
- XH7G+49C, Krishna Rajendra Road, New Tharagupet, Bengaluru
Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace
- what locals do
- A quick 20-minute visit for most — the palace itself is small. Locals often combine it with a walk through Chamrajpet and a meal at a nearby Mavalli Tiffin Room.
- best time
- Late afternoon 4-5:30 PM when the wooden teak façade catches golden light
- cost
- INR 25 Indians, INR 300 foreigners
- local tip
- The small museum at the back has Tipu's actual chess set and personal weapons — most tour groups skip past it; spend ten minutes there.
- observation
- Built entirely of teak in Indo-Islamic style and completed in 1791 — the pillars and balconies are original; the paint has faded but the geometry is intact.
- Google Maps rating
- 3.9
- Address
- 42, Tippu Sultan Palace Road, Kamalanagar, Chamrajpet, Bengaluru
CSI St. Mark's Cathedral
- what locals do
- MG Road office workers slip in for the Wednesday lunch organ recitals (12:30-1 PM); locals attend the Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday services for the choir.
- best time
- Sunday morning 8 AM service, or Wednesday lunchtime recital
- cost
- Free
- local tip
- The 100-year-old pipe organ is one of South India's largest — sit in the third pew from the front for the best acoustics.
- observation
- Modeled on St Paul's Cathedral in London, consecrated in 1816 — the stained glass windows survived a 1923 fire that destroyed the rest of the structure.
- Google Maps rating
- 4.6
- Address
- 1, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Shivaji Nagar, Bengaluru
Ratings and opening hours from Google Maps.
Where should you eat in Banglore?
The Oberoi, Bengaluru
- dish
- Le Jardin Sunday brunch — South Indian breakfast counter alongside French pastries and Goan vindaloo
- cost
- INR 3,500-4,500 per person with mocktails
- area
- Sivanchetti Gardens, MG Road
- what makes special
- Garden-facing brunch under 150-year-old rain trees; the chef's table near the live appam station is where regulars sit.
- timing hack
- Book the second seating (12:30 PM) — the first seating clears out and you get the buffet refreshed.
Cafe Noir
- dish
- Truffle pasta and slow-braised lamb shank with the city skyline view from UB City
- cost
- INR 1,800-2,500 for two
- area
- UB City Mall, Vittal Mallya Road
- what makes special
- European-style bistro inside a luxury mall, with a balcony overlooking Vittal Mallya Road — fashionable lunch spot for the corporate set.
- timing hack
- Weekday lunch 12:30 PM is sleepiest — best for conversation; weekends require reservations.
Tom's Restaurant
- dish
- Mutton biryani and chicken cafreal — an institution since 1965 on Brigade Road
- cost
- INR 800-1,200 for two
- area
- Brigade Road
- what makes special
- One of the oldest restaurants on Brigade Road; old-school Anglo-Indian and continental menu that hasn't changed in decades, full of regulars who've been coming for 40 years.
- timing hack
- Lunch 1 PM weekdays — the office crowd hits at 1:30 PM; come earlier to grab the corner booths.
The Chancery Pavilion
- dish
- Zaffran's North Indian thali and the all-day-buffet at Chequers coffee shop
- cost
- INR 1,500-2,000 per person
- area
- Residency Road
- what makes special
- Reliable five-star coffee shop next to MG Road; popular with business travelers — the pavilion atrium is a daylit space with surprisingly good kebabs.
- timing hack
- The 4-7 PM high tea is underbooked and includes unlimited filter coffee — best value on the menu.
Jayamahal Palace Hotel
- dish
- Karnataka heritage thali at the in-house restaurant, served on banana leaves in a heritage colonial bungalow
- cost
- INR 800-1,200 per person
- area
- Jayamahal Main Road, opposite Cantonment station
- what makes special
- A 1908 heritage palace converted into a hotel; you eat in the original dining hall with rosewood beams and hand-painted ceilings.
