From the beginning we were clear that we were not going to pay, what can only be described as an outdated and unnecessary travesty.
We moved here in July. Fortunately for us my wife’s parents live here so there wasn’t a real sense of panic about our search, ofcourse we did want to find our own place as soon as we could.
As the search began it became quite clear that the practice didn’t just influence more ‘traditional’, ‘old school’ and ‘uneducated’ landlords, as seems to be the misnomer amongst a lot of outsiders, it affected everybody across every imaginable background. The 10 month deposit seemed to be a convenient bandwagon for every kind of landlord from every possible background to jump on. I guess the lure of a sizeable chunk of money makes drooling idiots of us all.

We met potential landlords from every background, all demographics, every religion, creed, what-have-you and the response did not change; well neither did our resolve (given the luxury of the in-laws house, which made things a little easier). We heard all forms of justifications, reasons, litanies as to why we should part with such amounts of money as our well thought out arguments fell upon deaf ears. I will discuss these reasons in the sections below, but before I do I have to mention that we did eventually find a beautiful house, in the locality we wanted and we didn’t pay a 10 month deposit. Yes, it took us two months to find the place and negotiate like crazy but we persevered to ensure that tomorrow our landlord does not hold our lives ransom whenever it is that we decide to vacate the place.

I will now list out a step-by-step guide of what we learnt from our experience and what you should keep in mind when renting a house in Bangalore and are looking to pay no more than 2 month’s deposit.

The Search

• When searching for a house be as diverse in your search as possible. Word of mouth and paper classifieds are good starting points but online is where the major volume of ads are palced. That being said, remember that beyond the big real estate websites also look at the smaller more multi-purpose ones like commonfloor, craigslist, sulekha, olx etc,.
• Search for owner listed properties, it is always best to talk to the owner directly as opposed to through a broker, as brokers are generally unwilling to affect the norm in any way. And it’s always best to make your own case to someone who has the power to make a decision instead of convincing a broker first and then having to do it all over again with the owner. This ofcourse comes with an exception discussed later in this article.
• Word-of-mouth contacts can often be best kind of contacts in respect of negotiating a deal because they can’t use any of the usual excuses as to why they want a huge deposit as they are ‘known’ to you.
• Post your own classified ad on as many sites as possible. And specify clearly that you should only be contacted by landlords who do not require anything above two months’ deposit. This way, when they call you even if they are looking to negotiate, you will have the higher ground.

The negotiation

• As stated before, always look to negotiate with the owner.
• The process of negotiation will always have its own dynamics. The owners will have their own reasons, both reasonable and unreasonable, we have heard everything from ‘I need this money to pay off my loan’ to ‘My house costs x-lakhs, I need to secure it cause you sound like a shifty cheat (as if to say I could run away with it)’ but usually after a little fencing most Landlords will come down to this bottom line ‘This is how things are done in Bangalore and that’s why you should pay me’. As unlikely as it seems it is at this stage that you will usually be able to talk some sense into the landlord. Not often but on occasion you will have a reasonable guy who will see sense, or the lack thereof, in this practice when faced with a simple ‘other than the practice is there any other reason for you to demand this deposit?’.
  One piece of advice for this negotiation is anticipate all their questions and be prepared with responses e.g., for ‘I have to pay off my Loan” your response is the obvious “So, what happens when you have to pay me back?”. Similarly, all their arguments will have obvious holes so where you find a landlord willing to reason, be prepared. A gem I found in response to the ‘It’s always been this way in Bangalore’ response was, that the reason it was ‘this way’ in Bangalore was because the Karnataka Tenancy Act was an overtly tenant friendly law when it was originally brought into force, this was the reason that landlords decided to secure their properties with a 10 month deposit. However, since the 2002 amendment to this Act the law has actually been made far more balanced and both landlords and tenants have a much more equal relationship, thereby doing away with landlords to feel insecure and demanding 10 months deposit as security. At this point of time you will hear the sound of glass breaking, your future landlord has just dropped the glass of juice he was sipping.
• Now we come to the exception of the self-negotiation. Where you don’t want negotiate yourself, for whatever reason, find a good broker, not someone who has advertised a house that you’re responding to but someone you have found independently. Assign your broker the task of finding you a place with the stipulation of paying only two months’ deposit. Incentivise, if necessary by offering the broker a higher commission than he would normally make on this kind of a rental.
• When negotiating on the deposit never fall into the trap of higher rent against lower deposit, a lock-in penalty for any lease termination, unreasonable termination notices etc. Remember your rent and your deposit are two different things, as are your lease terms, you should link one with the other and set-off any consolations made for one against the other.
• Ridicule and outrage are also two other good tools that were suggested to me when I was myself negotiating for the deposit. Laugh when the landlord suggests a 10 month deposit or react with complete outrage. Remember even if you don’t get the house, you have sent a message across that things are changing and that there are people out there who find the idea ludicrous. If a landlord hears this a few times from his market, maybe he will understand that it is he who needs to change.
• Always quote examples of how everywhere else in the world people live in apartments with one month rent as security deposit. If your landlord is a little worldly and has lived in rented accommodation himself, he is likely to see some sense in this argument and relent.
• Another strategy is to give your landlord the impression that you have never had to pay more than a 2 month deposit, even in Bangalore. Peer pressure can work wonders.
• Typically, your chances of being able to negotiate with a landlord who has just bought a house or an apartment will always be better than with someone who has a place just ‘lying around’. The former will always have a greater need to rent out the property to start earning returns and paying back in loan. Ofcourse this can backfire, with the “Give me the deposit cause I have to pay back my loan” class of people. That notwithstanding it will still get you better results than people who do not have such pressures. So look for rental ads for newer apartments and negotiate hard with such people.

