Wouldn’t it be great to sit down with a local to get the inside scoop on the destination you plan to visit? One of the things I love about being a travel blogger is that it puts me in touch with other travel bloggers around the world and sometimes I get to meet them in person. Soumya Nambiar is a travel blogger based in Bangalore, and I had the good fortune to meet with her on my recent business tag-along trip to that city with Steve. I used the opportunity to get her insights on India’s “Silicon Valley.”

About Travel, Books, And Food

Soumya was born in India, but she moved with her family to Tanzania, Africa as an infant. After schooling, Soumya and her twin sister, Ramya returned to India so that both of them could pursue their education there. Both obtained engineering degrees and they settled in Bangalore (aside: one million engineers call Bangalore home). She took a detour on her career path, however, and transitioned into working in her family’s business. Along the way, she has also pursued her passion for travel.

Even though others around her may have thought she was foolhardy, she embarked on a six-week European tour solo. Such a trip is out of the ordinary for a young woman in India, and it took a bit of convincing to get her parents on side. Travel bugs themselves, they eventually supported her plans.

Soumya’s blog is an honest reflection of the solo female travel experience from an Indian perspective. It’s a great resource for those who need to apply for travel visas and who are vegetarians looking for exceptional places to eat abroad. She’s covered destinations from San Francisco to Sydney and Dubai. When we sat down together, she was off to Israel a few days later. This gal gets around!

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Ask A Bangalorean

Soumya and I gabbed for more than an hour. After we parted, I was kicking myself because I forgot to get a photo of us together! What kind of travel blogger am I? Good grief.

Nevertheless, what I came away with was Soumya’s take on life in Bangalore.  I asked her a series of rapid-fire questions to get her insider opinions and recommendations.

Deb: What are the top three must-see attractions in Bangalore?

Soumya: Nandi Hills just outside of Bangalore is great for trekking and beautiful sunsets. Cubbon Park offers cool morning air and picturesque grounds, and Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, where you can see a tremendous variety of trees, plants, and gardens.

Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens

Deb: What’s the best place for inexpensive, good food?

Soumya: VV Puram, which is a stretch of street food vendors with something for every taste.

Deb: Best place for fine dining?

Soumya: The Taj West End. They offer an incredible five-course set meal.

Deb: Best place to shop

Soumya: Commercial Street. It’s the closest thing we have to Times Square with a mass of stores and small shops. It’s a bit of a chaotic mess, but the shopping is great.

Commercial Street District

Deb: Best advice for bargaining in the markets

Soumya: I’m a terrible haggler, so I’m not the best person to ask. I know a good rule is to start at 50% of what they’re asking and go from there.

Deb: Describe Bangalore in 140 characters

Soumya: Bangalore is chaotic, nerve-wracking, but it is still home, and I fell in love with the eccentricities of this city a long time ago.

Deb: What is one thing you should never say to someone from Bangalore?

Soumya: I don’t speak Kannada fluently, which is the local language. Native Bangaloreans strongly feel that if you’re coming to work in Bangalore (which many do), you should learn to speak Kannada.

Deb: What is one stereotype about India that you wish would just die?

Soumya: That there are camels everywhere and that we ride them to work. Seriously, some people really believe that.

Deb: Bangalore or Bengaluru?

Soumya: Bangalore. Even though the government officially changed the city’s name to the original Kannada name Bengaluru a few years ago, it’s going to take time for the transition. Everyone still calls it Bangalore.

Deb: Best souvenir to take home if you’re a tourist?

Soumya: Sandalwood products and artifacts are very popular here. I would also recommend buying spices.

Gandhi Market

Deb: Thing you like most about Bangalore?

Soumya: People are very nice, and the weather is more temperate than other parts of India.

Deb: Thing you dislike most?

Soumya: the traffic! From here (we met at a restaurant at UB City) to my house is 6 kilometres. It could take me a half hour if the traffic is good. On a bad day, it will take me more than an hour.

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