- timing hack
- Sunday lunch is the special heritage thali day — book the garden seating, not the indoor hall.
La Marvella - Bengaluru
- dish
- Spice Trail's Kerala beef ularthiyathu and the South Indian breakfast spread
- cost
- INR 1,200-1,800 for two
- area
- South End Circle, Jayanagar
- what makes special
- Boutique hotel restaurant beloved by South Bangalore locals; the breakfast spread is the best in Jayanagar with appams, puttu and stew.
- timing hack
- Breakfast 7:30-10 AM weekdays — Sunday morning is mobbed by Jayanagar families.
Lemon Tree Premier Ulsoor Lake Bengaluru
- dish
- Citrus Cafe's poolside breakfast and the Bengaluru-style chicken biryani at Republic of Noodles
- cost
- INR 1,000-1,500 per person
- area
- Saint Johns Road, Ulsoor
- what makes special
- Ulsoor Lake views from upper floors; the poolside is a rare green spot on the eastern side of MG Road.
- timing hack
- Sunset bites at the bar 6-8 PM — happy-hour pricing on cocktails and a view of the lake catching gold.
Fortune Select JP Cosmos, Bengaluru - Member ITC Hotels' Group
- dish
- Orient Express's Hyderabadi biryani and the Andhra-style chicken at Frontier
- cost
- INR 1,500-2,200 for two
- area
- Cunningham Crescent Road, behind Fortis hospital
- what makes special
- ITC-managed standards in a mid-range business hotel; the all-day diner does excellent regional Indian and is favored by ITC loyalists.
- timing hack
- Buffet lunch on weekdays is INR 850 — half the price of dinner buffet, same spread.
Subway Basavanaguddi
- dish
- Veggie Delite with paneer tikka and the chicken teriyaki sub — a fast, dependable bite mid-sightseeing
- cost
- INR 250-400 per person
- area
- Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi
- what makes special
- Strategic location between Bull Temple, Bugle Rock, and the VV Puram food street — perfect for a light, predictable meal between heavier South Indian stops.
- timing hack
- Lunch 12-1 PM gets crowded with college students from nearby BMS; aim for 3 PM instead.
The President Hotel
- dish
- Pavilion's continental breakfast and the South Indian dinner thali at Aroma
- cost
- INR 1,000-1,500 per person
- area
- Jayanagar 3rd Block
- what makes special
- Old-school South Bangalore business hotel with a coffee shop loved by locals; the south Indian thali in the evening is honest and unfussy.
- timing hack
- Their bakery counter near the lobby sells fresh croissants and brownies from 4 PM — significantly underpriced for the quality.
Bengaluru runs on three meal anchors: 7:30-9 AM darshini breakfast (idli, vada, masala dosa with filter coffee), 1-2 PM thali or meals lunch, and 7:30-9:30 PM dinner. Avoid eating between 9-11 AM (kitchens reset) and 3-5 PM (only snacks served). For street food (VV Puram, Thindi Beedi), come after 6:30 PM when stalls fully open.
How much does a day in Banglore cost?
budget
- accommodation
- INR 1,500-2,500 (homestays, OYO rooms in Jayanagar/Malleshwaram)
- food
- INR 400-700 (darshinis, thali joints, VV Puram street food)
- transport
- INR 200-400 (metro + autos for short hops)
- activities
- INR 200-500 (most temples free, museum entries INR 30-100)
- total
- INR 2,300-4,100 per day
mid range
- accommodation
- INR 4,000-7,000 (3-4 star hotels — Fortune Select, Jayamahal Palace, Lemon Tree)
- food
- INR 1,200-2,500 (mix of cafes, mid-range restaurants, one hotel meal)
- transport
- INR 600-1,200 (Uber/Ola + metro)
- activities
- INR 500-1,200 (palace tickets, Snow City, museum cluster)
- total
- INR 6,300-11,900 per day
premium
- accommodation
- INR 15,000-35,000 (The Oberoi, Leela Palace, Ritz-Carlton, Taj MG Road)
- food
- INR 4,000-8,000 (hotel restaurants, fine dining at UB City, brunches)
- transport
- INR 1,500-3,000 (chauffeur-driven car for the day)
- activities
- INR 1,500-4,000 (private guides, premium experiences, spa)
- total
- INR 22,000-50,000 per day
How do you get around Banglore?