Red Flags

• Usually avoid landlords that have dietary, religion or such restrictions. These people are generally closed minded and speaking with them is generally a waste of time and a test of patience.
• Landlords who live in other cities and in rented accommodations themselves will sometimes acknowledge how they pay only a month’s deposit but since this is Bangalore and custom is custom, expect you to cough up a lung-and-a-half. Once something to this effect is said, understand that you are dealing with a troll devoid of logic. This guy is not interested in your argument, no matter how nuanced, fate has dealt him a lucky card and he is going to milk it.
• I repeat – DO NOT set-off rent against a reduction in deposit.

Do’s

• Always talk to owners directly (the exception above notwithstanding).
• Post a wanted ad specifying your precise requirements on as many online and paper classified forums as you can.
• Make a list, with numbers, of landlords who refuse to relent on the deposit front and post it on this website.
• Once you have found a place remember to have clear terms in your lease regarding circumstances under which money may be deducted from your deposit and a notification/consent provision that requires your landlord to not deduct unilaterally. A 2 month deposit is still your hard earned money!
• When paying rent or deposit always pay by cheque so that the transaction is recorded. This will help if your landlord has decided to be overwhelmed by the need to be dishonest and refuses to refund your deposit.
• Always stamp your lease adequately. Remember an un-stamped lease cannot be admitted as evidence in court. Ofcourse you can do this at a later stage too, but you will have to suffer through the compounding charges.
• If the lease is longer than 12 months you will need to get it registered.
• Be patient. You will not find a house in a day or maybe even a week but if you persevere you definitely will.

I will conclude with a little story.

There were three monkeys who were part of science experiment. Their names were A, B and C. The scientists placed a bunch of bananas in the monkeys’ cage and a step ladder for the monkeys to be able to reach the bananas. However, every time a monkey tried to climb the ladder to reach the bananas the other two monkeys on the ground would get drenched in cold water. Eventually the monkeys on the ground co-related the two events and started pulling whichever of them tried to climb the steps.

In time monkey A was replaced by monkey D. And to his surprise every time monkey D tried to climb the steps the other two monkeys pulled him down. After a few more months Monkey B was replaced by Monkey E and a further few months later Monkey C was replaced by Monkey F. None of these monkeys had ever been sprayed with cold water yet due to their conditioning every time one of them tried to climb the steps the other two would pull him down. They didn’t know why they were doing this just that they were.

The 10 month’s deposit also has similar characteristics. As with every practice, custom, more it originated to satisfy a need that existed at that time, however that need has since long disappeared but sadly the monkeys continue to pull each other off the steps.

Arriving at Bangalore Airport

Domestic passengers, once de-boarded from the aircraft, will reach the first floor of the airport via aerobridge. You can use the escalator, elevator or stairs to reach the baggage claim area that’s located on the ground floor.

