The first few pages of BSNL telephone directory have a wealth of information on Bangalore, public utilities, government. Keep it handy. Borrow one from the department office until you get your telephone connection and therefore your own directory copy.
Also visit Bangalore online's information on local and Karnataka government.
LPG:
If you are in Vijnanapura, Veeresh Gas Agency is an Indane gas supplier. (Address: 4 Saptagiri Layout, RMV 2nd Stage, Nagashetty Halli, Bangalore 560094. Telephones: +91-80-23512732, 23511840, 23418809, Mobile: +91-99001-49352). Earlier, an address proof was sufficient to get a gas connection account. Nowadays you need a ration card. While you are there, write a letter requesting a second cylinder. If you do not have a ration card, it will be difficult to get such a connection. There are three alternatives to deal with this problem:
Akshay gas agency: The easy path for getting a gas connection is approaching Akshay gas agency (HP LPG agency; address: 260/1, 7, Sampige Road (Near 17th Cross), Malleshwaram, Bangalore, 560003; Phone:+91-80-23349012). Please carry your appointment letter faculty ID card, and a residential proof (quarters allotment letter), and a copy of your PAN card or your bank account passbook with photograph. They will be able to provide you a gas connection without the ration card. You might be required to submit an affidavit stating that you do not have gas connection any where else. Link your Aadhar card to your gas connection. If you do not have an Aadhar card, apply for one. (Warning: They may require that you purchase a gas stove, a lighter, and a cylinder stand from them. If you already have a gas stove, you may be pressured to buy some other item such as a pressure cooker.)
Private Agency's Gas Connection: It costs twice as much, but the connection is given the same day. Contact Jyothi gas agency, Vidyaranyapura (north of Ring Road, north of the main and Vijnanapura campuses). Telephone: +91-80-28386739, +91-98455-15980.
Priority Gas Connection: If you have been abroad prior to joining IISc, and therefore you could not get your ration card done, here is an easy way out. Go to the chairman of your department and ask him for a letter (printed on his letterpad) stating that you have joined the department recently and that you have been abroad prior to joining IISc (see attachment at the bottom of this page for a template of the letter). The letter should be addressed to the Manager, Indane Gas Agency. Take the letter and go to the Indane Gas Agency in Unity building, JC Road. Straightaway go to the secretary of the Manager and show her the letter and ask for an appointment with the Manager. Meet the manager and if he is convinced, then he will issue you a "priority" gas connection rightaway. It is purely at the discretion of the Manager, but quite a few new faculty have had success with this approach. His secretary will then issue a letter addressed to the agency (Mention Veeresh Gas Agency). Make sure you ask for a double cylinder connection. Take that approval letter and head to Veeresh Gas Agency. They will immediately give you a connection. If you are lucky enough, you can get the whole job done in just one day (format).
Furniture vendors: Dreamscape, Malleswaram, Margosa Road and 17th Cross (Ph. No: +91-80-2356-4766). Another place is Godrej Lifespace, 7/113 Dr. Rajkumar Road, 1st Main, 1st block, Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore - 10 (+91-80-23438400). Yet another is Home Town (Big Bazaar on the Ring Road) who promptly deliver. For small furniture items, you will find a plenty of shops on Sanjaynagar police station road (which is behind Vijananpura campus, parallel to the New BEL Road). For second hand furniture, try Craigslist or Olx websites. You will need a tempo to move your furniture (Reddy's Goods Carrier, reachable at +91-80-6649-8763; he is punctual.)
For house-hold supplies - check out Unilet Appliances Private Limited in Sanjaynagar near IISc Vijnanapura Campus, Telephone +91-80-2295 6123/24, or Girias at the intersection of Chowdaiah Road (Sankey Tank Road) and Bellary Road, Sadashivnagar, Telephone: +91-80-4264 666.
BSNL telephone and DSL connection: Call James (2004) at the Telecom office (housed in a small room beside the Tata library) to apply for a telephone and/or a DSL connection. He will help you fill up the form, and will forward it to the appropriate office (RT Nagar if you live in Vijnanapura, Malleswaram if you live in the main campus). Alternatively, you can do it yourself. If you are in Vijnanapura, you will have to go to the R.T. Nagar / Ganga Nagar BSNL office to request a telephone as well as a cell-one connection. It is located near Bellary Road and CBI Road junction, on 325, Bellary Road, Telephone: +91-80-2333-4720. Remember to get wireless LAN enabled modem for your DSL connection.
Telephone reimbursement: IISc reimburses your telephone bills telephone and broadband, up to a certain maximum. See details on the pay structure page. While there are separate limits for telephone and broadband charges, these caps are not applicable if you have a bundled plan. See BSNL website for a plan that suits your needs. (Reimbursement form; do not forget to give your bank account details on the form).
Mobile phone: GSM phones - BSNL has reasonably good coverage, except in the ECE department! If you want a BSNL post-paid Mobile Phone connection, go to the service centre on campus or at Malleswaram on Margosa Road / 15th Cross, +91-80-2334-0560, and request a connection. After paying a deposit (which varies if you want an STD or an ISD capability) you will be given a SIM card. Make sure you take photographs, ID proof, and address proof with you. Also ask how to activate your voice mail (it is free). Then purchase a GSM/GPRS phone from any vendor, and you are all set. If you want a Reliance phone, walk into a Reliance phone shop - on New BEL Road near Ramaiah College, or on Sampige Road near 15th Cross. Airtel - New BEL Road Cell Tech store near Ramaiah College, or near City Supermarket. Have photographs, ID proof, and address proof with you. (For Airtel, you may need a local Bangalore reference with a local Bangalore mobile number. Activation may take up to a week.)
