Take off with a slice of the south

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru is also doubling up as the one stop shop for travellers.

From designer wear to handlooms to duty-free perfumes.

Flying out of Bengaluru? Are you rushing through check in, security and to the gate to catch your flight? That wouldn’t be very smart. It would be better if you checked in so that you get ample time to enjoy and discover the various options that Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has to offer.

There is something for the domestic and the international traveller. The aim is to provide the traveller a “taste of the south. A story or a memory that they can carry back with them,” G.V. Sanjay Reddy, the M.D. of the BIA says. “This city is a melting pot of sorts. It has attracted the world in terms of business and tourism. Hence, we aim to create a showcase of what the region truly stands for — a taste of its culture, art and heritage.” So, you have the airport brimming with a vast range of outlets for F&B and retail.

Besides these, there are also facilities to pamper you including various spa options. There are tiny, well-designed rooms for foot reflexology, Thai, or Swedish massage. Then there are compact and cosy rooms for those in transit and need some space that makes them feel at home.

However, it is the F&B and retail outlets that try to woo the domestic and the international traveller. In the food section, travellers can choose from crisp vadas, idlis and pongal, live chaat or even Italian cuisine. There are stalls offering traditional food from coffee to spices and sweets including Mysore pak and Dharwad pedas.

The domestic shopping area offers you the most popular crafts from the Southern States. Then there are handicrafts stores like The Lotus House, which sells crafts and toys from Channapatana, and also promises to house crafts by “150 artisans”.

Besides this, there is a huge section dedicated to Mysore silk saris. These areas are designed in an ethnic manner and also every section has a tiny note displayed just to “give the traveller a peek into our history and culture.” The silk sari section also has a huge loom placed in the centre. “Soon we also plan to bring in a person to operate it so that the international traveller can get a feel of how the Indian loom actually works.”

Then there are traditional jewellery pieces from C. Krishnaiah Chetty and Sons that rubs shoulders with Hugo and Boss. Their duty free is said to be the cheapest and they have even displayed the comparative prices in other countries just to give you an idea of the huge difference in the pricing.

For those who are not great shoppers but want to hang around there are pretty comfortable lounges where you can just put up those weary feet. A children’s play area and toy store, Zwoosh, has just been launched. It offers a range of video games, puzzles and the Lego series. They also plan to introduce the dial-a-cake facility to celebrate the birthday of children that are travelling. The staff promises “to arrange a snappy birthday party for the child by inviting other children from the airport and have a party so that the child does not miss out on his celebrations.”

The high point of the clothes line are the Deepika Govind and Ritu Kumar Collections that are placed close to the International departures. “I focus on giving western cuts using the Indian fabric and weaves,” says Deepika. “It has worked. The international traveller is enamoured by our style and culture and that is so flattering for me as a designer.”

Sang Joon Ahn, Vice President-Commercial of BIAL says: “We need to stand up to the expectations of the traveller, who has been exposed to the best in the world. We do not want Bengaluru to lag behind in any aspect.”

The next time you are flying through or from Bengaluru airport, you know that you can stop, look and shop before flying off…