If you are brought by bus from the aircraft to the Terminal Building, you will directly reach the ground floor. You can proceed to the baggage claim area from there by following the “Baggage Claim” and “Exit” signs.

International passengers will directly proceed to the first floor via aerobridge. Please use the escalators to the pathway on the second floor which leads to the immigration check area. Follow signs for “immigration” and “international baggage claim” and “exit”.

Visa formalities can be completed at the immigration check area on the first floor. You may take escalators or stairs and proceed to the baggage claim area on the ground floor.

Customs check of hand baggage is also situated on the first floor, immediately after the immigration counters.

Depending upon the duty items you are carrying, general customs check after the baggage claim is divided into two channels:

Green Channel – No goods to declare for customs.
Red Channel – Goods to declare for customs.

(Note: Officials may request you for a baggage check, even if you are using the Green Channel.)

Inter-flight transfer of Passengers

Domestic arrival and transfer to a domestic or international flight:

Your baggage will be directly sent to the connecting flight. So, you do not need to pick up the baggage at the baggage claim area. Please proceed to the Departure Area on the first floor, complete your security-checks and proceed to your gate for departure.

International arrival and transfer to a domestic flight:

If you are an arriving international passenger, follow the signs for immigration and complete your immigration formalities and customs check for hand baggage on the first floor

Collect your baggage from the baggage claim area; pass by the red or green channel to the Arrival Hall

You may then proceed to the check-in area and follow the standard procedures for starting a domestic departure.

International arrival and transfer to an international flight:

If you are an arriving international passenger taking an international connecting flight, proceed to the transfer facilitation desks in the immigration hall before the immigration counters to change or re-issue the boarding pass, if required.

Follow the signs for security check point and proceed to the International Departure holding area.

Transport to/from Bangalore Airport

• Prepaid or metered taxi from the airport to the city center costs around 800 rupees ($20) one way. There are prepaid taxi counters just before you leave the terminal building. Taxis wait in front of the terminal building in the designated area.
• You may also consider taking the airport shuttle bus service operated by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation. These air conditioned Volvo buses are scheduled to depart every 15 minutes to/from various locations around the city, and cost 100-200 rupees ($2.50-$5.00) one way.
  BMTC contact: 27607989 (call from Mobile phones) / +91 7760991269.

Facilities at Bangalore International Airport

• Wi-fi internet is available for free in the terminal building. Users will need to get a password sent to their mobile phone.
• Porters are available to carry luggage.
• Restaurants and food and beverage counters offer a huge variety of items.
• Multiple money exchange counters and ATMs are available.
• There are number of shops and duty-free outlets in the shopping area inside the terminal building.
• Courier and India Post counters are available.
• There are also airline lounges and a sports bar.
• Separate access lane for passengers with special needs. Airlines also do provide wheelchair assistance.

BIAL Airport Contact:
(91)80 2354-0000 for Bangalore airport.
(91)80 6678-2251/2255 for 24 hour general and flight inquiries.

Live Thai food counter at Crowne Plaza, Electronic City, Bengaluru

Complemented with carved fruits, fresh spices and earthen pottery, the Thai Food Festival will be spread over a scrumptious lunch buffet and an extensive a-la carte dinner menu. The choices will include a variety of authentic Thai dishes ranging from Pad Thai (claimed to be Thailand’s National Dish) all the way through soups, stir fries, curries and sweets.

Authentic Thai dish- Tao Hoo Phaad Medmamoung

Commenting on the launch of the Thai Food Festival, Shaun Langdon, General Manager – Crowne Plaza Bengaluru Electronics City and Regional General Manager for India, IHG said, “As part of our new food and beverage plans and initiatives, we would like to introduce cuisines from around the world leveraging our global reach and give our guests an opportunity to experience international cuisines. The Thai food festival is a new beginning in F&B at Crowne Plaza Bengaluru Electronics City and we look forward to taking dining, to a whole new level in Electronics City”

Chef Jumpa Promnok and Chef Darunee Loaarun, who have been instrumental in ensuring authenticity to the food festival, remarks, “We are very excited to be here and to be able to promote Thai food in India. Through our specialties Gai Phad Medmamoung and Pla sam Ros as well as ingredients such as Galangal, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and straw mushrooms we hope to delight our guests and bring them back to the hotel again.”