If you don't have a PAN card, apply for one. The website Income Tax India answers a lot of questions. There is a section on how to apply for it on the web. You can apply via internet, apply for a DD on the internet and have it mailed to you (or just hike to SBI to pick it up if SBI is your bank), mail the DD along with a few supporting documents, and get your PAN card in about 2-3 weeks. You will need to give this number on purchases of cars, furniture, etc.
Aadhar card:
Enrolment is free.
You will need an identity proof (PAN card, driving licence, etc.) and an address proof (bank passbook, driving licence, etc.) List of accepted identity and address proofs are available at the website: http://uidai.gov.in/how-to-enroll.html
Enrolment can be done at a place called Medha Tours and Travels, near ICICI Mathikere branch. Enrolment involves a retina scan and fingerprinting.
While the website says that it takes 60-90 days for the Aadhar card to be delivered to you once you are enrolled, it may take a little longer.
To check whether your e-aadhar has been generated online, go to: https://resident.uidai.net.in/. You will need the enrolment number, date, and time, all of which will be indicated on your enrolment slip.
Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG: As of March 2014, this was on hold. Check: http://financesunplugged.blogspot.in/2014/03/aadhar-card-and-lpg-subsidy.html
Driver's licence: To be added.
Ration card: You will need this for a voter identification card or for getting a gas connection. Write to Deputy Director, Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, North Range, 2, 11th C Cross, Behind Cancer Society, Vyalikaval, Bangalore 560003. Telephone: 2344 5702. To reach here go to Vyalikaval Police Station (From CNR Rao Circle, go on Sankey Road, take right at Bhashyam Circle, take right opposite Vyalikaval Police Station, take right on 11th C Cross). I did not have a prior ration card, and my name was deleted from my parents' card long back. I wrote a letter indicating this and requested a card saying that it was necessary for getting a gas connection and voter identification card.
Foreigner Registration: If you child/children are foreign nationals, and you are wondering if they need to be registered at the Foreigner Registration Office in Bangalore, go here for more information provided by Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. If you do need to register, you will have to go to the Commissioner of Police's office in Infantry Road. It is best to go there by an autorickshaw due to parking restrictions. Note that you will have to provide a financial guarantee affidavit on a document sheet with franking of Rs. 20/- denomination and get it attested by a notary. The documents needed may vary depending on the age of your child/children. Visit the office once and get the relevant information.
Voter Identification: During the voter ID drive, which is held by Bangalore Authorities, typically designated people will come to Institute quarters and collect the necessary documents for getting a Voter ID. Alternatively you can also fill the required forms and submit it to the ERO office in Vyalikavall, 16th Cross, Malleswaram (for those who are staying on campus). More details could be found here.
Aquaguard: You can buy it from any consumer electronics shop. Or call 080-3988-3333. They have two kinds of filtration systems – UV and RO. Most of us use UV. Boil water if you are uncertain. Warning: the aquaguard may require that the water tank be at least a certain height above the aquaguard. If you are in the top-floor, this may be an issue. Check with the vendor.
Cable connection: If you are in Vijnanapura, try Starline Cable. It's located on New BEL Road on the West side of the road, above Safa Garments, and near Gurukripa Clinic. Proprietor: R.R.Reddy, +91-93426-72015, 9AM to 2 PM, 4 PM to 8 PM.
Milk and newspaper: Talk to your neighbour in Vijnanapura. These get delivered every morning.
Nearby clinics: If you are in the main campus, go to the Health Centre. For a child specialist, see Dr. Gayathri Vasanth (Shishu Clinic, telephone +91-80-2336-7311) at the junction of Malleswaram 17th Cross Street and Margosa Road; address: 57/1 - 1, LN Plaza, 17th Cross, Margosa Road , Malleswaram , Bangalore - 560055. Other child specialists: Dr. Naveen Kini (Gurukripa Clinic) on New BEL Road (20 m North of ISRO Road / New BEL Road junction, on the West side, above Safa garments and near Starline). He also consults at Ramaiah Hospital. There's also Dr. Vasanth Kamath near Girias at the junction of Sankey Road and Bellary Road. If you are in Vijnanapura, and need urgent care, Ramaiah Hospital is a good place.
Pharmacy: There is one inside the institute (at the junction of Madhuka Marg (Hospital Road) and extension of Arjuna Marg). There are many on New BEL Road. Ramaiah Hospital runs one that is open late at nights.
Purchasing a car: Maruti - RNS motors on Tumkur Road, Yeshwanthapur. Ask for an IISc discount, this might be a few thousand rupees, and get it. Hyundai - Trident Hyundai at the junction of Sankey Road and Bellary Road. You will need photographs and address proof to get the registration done.
Pet food: If you have a pet or would like to feed some dogs/cats on campus there is a good store in Malleshwaram called The Pets Villa on 18th Cross between Sampige and Margosa Roads, a little after Kotak Mahindra bank.
If you already have a vehicle, you will need to procure a sticker for free access into the institute. Go to the security building near the ATM gate with your vehicle's registration certificate to apply for one. You will have to get back here another day to collect the sticker.
Some forms that might come in handy for you during your settling down or there after.