The city where the world's IT companies gather: Sightseeing and cafes in Bengaluru, South India

If you are going on a business trip to Bengaluru for the first time, you will want to know about convenient spots and services for Japanese people, as well as tourist spots that you can easily visit. So, we asked Japanese people living in Bengaluru to introduce us to popular walking spots and cafes where you can relax between business trips and sightseeing.

Recommended tourist spots for Japanese people in Bengaluru. First, go to the palace in the city center, Bengaluru Palace.

If you visit Bengaluru, the first place you should visit is the palace in the city center, Bengaluru Palace. Built at the end of the 19th century in the Tudor style (an architectural style developed in England from the end of the 15th century to the 17th century, characterized by Gothic with Renaissance-like decorative elements), the palace is not particularly large, but it is surrounded by beautiful gardens filled with seasonal flowers, allowing you to spend a quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding area.

As soon as you step inside, you'll find yourself in a luxurious hall lined with carefully crafted furniture, ornaments such as elephant foot figurines, paintings, tiles and other decorative items, as well as intricately designed tableware. Built in the late 19th century, it has served as the residence of a British admiral and as a working palace for Indian royalty, and everything in between gives you a sense of its history.

Visit the Vidhana Soudha, an impressive place with an overwhelming presence

If you drive about 10 minutes from Bengaluru Palace towards the city centre, the view suddenly opens up and you enter the orderly government district. The first thing that catches your eye is a large four-story building in the Neo-Dravidian style (a South Indian Hindu architectural style). It is the Vidhana Soudha, the government building of Karnataka state, where Bengaluru is located. You will find yourself stopping in your tracks, captivated by its overwhelming presence. On weekend nights, it is beautifully lit up, offering a different view.

Let's leave the government district and head south into the city. It's common to see cows roaming the streets here and there in India, but in Bengaluru you'll see a unique sight: Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, and Christian churches all living together in one place. Although 80% of the population is Hindu, southern India tends to have a higher proportion of Muslims and Christians than northern India, and you can enjoy the diversity of culture, architecture, and colors based on religion.

Many of the world's leading IT companies have set up shop here in Bangalore, and a unique relationship of coexistence that differs from traditional India seems to be maintained.

Relax in the cozy wooden building of Tipu Sultan's Palace

Next, we will introduce some places to stop by in the southern part of Bengaluru city.

The first place you should visit is Tipu Sultan's Palace. Completed in 1791 by Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Hindu Kingdom of Mysore, which once stood in this area, the palace is known as a rare wooden building among the many stone structures.

As soon as you step inside, the pleasant breeze that comes from the wooden structure will blow through, and you'll smile at how cozy it is. It's a small two-story building, but that makes it feel like you're closer to how people lived at the time, and you'll feel closer to it. The garden in front of the palace is also well-maintained, making it a great place for a stroll.

Get a Hindu Tilaka at the Bull Temple

We also recommend the Bull Temple, located close to Tipu Sultan's Palace. This Hindu temple was built in 1537 by King Kempegowda, and features a monolithic cow that is 4.5 meters high and 6 meters wide. If you walk around the cow, you can have a red tilaka placed on your forehead. Tilaka is a sacred symbol for prayer. Having this will make you feel like you are closer to India.

Cafes in Bengaluru where you can get great coffee

When walking around the city, it is essential to have a cafe where you can take a break. Here, we will introduce carefully selected cafes that are popular with expatriates and their families and that suit the Japanese palate. South India is known for having a long-standing habit of drinking coffee, rather than tea, chai, or lassi.

Traditional South Indian filter coffee is a sweet coffee made with plenty of milk and sugar. It is brewed in a unique way. It is made by pouring it repeatedly from a high position into two metal vessels to create a mellow flavor. Topping it with cinnamon or nutmeg will enhance the aroma.

Enjoy coffee with the locals at the beloved local cafe "MTR"

If you go to a local cafe or restaurant, you will almost always find this "South Indian filter coffee" served. Among them, one cafe that is loved by locals is "MTR". Founded in 1924, it is a long-established restaurant that represents the South Indian cuisine world and now has branches overseas.

