Bangalore's Train-Watching Problem
Cities like Mumbai have famous train-spotting points — Borivali, Vikhroli, the Mahim curve. London has trainspotting cafes near Clapham Junction. Tokyo has rooftop bars with views of Shinkansen platforms.
Bangalore? Almost nothing. The big stations (Bangalore City, Yeshwanthpur, Cantonment) are not designed for casual viewing. Most railway lines are walled off. Tracks run through industrial corridors with no public access.
That is why Shastrys Cafe — a quiet Brahmin cafe in Kodigehalli on Railway Parallel Road — has slowly become the city's best-kept train-spotting secret.
Why Kodigehalli Works
The Yelahanka–Yeshwanthpur railway line runs **right beside Railway Parallel Road**. Shastrys Cafe sits at No.880 NTI Layout, with outdoor seating that gives you a clear view of the tracks 30 metres away. There is no wall, no hoarding, no construction.
The line carries:
All Vande Bharat services from Yeshwanthpur: — Mysuru, Coimbatore, Chennai
All long-distance trains heading north: — to Hubballi, Mumbai, Vijayawada
MEMU passenger services: — multiple per hour during peak times
Heavy freight: — iron ore, cement, containers, especially on weekends
How to Make a Day of It
8:00 AM: — Arrive at Shastrys Cafe, order idli + vada + sambar + filter coffee
8:00–9:30 AM: — Catch the morning rush; 2-3 trains will pass
9:30 AM: — Walk 200 metres to Kodigehalli Railway Station — tiny, quiet, photogenic
10:00 AM: — Walk back to Shastrys for a second filter coffee and a masala dosa
10:30 AM onwards: — Quieter line; spot freight trains
For train fans visiting Bangalore from out of town, this is the most accessible viewing setup in the city.
What to Order
Filter coffee: (₹15) — the drink to nurse between trains
Idli + vada + sambar + chutney: (₹65) — the classic combo
Masala dosa + sambar + chutney: (₹70)
Ven pongal + sambar: (₹50)
Address & Hours
Dine-in:: No.880, NTI Layout, 2nd Phase, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Kodigehalli, Bangalore – 560097
Hours:: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM & 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Sundays closed)
Best for trains:: 8:00–9:30 AM, 5:30–7:30 PM, weekends