Namma Metro
- details
- Purple and Green lines cover MG Road, Cubbon Park, Majestic, Jayanagar, Banashankari — fastest way across the city, avoids traffic
- cost
- INR 10-60 per ride
Uber / Ola / Rapido
- details
- Reliable for inter-neighbourhood trips; Rapido bike taxis are quickest in peak traffic
- cost
- INR 80-400 depending on distance; bike taxis INR 40-150
Auto-rickshaw
- details
- Insist on the meter; minimum fare INR 30 for 1.9 km; useful for short last-mile from metro stations
- cost
- INR 30-200 for most short hops
BMTC city bus
- details
- Cheapest option, extensive network; Vajra AC buses connect to the airport
- cost
- INR 5-25 ordinary, INR 250 airport Vajra
Rental scooter / bike (Bounce, Yulu)
- details
- Good for short distances within neighbourhoods like Indiranagar, Koramangala; Yulu Miracle e-bikes near metro stations
- cost
- INR 5-15 per km
Walking
- details
- MG Road-Brigade Road-Church Street triangle, Cubbon Park, Basavanagudi old streets are all walkable
- cost
- Free
Kempegowda International Airport
- details
- 40 km north of city; airport taxi INR 1,000-1,500, Vajra bus INR 250, no metro yet (under construction)
- cost
- INR 250-1,500
When is the best time to visit Banglore?
- October to February is the sweet spot — 15-27°C, dry, and clear skies. March-May is warmer (22-34°C) but still pleasant compared to the rest of India. June-September is monsoon — frequent showers, lush greenery, gorgeous in Cubbon Park and Lalbagh but disruptive for outdoor plans. January (Republic Day flower show at Lalbagh) and August (Independence Day flower show, Karaga festival in old Bengaluru) are special. Avoid mid-April peak when the city briefly hits 36°C.
What should you pack for Banglore?
- Light layers — mornings and evenings can drop to 16-18°C even in summer
- A light jacket or shawl for restaurants and movie theatres (heavily air-conditioned)
- Comfortable walking shoes — Cubbon Park, Lalbagh, and old neighbourhoods involve long walks
- Compact umbrella year-round; sudden showers are common even outside monsoon
- Power bank — traffic delays make a single charge often inadequate
- Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees for ISKCON, Gavi Gangadhareshwara and other temples
- Cash in small denominations (INR 10-100) for autos, darshinis, and temple offerings
- Sunscreen and sunglasses — UV is high at Bengaluru's altitude (920m above sea level)
What does a trip to Banglore look like?