This shop's "South Indian filter coffee" is only available after 3:30 pm. It costs 38 rupees per cup. The coffee, served in a generous white cup, is softly sweet, but has a strong bitter base. Why not spend your afternoon with snacks such as vada, which is made by grinding beans and deep-frying them into a doughnut shape?

The restaurant is so crowded that there is always a line, so you will usually be sharing a table with locals. Everyone there has a friendly smile, so you can enjoy casual conversation.

At lunchtime, you can eat all you want of South Indian meals for 270 rupees. After you start by toasting with sweet grape juice, about 20 different dishes are piled onto your plate, including coconut curry, dosa, stir-fried beans and coriander, and dahi made with yogurt.

All the dishes are low in spice and oil, making them easy for us Japanese to eat, and the taste makes you want to come back again and again.

Be sure to stop by for lunch as well as coffee.

Wi-Fi is also available. Enjoy a cup of coffee at "THIRD WAVE COFFEE ROASTERS"

The biggest reason why South India is known for its coffee is that there are many coffee plantations. Karnataka state, where Bangalore is located, is home to famous coffee growing areas such as Chikmagalur and Coorg, where coffee was first cultivated in India, and high-quality, fresh beans are shipped directly from there.

The latest trend is the "third wave" of carefully brewed coffee, one cup at a time. Drinking it black, without sugar or milk, is becoming mainstream, especially among the younger generation.

The trend is being driven by a coffee specialty store from Bengaluru called "THIRD WAVE COFFEE ROASTERS." The store has a clean interior and is always full of people relaxing with their laptops open or reading books.

The owner, who studied authentic coffee in the United States, opened his first store in Bengaluru in 2016. Since then, in just three years, he has expanded to seven stores, and is going strong, expanding into other cities in South India such as Pune and Hyderabad.

The coffee beans they use are, of course, from South India. PR manager Angana says, "We frequently visit the farms to check the quality. Third wave coffee is a global movement, and it's now in Bengaluru." However, it seems that many people add a little more milk than black coffee, and cappuccino (180 rupees) is popular. This may be unique to South India.

They also have a wide selection of light meals such as cakes and sandwiches, and Wi-Fi is also available. It's a great place for business people to take a break or even get some work done on their computers.

"Coffee Mechanics" uses high-quality beans from famous coffee producing regions

A coffee shop that has been getting a lot of attention lately is "coffee mechanics." Both co-founders Pavan and Ganga are from Chikmagalur. Each of them has their own family-run coffee plantation.

Chikmagalur is about a five-hour drive from Bengaluru city. At an altitude of 1,090 meters, it is cool all year round and is an ideal place for growing coffee. Pavan smiles and says, "African coffee beans are fruity, but Chikmagalur coffee beans have a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity like chocolate, giving them a very deep flavor." It seems that such coffee beans are able to accommodate a wide range of menu items, and the most popular item at the store is the "SIGNATURE MAZAGRAN" (170 rupees) with lime. It is refreshing, easy to drink, and addictive.

Get souvenirs at "Jaiswal Coffee" which also delivers to your hotel

There is also a coffee bean delivery shop run by a Japanese woman. Keiko Miyata, who has been in India for almost 10 years, opened the shop, "Jaiswal Coffee," with her Indian husband, with a deep love for coffee.

The store opened in November 2012. "At the time, there were no Starbucks stores and hardly anyone drank black coffee," says Miyata. But even so, he recalls, "I love coffee myself. When I found out that coffee beans could be harvested in India, where I thought the only coffee available was black tea, I thought I'd sell them myself."

Since then, they have been carefully roasting and packing the beans they purchase from farms in Chikmagalur. The shop has steadily grown into a famous shop in Bengaluru. They deliver products to homes and offices, as well as to hotels for business travelers and tourists. Their cute gift packages are also popular.

While walking around the city, try comparing traditional South Indian filter coffee with the trendy third wave coffee. Experience Bengaluru, where tradition and innovation intersect.

Originally posted on October 10, 2019
*Some content was updated on December 4, 2024.

Interview cooperation: STORYTELLING LLP
Writer:Mariko