The Arab Street guide to Bangalore
Arab Street in Bangalore is Mosque Road in Frazer Town, north-east of the city centre and about 35 km from the airport. Most Gulf families stay there during treatment because it is close to halal restaurants, mosques and pharmacies, and the nearest hospital we work with is 15 minutes away by car.
Arab Street — Mosque Road in Frazer Town — is the neighbourhood where most Gulf families stay during treatment. This guide answers the practical questions that come before the trip.
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Where is it?
Arab Street runs along Mosque Road in Frazer Town, north-east of central Bangalore. It is about 35 km from Kempegowda International Airport — 45 minutes to an hour and a half by car, depending on traffic. It earned its name from the number of Arab families who stay there during treatment, and its restaurants, pharmacies and money changers are used to Arab visitors.
Where families stay
Most families stay in furnished apartments rented by the week or month, with a kitchen and two or three bedrooms — better than a hotel when the stay is long or more than one person is with the patient. Before booking, ask about: a lift if the patient is coming back from surgery, air conditioning and a backup generator for power cuts, the distance in minutes to the hospital, and a written, all-inclusive price. Ask your coordinator for recent photos of the apartment before you book.
Halal food
Halal food is available almost everywhere in Frazer Town: biryani and Indian grill houses, mandi, shawarma and Arabic restaurants that cater to Gulf visitors, bakeries and sweet shops. During Ramadan, Mosque Road turns into a crowded night food market after iftar. If the patient is on a post-operative diet, an apartment with a kitchen lets you cook at home, and greengrocers and halal butchers are close by.
Mosques and prayer times
The street is named Mosque Road, and several mosques in the area are within walking distance of most apartments, with Friday prayers. Prayer times in Bangalore shift through the year, so rely on a prayer-times app set to Bangalore. Ask your coordinator where the nearest prayer room is in the hospital where you will be treated.
Money exchange and SIM cards
Indian rupees are the only currency shops accept. Change a small amount at the airport for the first days and the rest at licensed money changers in the city, and keep the receipt. ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard, but tell your bank you are travelling. For a phone, a foreign visitor can buy a prepaid SIM at the carriers' official stores or at the airport by showing a passport, visa, a photo and your address in Bangalore. Activation can take a few hours, so keep your Gulf SIM active for WhatsApp until then.
Pharmacies and services
There are many pharmacies in the area and on the surrounding roads, and the major hospitals run 24-hour pharmacies. Bring your regular medication for the whole trip with the original prescription, and note the active ingredient rather than only the brand name — the same drug may be sold under another name in India. Be careful: some medicines that are easy to buy in India are banned or controlled in the Gulf, so carry home only what your doctor prescribed, with a written prescription.
Getting around and what it costs
For everyday trips use ride apps such as Uber, Ola and Namma Yatri, or an auto-rickshaw after agreeing the fare or asking for the meter before you get in. On hospital days our driver takes you — the same person who meets you at the airport with a board carrying your name. Bangalore's rush-hour traffic is heavy morning and evening, so leave a good margin before hospital appointments. The distances below are by car, off-peak.
Distance to the hospitals
- Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road 15 min
- Sparsh Hospital 15 min
- Aster CMI Hospital 20 min
- Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road 25 min
- Sakra World Hospital 40 min
- Apollo Hospital, Bannerghatta Road 45 min
- Narayana Health City 70 min
Questions about Arab Street
Where is Arab Street in Bangalore?
On Mosque Road in Frazer Town, north-east of central Bangalore, about 35 km from the airport.
How far is Arab Street from the hospitals?
The closest hospital we work with is Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, about 15 minutes by car; the farthest is Narayana Health City, about 70 minutes, off-peak.
Is the food on Arab Street halal?
Yes. Most restaurants in Frazer Town are halal, including Arabic mandi and shawarma places alongside Indian ones.
How do I get a SIM card in Bangalore?
At a carrier's official store or at the airport, with your passport, visa, a photo and your local address. Activation can take a few hours.