Jayanagar is a residential and commercial locality in Bangalore and is surrounded by areas like JP Nagar, Basavangudi, Banashankari, BTM Layout and other such places which had been successful in defining Bangalore. The foundation of Bangalore was laid in 1948 which was one of the first planned neighborhoods in Bangalore and was the largest in Asia, during that era. The word Jayanagar is a Kannada term, meaning “Victory City.” It is divided into ten blocks, which is further subdivided into various blocks and areas. The 3rd and 4th block are majorly commercial areas and is the best place to halt for shopping.
The shopping complex is located in the middle of Jayanagar 4th block, right beside the BMTC transit point. The place is believed to have been built in the late seventies by Sundaram Architects, under the rule of D Devaraj. The complex not only houses an array of shops, but also has the government offices and ticket counters. It is spread over an area of 15,000 square meters and has shops, stalls, vegetable market, fish market, ATM, Railway Reservation Counter, RTO office, banks and so on. The locality has not only attracted the tourists, but also has a huge local customer base.
When I first visited the city and inquired about effective shopping places in Bangalore, the shopping complex was the first name that was uttered. They also added that, the goods sold were authentic and economical. One doesn’t have to bargain and waste time, as the goods were sold at fixed price by majority of the outlets, except the footpath stalls. The Complex is a one stop shopping destination and one doesn’t have to struggle to locate the products. The hawkers are there to guide you, yelling at the top of their voices to attract the customers. The place is really crowded and one has to be careful with the belongings as well as the marching steps. One can see several products on display such as handbags, footwear, accessories, household goods, kurtis, night wears and lots more which are used in our day to day activities. The Banjara and KKrishi restaurants are also situated inside the complex to provide a good quality food to the shopaholics.
I randomly interacted with a lady over there, who was busy picking the vegetables. I was surprised to hear that Jayanagar was her ideal place for fruits and vegetables as she found it fresh and weren’t stocked for a longer time. I also questioned a fruit vendor about his customer base, to which he replied that the nearby residents were his major customers who later became loyal to his store and also referred him. The Shopping complex has goods for all the sectors of the society. I bet, none can return empty handed. The fire devastated the buildings 2 years ago, yet it didn’t affect the enthusiast vendors, loyal customers and the charm of the complex. The best time to visit the complex is between 9.30 am – 10.00 pm. There are frequent buses running to and fro from Jayanagar, and hence commuting is very easy.
Nearby must visit Places:
• Jain Temple
• Cool Joint
• Ice Cream Parlor
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