Going to Bengaluru for One Week for Work

chasis on 01/07/2025 - 22:26
Last edited 01/07/2025 - 22:48

Hi OzBargain,

My work is sending me to Bengaluru ("The Silicon Valley of India") for a week in a couple of months time. This will be my first time there and also first overseas work trip. I will be travelling with two colleagues.

Any advice on sightseeing, food or shopping? And any do/don'ts for a work trip?

Would love to hear anyone else's experiences who have also been there for work as to what I should expect.

The only thing I can think of that would be nice shopping wise is a new suit if that's something that can do cheap there.

Travel Asia India

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  • John Barosa on 01/07/2025 - 23:31
    +9

    I'll tell you my parents' go to rules, when we used to visit India.

    Don't drink tap water. Make sure you boil it before. Also boil milk.

    Don't eat streetfood, eat at a good restaurant.

    Don't go to the slums. Shitty to derive entertainment from other people's suffering, and also they could be dangerous.

    Carry a mask with you, in case it becomes "dusty".

    Try to avoid eating beef. You can probably find it, if you search hard enough, but I don't trust India's beef standards.

    Use Tuktuks, not Ubers.

    Don't be a shitty tourist, and don't negotiate for like $5-$10. It means a lot more to them, then it does for you.

  • Hybroid on 02/07/2025 - 00:21
    +7

    Visit the train station (buy a visitor day pass so you can access mini-museum) and just stand and watch the world go by. Marvel at the more than half century old trains and how people interact with them. Try the almond badam milk from the kiosk there.

    There's tons of BBQ-at-your-table style restaurants that cater for visitors and expats. They actually serve pretty great food so worth a try, esp if the comapny is paying.

    Find a Hyderabad Biryani joint and experience proper authentic chicken biryani. Fish apollo highly recommended too.

    Most likely your new colleagues will invite to you an unlimited veg restaurant where you are served endlessly on a banana leaf. Definitely indulge in this. Don't bother asking what's what, just enjoy the flavour smorgasbord.

    They may also offer to take you around early morning around 5AM to see various parts of the city or the monkey park. Well worth doing followed with paratha breakfast.

    Don't cross the road on busy roads, even at crossings. There's a technique to this where you simply go at a steady pace and don't stop walking while cars and bikes scoot around you. It takes some practise and nerves so instead, just get a tuktuk to the other side of the road. Yes, literally.

    There's lots of upmarket hotels and microbreweries and fast food everywhere there if you want to play it safe. Most likely you'll be located in the special economic zone, an area of high-rise towers, but do venture out to the main city.

    Otherwise, the people are quite fantastic there. The buzz and commotion everywhere is baffling yet bewildering in a good way. The horn beeping is insanely frustrating after 5 mins.

    There's nothing of real value to shop or buy I would say. Maybe trinket souvenirs for gifts as there's plenty woodwork outlets but otherwise, nothing of interest for foreigners.

    I had an absolute blast there. I'm sure you will too!

    • chasis on 02/07/2025 - 10:48

      Thanks for your thorough reply. Lots of things to take note of here!

  • Tomhaigh1 on 01/07/2025 - 23:26
    +5

    Forget other things, you'll be stuck in traffic the entire time 😑

  • sonicentropy on 02/07/2025 - 00:12
    +2

    I set up a call centre in india. I was expecting the worst but the people were friendly and helpful work put me up with the call centre manager house. A elderly couple his wife was an amazing cook. I did eat street food once and was on the toilet for 3 days. It was an adventure. We later found out the call centre was later involved in scamming some aussies. We are only 6 months away from using AI as call centres.

  • stickingly on 02/07/2025 - 07:12
    +2

    I've been to India for work several times, a few to Bengaluru. The city is huge and traffic a nightmare. The food is amazing. The IT part where all the big international IT companies have their campuses (if that is where you are going) is almost like a separate city itself, but quite far away from the main city.

    I have always found the people to be very hospitable and there were always people from the office volunteering to take me out sightseeing or to a nice area at night for a meal. You may have the same experience.

  • ryefig on 02/07/2025 - 08:52
    +1

    Whatever you do, make sure you are NOT flying Air India.

  • Shakow on 02/07/2025 - 09:45
    +1

    It used to be known as the Garden city and now its the Garbage city
    The city has a complete lack of main roads and takes hours to get anywhere as there is permanent roadworks
    Pollution is terrible and if I spent more than a few days there for work I used to come back with a irritating cough

    Enjoy

  • Downvoter on 02/07/2025 - 12:00
    +1

    Sorry to hear

  • jv on 02/07/2025 - 13:41
    +1

    Any advice on sightseeing

    www.wonderla.com

    or

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeSusNKwmQc

    • chasis on 02/07/2025 - 14:33

      Love their motto - "Speed that thrills but doesn't kill."

