Bengaluru – India’s Silicon Valley

Bengaluru is known as India’s Silicon Valley for a very special reason. While it boasts of the world’s second largest startup ecosystems, second only to California’s Silicon Valley region, the city also boasts of the best weather you would find in the country, akin to the original Silicon Valley. 

The Southern city of Bengaluru, lies in the heart of the Mysore Plateau – a region of the Deccan Plateau, at an average elevation from the sea level of 920 m with an uneven landscape of hills and valleys to the south and a relatively leveled plateau towards the north.

Home to over a 1,000 large multinational companies in India, Bengaluru and over half of all MNC R&D centers in the country, Bengaluru attracts talent from all across the country, making it one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the country. The city however, is also popularly known as the city of gardens as the gentle climate and the perfect amalgamation of the sun and the rain provide an ideal environment altogether which is very sustainable for the greenery, making it the third greenest city in India.

The city boasts of a salubrious climate, gardens & parks, natural lakes, architectural landmarks, shopping malls, the best restaurants and pubs in this part of the globe and business opportunities..

Majority of Bengaluru’s population comprises expatriates from other parts of India and foreign nationals, a trend that existed even in pre-independence Bengaluru. The official language of the State of Karnataka is Kannada. Although Kannada is widely spoken in the city, the majority of the population is fluent in Hindi, and English too.

The cosmopolitan nature of the city allows Bengaluru to have a varied culture that caters to all the different segments of the society. Bengaluru is a fusion of different cultures. While the city has Hindu temples that are centuries old, there are also many mosques and churches that are visited by a large number of devotees. The oldest of all the holy places is the popular temple atop Bugle hill known as the Bull Temple, built by Kempe Gowda, the founder of the city. Kempe Gowda, constructed the temple in the Dravadian style. St. Mary’s  church in Bengaluru is the only church in Karnataka to be elevated to the status of a minor Basilica. Jumma Masjid is the oldest mosque in the city which was earlier known as Sangim Jamia Masjid. Located in K.R. Market ‘Jumma Masjid’ means ‘Friday Mosque’.  

Kempegowda is perhaps the first name who’ll hear when you land in the city as it is also the name of the Bengaluru international airport. 

Bengaluru is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country, with over 62% of the city’s population comprising migrants from other parts of India. The city of Bengaluru has beautifully combined its rich cultural heritage with its technological and industrial accomplishments. In fact, this blend of traditions with modern culture has made Bengaluru one of the most happening cities in India. On one hand, the city has acquired the status of India’s IT Capital, on the other hand, it is also witnessing a revival of age-old traditional art forms. The fusion of the old and the new can be seen in every aspect of Bengaluru culture, right from its theatre to its arts and crafts. 

Hinduism is the majority religion in Bengaluru city with 78.87% followers. Islam is second most popular religion in city of Bengaluru with approximately 13.90% of the population following it. In Bengaluru city, Christianity is followed by 5.61%, Jainism by 0.97%, Sikhism by 0.15% and Buddhism by 0.15.

Bengaluru has a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Due to its high elevation, Bengaluru usually enjoys a more moderate climate throughout the year, although occasional heat waves can make summer somewhat uncomfortable. The coolest month is January with an average low temperature of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) and the hottest month is April with an average high temperature of 35 °C (95 °F).

Bengaluru receives rainfall from both the northeast and the southwest monsoons and the wettest months are August, September and October, in that order. The summer heat is moderated by fairly frequent thunderstorms, which occasionally cause power outages and local flooding. Most of the rainfall occurs during late afternoon/evening or night and rain before noon is infrequent.

Housing

The real estate segment in Bengaluru, offers a wide range of accommodation from apartments to gated communities. Renting an accommodation at a suitable location closer to one’s workplace/business and school is pertinent. Costs associated with accommodation depend on the location and the size of the house. Apartments, standalone houses, gated community villas are the available choices for housing in Bengaluru.

Like most other cities in India, Bengaluru does have specific expatriate housing areas. Whitefield is the suburb of Bengaluru that houses several IT and ITeS companies at the International Tech Park. The area consists of gated communities like Palm Meadows, Windmills of your Mind, Prestige Ozone and other residential complexes and apartments.

Hebbal and Devanahalli Main Road located to the north of Bengaluru, closer to the International Airport, are the other popular areas thronged by residential complexes, Outer ring road runs through major suburbs like Krishnarajapuram, Marathalli, Nagarabhavi, Hebbal, Banaswadi, JP Nagar and Bengaluru University. Popular Residential Apartments include Acme Harmony, Adarsh Palm Retreat and Shobha Iris to name a few.

