Get into Bangalore By plane
Bangalore Airport (BLR) is a domestic airport that caters to certain international flights too. There is a new international airport proposed on the anvil.
International Flights
Bangalore has direct flights to many major European and Asian destinations. Notable international flights are from Frankfurt on Lufthansa, from Singapore on Singapore Airlines, from Kuala Lumpur (KL) on Malaysian Airlines, from London on British Airways, from Dubai on Emirates, from Paris on Air France and from Bangkok on Thai Airways and on Nok Air a discount airline.
Due to aircraft timing and airport capacity constraints, many international flights arrive and depart in the dead of night. For example, British Airways, Lufthansa, JetStar Asia, Emirates and Air France all schedule their flights to arrive and depart between 1am and 4am. Fortunately, the airport knows and expects this, so it is in full operation 24 hours a day. You won't have any more trouble changing money or finding a taxi at 4am than you would at 4pm.
A new international airport is under construction at Devanahalli, 30 km (19 mi) north of downtown Bangalore. The airport's first flight will take off in April 2008. It will cater to 11 million passengers in Phase 1. Its final capacity is estimated to be 40 million passengers.
Domestic Flights
Indian Airlines, now renamed as Indian, connects Bangalore with all parts of the country. Jet Airways has bought over Air Sahara and now renamed as JetLite are other two major domestic airlines that fly into Bangalore from other major cities. [http://www.paramountairways.com/ Paramount Airways is a startup business-class only airline, with service to Chennai and other southern cities. Air Deccan is a popular no frills airlines that operates to most cities and large towns. Other no-frill airlines that operate from Bangalore include Go Air and SpiceJet. Kingfisher Airlines is a Bangalore based airline which boasts about, and confirms to mid air- luxury travel, offering regular flights between Bangalore, Delhi, Goa, Mumbai,Belgaum,Chennai,Hyderabad,Pune,Hubli-Dharwad,Coimbatore.
On Arrival
Once off the plane, you'll need to go through immigration (if you are on an international flight) and then collect your bags. You'll then pass through customs and into the small arrival hall. If you need to get money, there is an ATM on the left just before you go outside the terminal. There are also a few money change booths that will accept all manner of foreign currency.
The best way to get into town is to take a prepaid taxi. There are two choices, a government run service with lower prices or a private operator with better service. At the government-run counter (look for the K.S.T.D.C. booth), you mention the locality you want to reach and pay a fixed amount. You get a receipt with the registration number of the taxi that will pick you up printed on it. Locate the taxi (the driver will probably be waiting for you just outside) and you're set.
For the budget constrained, I would strongly suggest a prepaid auto rather than a taxi as it will be many times cheaper. The Prepaid auto counter is a little hard to locate. You will have to walk a little to reach there although it is within the airport boundaries. The person at the counter will just write down your name against the vehicle no. of the auto and you will pay strictly by meter. If you don't go at the prepaid counter, you will have to hard bargain with the auto driver for the fare and you can easily be taken for a ride !
Another option is to arrange with your hotel in Bangalore to have a driver pick you up at the airport. Some hotels, especially those in the higher price ranges, provide this service for free if you are staying with them. If it's your first time traveling to Bangalore, this is by far the easiest way to get from the airport to your hotel. The driver will be found outside the airport with a card bearing your name, the only difficulty being that about 100 other drivers will also be waiting outside the airport, all vying for your attention. Luckily there is a short fenced walkway that separates the drivers from those leaving the airport, giving you some time and space to find, and if necessary negotiate, your ride into Bangalore. Once you leave the walkway, some drivers may become fairly aggressive, and might try to take your bag without your permission. The best thing do to is to keep track of, and in control of, your belongings. Even the most aggressive taxi driver or tout will leave you alone if you stand firm and make it clear that you do not want their help. Upon arriving at your destination a tip of 20-40 Indian Rupees is plenty.
By train
The Bangalore City railway station is situated in the centre of the city, around the Majestic Bus stand. All trains, both local and long-distance, arrive and depart from here. A new terminal at the Yeswantpur railway station (not very far away from the main railway station) is growing and there are a few outbound trains that regularly arrive and depart from it.
Bangalore also has a railway station in the Cantonment Area, called the Cantonment Railway Station - this is centrally located and in a better part of town. Not all trains stop here, though. However, there is a proposal to develop this into a new hub, in order to ease congestion out of the ever bustling Bangalore station.
Bookings can be done at either the railway station or at a few of Indian Railways booking counters at major residential areas. Booking can also be done online from the Indian Railways site (www.irctc.co.in). Trains do fill up, but most trains have a special reserved quota for foreigners, which can work to your advantage. You have to book at a special desk in the train station, and show both a foreign passport and some proof (such as an ATM reciept) that your money came from a foreign account. For a good reference on the various classes of Indian rail travel, and how to book tickets, see the India Page on Seat61.com. Note that if you are booking at Bangalore Central and are traveling to Mysore, there is a different line for travelers to Mysore and travelers to all other destinations. This is to cater for the large amount of travelers between Bangalore and Mysore. If traveling to Mysore on a Sunday afternoon, arrive early as there is usually a long line for buying tickets!
As with all Indian railway travel, bring some patience for delays. Trains can sometimes be several hours late. A video departure board in the station will tell you what platform your train is on and what time it leaves.
Train travel is usually fairly cheap. For example, a ticket to Chennai, about 360 km (5 hrs) away, costs anywhere from Rs 125 for the lowest class to Rs 1105 for the highest class.
By bus
If you have difficulty in arranging a plane or railway ticket to your next destination, or you prefer a little more adventure, you can go by bus. There are both government and private busses that run services to major nearby cities like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai etc. Buses can be a normal luxury bus, a Volvo A/C bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Some bus operators like Raj National Express/KPN Travels/Customer Needz/RedBus offer online bookings.
All intercity buses arrive and depart from Bangalore bus stand, which is located opposite the city railway station. Officially named after the founder of Bangalore, 'Kempegowda Bus Station' is more commonly known as 'the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand' or 'the Majestic Bus Station'. It handles buses that connect Bangalore to all major cities and states in south India. The main bus stand of 'the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) ,' which maintains bus services within the city, is located next to the Kempegowda Bus Station. BMTC has now introduced Air conditioned Volvo buses in order to maintain the status of the IT city.
Unlike other metros, the display boards in the bus show the destination in Kannada. Only the bus number is in English. If you don't speak Kannada, you will likely need to get some help to get on the right bus.
By car
Driving in India can be very stressful. Use of the horn is mandatory in all situations. Lane splitting is the rule, not the exception. And games of chicken, combined with razor thin passing margins are common. One ride in a taxi will most likely convince you that driving yourself is not worth the risk, so if you do want to arrive by car you'll probably want to hire both a car and a driver. Cost varies, but most car/driver combinations cost Rs 1400 to Rs 1700/day. Depending on where you are coming from, you may be able to negotiate a lower fare if the trip isn't far, and it may be a higher fare if you are traveling far and your driver has to travel back on his own time. Be aware that South India, including Bangalore, can get very hot and humid, even in the winter. Although it costs more, consider requesting an air conditioned car if you aren't used to the heat. An "Air Con" car will also help filter out the air pollution, which is considerable, especially on congested roadways. If you want something even more special, such as a fancy car or SUV, be prepared to pay extra.
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