It is not always easy to find a home and its comfort in a new city. However, Mitesh Arora from Delhi, who moved to Bengaluru three-and-a-half years ago, and wife Aditi Arora, who hails from Lucknow and followed him here a few of months later, have managed to.
The couple has a four-year-old daughter Avika. A job shift brought this family, like many others, to Bengaluru and they love living here.
"Over the years, I have fallen in love with this city. People here are amazing; they are so welcoming and always ready to help. They are also very down to earth. The weather is pretty good (though there has been a drastic change over the past couple of years). Nevertheless, it is better than in other cities. I would not want to move out of Bengaluru, that is for sure," says Aditi.
Since she has been away from her family for almost a decade (first for education, then for a job), she says there is nothing she particularly misses about Lucknow. Except family, of course.
"Every place here is a family place, so I don't have to think twice before taking my kid anywhere. I feel completely safe going out with her," she opines.
Of the two cities (Lucknow and Bengaluru), she says the one that's her present home is a place of greater ethnic diversity. People from different corners of the country come down here, so you get a taste of every culture. This, she says, helps them become more open to various practices and ideologies.
"Despite being from different states, people celebrate various festivals together, be it 'Deepavali', 'Eid', 'Ganesha Chaturthi' or 'Holi'. And people here are fluent in more than one language, which makes this city unique," she says. The family love to spend time together and are mostly seen hanging out at their JP Nagar home on holidays, indulging in different activities. Sometimes, they go out for a wholesome meal to places like 'Punjabi by
Nature', 'Big Brewsky' or 'Truffles'.
Being a foodie, Mitesh misses the food from back home the most. The 'aloo ke parathe' for breakfast and 'butter chicken' for dinner is overwhelming, he says.
So how is Bengaluru treating him? "Initially, when I moved in, it was a culture shock, but then my friends suggested that I give myself some time to settle down. Now I feel Bengaluru is one of the best places to live in. It is a cosmopolitan city, but retains its old flavour and culture (how authentically, for example, the people here celebrate festivals) though I thought otherwise when I lived in Delhi," he says, making note of another positive aspect of the city — safety. "Bengaluru is a lot safer for women and kids compared to other cities in the country."
Considering that Mitesh gets time off work only during the weekends, they have friends over for lunch and catch up on each other's lives or go out shopping with their daughter, followed by dinner or a movie.
"I have gradually developed a taste for South Indian food and relish the 'dosas' and filter coffee at MTR. I also gorge on the Andhra 'biryani' — it's the best. One can go out any time of day and enjoy it in one of the many eateries across the city. There are some cafes we love visiting too," says Mitesh.
Aditi pitches in, "Since our family doesn't stay here, some weekends are nostalgic and boring; we only have a few friends here." On a long weekend, the three get out of the city and go to some place where Avika can have a good time too — Mysuru, Bandipur, Masinagudi, Wayanad and Shivamogga among them.
![]( "at ease Avika, Aditi and Mitesh at their apartment premises in JP Nagar. DH PHOTO BY KISHOR KUMAR BOLAR")
It is not always easy to find a home and its comfort in a new city. However, Mitesh Arora from Delhi, who moved to Bengaluru three-and-a-half years ago, and wife Aditi Arora, who hails from Lucknow and followed him here a few of months later, have managed to.
The couple has a four-year-old daughter Avika. A job shift brought this family, like many others, to Bengaluru and they love living here.
"Over the years, I have fallen in love with this city. People here are amazing; they are so welcoming and always ready to help. They are also very down to earth. The weather is pretty good (though there has been a drastic change over the past couple of years). Nevertheless, it is better than in other cities. I would not want to move out of Bengaluru, that is for sure,” says Aditi.
Since she has been away from her family for almost a decade (first for education, then for a job), she says there is nothing she particularly misses about Lucknow. Except family, of course.
"Every place here is a family place, so I don’t have to think twice before taking my kid anywhere. I feel completely safe going out with her,” she opines.
Of the two cities (Lucknow and Bengaluru), she says the one that’s her present home is a place of greater ethnic diversity. People from different corners of the country come down here, so you get a taste of every culture. This, she says, helps them become more open to various practices and ideologies.
"Despite being from different states, people celebrate various festivals together, be it 'Deepavali’, 'Eid’, 'Ganesha Chaturthi’ or 'Holi’. And people here are fluent in more than one language, which makes this city unique,” she says. The family love to spend time together and are mostly seen hanging out at their JP Nagar home on holidays, indulging in different activities. Sometimes, they go out for a wholesome meal to places like 'Punjabi by
Nature’, 'Big Brewsky’ or 'Truffles’.
Being a foodie, Mitesh misses the food from back home the most. The 'aloo ke parathe’ for breakfast and 'butter chicken’ for dinner is overwhelming, he says.
So how is Bengaluru treating him? "Initially, when I moved in, it was a culture shock, but then my friends suggested that I give myself some time to settle down. Now I feel Bengaluru is one of the best places to live in. It is a cosmopolitan city, but retains its old flavour and culture (how authentically, for example, the people here celebrate festivals) though I thought otherwise when I lived in Delhi,” he says, making note of another positive aspect of the city — safety. "Bengaluru is a lot safer for women and kids compared to other cities in the country.”
Considering that Mitesh gets time off work only during the weekends, they have friends over for lunch and catch up on each other’s lives or go out shopping with their daughter, followed by dinner or a movie.
"I have gradually developed a taste for South Indian food and relish the 'dosas’ and filter coffee at MTR. I also gorge on the Andhra 'biryani’ — it’s the best. One can go out any time of day and enjoy it in one of the many eateries across the city. There are some cafes we love visiting too,” says Mitesh.