Dollars Colony area is famous for the M.S. Ramaiah Hospital. RMV Stage I and RMV Stage II are popular residential areas providing accommodation for expats. Rabindranath Tagore Nagar (RT Nagar) is also home to numerous South Indian celebrities. Adjoining areas around RT Nagar provide for premium residential accommodation as well.

Located in north Bengaluru, Sanjay Nagar is a sprawling residential locality. The area is well connected to hospitals, places of worship, educational institutions, commercial establishments, banks and popular entertainment hubs.

Sadashiv Nagar also known as “The Beverly Hills of Bengaluru’, is the most expensive and elite neighborhood in the city. Palace Orchards is one of the upmarket residential areas in the neighbourhood.

Located at the east of the city, Indira Nagar is known as a popular hub for commercial establishments; eat outs, restaurants, coffee shops, shopping complexes, educational institutions and residential complexes. Being 4 kms away from the heart of the city M.G Road and adjoining popular shopping/commercial areas, Indira Nagar is also an ideal area to live in.

While looking for an apartment in the city, there are a few things to be considered. For example, unfurnished apartments lack all basic household and kitchen appliances including air conditioners. These can sometimes be negotiated with the landlord. On the other hand, furnished apartments are very few and furniture is not always up to expat quality. There are very few Hotel service apartments in Bengaluru. 

Though there are customized apartments, they are not often preferred by expats due to their lack of amenities and low-quality of furniture and fixtures. One needs to check if the rental quoted is inclusive of apartment associated maintenance costs and if the landlord is providing you with utility connections. The set up cost is sometimes borne by the landlord and the monthly rental and usage charges are borne by the tenant. The monthly payment will have to be made directly to the vendors. Please note that there is always a due date for making payments. 

Landlords typically ask for 1-3 months of advance rent but what sets you back is the security deposit, a refundable deposit that could be anywhere between 6-10 months of rent. The rental agreements are signed for a minimum period of 12 months with a one to two-month notice period for termination. Longer agreements come with a clause for an increase in rent at about 5-10% on completion of each year.

Bengaluru Cuisine

Bengaluruans are very passionate about food and eating out. The variety in terms of cuisines, types and themes that Bengaluru restaurants offer is diverse and caters to every taste. The typical cuisine of Bengaluru is inclusive of Chapati, Idli, Dosa, and Kesari Bath. There are numerous varieties of dosa, catering to diverse tastes.  Bengaluru is also home to Lebanese, Thai and continental cuisines.

Bengaluru has an active night culture and is home to over 200 clubs and bars. The city  is also referred to by many as the “Pub Capital of India”. Popular nightspots in Bengaluru include Toit, Hardrock Cafe, Hangover, Nolimmits Lounge & Club and many more. 

Healthcare

Bengaluru has some of the best world-class hospitals where thousands of international patients come for treatment each year. However, public facilities don’t often meet international standards and you’re better off going to a private hospital. You’ll easily find English-speaking staff at most private hospitals. But despite affordable medical facilities in the city, it is recommended to take medical insurance that covers all your medical expenses.

Some of the best hospitals in the city are Apollo Hospital, Mallya Hospital, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Columbia Asia Hospital and Manipal Hospital. There are however certain precautions that one needs to take in Bengaluru to maintain the health of their family. For example, all water must be boiled and filtered before drinking or used for oral hygiene. Drinking tap water is not recommended and one should always use a water filter at home or buy filtered water. 

Schooling

Bengaluru being the IT hub of the country beckons a huge number of people within the country and outside the country.  Consequently, on being displaced from the place of origin, schooling for children is a primary concern. Most schools have their own admission procedure beginning with an interview with the candidate. On being selected, an interview is conducted with the parents, review of the child’s performance in school over 2-3 years etc., would be assessed and considered as a part of the admission procedure. 

Most private schools offer Hindi, French or German as second languages, English being the first language. The medium of learning is usually English, Kannada or Hindi and these schools are affiliated to either the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Board, Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). 

Bengaluru also has several international schools and preschools available, offering both British and American curriculum. The American school early childhood education center has a program for three to five years. Some of the top international schools in the city are The International School, Stonehill International School, Canadian International School and Indus International School. 

