A 26-year-old man from Kerala, currently based in Bengaluru, recently took to Reddit to share his conflicted feelings about living in the Karnataka capital. Posting in the subreddit r/Coconaad, the Kannur native titled his post, “Living in Bangalore is a love-hate situation,” capturing the emotional tug-of-war he feels between his hometown and the city he now calls home.

Having lived in Bengaluru for over four years, the Reddit user opened up about the complex relationship he has developed with the city. “I’ve been living in Bangalore for over four years now, and what this city has done to me is beyond my understanding,” he wrote.

He described how the city’s famously unpredictable weather often leaves him both amused and frustrated. “It’ll be so sunny in the morning, and you think it’s going to stay the same. So you don’t take your umbrella or raincoat and leave for work. Two minutes later, boom. It rains like crazy, and you’re standing in the middle of traffic like an idiot, all wet,” he shared.
 

Despite these irritations, every visit back home to Kerala brings its own set of challenges. The user mentioned feeling suffocated by social expectations and judgmental stares. “I go back to Kerala, only to see every single person looking at you with an eye of judgement. You feel so constrained and held up by neighbours’ and relatives’ criticism. Here I am, missing the freedom I had in Bangalore,” he wrote.

He also reflected on the culture shock he’s experienced while living in the city, including moments where he felt out of place, especially among younger crowds at the gym. His post painted a picture of a constant back-and-forth: “When you stay in Bangalore, you want to go home. The moment you touch Kerala, you miss Bangalore like crazy.”

Though he’s lived in several cities across India, he said the emotional rollercoaster tied to Bengaluru feels unique. “This endless loop of love and hate is something I’ve only experienced with Bangalore. It’s also why I find it hard to move to another city for a job, and the fact that there are so many Malayalis and restaurants here.”

He wrapped up his post with a question to fellow Redditors: “What are your thoughts about this city? And can you imagine being anywhere else but here?”

The post sparked a lively discussion in the comments, with many users sharing similar sentiments.

One Redditor praised the city’s opportunities and climate, “Bangalore is pretty good in terms of opportunities, especially in IT. The weather is amazing here. I can’t work from Kerala because it’s so hot and humid there. I’ve met a few interesting people in Bangalore." Another added humorously, “Started living here two years ago and now I can’t tolerate any weather above 25 degrees. Going back home feels like I’ve been trapped in an oven.”

Not everyone agreed, though. Some reminisced about how the city’s infrastructure has struggled to keep up with its growth. One commenter wrote, “A decade ago, I lived in Bangalore for four years. It was the beginning of the long traffic jams. We used to hop on buses to get anywhere, always stuck. I saw where the city was headed and, in 2013, I happily packed up and moved to Kochi.”

And some users kept their advice short and practical: “Carry an umbrella and a rain cover in your bag. Have it at all times, like your decant and mints.”