Aditi pitches in, "Since our family doesn’t stay here, some weekends are nostalgic and boring; we only have a few friends here.” On a long weekend, the three get out of the city and go to some place where Avika can have a good time too — Mysuru, Bandipur, Masinagudi, Wayanad and Shivamogga among them.
The couple has a four-year-old daughter Avika. A job shift brought this family, like many others, to Bengaluru and they love living here.
"Over the years, I have fallen in love with this city. People here are amazing; they are so welcoming and always ready to help. They are also very down to earth. The weather is pretty good (though there has been a drastic change over the past couple of years). Nevertheless, it is better than in other cities. I would not want to move out of Bengaluru, that is for sure," says Aditi.
Since she has been away from her family for almost a decade (first for education, then for a job), she says there is nothing she particularly misses about Lucknow. Except family, of course.
"Every place here is a family place, so I don't have to think twice before taking my kid anywhere. I feel completely safe going out with her," she opines.
Of the two cities (Lucknow and Bengaluru), she says the one that's her present home is a place of greater ethnic diversity. People from different corners of the country come down here, so you get a taste of every culture. This, she says, helps them become more open to various practices and ideologies.
"Despite being from different states, people celebrate various festivals together, be it 'Deepavali', 'Eid', 'Ganesha Chaturthi' or 'Holi'. And people here are fluent in more than one language, which makes this city unique," she says. The family love to spend time together and are mostly seen hanging out at their JP Nagar home on holidays, indulging in different activities. Sometimes, they go out for a wholesome meal to places like 'Punjabi by
Nature', 'Big Brewsky' or 'Truffles'.
Being a foodie, Mitesh misses the food from back home the most. The 'aloo ke parathe' for breakfast and 'butter chicken' for dinner is overwhelming, he says.
So how is Bengaluru treating him? "Initially, when I moved in, it was a culture shock, but then my friends suggested that I give myself some time to settle down. Now I feel Bengaluru is one of the best places to live in. It is a cosmopolitan city, but retains its old flavour and culture (how authentically, for example, the people here celebrate festivals) though I thought otherwise when I lived in Delhi," he says, making note of another positive aspect of the city — safety. "Bengaluru is a lot safer for women and kids compared to other cities in the country."
Considering that Mitesh gets time off work only during the weekends, they have friends over for lunch and catch up on each other's lives or go out shopping with their daughter, followed by dinner or a movie.
"I have gradually developed a taste for South Indian food and relish the 'dosas' and filter coffee at MTR. I also gorge on the Andhra 'biryani' — it's the best. One can go out any time of day and enjoy it in one of the many eateries across the city. There are some cafes we love visiting too," says Mitesh.
Aditi pitches in, "Since our family doesn't stay here, some weekends are nostalgic and boring; we only have a few friends here." On a long weekend, the three get out of the city and go to some place where Avika can have a good time too — Mysuru, Bandipur, Masinagudi, Wayanad and Shivamogga among them.
It is not always easy to find a home and its comfort in a new city. However, Mitesh Arora from Delhi, who moved to Bengaluru three-and-a-half years ago, and wife Aditi Arora, who hails from Lucknow and followed him here a few of months later, have managed to.The couple has a four-year-old daughter Avika. A job shift brought this family, like many others, to Bengaluru and they love living here.
"Over the years, I have fallen in love with this city. People here are amazing; they are so welcoming and always ready to help. They are also very down to earth. The weather is pretty good (though there has been a drastic change over the past couple of years). Nevertheless, it is better than in other cities. I would not want to move out of Bengaluru, that is for sure,” says Aditi.
Since she has been away from her family for almost a decade (first for education, then for a job), she says there is nothing she particularly misses about Lucknow. Except family, of course.
"Every place here is a family place, so I don’t have to think twice before taking my kid anywhere. I feel completely safe going out with her,” she opines.
Of the two cities (Lucknow and Bengaluru), she says the one that’s her present home is a place of greater ethnic diversity. People from different corners of the country come down here, so you get a taste of every culture. This, she says, helps them become more open to various practices and ideologies.
"Despite being from different states, people celebrate various festivals together, be it 'Deepavali’, 'Eid’, 'Ganesha Chaturthi’ or 'Holi’. And people here are fluent in more than one language, which makes this city unique,” she says. The family love to spend time together and are mostly seen hanging out at their JP Nagar home on holidays, indulging in different activities. Sometimes, they go out for a wholesome meal to places like 'Punjabi by
Nature’, 'Big Brewsky’ or 'Truffles’.
Being a foodie, Mitesh misses the food from back home the most. The 'aloo ke parathe’ for breakfast and 'butter chicken’ for dinner is overwhelming, he says.
So how is Bengaluru treating him? "Initially, when I moved in, it was a culture shock, but then my friends suggested that I give myself some time to settle down. Now I feel Bengaluru is one of the best places to live in. It is a cosmopolitan city, but retains its old flavour and culture (how authentically, for example, the people here celebrate festivals) though I thought otherwise when I lived in Delhi,” he says, making note of another positive aspect of the city — safety. "Bengaluru is a lot safer for women and kids compared to other cities in the country.”
Considering that Mitesh gets time off work only during the weekends, they have friends over for lunch and catch up on each other’s lives or go out shopping with their daughter, followed by dinner or a movie.
"I have gradually developed a taste for South Indian food and relish the 'dosas’ and filter coffee at MTR. I also gorge on the Andhra 'biryani’ — it’s the best. One can go out any time of day and enjoy it in one of the many eateries across the city. There are some cafes we love visiting too,” says Mitesh.
Aditi pitches in, "Since our family doesn’t stay here, some weekends are nostalgic and boring; we only have a few friends here.” On a long weekend, the three get out of the city and go to some place where Avika can have a good time too — Mysuru, Bandipur, Masinagudi, Wayanad and Shivamogga among them.