Skin feeling dry? Want to cleanse and rejuvenate?

Or just feel like switching off your mobile phone and all the cares and get pampered a little?

Check out the ayurvedic massage in a semi rural setting at Radiant Retreat on Bannerghatta Road, about 6 km after the Indain institute of Management campus, opposite the country club. It is tough to miss it as there are signboards for the retreat all the way leading you to the spot. As you drive in you begin to relax already with the lush green all around and the picturesque cottages meant for those wishing to stay for an extended retreat.

If all you want is just a relaxed massage and a bath, you can fix the time and get yourself pampered to a traditional Kerala style massage by expert hands that pamper your skin and relax your muscles. A resident doctor can be consulted for specific problems and the appropriate treatment.

Radiant retreat also offers packages for corporates and individuals – a lumpsum payment for a certain number of treatments over the year. Single massage for 45 minutes including steaming inside a quaint steam chamber and a nice relaxed bath with herbal powder for cleansing costs Rs.500. Worth checking out. I loved the experience.

Phone Numbers:28429822, 25365999.

There is also a small canteen that serves you light healthy food of a limited variety. And some birds like pheasants, ducks and geese to brighten up the place.

Here are some photos:

Reason? There was a display of film posters of films from differnet regions to mark 75 years of Sound in indian Cinema. This was part of a week-long celebration to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Indian Talkies under the title ’75 years of sound’, in the city from December eight. There were audio visual presentations too at different venues.
This was quite an interesting display and some posters brought old memories while others brought a smile.
here are some more:

And for those interested the stone has information on DNA and Biotechnology too:
View image

MTR is the popular short name of Mavalli Tiffin rooms established in 1924 in bangalore by Mr. Yajnanarayana Maiyya.When he toured Europe for the first time, he was impressed by the clean restaurants there and hygiene has been a major selling point of MTR for the past half century ever since. It remains in the same place till today where it is almost easy to miss the innocuous building which reflects none of the international fame it has achieved today. Just as the address has remained the same, the quality of food has remained the same and the owners refuse to compromise on quality for larger reach. In 1976 they started packaging the Rava idly mix thereby becoming pioneers of packaged food. In fact the Rava idly was invented by the cooks of MTR when they were faced with rice shortage during World war 2.
Their foray into packaged food and instant powders that started in 1976 with the instant Rava idly mix and has slowly expanded today to 11 food product ranges: spices, instant mixes, ready-to-eat foods, ready-to-cook gravies, frozen foods, papads, pickles, chips, pastas, snacks and ice creams.

Some of MTR Foods’ ready-to-eat food is flown out to the soldiers who guard the Indian frontiers in the freezing climes of the Himalayas. MTR now boasts of having created the world’s first ever frozen dosa, which can be heated and eaten straightaway. Packets of instant sambar, rasam and rava idly, chutney powder and pickles have made these items available in the kitchens on every region of India. Now Mrs. Misra does not have to ask her neighbour Mrs.Rao to make sambar or rasam for her but can make them herself thanks to MTR. Packets of condiments , instant mixes and ready to eat recipes are on the mandatory list of shopping for most Indians visiting India before returning to their place of posting overseas.
It is surely a gift to Indians around the world which has made it possible for even the most culinary challenged among Indians to have delicious Indian food right in their own kitchen.
Visit their website for more information.

Gift # 2
Bangalore Silk has been a preferred choice of women, ideal for winter wear and easily affordable and more appropraite for social events than the heavier varieties of silk from Benares or Kancheepuram which are worn for weddings. It is also ideal for being converted into shirts and scarves and stoles because of its relative lightness and maintainability.

Although it is called Bangalore Silk, the production of silk is spread over the 4 districts ofChannapatna, Ramanagaram, Magadi, and Kanakapura taluks of Bangalore Rural district andas of 2005 figures, Karnataka produces 9,000 tonnes out of the country’s total pro duction of 14,000 tonnes of mulberry silk.

Silk production in the state dates back to the 18th century. As a legacy of this activity, there is an area in South Bangalore called Tata Silk Farm where J.R.D. Tata established a silk farm in 1897.

The State government has actively promoted sericulture as a high employment, agro-based, income-generating industry. The industry covers units engaged in growing mulberry plants, rearing silkworms, producing cocoons, and reeling silk yarn. There are close to 8 lakh families engaed in sericulture in the state.

The World Bank has actively promoted the silk industry over the last decade and a half. From 1980 to 1989, the Bank loaned $54 million to support the sericulture industry in Karnataka. In 1989, the Bank gave two more loans totalling $177 million for the National Sericulture Project in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. In 1994 and 1995, the World Bank loaned another $3 million to modernise the silk indu stry and helped back a $157 million project to upgrade the production facilities and quality of silk.

Apart from the lighter variety, the state is also known for its heavier and more ornate ‘Mysore Silk’ saris with pure gold zaris which are a part of kannada culture and some of these are passed on as heirlooms.

Coincidentally this document published today gives a detailed account of the industry in the state.

Next time you are in Bangalore, make sure you pick up a Bangalore Silk sari, shirt or even a scarf to put a smile on a loved one’s face or just to pamper yourself.

(With additional inputs and photographs by Anita)

Lunch and dinner served in the shade of a huge mango tree in the garden of an old style bungalow on a mild, wintry Sunday afternoon. No loud music or huge crowds or long waits for a place. The only noise you can hear is the sound of chattering squirrels on the trees with a bird periodically trying to get in a word edgewise.

