With the pace of life picking up in the city and green spaces shrinking by the day, how and where people choose to spend their free time has changed.
From Lalbagh and Cubbon Park being the top picnic spots to the many multiplexes attracting the weekend movie-going crowd, you're spoilt for choice.
Cafes and malls seem to have become youngsters' favourite hangouts — what started as a cool thing-to-do about a decade or decade-and-a-half ago has now become the norm.
"I usually head to a mall or restaurant, though Iprefer the latter," says Adeeba Ahamed, a lecturer. "I like having lunch with my family, so an eatery with a delicious spread is as good a place as any."
Till about five years ago, when she was a student, Adeeba spent more time with her cousins. "Either we would go and visit them or they would come over," she says. Now, she notes that 'hanging out' for most students is rather synonymous to 'nightouts at pubs'.
However, it turns out, some youngsters in the city would rather spend their time elsewhere — at home, by the streetside 'chaat' joints or in parks and other lung spaces.
"As a true blue Bengalurean, I like going to Lalbagh or Lakshmanrao Park in Jayanagar," says model Apurva Rao. "But with the pollution and the garbage problem, I don't feel safe spending too much time outdoors. I head back home far quicker than I used to."
But she doesn't like being cooped up in airconditioned cafes. "When I go to a cafe to catch up with friends, I prefer one with outdoor seating," she adds.
D K Rituraj, who's pursuing her masters in law at National Law School of India University (NLSIU), also doesn't feel as free in closed spaces with airconditioning.
"Since Bengaluru has good weather and we just entered autumn, I like to hang out somewhere with trees around, somewhere I can enjoy the weather and some good music," she says.
During the week, the NLSIU campus offers the hostelite all this. "On weekends, I spend time around MG Road, taking care to avoid the peak hour when it's noisier."
Like Rituraj, Lesly Joseph, a student of journalism at Acharya Institute, spends most of her free time on her college campus.
"As I'm new to Bengaluru, when I do go out, I see where the college crowd is heading and tend to choose such places; they are usually lively and affordable," she adds.
"For special occasions like a friend's birthday, we ride to a 'dhaba' near Hesaraghatta Lake. It's scenic and has a rustic feel to it, so we make a mini trip of it."
Her classmate Naveen Kumar S, a resident of Nandini Layout, prefers to sit in the lawns of the parks near his house. As they remain locked in the afternoons, he and his friends first visit a few 'chaat' joints around 3 pm when they get free and then head to a park.
"They remain open till 8 pm so we have plenty of time afterwards," he explains.
Hotel employees Amod Singh and Narendra Singh would like to go to parks and the MG Road boulevard when time permits, but their evenings are usually busy. "So we spend time with friends in our room, watching a match, or go to a mall," says
Amod.
"We don't really go to malls to shop; we go there because they're among the few spaces in the city where we can wander aimlessly."
Looks like a section of Bengaluru's youth prefers fresh air and spaces to walk around in over cafes with their array of fancy coffees. Could the Garden City be going green once more?
![]( "evergreen Many youngsters in the city still throng parks and other lung spaces to relax.")
With the pace of life picking up in the city and green spaces shrinking by the day, how and where people choose to spend their free time has changed.
From Lalbagh and Cubbon Park being the top picnic spots to the many multiplexes attracting the weekend movie-going crowd, you’re spoilt for choice.
Cafes and malls seem to have become youngsters’ favourite hangouts — what started as a cool thing-to-do about a decade or decade-and-a-half ago has now become the norm.
"I usually head to a mall or restaurant, though I prefer the latter,” says Adeeba Ahamed, a lecturer. "I like having lunch with my family, so an eatery with a delicious spread is as good a place as any.”
Till about five years ago, when she was a student, Adeeba spent more time with her cousins. "Either we would go and visit them or they would come over,” she says. Now, she notes that 'hanging out’ for most students is rather synonymous to 'nightouts at pubs’.
However, it turns out, some youngsters in the city would rather spend their time elsewhere — at home, by the streetside 'chaat’ joints or in parks and other lung spaces.
