Choose to download any apps once you are here. Note that One Time Passcodes (OTPs) are the lifeblood of these apps. Upon arrival you will receive a temporary SIM card that you can use right away, but note that once you are able to get your permanent SIM card after your FRRO paperwork is cleared (about a week), you will need to update all these apps and perhaps recreate your profiles in them.

Useful Apps. Websites, Food Whatsapp Groups

• Transportation
  1. Uber app
  2. Ola app- like Uber but only in India. Can order a larger car or a car for 1-4 hours.
  3. Madesh taxi service. Many teachers use him or his drivers. Can order a taxi for a single trip, a few hours, or daily for school pick up/drop off. 9741228825; He is flexible with payment plan as well (i.e. weekly, monthly, bi-monthly). He speaks English and will work with your needs).
  4. Bounce app - scooters
  5. Drivezy
  6. Voot
  7. Ezi Drive check website for all types of transport.
  8. Rapido app: Ride on the back of a motorcycle. Not always allowed by the police depending on city laws, which change frequently… but tends to work even when banned.

• Food
  1. Big Basket app- app for home delivery of all kinds of groceries and home needs. Usually next day delivery. Can pay with card or cash on delivery-If you take membership for 300 you get free delivery on purchase of 600/- and above.
  2. Natures Basket - store and app, groceries, some more foreign products. They will deliver within two hours if you call the store instead of use the app. Sells wine.
  3. Healthy Buddha - Organic fruits, vegetables. Other “health” goods. Order online and they deliver to your door. Zero waste or environmentally friendly packaging.
  4. Zomato app- a website to order take out to be delivered to your apartment or you can even reserve a place from the app.
  5. Swiggy app- like Zomato with take out but they have their own drivers.
  6. Swiggy Genie - Also expanding to deliver your goods (a driver picks up something from you and delivers it to someone in another location)
  7. Swiggy Instamart – Delivery of select goods within 30-45 minutes. Selection is growing, but size & quantity limitations on a host of convenience & grocery items.
  8. Freshmenu app - good selection of world and local cuisines
  9. Licious app- online delivery of quality chicken, mutton, seafood, and eggs. Small orders usually delivered within 2 hours, or within 24 hrs. if larger quantity ordered. The app is easy to navigate.
  10. Big Market- store in Sahakar Nagar. And on Doddabalapura now! Sells groceries and some home goods. Will deliver.
  11. More Mega Store - large store in Sahakar Nagar. Sells groceries and home goods. Kind of like a walmart with 2 floors. Bottom floor is groceries & sundries, top floor is clothing and household goods. Very busy on weekends. Sells Alcohol.( buy from Moremegastore using Amazon app)
  12. Wine Paradise ( under the big Black Dog sign) in Sahakar Nagar will deliver alcohol and wine to NCC and Ultima
  13. Bamburies - store downtown that has frozen beef, pork, fish, imported meats and deli lunch meats
  14. Food Hall- the most expensive for groceries. Only 2 stores, downtown in MG1 and at VR mall. The most likely to have imported food.
  15. Happy Milk- delivery of glass bottles for milk and curd every morning. Need to WhatsApp them at 7676204444 to set up.
  16. Jyothi Gas - 9242936381 (for use with gas stoves in your apartment; they deliver and install)
  17. Daily Sushi in Sahakarnagar- new favorite for price and quality and selection. He also does weekly delivery to NCC and Ultima. +91 91 480 861 11
  18. Russel Market in Shivaji Nagar. A place to explore. Veggies, fruits, meat, fish & spices.
  19. Yeshwanthpur Market-You get everything same as above.(nearby)
  20. Saiko Sushi House (delivers anywhere in the city - it's hard to find sushi in BLR) contact them on whatsapp: +91 90194 47987 / Other sushi options: 2) sushimen.in - order online for delivery; 3) Crosstown Japan: if out of Zomato delivery area, WhatsApp Berley Thomas (owner) at 9606674007 and use Swiggy Genie for delivery.
  21. Freshtohome- app online delivery of meat, has good marinated ready to cook items too.
  22. FTHDaily Super Daily BBDaily - app for milk and other items
  23. Meatigo app for artisan meat delivery (pancetta, prosciutto, marinated meat and seafood) also delivers cheese
  24. New Frostys for all sorts of meats and fish (https://newfrostysonline.com/); delivery is within 24 hrs. You can arrange a convenient delivery window if you call or send a Whatsapp message. (+91 80956 20656)
  25. Cheese: The cheese monks. Delicious homemade cheese. They deliver home but not all Bangalore. Check with them through whatsapp: 919845449064.
  26. Wonderful meat, bakery & french oriented cuisine: Mathew through whatsapp: 919980140762 . Website www.mabaker.in.
  27. Cafe plume: excellent french bakery in Indira Nagar. You have to arrange the transport. Find them in facebook / instagram and plume.delicacies@gmail.com. Aurelie: 919591942490.
  28. Lousitania; have a couple of brunches in Indira Nagar & frazer town. Very good and fresh meat.