The lovely courtyard where you can relax with your meal under the trees

The meal consisting of soup, salad, main course (choice of vegetarian and non vegetarian available on the daily menu) and dessert is priced at Rs.350 plus taxes.

Sounds tempting?

Check out Villa Potipatti, a 20th century bungalow type house and garden converted into a hotel by the Neemrana Hotels and Resorts. The quiet and charming villa is situated in the heart of Malleswaram right opposite the Bangalore Education Society on 8th Cross.

The impressive facade to Villa Potipatti

The place was definitely worth exploring (the name itself being mysterious and unusual) and so, along with three other equally adventurous women, Villa Potipatti was decided as the venue for our culinary and heritage outing on Sunday afternoon!

It took us a while to navigate through Malleswaram’s one-ways and find our way to this heritage property but it was well worth all the twists and turns! Not surprisingly, we let out a victorious whoop of joy when we finally saw the bungalow.

The rooms in main house are available for stay also. With its red oxide flooring, chunky wooden doors and stairs, quaint windows, large garden all around, the house takes you back in time to the early 20th century. The bathrooms are all done in white, which contrasts beautifully with the black cuddapah flooring. The place is filled with antique rosewood furniture, kalamkari carpets and framed old photographs and paintings. Room rentals are in the range of Rs. 2000 – 4000 plus taxes. Breakfast is on the house.

The multi-coloured salad had quite an interesting taste!

As for the quality of food, we were very happy with the soup, salad and the dessert (home-made ice-cream with nuts) while the main course did not make too much of an impression. The non-veg selection was rice with prawn and chicken, while the vegetarian was zucchini. But the menu keeps changing (you need to decide on that too before you arrive), so you might get lucky! The chef, we are told, is from Pondicherry. Also, only beer and non alcoholic beverages are served.

A garage like structure outside the main house has been converted into a sunny dining room

We easily spent a couple of relaxed hours chatting and enjoying the beautiful atmosphere of the place. A wonderful location for a meal with family or close friends where you can have a relaxed conversation in a serene ambience. A vist to Villa Potipatti is not an outing – it’s a special experience. Save it for a special occasion!

Address:
142, 8th Cross, 4th Main Road, Malleswaram
Bangalore 560 003, Karnataka
Phone: 080-23360777, 51280832, 51280833, 51280834
Fax: 080-51280835

* A few things to remember: You need to book in advance since they only cook for the number of people coming. It’s not a regular restaurant with a stream of visitors. You might also need to request for your seating preference (inside, outside etc. if the preference is available). Take the directions carefully, as the area has many one-ways and one wrong turn can land you in… Timbuktoo! Or well, close :)

A few more photographs:

The lawns in front of the villa

Another view of the courtyard

Inside the villa, you are transported back in time!

Indeed there is a God for small broken things. He sent them Saleem.”
You can read the rest of her post on Saleem here.

Anita and I visited the Wildlife Rescue and rehabilitation centre on Jan 1 this year and Anita’s post and photos on the same are here.

I also came across another interesting post by Deepa Mohan here on the changing face of bangalore. Deepa remembers the small sleepy cantonment town she knew many years ago and contrats it with the faceless megapolis of today. Reflects the nostalgia felt by anyone who has known Bangalore in the 70s and 80s.And that is the price every city pays for growth.There is a lot the city has gained from this growth. But surely there are ways to preserve some nice things from the past, or is there?

The Alliance francaise de Bangalore and The Embassy of France in India are hosting the show and the entry fees?
Hold your breath!
FREE!!

See more details here

And check out this site for more details on the performing troupe.
Have a great time and think of me when are you are enjoying!

A few weeks ago I went to the Big Bazaar on Hosur Road. After picking up the stuff I wanted I was dismayed at the long lines of shoppers with overflowing shopping carts at the billing. After waiting for 20 minutes in a line which did not seem to be moving I tried moving to another line and stood for another 10 minutes. It was then I relaised that the lines were not moving because the billing computers had hung and they were restarting them. No one knew how much longer it was going to take. The customer in front of me told me “This happens all the time here” The billing assistants were quite happy to have the break and were hardly concerned about the systems hanging. So I put back my shopping and walked out empty handed after 45 minutes of wasted time.

On my way home I saw that the shopper’s stop on Bannerghatta Road had “upto 40% sale”. So decided to try my luck for cushion covers and towels which I could not buy earlier at the Big bazaar. They had what I wanted and there was a discount tag on almost everything I picked up. The billing was quick and when i asked about the discounts the smart assistant told me that the computer would recognise the items on sale from the code and automatically apply it the billing price. When I reached home, i wanted to check the amount I had saved through these discounts and on verifying the bill was shocked to find that none of the prices had been discounted. Another trip back to the shop and after a few hot exchages with the customer service finally got the refund for the discount amount.

In case you think I had enough shopping problems for a day ,no, that was not all. I stopped at the Fabmall on Bannerghatta Road and picked up some gbrocery and toileries. This time I was smart enough to verify the bill at the shop only to realise that the 100gm butter I had bought had been billed twice and Phenyl had been billed at Rs200 (in stead of 48!)

Well Moral of the story: Whwerever you shop, please check your bills. You never know when you are being over charged. Machines are there but it is finally humans who feed the information and nobody cares! As for Big Bazaar, I really don’t knbow how they manage to stay in business with such systems in place.
Or is it only me and my bad luck that follows me to every shop I enter?