Plan around the Bengaluru International Film Festival

The Indian Music Experience in JP Nagar is a music museum with galleries on legendary musicians, the songs of the independence struggle and the history of recorded music. Check its events calendar before you go, since it also hosts talks, workshops and musician sessions. It is closed on Mondays and tickets are sold…

Each January, usually on the first Sunday, Kumara Krupa Road closes to traffic and hundreds of artists sell their work straight from the pavement. Expect everything from small watercolors to traditional Ganjifa and Tanjore paintings, plus live portraits and food stalls. Come early to beat the crowds and wear…

Windmills Craftworks in Whitefield combines a microbrewery, a design library and a dedicated jazz theatre, and its bookshelves double as acoustic insulation for the stage. Jazz is staged a few times a month, so check the programme for the night you want before making the trip. Book a table in advance, since seating…

Mysore silk is a Karnataka specialty produced by the state's Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation, and counterfeit sarees have been sold under its name. The corporation runs its own showrooms in Bengaluru, including branches around Gandhi Bazaar, Malleshwaram and Jayanagar, so start there. Ask about the…

Ranga Shankara is a theatre set up in memory of Kannada actor Shankar Nag and open since 2004, with a play on the programme almost every day. Most shows are in Kannada, but plays in other languages appear too, along with festivals and children's theatre events. Check the schedule on the theatre's website and book…

Many auto drivers in Bengaluru refuse the meter when they spot a visitor and quote a much higher fare. Booking through a ride app such as Namma Yatri, Rapido, Ola or Uber fixes the fare before you get in, so there is nothing to argue about. If you flag one on the street, ask for the meter and walk on to the next auto…

Skandagiri, a forest hill near Chikkaballapur, is a popular sunrise trek from Bengaluru, but there is no walk-in entry at the gates. Entry is by advance booking on the Karnataka forest department's eco-tourism portal, with a daily cap and a forest guide for the group. Book several days ahead for weekends, and carry…

A rechargeable Namma Metro smart card spares you the single-journey token routine and gives a small fare discount. You can top it up from your phone through the Namma Metro app, Paytm or Amazon Pay, which saves queuing at the counter before a busy day. Locals lean on the metro to dodge the road traffic that can…