Chef Jumpa Promnok and Chef Darunee Loaarun preparing for the Thai Food Fest

The newly launched Crowne Plaza Bengaluru Electronics City is located in Phase 1 of Electronics City. The 195-room upscale business hotel was recently converted from The Ottera Hotel. In addition to being Electronics City’s business solution, the hotel offers some of the finest dining and leisure options in Electronics City.

About the Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts is a dynamic hotel brand currently located in nearly 60 countries around the world. Truly international, Crowne Plaza offers premium accommodation, designed for the discerning business and leisure traveller who appreciates simplified elegance combined with the practicality of the latest features, as well as value for money. At Crowne Plaza, guests can enjoy a 24-hour business service, wireless high speed internet access in the lobby plus fitness and leisure facilities.

If you have any short stay accommodation needs / Room Requirements in South Bangalore, I would take this opportunity to introduce our Service Apartments to you.

LOCATION

Maple Suites Serviced Apartments is located off Bannerghatta Road in South Bangalore & approximately 15mins from the city center. Maple Suites is geographically an ideal option for those seeking a Service Apartment near Dairy Circle as well as for those wanting a Service Apartment near Hosur Road & Electronic city in Bangalore.
Situated in the hub of the South Bangalore business district within the 1km radius are – IBM Bangalore / IIM(Bangalore) / HSBC Bilekahalli / Wockhardt Hospital / Honeywell Bangalore. Electronic city is also in the approximate radius of 12kms.

FACILITIES

Currently we have 2 kinds of apartments at Maple Suites – Premium Suite & Deluxe Suite.

All our apartments offer: Separate living, Dining Area & Bedroom with a Comfortable King sized bed & a Fully functional kitchen.

We also have an in-house restaurant to assist you with your Lunch & Dinner requests.

Premium Suite Dining and Kitchen

• AC in all bedrooms.
• Plasma TV / Cable / WIFI / DVD player / Music System.
• Digital Security Safe / Microwave / Refrigerators

Bedroom

• 24 Hours Reception desk / 24 Hours Attendants / Daily maid service
• 24 Hours Security with CCTV surveillance in the common areas.
• Restaurant / Mini Gym / 12 Persons Conference Room
• Self Service washing machine
• Common Waiting Area (on each floor)
• Lift

TARIFFS

Daily Room Rate starts from Rs.3000 for the Deluxe Apartments, & Rs.4500 for the Premium Suites.
Above rates include Complimentary Breakfast – Indian & Continental, Daily Housekeeping, Daily Newspaper, Water, Basic Toiletries and the like.

We are committed to ensure a flexi stay for you & your guests & are ready to customize services as per your needs !

We look forward to tie up with your esteemed organizations on a long term basis in a mutually beneficial manner.
If you permit the time I would be happy to come across to take things forward.

We, at Maple Suites, look forward to hearing from you & Assuring you of our best services!

If you visited any resorts in Bangalore, you may like to send your experience review and pictures to be published on TalkBangalore.

Best time to visit Bangalore:

You can visit the city any time of the year and enjoy the pleasant climate. However, it is not advisable to to travel in the rainy season which mainly lasts between July and September. Also you would enjoy occassional showers while visiting Bangalore in the winter.

Bangalore Climate Chart

With explosion of IT industry, the bangalore city is growing into a concrete city and thereby inviting climate changes. Moderate to high temperature has been recorded in summer in recent years. The maximum temperature is summer has been 37 degree celcious while the minimum temperature dropped to 20°C. Maximum temperature in winter has been recorded as 27 degree celcious and the minimum as sub 17 degrees.

The monsoons begin in July and carry on till September. Bangalore receives rainfall from both the northeast and the southwest monsoons. August, September and October are the wettest months and hence carrying an umbrella would be a wise. Winter also experiences occasional rainfalls in Bangalore.

Overall, Bangalore city has a pleasant climate. The natural greenery and man-made parks of the city add to the attaction along with the climate.

Live Bangalore Weather Forecast:

Please refer to today’s realtime weather report of Bangalore and weather forecasts displayed on this website.

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Innovative Film City, Bangalore

We were a team of 15 people and travelled in a mini-bus. Travel was quite comfortable.

