Before and After

Indiranagar in Bengaluru was once considered the back of beyond. It used to cost triple the auto fare to get from MG road to Defence Colony. It was inhabited by retired Defence personnel, their labradors or alsatians and their teen kids (like me). The most exciting thing you could do at that time was literally walk the dog and play a round of Badminton at the Indiranagar Club. 100 ft road was quiet, with tons of gorgeous trees and colonial style bungalows.

18 years have left their mark on Indiranagar. Most of the old retired folks have sold their properties and moved away. Their kids are all grown up and mostly live abroad. The homes in Def Col are owned by young, new money. Indiranagar club now has badminton courts, tennis courts, a really nice swimming pool, decent booze and ok food.

And 100 ft. road now has Benetton, Park Avenue Clothes, 100ft Boutique Restaurant, Little Italy, Mugen, Mainland China, Streisand Art Gallery, Bandhej for clothes, Cirrus the club, Take 5 a jazz bar, Xtreme Sports Bar, Zeiss opticians, Kyra a dinner theatre, Relaince Kitchens, Cucine Lube a kitchen store, Reliance foot wear, Reliance Eyes, Reliance Wellness, Chandhan Sparsh a Spa and High Note and B Flat another music oriented restaurant.

Personally, when I was 18 and here, I would have KILLED to have these fun outlets, food and clubs all within walking distance from my house. And now, although I miss the quiet and the pretty-ness of the old Indiranagar, I like having entertainment and shopping options at my doorstep. It also beats having to drive everywhere on the weekend. I also like not living in the "boonies" any more. It's cool to have a tony address.

On my wish list are - multi level parking lots. or at any rate an option that takes the parking off the interior streets; a traffic free day on weekends; pavements that you can walk on and not have to trail run or hike over; a little less traffic on weekends - I get the constraints, but some days it's utter chaos.

Oh well, till the time my wishes come true, at least there are a ton of bars to drown sorrows in, retail therapy to indulge in, and spas to take away the evil effects of pollution.