BLR Echoes - September 2025
Bengaluru is a city of many hearts, alive in sudden rain showers, voices that mingle across languages, and a rhythm that lingers in unhurried metro rides, the cool evening breeze, and the lush green trees that have watched generations grow. This blog gathers these moments to celebrate the Bengaluru that has always felt like home.
Kattes, Courtyards and Conversations: Third Spaces of Bengaluru.
The city has always echoed with stories, anecdotes, and conversations. The memory of Bengaluru’s third spaces lingers still, woven into the scent of strong filter coffee over conversations, the noise of gully cricket in narrow roads, and the cool shade of a tree that once drew neighbours together. A stone ಕಟ್ಟೆ (katte) built under its branches was where the community truly came alive.
Temple courtyards, bustling markets, wells, playgrounds, coffeehouses, and even front yards once belonged to everyone. These were spaces that asked for nothing in return; places where stories spilled freely, and connections were made.
In a city that is always in motion, it is rare to find a moment to pause. We see fellow travelers only in passing, earphones plugged in, eyes glued to their phones. Between the traffic, the absence of benches, and the constant pressure of time. The daily commute between home and work has erased the sense of belonging. For many, the idea of finding a space away from both work and home is not even a choice but something out of reach altogether.
As Pravar Chaudhary of Bengawalks reflects,
“I feel I know less and less about people these days. Perhaps it is because we have lost the shared spaces where we once gathered, lingered, and truly saw each other.”
And yet, all is not lost. Across Bengaluru, communities are reviving the spirit of third spaces. At places like Underline Centre, thirdplaceblr, and others, people come together not because they have to but because they want to. Hobby groups for reading, astronomy, cycling, or trivia are thriving, reminding the city how easily a community can grow through shared interests. Even in digital spaces like WhatsApp, Reddit, and Discord, people are finding new ways to connect and belong.
The future may never look like the past. The katte may no longer sit under a banyan tree, and the well may no longer be where neighbours cross paths. But in the co-working spaces, open studios, and little community centres, the essence of Bengaluru’s third spaces still hums. They remind us that our city is not just built of roads and buildings, but of people who find ways, again and again, to come together.
Do you carry a story of Bengaluru?
Every city has its legends, its hidden corners, and its forgotten tales. Bengaluru is no different. Beyond the glass towers and traffic, stories live in lanes, old houses, and memories at the dinner table.
We’d love to hear the rare story of Bengaluru, you know. It could be:
- A family anecdote from the past
- A forgotten landmark or custom
- A personal memory that reveals a hidden side of the city
Share it with us at our Google Forms link.These stories, no matter how small, are the threads that hold Bengaluru together.
