Hangout Places: Bangalore

I have a sales job in Bangalore. This takes me to various parts of the city (except Electronic City). Sales people usually have a knack for knowing cheap places for sales meets and eating (drinking and smoking as well). But, I usually look for places to chill out. Comfortable, affordable and secure.  And in Bangalore, most importantly, easily reachable. 

Bangalore still has many small and unknown places, where you can spend some time in solitude (or with friends) far from the bustle of the city. You can be cut off from the toxic shrill and congestion of the street. You can bring a book along or watch a movie. If you have a partner, even better. 

One such place hides in plain sight. This is metro art gallery called Rangshala, underneath the elevated section of Metro after MG Road station. It starts from MG Road station (when you walk towards Chinnaswamy stadium side) and ends at Anil Kumble circle. Biocon has placed a mostly unnoticeable artwork dedicated to double helix structure some distance away. There is also a shared-bike stand there. It stands silently, as yet another statue, dedicated to failed European fantasies of Indians. But more on that later. 

Rangshala is a path, next to the MG Road, elevated by 2 meters. It runs alongside the MG Road. It is hidden from the road by plants and flowers on its boundary. The place is neat and clean. The plants do a wonderful job to block out the noise from the road. There is a small restaurant 'Dasaprakash' with a seating capacity for 40 people. Here is the menu.

The path also has some paintings on one side. I guess there is a small art gallery underneath, but the approach to it is mostly closed. It might be open sometime, as the notice says. 

 

The path has Cubbon park on the other side. The best time to visit it is sometime in evening after a short drizzle. You can shop in the Brigade Road and Church Street area and just take a stroll through this path.

The place is popular with couples, who find a silent and secure place right in the middle of bustle. It is about 300-400 meters long. So you can always find your own corner to sit and relax. There are no benches though. People sit on the ledge next to the flowers. 

On weekends, the restaurant is packed, but the crowd is still thin. I have seen short film makers and photographers with their muses as well.

You should check this place out before some moral brigade discovers and destroys the calm (for some obvious reasons).