Old Bengaluru vs. New Suburbs: Choosing Between Heritage Charm and Future Growth

As Bengaluru's real estate market continues to expand, homebuyers are faced with the decision of investing in the well-established neighborhoods of Old Bengaluru or the rapidly developing suburbs. Both options come with their own set of advantages and challenges.

Real EstateBengaluruInvestmentHeritageNew SuburbsReal EstateMay 17, 2025

Old Bengaluru vs. New Suburbs: Choosing Between Heritage Charm and Future Growth

Real Estate:As Bengaluru’s real estate market continues to grow, homebuyers are increasingly faced with a crucial decision—whether to invest in the well-established neighborhoods of Old Bengaluru or the rapidly developing suburbs. According to real estate experts, both options have their unique advantages and challenges. Older areas typically offer better infrastructure and proximity to the city centre. However, many of these neighborhoods are saturated with ageing buildings. In contrast, the newer suburbs are characterized by modern amenities and contemporary residential developments, appealing especially to younger buyers and families looking for a more updated lifestyle. As a result, we see most younger buyers or families choosing to live in these upcoming areas, drawn by the promise of growth and modern conveniences. Old Bengaluru: Preserving Charm and Heritage Amid the City's IT Transformation The old parts of Bengaluru, often called ‘Old Bangalore,’ are neighborhoods that developed long before the city's IT boom. They preserve their traditional charm, historic landmarks, and older infrastructure. Areas like Basavanagudi, Malleshwaram, and Chamarajpet are renowned for their tree-lined streets, heritage homes, historic temples, and bustling local markets. These neighborhoods, which emerged well before the tech-driven transformation of the city, continue to reflect a community-oriented lifestyle. Other historic areas, such as Shivajinagar, Frazer Town, and Ulsoor, showcase Bengaluru’s colonial and multicultural heritage, marked by colonial-era architecture and narrow lanes. Meanwhile, neighborhoods like Cooke Town and Richmond Town still feature quaint bungalows and a slower pace of life, offering a stark contrast to the city’s fast-paced, IT-centric developments. Bengaluru’s IT Boom: How Whitefield and Electronic City Transformed the City’s Landscape In contrast to Old Bengaluru's historic charm, the city’s IT boom has given rise to several modern and rapidly growing neighborhoods, particularly in the eastern and southeastern regions. One of the most prominent areas is Whitefield, which evolved from a quiet settlement into a bustling commercial and residential hub following the establishment of major IT parks like ITPL. Similarly, Electronic City in the south emerged as a key technology centre, housing major firms like Infosys and Wipro. This transformation spurred rapid residential and infrastructure development in nearby areas such as HSR Layout and Sarjapur Road, attracting a large influx of professionals and residents. “Areas along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) corridor—especially from Marathahalli to Bellandur—along with newer pockets like Kadubeesanahalli and Devarabeesanahalli, have experienced significant growth with emerging large tech parks and SEZs,” said Kiran Kumar, vice president at Hanu Reddy Realty. “In North Bengaluru too, localities like Hebbal, Thanisandra, and Yelahanka are developing rapidly, supported by better airport connectivity and ongoing infrastructure initiatives.” Bengaluru Real Estate: Prices in Traditional Hotspots and Emerging Areas According to real estate experts, land prices in traditional Bengaluru hotspots like Malleshwaram and Basavanagudi range between ₹28,000 to ₹30,000 per sq ft. Indiranagar remains one of the priciest areas, with land costs reaching ₹40,000 per sq ft, despite being fully developed. In terms of apartments, prices in JP Nagar vary from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 per sq ft, depending on the location. In Jayanagar, rates start at ₹20,000 per sq ft and go higher. Cooke Town and Frazer Town offer quality apartments from A-grade developers priced around ₹15,000 per sq ft. Upscale neighborhoods like Defence Colonies and Sadashivanagar have apartment prices at approximately ₹25,000 per sq ft, while new apartments in Basavanagudi are selling for about ₹18,000 per sq ft. In contrast, emerging areas in East and North Bengaluru—such as Whitefield, Hebbal, and Thanisandra—offer more diverse investment opportunities. In Whitefield, apartment prices range from ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 per sq ft, while Hebbal's prime road-facing properties command ₹18,000 to ₹20,000 per sq ft. Thanisandra, being more affordable, typically offers apartments priced below ₹15,000 per sq ft. In Varthur, located in the southeast, apartment prices range from ₹80 lakh to ₹1 crore. Meanwhile, North Bengaluru offers relatively lower entry points, with apartments starting around ₹70 lakh. For plots, areas like Hennur have prices ranging from ₹80 lakh to ₹90 lakh for a 1,000 sq ft plot. Should You Invest in New Suburbs or Old Bengaluru? “Old localities like Malleshwaram, Basavanagudi, and Jayanagar are like antiques—timeless and priceless,” said Manjesh Rao, chief broker at BlueBroker. “These areas are well-developed with strong public infrastructure, including bus and metro connectivity, which makes them very liveable. However, being closer to the city centre, traffic congestion continues to remain a challenge in these areas.” On the other hand, newer hubs like Sarjapur, despite being major IT corridors, still lack integrated transport and basic infrastructure in many parts. In most of the newer IT corridors like Hebbal and Electronic City, metro work is ongoing and last-mile connectivity continues to remain a challenge. “We’re seeing modern development in the newer suburbs—better road-laying technology called Tender S.U.R.E., skywalks, and planned layouts. For those seeking a cosmopolitan lifestyle, new Bengaluru makes more sense. For those attached to nostalgia or heritage, the older parts are still in demand, mostly for resale,” Rao said. He also said that plot sizes in older areas like Malleshwaram tend to be larger, and restoring such homes offers a unique opportunity. “However, we see most younger buyers or families are choosing to live in upcoming areas. When it comes to modern amenities in projects located in Old Bengaluru, it depends on the scale—larger projects usually come with modern features, while smaller developments may not.” Additionally, older parts of Bengaluru are better equipped to handle heavy rains, with their well-planned, decades-old drainage systems that help prevent flooding. In contrast, newer areas like Whitefield and Hebbal in the north often struggle with waterlogging during monsoons due to inadequate infrastructure, as witnessed across multiple incidents in 2022 and 2023. According to Kumar, newer areas in Bengaluru consistently witness fresh supply and capital appreciation of around 15–20%, while older parts of the city see annual appreciation rates of approximately 10–15%. For those looking at long-term investment returns, Kumar advises focusing on newer neighborhoods that offer a modern and cosmopolitan lifestyle. However, for end-use, particularly for those prioritising peace, greenery, and well-established infrastructure, Old Bengaluru remains unparalleled. “New Bangalore is where the growth is, but Old Bangalore is where the charm is still alive,” he remarked.