Good morning, Bengaluru ☀️
Here’s a Bengaluru fact that sounds made up: Kempegowda Bus Station at Majestic is built on what used to be Dharmambudhi Tank, once an important drinking-water source for the city. And the name “Majestic” did not come from the neighbourhood itself. It stuck because of a cinema theatre nearby.
So the next time you’re changing buses there, remember: one of Bengaluru’s busiest transport hubs sits where the city once stored water.
☕ Bengaluru Trivia
Bengaluru’s first passenger train left Cantonment station in 1864. Where was it headed?
Answer at the end.
Bengaluru’s Fitness Radar
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Trainers Rithwik Radhakrishnan and Bhoomika Jayanna turned a second-hand Maruti Eeco into Unleash 45, carrying dumbbells, kettlebells, slam balls, battle ropes and resistance bands to apartment communities.
Very Bengaluru: remove the commute from the workout before the commute removes the workout.
See the mobile gym story
Startup Watch
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Bengaluru EV maker Ultraviolette Automotive has raised $85 million in Series E funding led by Yali Capital and TDK Ventures. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan also invested personally and will join as an adviser.
The money is intended for higher production, new products and international expansion. Ultraviolette already operates across 20 European countries, making this a scale-up story rather than another funding headline.
Read the funding story
Worth the Hype?
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This new 60-seat vegetarian restaurant puts produce first, with Indian, South Indian, Pan-Asian and Western influences. Try the Gongura Paneer Koora, Jackfruit BBQ Slider or Kathal Biryani.
Good for: dinner when “vegetarian” should not mean the predictable backup menu.
Know before you go: this is a sit-down meal, not a quick darshini stop.
See the new opening
Worth Leaving Home For
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A 160-year-old former school building on Kamaraj Road has been restored into a cultural space for art, music, theatre and workshops. The heritage structure itself makes arriving early worthwhile.
It is easy to do solo because there is something to explore even before an event begins. Sabha is open daily and its programme changes regularly. There is no parking, so Metro or a cab is the easier move.
See what’s on at Sabha
Events This Week
Sandalwood + Bollywood Live Jamming: 24 Sep | 6 PM | The Ragam Cafe.
Easy, lively Thursday plan with Kannada and Hindi requests.India after Bhagat Singh: 24 Sep | 7 PM | Bangalore International Centre.
A one-person theatrical performance blending history, politics, and contemporary reflection.Directors’ Cut: 25 Sep | 6:30 PM | Bangalore International Centre.
A thoughtful look at 20 years of BIC and how Bengaluru has changed around it.90s vs 2Ks – Bengaluru’s Telugu Jamming: 26 Sep | 6 PM | Prabhath Kala Sambhrama.
Telugu hits, sing-alongs and open jamming across two nostalgia-heavy decades.
The Big Bengaluru Update
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Traffic police have expanded heavy-vehicle restrictions on the Varthur–Gunjur stretch of SH-35 after worsening congestion hit school commutes. Trucks are now barred 7–11 AM, 1–3 PM and 4–9 PM; earlier, only the morning restriction applied.
The change follows complaints about children spending unusually long periods in school buses. Police say it will stay until traffic improves substantially. Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has also reviewed road works and pushed for pothole repairs.
Residents may get some breathing room around school timings, but the corridor’s larger capacity problem remains. If this is your route, check live traffic before leaving.
Read the latest update
New to Bengaluru?
Four Kannada sentences worth knowing
“Illinda Metro station-ge hege hogbeku?” - How do I get to the Metro station from here?
“Swalpa kadime maadi kodthira?” - Could you reduce the price a little?
“Nanage Kannada poorthi gothilla, swalpa nidhaana maathadi.” - I don’t know Kannada fully, so please speak a little slowly.
“Naanu illige hosabaru, ee area bagge swalpa heli.” - I’m new here, tell me a little about this area.
Your Turn, Bengaluru
₹500 Weekend Challenge 💸
You have ₹500 and one free evening. What are you choosing: food, music, fitness or culture?
See you in the next kaapi. Same city, slightly better plans.
Trivia answer: Jolarpettai, in present-day Tamil Nadu. The original rail link ran about 149 km.