• Shopping
  1. Amazon.in (your Amazon account will be the same in India; you will just need to change the delivery address and payment options when you order; Amazon delivery is common here).
  2. FlipKart – like Amazon, prices and selection are competitive
  3. Myntra - shoes,Clothes,fashion accessories and beauty products at discounted price.
  4. Decathlon - sporting goods store, also has classes and demo areas so it can be a fun place to hang out for an afternoon. Has a Cafe Noir on campus.
  5. Big Bazaar
  6. More Mega Store-on amazon app; groceryhousehold items usually come within a day
  7. FabIndia (Sahakar Nagar is closest to school) has lots of ethnic houseware, gifts, and clothing curated from all over India; it is a chain store you will find throughout the region.
  8. Phoenix Mall in Whitefield – mid-to-high-end shopping mall with a wide selection of familiar brands alongside local specialty shops.
  9. All app/site for plus size clothing
  10. If you just can’t get it here: desertcart app/site (customs and handling included in cost), comforteatsdelivery.com (customs is prepaid).
  11. One MG mall- in the top floor Food Hall - a supermarket with imported food from all over the world.
  12. Commercial Street
  13. Church street, wonderful bookshops:blossoms & bookworm

• Medical
  1. Apollo pharmacy in Sahakar Nagar will deliver to Sobha Ultima. Need to call to have the meds delivered. Most medicines can be bought over the counter without a prescription.
  2. Pharmacies on WhatsApp to order/get delivery: S.V.M. Pharma (Sahakar Nagar): 9535113040, Shree Raksha Medicals (Jakkur): 9035898398
  3. Practo app and website to book dr. appointments, find provider
  4. Access Dental Care at Esteem Mall. Modern dentist and orthodontist - Teeth cleaning is done with ultrasound. Our health insurance doesn’t cover dental. Several staff and kids have done braces here. 08041613295
  5. Smile Studio (dentist) in Sahakarnagar as well - 9611367435
  6. Battu Eye clinic in Jakkur does good prescriptions for adults and children. You need to make an appointment. You can also buy glasses from here.
  7. http://www.lenskart.com/ to buy online glasses and contact lenses. You can input your prescription. Local stores of this brand are franchises and will do a free glasses prescription for adults. You don't need a prescription to buy contacts and glasses in India. You can also buy from a store in Sahakarnagar.
  8. Aster CMI and Columbia Asia are both good hospitals nearby at the Hebbal Flyover. Both have good doctors and modern medical facilities. Aster has a help desk for International patients near the main entrance, and staff is helpful in getting you checked in & taken care of whether for in-patient or out-patient services.
  9. Aster CMI has a local clinic in Yelahanka New Town. Open daily till 8 pm. There is a pharmacy on site. Often don’t need an appointment. Just show up and be seen. Will do x-rays and blood work. 9513967938
  10. Care on call Bangalore - doctors come to house for check ups - call/WhatsApp 9916925165
  11. Cytecare - hospital near CIS that specializes in cancer treatment but also offers many other services as well. Has been used by CIS teachers for bloodwork, annual checkups, colonoscopies, mammograms, etc. 8022176767
  12. Want lasik? Look into Narayana Nethralaya. The lasik surgeon is very good and it is far cheaper than in the west. https://www.narayananethralaya.org/