For NEW students joining IISc

Joining IISc

Bring

• at least 6 passport size photos and 6 stamp size photos.
• Original mark sheets and at least two copies of each sheet.
• Offer letter, fees paid, train tickets for attending interview and joining
• PAN card and its photocopy for a bank account. For student accounts, there is no need for a PAN card, but if you want a regular account, you need a pan card.

It might be a good idea to arrive a day or two before the reporting date and avail the hostel accommodation (does not apply to UG admissions).

 

Getting to IISc

IISc is 6 km away from the main railway station and bus stand (commonly called Majestic, though the official name is Kempe Gowda Bus stand) and 38 km from the airport. Autos cost Rs 13 per km while taxis cost Rs 18 per km. Prepaid taxis from the railway station and airport cost Rs 300 and Rs 750, respectively. If you are coming for the first time to Bangalore by train or bus, you can take a prepaid auto for Rs. 90 and come to IISc. If you do not have any luggage, you can take a local bus from Majestic (use the overbridge/subway) to cross to the local bus stand. Go to platform 23/24/25 and take any of the 252, 271 series buses. The frequency of the buses is one per two min during peak hours, one per five min during non-peak hours and one per ten min during odd hours (11 pm - 5 am). Ask for Tata Institute (that's what IISc. is commonly known as); that'll get you to 18th cross, Malleswaram or the Yeshwantpur bus stand.

Remember always to ask for Tata Institute, whether it is a bus, auto or taxi. People usually land up at IIM if they ask for IISc.

If you are coming on July 27/28/29/30, then the student council of IISc will pick you up from the Bangalore city station and Yeshwanthpur station. Buses with IISc banners will be there in the parking lot. The main Majestic bus stand is adjacent to the Bangalore city station.

If you are coming from the airport, you can take the Vajra Vayu service (a/c buses) and ask for Mekhri Circle. There are buses almost every 15 minutes from the airport. They will charge you Rs. 150 per person. Get down in Mekhri Circle and ask for Tata Institute. It is 2-3 km and you can take an auto.

First day at IISc

On the date of reporting, go to the faculty hall in the main building. Tokens will be issued as soon as you come and there will be a long queue. You will be called based on this admission number and then your marks sheets, GATE score card etc will be verified. Your photo will be taken and you will be issued an identity card. A 16 digit student registration number (SRN) will be alloted to you. Your first job in IISc is to memorize this number because you will require it everywhere. Please take your photographs with you and you may have to stick it in many places.

Next, visit the hostel office. Pay the hostel fees and show the proof of hostel fees paid and ask for a room allotment. There is a lucky dip and you will be allotted a room. You will be given a room allotment letter, which will serve as your proof of residence.

If you are aware of who will be your research supervisor, be sure to visit his/her office and say hello. Then visit your department office and get all the course registration forms. Each department will hold an orientation program and make sure you get those dates and times.

Next, visit either SBI or Canara Bank and get a new account.

Purchase a SIM card. The BSNL office is near the main building. Private vendors also sell different private phone operators near the hostel office. Many will not sell postpaid options.

Purchase mattresses, pillows etc from the vendors near the hostel office. These vendors are available only during this period. Many other small items like buckets, hangers etc. can be purchased in the stores on IISc campus.

Campus

IISc is a huge residential colony and has all facilities within the campus obviating a need to leave the campus for anything. Take a look at the campus map. 

Here are some places on the campus that you might wish to visit during the next few days. There's the Main Library, the Campus Bookstore (near the Cafe, open noon to 7 pm, except Sundays), the Xerox centres (in the library, near the Cafe and near TMC, open 8:30 am to 8:30 pm), two banks (Canara bank and SBI on your map), and a Health Centre (marked Hospital on your map). For outgoing phones, you may go to the STD/ISD booth west of Canara bank, or to the Telecom Centre (7 am to 10 pm, except Sundays).  The Post office (open 9-5 Mon-Sat) is approached from Prof. CNR Rao circle. It handles registered, speed post, money order etc. in addition to regular mail. The Janatha bazaar (called the Cosmetic Center on your map) is open Mon-Sat and houses a small shop (7-1l am, 5-8 pm), a tailor (10 am-6 pm), a launderer (10 am-8 pm), a cobbler (8 am-8 pm), and a men's hairdresser (7 am-noon, 4-7:30 pm). The launderer, cobbler and hairdresser are also available Sunday mornings. Effective June, 2007, a cycle shop has been opened here. There is a watch repair shop in E-Block (between 4-6 pm on all days except Sunday) and a cycle repair shop near U-Block. There is also a small shopping area at the north end of campus, which has a tailor, travel agent and bookbinder. On the south side of the highway is the Gymkhana. Please do NOT cross the road but use the yellow over-bridge to cross the highway. Inside is a large hall for badminton, table tennis, and movies. In addition there is a carrom room and a TV room; upstairs is a small Library and a music room. Outside is a large playground, a running track and the Students Auditorium. At the Gymkhana, you can obtain permission to use the swimming pool located at the other end of campus (near the guest house). 

Prakurthi (marked Cafe on your map) offers chats, various kinds of food, snacks and coffee/tea from 7:30 am to 3 am  on all days.  Kabini (marked TMC on your map) offers snacks, tea and coffee from 7 am to 6 pm on all days. A good restaurant near Kabini called Nesara is open from 8 am to 11 pm and is slightly more expensive than other eating places on campus but it may be worth it. There is Snacks shop in side of CEDT (opens on week days between 10:45 & 11:30 AM and 3 & 3:45 PM). The small shopping area at the far north end of the campus near the ECE department has a bakery and a fruit/vegetable shop. In addition, vendors seated on the road near TMC, SBI and NCSI offer fresh fruit, groundnuts, etc. in the daytime (but not on Sundays). 

You can learn more about the campus.

Accommodation nearby

If you are coming with your parents, your parents may need to stay in a hotel. A few hotels are listed below

Akshara Regency
No4/20, Mathekere First Main Road, Gokula First stage
Bangalore.
Phone 080 2337 7746, 09036970369
Rate ~ 550-950 Rs for 2 persons


Ujwal Residency
#50, Yeswathpur-Mathikere Main Road
Bangalore
Phone 080 40974573, 09986131989
Rate - 750-1000 Rs for 2 persons

Sree Nandanam Residency
#11 Gokul First Stage
Mathikere Main Road
Bangalore
Phone : 080 40926908, 40926909
Rate: 550-1000 Rs for two persons

Sri Akshaya Deluxe Lodges
#4 Mathikere Main Road
Bangalore
Phone 080 2347 0128, 09731925513
Rate Rs 500- 800 for two persons

Krishinton Suites
# 993, M.S. Ramaiah Main Road, Near IISc
D-Gate, Mathikere, Bangalore - 560 054,
+91 80 4259 5959
Rate 1200-2000 for 2 persons

The Basil
8, Sampige Road, Malleshwaram, Bangalore - 560 003
080- 40402323
Rate 2000 for 2 persons

New Sagar Comforts & Banquets
No.5 & 6-8, 11th Mn Rd, 2nd Phs, 1st STG,
Yeshwanthpur Mn Rd, Gokula Extension, Bangalore - 560054
+(91)-(80)-40084999, 41273453
Rate 400-800

Disclaimer: The above is based on my experience and is personal advice. It does not represent IISc's opinion or represent any commercial interest.