Commercial Street

Commercial Street is one of the major commercial and shopping places in town, located in the heart of the city of Bengaluru. Famed for frenzied activity, rich historical value, and a diversified range of products to attract customers from all walks of life, the cheapest to the costliest, this commercial street is remembered as the worthiest spend of pennies for all shoppers. Commercial Street, over the years, has emerged as a highly vibrant melting point for Bengaluru  , featuring the fusion of traditional markets and the latest retail and other influences. In the detailed tour here, we will analyze the background history, shopping experience , food environment,  and all cultural aspects related to the same in relation to why it must be visited during your trip to Bengaluru. The place, Commercial Street, dates back to the early 20th century, and this place is one of the oldest commercial places in Bengaluru. The street was previously known as Shivaji Road and was one of the most important streets for commerce and trade. With time, the area evolved from a simple trading place to a highly crowded marketplace, catering to the ever-growing population of Bengaluru. Commercial Street was famous for its wholesale markets, which sold everything from textiles to spices and food grains. Through the decades, it has  learned to change the tastes and preferences of Bengalurians and eventually turned into a retail heaven for both locals and tourists. 

Today, it represents the colourful and diversified marketplace of Bengaluru that offers a blend of old-world shopping experiences along with new-age retail stores. This is why the street has remained a success- the way it amalgamates old-world charm with new-age shopping trends that make an essential contribution to its popularity.  The shopping experience of Commercial Street is nothing but thrilling. From costly fashion to traditional Indian attire to street fashion and unique handicrafts, one finds everything on this very street. The sheer variety of stores and products they sell make it a must-go destination for many and all kinds of shopping necessities.  One of the main attractions of people to Commercial Street is its vast range of clothing. This motley mixture of boutiques, street vendors, and branded shops sells anything from traditional Indian wear to Western fashion. If you are looking for sarees, salwar kameez, or kurtas, there are hundreds of shops available. What defines the street are Silk sarees, Kanjivaram sarees, and other pricey fabrics, which is why most shoppers go here for traditional Indian wear. 

Apart from ethnic wear, commercial streets have a lot of shops selling Western attire, like jeans, t-shirts, blouses, jackets, and more. It is an ideal shopping destination for shoppers of all budgets due to the amalgamation of affordable and costly clothes. Other attractive things about Commercial Street include the variety of foot and other accessories. It is replete with casual shoes, sandals, flip-flops, formal shoes, and traditional slippers, all offered in countless shops by almost everyone on the streets, including many street vendors offering cheap but fashionable wearables. The street market is so famous for its handcrafted articles, such as leather bags, ethnic jewellery, scarves, and wall hangings. You are bound to be amazed by the variety, whether in the mood for something old or new. Shopping here is exciting because you might be able to bargain to get the best price possible. Commercial Street also provides several shops where one can find home decor, mainly furniture, wall art, decorative pieces, and handicrafts. Such products range from carvings made of wood and metallic figurines down to brass decor and paintings, giving an  assortment of the creative and unique stuff needed for home decorations. Many such products are homemade in this country, adding something original to the decoration of houses. 

Although Commercial Street is more like a haven for clothing and handicrafts, there are enough stores here that will feed your tech craze if you want. Several mobile phone stores are located here; these sell the newest versions at affordable prices, along with laptops, headphones, cameras, and gadgets. While Commercial Street is more famous as a place to shop, the road has its great food street. Restaurants can be seen on the main road or even food stalls alongside. They offer whatever  a snack  seeker needs or a dining desire might call for-whole meals. It comes from the Indian and international ranges and illustrates the cosmopolitanism of Bengaluru.  Commercial Street is not just a marketplace. It has a history as well as culture. Walking here gives one the feel of the old world and the new world amalgamated.  Old  buildings, along with temples there, exist side by side with modern structures that have diverse commercial offices. Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple is a marvellous example which, amidst the market fray and bustle, accommodates the spiritual aspect there. This is actually a vibrant  street market atmosphere with a cacophony of voices, smells of spices, and colourful, colourful displays. The street is always busy, not only with locals but also the tourists who stroll through the shops. That really adds to the liveliness of the area. A mix of different cultures is reflected not only in the products sold but also in the food and sometimes street performances here. 

Nearby attractions: 

1. MG Road (1 km): The most famous road in Bengaluru. MG Road is a very shop-pub-and-eat and drinking street. It provides long lists of retail store points, restaurants, cafes, pubs , and wine shop points, filling out lots of spaces with a buzzing crowd for shopping and night stuff. 

2. Cubbon Park (1.5 km): This is a green heaven in the midst of the bustling city, ideal for taking a peaceful walk or having a picnic. The park contains lush greenery,  walkways, and scenic places, making it a favourite with locals and tourists alike. 

3. Bangalore Palace (3 km): It is the epitome of Tudor architecture and is just beautiful from the inside. It gives a picture of the royalty of the city in its well-maintained grounds, magnificent rooms, and royal artefacts.  

4. Vidhana Soudha (2 km): It is the seat of the Karnataka state legislature, an architectural wonder. Only be admired from the outside, the grand structure and lush lawns , for it is restricted to government officials and special occasions. 

5. Chickpet (1.5 km): One of the oldest commercial areas in the city of Bengaluru, Chickpet is known for its wholesalers. You will find items like textiles and jewellery from this place apart from their wholesale markets, which were in the pre-commercial street times. 

6. Brigadier Road (1 km): Brigadier Road is one of the popular shopping and entertainment streets near Commercial Street. Clothing stores, fast food outlets, bars, and restaurants are filled with people. It is one of the trendy shopping places. 

7. UB City Mall (2 km): High-class mall with international brands, art galleries, fine dining restaurants, etc. It is one of the high-class places people come to enjoy luxury goods and high-class dining. 

8. Lalbagh Botanical Garden (4 km): an ancient botanical garden rich with floral variety and glory for the glorious glass house, a nice place for relaxation in  serene  environs and an annual  flower show venue. 

9. Koshy's Restaurant (1 km): It is one of the institutions of Bangalore, housing the most popular Restaurant for South Indian and Continental dishes. It has been  one of those favourite gathering joints of all-important personages from time to time. 

10. Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (3 km): It is a cultural complex that celebrates Indian art and holds regular exhibitions, workshops, and museums to exhibit traditional and contemporary art. 

11. Bangalore Fort (2 km): The historical past of the city is built by Kempe Gowda. Remnants exist, but the adjoining region is an area of historic importance. 

12. Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (3.5 km): It's an educational and entertaining place  for astronomy lovers to visit. Provides demonstrations, exhibitions, and educational programs about space and astronomy. It makes it a great place to visit with family or on a field trip. 

How to Reach: 

• By Bus: There is a vast network of buses provided by BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) that pass through or near Commercial Street. You can board the buses from Majestic Bus Station, KR Market, or MG Road and then walk or take an auto-rickshaw to the street. 

• By Train: There is no railway station near Commercial Street. However, some 4-5 km away from there is one of the big railway stations - Bengaluru City Railway Station. You may take a taxi or an auto from the station. 

• By Air: Kempegowda International Airport BLR is approximately 35 km from the road. Several means of transport are available around the airport: Taxi will take around 45 minutes, airport shuttle to MG Road, Uber/Ola, etc. are other services available.