The green belt of Bangalore

The green belt of Bangalore


Wall carvings at the Jain Temple in Jayanagar.
Express FeaturesFirst Published : 02 Jun 2009 08:08:52 AM ISTLast Updated : 02 Jun 2009 08:16:56 AM IST
BANGALORE: If you want to live amidst lush greenery and in an area which can still be showcased as a shining example of why Bangalore is called the Garden City, then Jayanagar is the place to be.
If you also prefer being close to multiplexes, large shopping malls, showrooms which house the world’s biggest brands and a wide range of eateries, well, it’s Jayanagar again. One of the first residential areas built after the Independence, this is one of the best planned and maintained areas in Bangalore.
Jayanagar constitutes one of the southern-most areas of Bangalore, spread over 10 blocks. The blocks, other than the 3rd and 4th, are mostly residential. The area is abundant in green spaces for people to exercise, practise yoga and go for morning walks, with the famous Lalbagh Botanical Gardens not too far away either.
The 2-km long Nanda Road is lined on both sides by parks and is a great place to go for a leisurely stroll. One of the other wellknown parks is Madhavan Park, which is in the 2nd block.
Opposite Madhavan Park is a large ground which has an iceskating rink, a basketball court and a football field, and is flooded by youngsters in the evenings.
And while you are in the vicinity of Madhavan Park, it is essential to try out the bhajjis served at a stall opposite it — mensinkai (chilli), capsicum, banana and many more served with buns and lots of salad.
Traffic is a big headache in the area, because the roads are not as wide as the other areas in the city.
One more issue is the old and corroded sewage lines and drains.
The area being planned almost 60 years ago, the pipes are just as old. But there plans to upgrade the systems in place.
The TTMC, which was supposed to have been completed by March this year, is still under construction at Jayangar 4th block, and is expected to be done by June.
The shopping complex at Jayanagar 4th block is one more place which is frequented by many, since it is a one-stop destination for almost everything that one may need.
But the place is quite ill-maintained and the civic authorities need to pay more attention, unless they want it to resemble some of the other iconic markets in the city which have gone to waste.
“The corporation people are ignoring the place altogether. The entry is blocked by garbage and since the fire last year, nobody from the corporation has visited this place to ensure better facilities,” said Narasimharaju, who runs a decorations shop in the complex.
When it comes to eateries, you have popular places like Upahara Darshini, Cool Joint, Ganesh Darshan, Kuch Bhi, Kolapuri, Chungs which serve dishes which are as delicious as they are affordable.