Great climate and nightlife are usually the top reasons why people in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai like Bangalore, but I have my own take on why I like the city.
Although I was not born here, I blossomed here. I was taught three values in this city - the value of learning, the value of time (given the traffic) and the value of honesty. The work ethics of many Bangaloreans, including the honchos in corporates and agencies like the HAL and DRDO amazed me to no end when I first came to the city.
Bangaloreans are very courteous to outsiders (although it helps if you know Kannada). If you are a male on Bangalore’s streets, seldom would someone call you out in relation to your sister (behen) and even if someone were to, it is more likely that it would turn out to be behen ke bhai (a sister’s brother). In Mumbai or Delhi, it is not so.
For the foodie inside all of us, Bangalore is a great place. Be it Maddur Vadas or cupcakes or some very unhealthy but addictive chicken kababs from one of the many conveniently named Taj Hotels in K R Market on a rainy day, Bangalore has it all. In this merriment, however, Bangalore has definitely lost its ground to other cities like Gurgaon, where I am told the infrastructure is much better. To prove this argument you just have to look at the footpaths below upscale apartments, which are so narrow that it looks like they were made for pet dogs (after all, there are spa centres for canines in the city).
I am hopeful, however, that Bangalore will soon be lashed with thunder and winds of change that shall bring refreshing rain, one that everyone is waiting for and one that does not ruin basements and parking lots.
(The writer is a resident of Richmond Circle)
LIKES
Climate
Conducive, competitive environment for start-ups
Very friendly people
Rains
Nightlife
DISLIKES
Corrupt, incompetent officials
One way roads
Autowallahs who over-charge during rains
Spams and scams everywhere
The security-check queue at BIAL