My husband and I spent our first day in India in Bangalore, to meet with Monisha, a student that I met remotely during the running of a scientific project.
Bangalore doesn’t just wake up, actually it never sleeps. We arrived at 3 a.m. and there was already heavy traffic. In the morning, it exploded of life. The city’s energy is a living thing, a whirlwind of everyone having two, three, four and even more wheels honking, the scent of jasmine garlands, and the hum of a million conversations in Kannada, Hindi, and English. I arrived expecting what you may expect from India: traffic, people and animals everywhere, and maybe filter coffees, even though I prefer tea (and I must admit that it was difficult to find a good one despite the fact that India is a tea producer). What I found was a day so vivid, so unexpectedly human, that it’s still imprinted on my senses.
It started with a message from Monisha. “I am in your hotel lobby. Take your time and when you are ready I call a cab.” she texted. An hour later, we were squeezed into the back of a car, driving through lanes packed with vendors selling marigolds, steaming idlis, fabrics, clothes and all you can think about. Monisha told me that her mother would join us for lunch. “Excellent”, I said. The cab let us off in a shopping area (Bangalore doesn’t really have a city center, you are always in the center of something going on…). While waiting for her, we walked around looking the livelihood of the people. Everyone has something to sell, and everyone is smiling and welcoming. Finally Monisha’s mother, Shantha, arrived and greeted me with a smile that cut through the chaos. “Today, you eat like us,” she declared, and just like that, I was no longer a visitor but a guest in their world.
The Art of Eating with Your Hands
We stopped at a restaurant where they used to go when Monisha was a child and she had very good memories about that place. It was a kind of place where tourists would never go because they won’t be able to find it. You have to enter through a gate next to a shop, go up a stairs and then a door opens up for you. We didn’t order: food was brought with confidence by the waiters. I don’t remember what we ate, I just remember that it was excellent! All the food was served on a banana leaf and no cutlery is needed. You eat with your hands. There is what they call “wash room” where you can wash up your hands before eating. I watched as they deftly mixed food with their fingers, shaping it into a perfect bite. Hesitant at first, I followed suit but I have to admit that it was not easy. I don’t tell you about the stains I still have on my t-shirt and that they will never go away. But eating with my hands wasn’t just about taste. It was about texture, temperature, and the unspoken intimacy of sharing a meal.
Bangalore Palace: A Whisper of Royalty
With stomachs full and spirits high, we headed to the Bangalore Palace. Built in 1878 and inspired by England’s Windsor Castle, the palace is a surreal blend of Tudor towers, Gothic windows, and vine-covered walls. Inside, the Durbar Hall gleamed with gold leaf, while the ballroom felt like a set from a film. Monisha pointed out at the different paintings by Raja Ravi Varma. The gardens, lush and sprawling, offered a quiet escape from the city’s frenzy.
ISKCON Temple: Serenity in the City
Our final stop was the ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra Temple. The moment we stepped inside, the city’s noise faded. The temple’s gold-plated spires and marble floors reflected the afternoon light, and the air smelled of incense and fresh flowers. Devotees chanted, their voices rising in harmony. Shantha had her hands folded in prayer, while Monisha explained the meaning of the different statues in the temple. There was also some music performed alive. On going out, they offered us food, but I didn’t feel like to eat. Shantha told me that I shouldn’t refuse sacred food so I just took a little from her.
We ended up the day eating in a finger food truck, where we could taste other specialties of the city. They also gave us a bottle of water and some sweets. We were ready to go on with our trip the day after.
Why This Day Mattered
What made this day unforgettable wasn’t the checklist of sights but the people who brought them to life. Monisha and Shantha didn’t just show us Bangalore; they let us feel it: the warmth of a shared meal, the pride in showing us their city, and the quiet moments of connection in a place that never stops moving. Bangalore, I learned, isn’t just about its reputation as India’s Tech. It’s a city of layers: the chaos of its streets, the grace of its temples, and the generosity of its people.
Tags & Links for the Curious
Bangalore’s Cultural Experiences
Have you ever had a travel experience that changed how you see a place? Or a meal that became a memory? I’d love to hear your stories.
This is the first part of my trip to India. If you liked it, stay tuned for the next episodes by signing up for my blog crisbiecoach
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