The International Writers Magazine: India Travel

A Moonlit Haven in Bangalore, India • Marianne de Nazareth Bangalore is considered the silicon valley of the East. From a slow paced pensioner’s paradise of the ‘70’s, the city has evolved into a burgeoning metropolis with a very cosmopolitan flavour. Professionals from across the globe have come to make Bangalore their home and have taken on jobs in the hundreds of MNc’s that dot the city. Along with fast paced growth, come fast paced prices.

Getting a room for a night in Bangalore for out of towners, can be ridiculously expensive, and the heart of the city, especially the erswhile cantonment area, commands higher prices.

Just off the main arterial road called Richmond Road in the city, we stumbled upon a quaint and very comfortable homestay called Moonlit Haven. Slap bang on the road and yet away from the hurly burly of traffic , the homestay is an oasis of calm. We spent a couple of nights which were very wallet friendly at Rs 2000 for a couple, and the feel of the stay, is literally a home away from home. There is space for four adults and a child with an additional charge per adult, if more than two occupy the cottage. Look out of the window while you make your morning cup of coffee in the kitchenette and you are greeted with brightly flowering Bird of Paradise and Firangipani flowering plants. You might get lucky and get a perky Red Whiskered Bulbul, cock its beady eye at you, sing a couple of liquidy notes, before it flicks its little crest and flies away. With top-of-the–line-linen, hot water round the clock and free wifi, what more could one ask for?  Check the homestay out on its FB page-  http://www.facebook.com/Moonlit.Haven
Just across the road is the old and gracious Sacred Heart Church. If you are able to scamper across the road, through the crazy snarl of traffic, take your camera along to get some awesome pictures of the building, which dates to the British Raj period.

Built out of Bangalore granite, the structure retains much of its old world charm of a bygone era, which is rare to find in the Bangalore of today.  Merwyn, the young owner of the homestay, points his guests to the Psybabas store, on the opposite side of the street, where Leather bags, apparel and clothing accessories can be picked up at a special discount for Moonlit Haven guests -  http://www.facebook.com/psybabas Empire is a chain of food outlets in Bangalore, famous for their finger licking Biriyanis and kebabs. Situated a few doors away from Moonlit Haven, you do not have to look far for clean and reasonably priced lunches and dinners. In fact the whole of Castle Street is a string of restaurants and pubs catering to every kind of taste. Walk a little further and you will find yourself in the heart of Bangalore’s cantonment shopping district, with stores and malls to cater to every whim and fancy.

Bangalore today boasts of what the youth call the Mall culture, so within walking distance of Moonlit Haven is the extremely popular Garuda Mall and Bangalore Central. Two of Bangalore’s very first malls which house all the big international brands, you would like to shop for. Wander around in air conditioned comfort and then let the elevator take you up to the food court, where every type of cuisine you would like to indulge in is on offer. That is what has made malls so popular, there is everything for every age group all under one roof. Infact if you want to relax and take the weight off your feet, buy yourselves a couple of movie tickets of the reigning block buster of the day and spend a few hours watching top Bollywood or Hollywood stars entertain, you wile you gorge on buttered popcorn and a chilled drink.

Take that promised romantic holiday in Bangalore soon, with Moonlit Haven offering comfort at a price you can afford. But book in advance, as word is getting round and during the vacations bookings are fast filling up.
© Marianne de Nazareth May 2012
mde.nazareth(at)gmail.com
Casa Pilerne in Goa, India
Marianne de Nazareth
It's a great feeling, for never in all our years of driving down to Goa, in South India, from Bangalore, have we ever arrived, in time, to eat lunch in Panjim, on the same day that we left

Contact Merwyn on email for bookings @: catchmerv@gmail.com     

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