Cost of this visit to Innovative Film City: The package did cost Rs 900 per head which included Lunch and (so called) Hi-Tea (which was low by any standards). The package contained tickets for 15 attractions which we will review one by one in the following.

Route: Innovative Film City is 2 kilometers farther from Wonderla, while coming from Bangalore, on Bangalore Mysore- SH 17.

Concept: Please note that Innovative is not meant to be considered as an amusement park, its just a themed film city with some concept sets. The Film City is relatively new and many things are still under construction. It would not be fair compared with Wonderla (which is definitely an amusement park)

Parking facility: Good parking facility for two wheelers; but not for higher wheelers. Buses need to be parked on the roads. However, the management is working on a high-quality parking establishment.

Food: Outside food is not allowed in Innovative Film City ( There were 2 level of checks). But food won’t be a problem inside with lots of outlets and vatieries; Mc Donalds, Pizza Corner, Cafe Coffee Day, a food court with more than 20 options, covering all delicacies of India and most other parts of the world. So do not worry in food matters.

Necessities for the day-out:

a) Carry extra pair of synthetic clothes and polythene, if plan to go Aqua Kingdom (artificial beach).
b) Your own water bottle is a must. We only saw one water refilling tank, that too in the big food court. In rest all areas, you have to shell out Rs 30 for 1ltr water bottle. For cost-effectiveness, do carry your water bottle and re-fill it in the food court.
c) The park has poor locker facility, with few lockers only in Aqua kingdom. Luckily, we were first to come to park and were able to catch two lockers. So plan before you travel, on how you want to carry your luggage.

Attractions inside Innovative Film City:

In our package of Rs 900 we had following attractions.

a) Roller Skates: I named it first, since that was probably the best attraction of the park, I liked. It’s Rs 100, unlimited. Its actually skating on wooden floor. Good for learners. This was first skating experience for me and I fell so many hundreds of times, that I went out of count. Anyways, its good and highly recommended for people who want try something new, with fear of injuries. There are good chances of getting butt injuries.

b) Aqua Kingdom (Artificial Beach): Among all the attractions, this stand second in my ranking. Obviously, this is far from the thrill Wonderla’s Beach, but nice because of less population and good DJ music. We enjoyed it for over 2 hrs. There are changing rooms, lockers (limited), eating facility, beach volley ball facility, lots of family seating facility, and rest rooms facility. If I go for second time, may be I will straight head for this, after Rolling skaters.Price: Individual price Rs 100 I guess.

c) Velocity (Go Karting): Rs 100 for 4 rounds. This is quite on par with other Go Karting places in Bangalore. But I feel the track was small and safety is not upto the mark.

d) Roller Coaster: Hmm..my heart beat did not increase by 1 point even. It did increase by decimals; and by that time, the ride was over. So if you are expecting a thrill ride, you will surely be disappointed. Certainly worth a try for people with weak heart.

e) Mini Golf: Its good with varying levels of holes. In total, 18 holes are there.

f) Haunted Mansion: All I can say do not go by name. Not scary if you are not all alone. Moreover I have a problem, I have a strong heart, I know it.

g) Mirror Maze: It’s an attraction where you will be lost in reflections from thousands of mirrors, kept in a dark room and no one to guide how to come out (staff were there to guide, actually). Okay for an experiment.

h) Ripley’s Believe it or not Museum: Good if you have time to explore everything in it. Lot of new things to know. But if seen in details, it can eat up your whole day. All these information can be found on the internet, if searched for Ripley’s journey around the world. Recommended for Quiz lovers, and since I am not one, nor did I had time, its just OKAY for me.

i) Wild Wild West: Its a set, based on concept of a typical Mexican village; To be more specific on COW BOY Concept. There was a game, to try your hand on shooting (Beer bottles in Cow Boy style), but you can try in any Indian Melas. Good place to take few photographs, Quick Gun Murugan or Sholay Style.

j) 4D Show: It’s a 10 minutes 3D animated movie, which gives you a 4D feeling, 3D by picture and 4th by physical effect (water sprays, air and seat movements). Since I had seen much better ones than this, I did not like it. For first timers, it is definitely exciting. Grab first row seats for best experience.

