Kamal Ghorui
Those who seek ‘Old Bengaluru’ are often faithfully directed to Malleswaram first, and then to Basavanagudi areas. With their food flavours, warmth and lived-in charm, these neighbourhoods never disappoint.Tucked within Basavanagudi, just off the familiar bustle of Gandhi Bazaar, DVG Road quietly holds on to that old-world allure. The road is named after Kannada writer, journalist and philosopher Devanahalli Venkataramanayya Gundappa, whose “Mankuthimmana Kagga” is called the Bhagavad Gita of Kannada. The DVG Road extends from Nettakallappa Circle and North Road, cutting through Gandhi Bazaar main road. It is one of the localities to be bookmarked for authentic Bengaluru eats. A turn to the right after a few hundred metres would take you to Bugle Rock Park, which pays tribute to DVG with his statue, and boards displaying couplets from “Mankuthimmana Kagga”. Back on the road, the senses take over. A few steps from Nettakallappa Circle, the unmistakable aroma of crisp dosas and strong filter coffee drifts out of Upahara Darshini — one of Bengaluru’s earliest self-service eateries. Its shavige bath has a loyal following, simple yet deeply satisfying.Further down, the familiar name of Srinivasa Brahmins Bakery now wears a refreshed facade, but its beloved Congress kadlekayi remains unchanged in taste.Nowadays, Bengalureans buy most of their greens online, but DVG Road offers a wider range of veggies with scores of pushcarts that line it. The road joins the bustling Gandhi Bazaar circle, which is a burst of colours any time of the day, thanks to traders selling earthen lamps, bangles, other trinkets, and flowers. The place is also a dosa pit stop with the fabled Vidyarthi Bhavan, but there’s a wait time. If running low on patience, one can head to Basavanagudi’s own MTR, the Mahalakshmi Tiffin Rooms.