      • jv on 02/07/2025 - 14:42

        😲

  • sam-1966 on 02/07/2025 - 16:59
    +1

    My daughter went as part of her nursing degree - she bought some lovely linen clothes and alterations were incredibly cheap. She and a couple of friends did a quick flight to visit Agra and a couple of other places over a weekend and loved it.

  • pc007 on 02/07/2025 - 21:53
    +1

    Bengaluru has a lot of traffic. So plan everything with ample time in your hand.

    Trips to Mysore is amazing. Must see Mysore Palace. Not too far from Bengaluru.

    • chasis on 06/07/2025 - 09:34
      +1

      Thanks. I wonder if I can jump over there after work one of the days.

  • skeeo on 06/07/2025 - 09:17
    +1

    I've stayed at:

    JW Marriott Bangalore - lots of westerners. I was a bit creeped out by one of the hotel staff wanting to take a photo of me while in the hotel room. Also hotel drivers asking for tips was annoying (didn't happen with other hotels).

    Leela Palace Hotel - I wasn't a fan of this place. It just felt old and yuck even though its supposed to be charming/grand. Big ass cockroaches everywhere including in and around the breakfast buffet area.

    Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall. This place actually was alright and it was cheap. Next to a mall and it serves the local Indian travellers (most westerners won't stay here) so the food was authentic.

    Oberoi Hotel. This was my favourite. Its what Leela Palace Hotel should be. It is showing its age but overall still a solid hotel with nice rooms, location and staff.

    • rake on 24/07/2025 - 10:06

      +1 for Oberoi. Their service is the best I have experienced of all the hotel brands worldwide.

  • dpk on 24/07/2025 - 11:25
    +1

    Wonderla Resort

  • Checkmate3023 on 01/07/2025 - 22:38

    I had to google where Bengaluru is…so im no help but i wonder how many other people had no idea where it was

    • John Barosa on 01/07/2025 - 23:22
      +3

      Wooow. Looks like we've all been judging the Americans too hard for their map knowledge.

    • chasis on 01/07/2025 - 22:47

      I'll update to prevent other people having to google. :D

    • Nillionaire on 01/07/2025 - 22:50

      It's the Silicon Valley of India

  • Wiadro on 01/07/2025 - 22:44

    why are you going there for work

    • chasis on 01/07/2025 - 22:47

      Work is setting up and India office and I've been asked to help onboard their staff.

      • Wiadro on 01/07/2025 - 22:47
        +14

        ohh yes redundancy coming for you
        i did that once but in the Philippines

        • chasis on 01/07/2025 - 22:48

          Yep. Its definitely a strong possibility.

          • Wiadro on 01/07/2025 - 22:49
            +18

            @chasis: my tip, do not spend any of your own money
            put it all on the work credit card and i mean ALL.

          • Protractor on 01/07/2025 - 22:51
            +4

            @chasis: That's OK. The great god of Karma (AI) will gobble them up quick enough. And peace will settle on the world of siliconia

  • [Deactivated] on 01/07/2025 - 23:09

    You are not going solo, this is good. MMF or FFM good. MMM or FFF not good!

    • Gunnar on 01/07/2025 - 23:17
      +1

      Based on your posts, I’ve always thought an MMM situation is your ideal scenario

    • joka on 02/07/2025 - 07:48
      +1

      And CFNM?

    • chasis on 01/07/2025 - 23:24

      Its MMM

  • pegaxs on 01/07/2025 - 23:10

    Not gonna lie, I read that title and thought… “isn’t that where the guy went and un-alived all those back packers?” And then tried to guess WTF was out there, thinking you were a lumber jack.

    • chasis on 01/07/2025 - 23:24

      is that Balangalo Forest or something?

  • Darayus on 02/07/2025 - 10:33

    TThat, due to the length of the upcoming flight, travel be arranged in business class on either Qantas or Singapore Airlines to ensure comfort and productivity upon arrival. Additionally, ask to be accommodated in a 5-star hotel, as this will provide the necessary amenities and environment for a successful business trip, rather than a lower-tier 3-star hotel.

    That English may be spoken with a strong local accent at the destination. To facilitate effective communication,familiarize with local dialects and expressions in advance. Finally, be mindful that nonverbal cues, such as smiling, may not always indicate agreement or understanding. Therefore, seek clear verbal confirmation when necessary to avoid any miscommunication.

  • Protractor on 18/07/2025 - 11:16

    A small addition to this saga>
    CBA guts local workforce for Indian jobs

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