Travel & stay
Coming from abroad takes a little planning: a visa, a way to get around, some cash, and a place to stay. Here’s what to sort out early. Guests based in Bengaluru can skip most of this.
Visas
Most visitors enter India on an e‑Tourist Visa, applied for online before travel.
- Options
- e‑Tourist Visa in 30‑day, 1‑year and 5‑year forms.
- When
- Apply online at least 4 days before arrival, and up to 120 days ahead.
- Fee
- Pay at least 4 days before travel, or the application isn’t processed.
- Passport
- Valid for at least 6 months, with at least 2 blank pages.
Getting around Bengaluru
Bengaluru has a metro, auto‑rickshaws and app‑based cabs, and the two venues are in different parts of the city.
- Ride‑hailing apps
- Uber and Ola both operate across Bengaluru and work the same way as Uber does in the US. Download either app before you land. Uber in particular is a familiar, reliable default for first‑time visitors.
- Auto‑rickshaws
- Cheap and fun for short hops. Ask the driver to use the meter, or agree on a fare before you get in. Ola and Uber both have an auto‑rickshaw option in‑app if you’d rather skip the haggling.
- Traffic
- Bengaluru traffic can be heavy, especially on weekday mornings and evenings. Build in extra travel time, particularly between The Tamarind Tree and Jayamahal Palace Hotel on Beegara Oota night.
- Car and driver
- For a more relaxed option on the wedding days, a car with a driver for the day can be booked through Uber (Uber Rentals) or a local operator like Savaari, handy if you’re travelling as a group or don’t want to deal with navigation.
Money
The currency is the Indian rupee (₹).
Guidance on cash vs. card, and digital‑payment (UPI) setup for visitors. See also the FAQ.
The city, in pictures
Atmosphere photography would sit here. In this prototype these are labelled placeholders, so no stranger’s photo stands in for Bengaluru.