k) Double Decker Carrousel: I donot know why Adults were allowed here. This is a circular horse ride, which we usually see in Kumbh melas of Hindi movies. Pure waste of Money as an adult.

l) Miniature City: PURE WASTE OF MONEY. Bad concept, so is bad realization of concept and so is bad maintainance.

m) Funplex: I felt, in fact, we all felt like being thugged. Half of machines are not working, half are erroneous and the rest(!) work for only a few minutes. No one to guide you. So my recommendation, avoid it. Children may press for it, but again its a waste of money. Well, lots of gaming machines are there, which work only when swiped with a card. Swipe card is obtained after payment and it works according to payments.

n) Madame Louis Tussaud’s Wax Museum: This was my third visit to such a wax museum and as usual I never liked it. But generally people like it and if you too will like it as a first timer. If you start posing with/photographing each celebrities’ statue, its gonna eat up your time.

Apart from the above ones, there are following few more attractions which we didn’t visit or were not part of our package:

1) Bungee Jumping: Its similar to one, that was there in Forum Mall of Koramangala for months.My suggestion avoid it; surely would be costly here.

2) Cricket Zone: Again it’s similar to the one that was there in Forum Mall of Koramangala and in many other malls. Price was Rs 60 for 4 overs. So if you are die hard friend, play it, otherwise avoid it.

3) Fossil Hunt: We did not go inside it, but here one has to dig sand and find out some bones (I am sure, it must be virtual ones). You can do much better and difficult search in any sea beach.

4) Cartoon City: No idea what’s in store.

5) Jurrassic Fossil Museum: Since we had been to two musuems earlier, we avoided this. Moreover, the subject is not of interest. So if you are interested in dinosaurs or want to give your child an insight on these extinct species, then it’s an OKOK place.

There are few more attractions, which I do not have an idea about. One can explore more, by clicking Innovative film city website:

http://www.innovativefilmcity.in/

Miscellaneous Items:

1) Lots of shopping outlets were available; like Bata, Loot Mart etc. But I am sure all must be costly, after buying 1 liter water bottle for Rs. 30.

2) Lots of mela-type games like Balloon Shooting, Bowling etc .

3) Entrance gates must be most photographed part of film city. So be sure you also capture one. Entrance is indeed off cut and inspired from Greek architecture ( I guess..I am no expert in this).

Comparisons with Wonderla:

First, it is wrong to compare the two, because both have way too different concepts. Wonderla is 100% amusement park, where as Innovative Film City is more on Film city and museum with only 1 or 2 items qualifying as a amusement ride. But still people tend to compare, because of proximity to each other and only options of entertainment parks for Bangloreans. Many get confused on which one to choose for corporate team outings. So let us compare:

a) Innovative has been designed only with Intelligence and not with Common sense, but Wonderla has been designed with both Intelligence and Common sense. And that is why I see completeness in Wonderla. In Innovatove film city, I felt very finer points, which directly affects customers, have been ignored. For example, locker facility, drinking water, maintainance, etc.

b) Aqua Kingdom of Wonderla is much better than that of Innovative, and both have similar concept; the reason being big waves generated in Wonderla.

c) Individual pricing of rides in Innovative film city is good and bad in itself. Good, it saves money for people, who really do not use everything. Bad, lot of time will be wasted in decision making whether to go for ride or not and one has to carry big cash or card everytime.

d) Unlimited rides available for all rides in Wonderla. This is a big plus over Innovative as per me.

e) Keeping tickets all the time is really painful in Innovative Film City, adding to the fact its so tiny and so need to be searched everytime.

f) Price wise and value for money, no doubt, Wonderla scores much better than Innovative.

g) Less crowd in Innovative is a plus point over Wonderla. But it can also be considered per the popularity of a place.

Final Verdict for a trip to Innovative Film City:

1) Go, if want fun with family and friends without much tiredness. It is less crowded than Wonderla.

2) Go, if it’s first time visit to a film city. It’s not bad as a starter. But if you have seen Ramoji film city, Hyderabad, you may get disappointed. I was not disappointed, since I had gone with least of expectations. That helps!

3) The place is costly, based on type of attractions and quality of maintainance. It’s not worth the price.

4) Score: 3/10. Again stressing it’s good, if visiting a film city for the first time.

Written By Omprakash

chemnitr @ Bangalore Forum