Finance

The official unit of currency is Indian Rupee. As a foreigner employed in India, binding to the India foreign exchange and Income tax law, you are restricted to opening only one bank account per city. Foreign nationals have to get a PAN (permanent account number) card in order to apply for a bank account. 

Direct taxes are low in the city compared to most international cities but you’ll need an accountant to help you with your taxes, given the highly complex tax structure. Overall, depending on the income level, taxes vary from 5 percent to 33 percent. 

Additionally, there is a GST (Goods & Services Tax) charged at almost everything that you purchase in the city or any services that you avail. The GST rates vary between 5-28 percent depending on the type of goods and services being availed. 

Transportation and Shopping

More than half of the local population in Bengaluru are dependent on local transport for commuting purposes. The means of transport in Bengaluru range from cheapest buses to expensive taxis. The city has a small but growing Metro rail network, which is mostly confined to Central Bengaluru at the moment. Buses are one of the cheapest modes of transport in Bengaluru. Government buses are the most reliable and economical modes of transport. 

Radio taxi services such as Uber and Ola are easily available in Bengaluru and you can also hire them on a per hour basis instead of just a single trip. Other taxis are mostly operated by private operators and Indian tourism. They are available for both local and outstation purposes. Auto Rickshaws are another way to commute in the city and their cost falls between taxis and buses. They are more expensive than buses but cheaper than taxis. 

Auto Rickshaws are easily available as they can be flagged from the road. However one has to be careful while hiring autos. This is because most of the autos drivers refuse to ply by the meter.Most of the expats are provided with a private company car and driver during their stay in India.

Bengaluru is a shopping hub for different strata of society. Considered as the Fashion Capital of India, Bengaluru keeps pace with changing trends in fashion. A surge in this city’s economy has witnessed an increase in shopping malls and luxury boutiques, which offer a fixed price over the goods sold, unlike the smaller shops and street vendors. Bargaining is entertained in smaller shops and with street vendors selling clothing and fashion accessories. 

Famous malls in Bengaluru include the Forum Mall, Garuda Mall, Phoenix Mall, Orion Mall, Home Stop, Lifestyle, Bengaluru Central, One MG Mall  and Total Mall. Other shopping hubs include Commercial Street, Jayanagar, Brigade Road, M.G. Road and Koramangala. Wholesalers can be located at Gandhinagar, Chickpet and Majestic areas.

Safety

Bengaluru is an extremely crowded city that means there are people everywhere, round the clock, making Bengaluru one of the safest cities in India and at par with most European cities in terms of safety. That said, it is a large metropolis and it is advisable to take general safety precautions. It is advisable to follow safety rules which you would anywhere in the world. It is best to avoid secluded places late at night. But beyond that, you can indulge in the city’s nightlife with minimum worries. 

Immigration

Before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Indian government had made several changes to the country’s visa policies, making it easier for foreign nationals to travel to India for work or for leisure. Indian visas are divided between Regular Visas, e-Visas and Visa-on-Arrival. As per the recent changes now an applicant can apply for e-Tourist or e-Business Visa any time before his travel to India. The validity of the visa has now been made 365 days. Thus, an applicant can enter India any day post the grant to e-Tourist and e-Business visa until any time in the next 365 days.  

Maximum continuous stay period allowed under e-Tourist visa is up to 180 days for – USA, UK, Canada and Japan. For other countries it is 90 continuous days. Similarly, under e-Business visa, a continuous stay of 180 days is allowed and there is no requirement for registration. If the stay exceeds 180 days or if the aggregate stay in a calendar year has increased then 180 days then the applicant is required to register with the FRRO/FRO within 2 weeks of the completion of 180 days in India.

India also has a facility for visa-on-arrival, which has now been extended to nationals of South Korea and UAE also in addition to Japanese nationals. For UAE nationals though they are eligible for this category of visa only if they have applied for e-Visa and/or Regular sticker visa in the past. The validity of the visa is 60 days and can be used for tourism, business, conference and medical visit purposes. Pakistan-origin UAE nationals are not eligible for this visa category and would need to apply for a regular or e-Visa. 

Currently, the regular Tourist Visa, e-Visas and Visa-on-Arrival remain to be suspended until further notice due to the Pandemic. All other visa categories that is – Employment, Dependent, Student and Business Visa are being issued by the Indian missions abroad. In-country visa services like Resident Permit, Visa Extension, Change of Address/Passport etc are being processed smoothly.