"As a true blue Bengalurean, I like going to Lalbagh or Lakshmanrao Park in Jayanagar,” says model Apurva Rao. "But with the pollution and the garbage problem, I don’t feel safe spending too much time outdoors. I head back home far quicker than I used to.”
But she doesn’t like being cooped up in airconditioned cafes. "When I go to a cafe to catch up with friends, I prefer one with outdoor seating,” she adds.
D K Rituraj, who’s pursuing her masters in law at National Law School of India University (NLSIU), also doesn’t feel as free in closed spaces with airconditioning.
"Since Bengaluru has good weather and we just entered autumn, I like to hang out somewhere with trees around, somewhere I can enjoy the weather and some good music,” she says.
During the week, the NLSIU campus offers the hostelite all this. "On weekends, I spend time around MG Road, taking care to avoid the peak hour when it’s noisier.”
Like Rituraj, Lesly Joseph, a student of journalism at Acharya Institute, spends most of her free time on her college campus.
"As I’m new to Bengaluru, when I do go out, I see where the college crowd is heading and tend to choose such places; they are usually lively and affordable,” she adds.
"For special occasions like a friend’s birthday, we ride to a 'dhaba’ near Hesaraghatta Lake. It’s scenic and has a rustic feel to it, so we make a mini trip of it.”
Her classmate Naveen Kumar S, a resident of Nandini Layout, prefers to sit in the lawns of the parks near his house. As they remain locked in the afternoons, he and his friends first visit a few 'chaat’ joints around 3 pm when they get free and then head to a park.
"They remain open till 8 pm so we have plenty of time afterwards,” he explains.
Hotel employees Amod Singh and Narendra Singh would like to go to parks and the MG Road boulevard when time permits, but their evenings are usually busy. "So we spend time with friends in our room, watching a match, or go to a mall,” says
Amod.
"We don’t really go to malls to shop; we go there because they’re among the few spaces in the city where we can wander aimlessly.”
Looks like a section of Bengaluru’s youth prefers fresh air and spaces to walk around in over cafes with their array of fancy coffees. Could the Garden City be going green once more?
From Lalbagh and Cubbon Park being the top picnic spots to the many multiplexes attracting the weekend movie-going crowd, you're spoilt for choice.
Cafes and malls seem to have become youngsters' favourite hangouts — what started as a cool thing-to-do about a decade or decade-and-a-half ago has now become the norm.
"I usually head to a mall or restaurant, though Iprefer the latter," says Adeeba Ahamed, a lecturer. "I like having lunch with my family, so an eatery with a delicious spread is as good a place as any."
Till about five years ago, when she was a student, Adeeba spent more time with her cousins. "Either we would go and visit them or they would come over," she says. Now, she notes that 'hanging out' for most students is rather synonymous to 'nightouts at pubs'.
However, it turns out, some youngsters in the city would rather spend their time elsewhere — at home, by the streetside 'chaat' joints or in parks and other lung spaces.
"As a true blue Bengalurean, I like going to Lalbagh or Lakshmanrao Park in Jayanagar," says model Apurva Rao. "But with the pollution and the garbage problem, I don't feel safe spending too much time outdoors. I head back home far quicker than I used to."
But she doesn't like being cooped up in airconditioned cafes. "When I go to a cafe to catch up with friends, I prefer one with outdoor seating," she adds.
D K Rituraj, who's pursuing her masters in law at National Law School of India University (NLSIU), also doesn't feel as free in closed spaces with airconditioning.
"Since Bengaluru has good weather and we just entered autumn, I like to hang out somewhere with trees around, somewhere I can enjoy the weather and some good music," she says.
During the week, the NLSIU campus offers the hostelite all this. "On weekends, I spend time around MG Road, taking care to avoid the peak hour when it's noisier."
Like Rituraj, Lesly Joseph, a student of journalism at Acharya Institute, spends most of her free time on her college campus.
"As I'm new to Bengaluru, when I do go out, I see where the college crowd is heading and tend to choose such places; they are usually lively and affordable," she adds.