Day 1: Heritage Bangalore — old city, temples, palaces
- time
- 06:30
- activity
- Morning walk and breakfast at Vidyarthi Bhavan-style darshini
- place
- Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi
- cost
- INR 150
- time
- 08:00
- activity
- Bull Temple and Bugle Rock Park
- place
- Basavanagudi
- cost
- Free
- time
- 09:30
- activity
- Shri Gavi Gangadhareshwara Swamy Temple cave tour
- place
- Kempegowda Nagar
- cost
- Free
- time
- 11:30
- activity
- Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace
- place
- Chamrajpet
- cost
- INR 25
- time
- 12:30
- activity
- Bengaluru Fort — Delhi Gate
- place
- New Tharagupet
- cost
- INR 25
- time
- 13:30
- activity
- Lunch — meals thali at MTR or Vidyarthi Bhavan
- place
- Lalbagh Road
- cost
- INR 300
- time
- 15:00
- activity
- Lalbagh Botanical Garden — Glass House, rock, bonsai
- place
- Mavalli
- cost
- INR 30
- time
- 18:30
- activity
- ISKCON Bangalore evening aarti
- place
- Rajajinagar
- cost
- Free + INR 100 prasadam
- time
- 20:30
- activity
- Dinner at La Marvella - Bengaluru
- place
- Jayanagar
- cost
- INR 800
Day 2: Colonial Bangalore — MG Road, museums, art
- time
- 07:00
- activity
- Morning walk in Cubbon Park, bamboo grove detour
- place
- Central Bengaluru
- cost
- Free
- time
- 09:00
- activity
- Breakfast at Koshy's or Indian Coffee House
- place
- St. Mark's Road
- cost
- INR 250
- time
- 10:00
- activity
- CSI St. Mark's Cathedral and Queen Victoria Statue
- place
- MG Road
- cost
- Free
- time
- 11:00
- activity
- Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum
- place
- Kasturba Road
- cost
- INR 90
- time
- 13:30
- activity
- Lunch at Cafe Noir, UB City
- place
- Vittal Mallya Road
- cost
- INR 1,000
- time
- 15:30
- activity
- National Gallery of Modern Art (Bengaluru)
- place
- Palace Road
- cost
- INR 20
- time
- 16:30
- activity
- Venkatappa Art Gallery Bengaluru
- place
- Kasturba Road
- cost
- INR 20
- time
- 18:00
- activity
- St. Mary's Basilica and Russell Market walk
- place
- Shivajinagar
- cost
- Free
- time
- 20:00
- activity
- Dinner at Tom's Restaurant
- place
- Brigade Road
- cost
- INR 600
Day 3: Modern Bangalore — palace, aerospace, food street
- time
- 08:00
- activity
- Breakfast at Lemon Tree Premier Ulsoor Lake Bengaluru
- place
- Halasuru
- cost
- INR 500
- time
- 09:30
- activity
- Bengaluru Palace tour with audio guide
- place
- Palace Grounds
- cost
- INR 460
- time
- 11:30
- activity
- Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath
- place
- Kumara Park East
- cost
- INR 50
- time
- 13:30
- activity
- Lunch at The Chancery Pavilion buffet
- place
- Residency Road
- cost
- INR 1,500
- time
- 15:30
- activity
- HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum
- place
- Marathahalli
- cost
- INR 50
- time
- 18:30
- activity
- Sri Someshwara Temple, Halasuru
- place
- Ulsoor
- cost
- Free
- time
- 19:30
- activity
- VV Puram Food Street (Thindi Beedi) — akki rotti, holige, congress kadalekai
- place
- Sajjan Rao Road
- cost
- INR 400
- time
- 22:00
- activity
- Nightcap at Cafe Noir or Brigade Road pub crawl
- place
- Central Bengaluru
- cost
- INR 800
Day 4: Offbeat Bangalore — temples, art, snow
- time
- 08:30
- activity
- Breakfast at Jayamahal Palace Hotel heritage thali room
- place
- Jayamahal
- cost
- INR 600
- time
- 10:00
- activity
- Snow City Bengaluru
- place
- J.C. Nagar
- cost
- INR 550
- time
- 12:30
- activity
- Mahua- The Art Gallery
- place
- Sadashiva Nagar
- cost
- Free
- time
- 14:00
- activity
- Lunch at The President Hotel
- place
- Jayanagar 3rd Block
- cost
- INR 700
- time
- 15:30
- activity
- Shree Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple
- place
- Kalena Agrahara
- cost
- Free
- time
- 17:00
- activity
- Shri Panchamukhi Ganesha Temple (Kengeri)
- place
- Kengeri
- cost
- Free
- time
- 19:00
- activity
- Ganesha Temple (Katte Vinayaka) KR Puram evening aarti
- place
- Krishnarajapuram
- cost
- Free
- time
- 20:30
- activity
- Farewell dinner at The Oberoi, Bengaluru
- place
- MG Road
- cost
- INR 3,500