"For special occasions like a friend's birthday, we ride to a 'dhaba' near Hesaraghatta Lake. It's scenic and has a rustic feel to it, so we make a mini trip of it."
Her classmate Naveen Kumar S, a resident of Nandini Layout, prefers to sit in the lawns of the parks near his house. As they remain locked in the afternoons, he and his friends first visit a few 'chaat' joints around 3 pm when they get free and then head to a park.
"They remain open till 8 pm so we have plenty of time afterwards," he explains.
Hotel employees Amod Singh and Narendra Singh would like to go to parks and the MG Road boulevard when time permits, but their evenings are usually busy. "So we spend time with friends in our room, watching a match, or go to a mall," says
Amod.
"We don't really go to malls to shop; we go there because they're among the few spaces in the city where we can wander aimlessly."
Looks like a section of Bengaluru's youth prefers fresh air and spaces to walk around in over cafes with their array of fancy coffees. Could the Garden City be going green once more?
With the pace of life picking up in the city and green spaces shrinking by the day, how and where people choose to spend their free time has changed.From Lalbagh and Cubbon Park being the top picnic spots to the many multiplexes attracting the weekend movie-going crowd, you’re spoilt for choice.
Cafes and malls seem to have become youngsters’ favourite hangouts — what started as a cool thing-to-do about a decade or decade-and-a-half ago has now become the norm.
"I usually head to a mall or restaurant, though I prefer the latter,” says Adeeba Ahamed, a lecturer. "I like having lunch with my family, so an eatery with a delicious spread is as good a place as any.”
Till about five years ago, when she was a student, Adeeba spent more time with her cousins. "Either we would go and visit them or they would come over,” she says. Now, she notes that 'hanging out’ for most students is rather synonymous to 'nightouts at pubs’.
However, it turns out, some youngsters in the city would rather spend their time elsewhere — at home, by the streetside 'chaat’ joints or in parks and other lung spaces.
"As a true blue Bengalurean, I like going to Lalbagh or Lakshmanrao Park in Jayanagar,” says model Apurva Rao. "But with the pollution and the garbage problem, I don’t feel safe spending too much time outdoors. I head back home far quicker than I used to.”
But she doesn’t like being cooped up in airconditioned cafes. "When I go to a cafe to catch up with friends, I prefer one with outdoor seating,” she adds.
D K Rituraj, who’s pursuing her masters in law at National Law School of India University (NLSIU), also doesn’t feel as free in closed spaces with airconditioning.
"Since Bengaluru has good weather and we just entered autumn, I like to hang out somewhere with trees around, somewhere I can enjoy the weather and some good music,” she says.
During the week, the NLSIU campus offers the hostelite all this. "On weekends, I spend time around MG Road, taking care to avoid the peak hour when it’s noisier.”
Like Rituraj, Lesly Joseph, a student of journalism at Acharya Institute, spends most of her free time on her college campus.
"As I’m new to Bengaluru, when I do go out, I see where the college crowd is heading and tend to choose such places; they are usually lively and affordable,” she adds.
"For special occasions like a friend’s birthday, we ride to a 'dhaba’ near Hesaraghatta Lake. It’s scenic and has a rustic feel to it, so we make a mini trip of it.”
Her classmate Naveen Kumar S, a resident of Nandini Layout, prefers to sit in the lawns of the parks near his house. As they remain locked in the afternoons, he and his friends first visit a few 'chaat’ joints around 3 pm when they get free and then head to a park.
"They remain open till 8 pm so we have plenty of time afterwards,” he explains.
Hotel employees Amod Singh and Narendra Singh would like to go to parks and the MG Road boulevard when time permits, but their evenings are usually busy. "So we spend time with friends in our room, watching a match, or go to a mall,” says
Amod.
"We don’t really go to malls to shop; we go there because they’re among the few spaces in the city where we can wander aimlessly.”
Looks like a section of Bengaluru’s youth prefers fresh air and spaces to walk around in over cafes with their array of fancy coffees. Could the Garden City be going green once more?