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Bengaḷūru (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) Bangalore Vidhana Soudha Bengaḷūru (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) Location of Bengaḷūru (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) in Karnataka and India Coordinates 12°58′0″N 77°34′0″E / 12.966667°N 77.566667°E / 12.966667; 77.566667 Country  India Region Bayaluseeme State Karnataka District(s) Bangalore Urban Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena [1] Population • Density • Metro 5840155[2] (3rd) (2001) • 8,231 /km2 (21,318 /sq mi) • 6,562,408[3] (5th) (2010) Spoken languages   Kannada English Tamil Telugu Hindi Ethnic groups    Hindu Muslim Christian Jain Anglo-Indian Time zone IST (UTC+05:30) Area • Elevation 709.5 km2 (274 sq mi)[2] • 920 m (3,018 ft) Codes • Pincode • 560 xxx • Telephone • +91-(0)80 • UN/LOCODE • IN BLR • Vehicle • KA 01, KA 02, KA 03, KA 04, KA 05, KA 41, KA 50, KA 51, KA 53 Footnotes ^ http://www.bmponline.org/news-events/commissioner-message.shtml ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named delimit; see Help:Cite error. ^ Bangalore/Bengaluru Metro Population World Gazetteer. Retrieved 8 February 2010 Website Bangalore

Bengalooru [ˈbæŋɡəloːɾ] (help·info), also known as Bengaḷūru (Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, [ˈbeŋɡəɭuːɾu]( listen)), is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city^[1] and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration.

Though historical references to the city predate 900 AD, a modern written history of continuous settlement exists only from 1537, when Kempe Gowda I, who many regard as the architect of modern Bangalore, built a mud-brick fort at the site and established it as a province of the imperial Vijayanagara Empire. During the British Raj, it became a centre of colonial rule in South India. The establishment of the Bangalore Cantonment brought in large numbers of migrants from other parts of the country.

Today as a large city and growing metropolis, Bangalore is home to many of the most well-recognized colleges and research institutions in India. Numerous public sector heavy industries, software companies, aerospace, telecommunications, and defence organisations are located in the city. Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its position as the nation's leading IT exporter.^[2][3][4] A demographically diverse city, Bangalore is a major economic and cultural hub and the fastest growing major metropolis in India.^[5]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Geography 3.1 Climate 4 Civic Administration 5 Economy 6 Transport 6.1 Air 6.2 Rail 6.3 Road 7 Demographics 8 Culture 9 Sports 10 Education 11 Media 12 See also 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External links

Etymology

The name Bangalore is an anglicised version of the city's name in the Kannada language, Bengaḷūru. The earliest reference to the name "Bengaluru" was found in a ninth century Western Ganga Dynasty stone inscription on a "vīra gallu" (ವೀರ ಗಲ್ಲು) (literally, "hero stone", a rock edict extolling the virtues of a warrior). In this inscription found in Begur, "Bengaluru" is referred to as a place in which a battle was fought in 890. It states that the place was part of the Ganga Kingdom until 1004 and was known as "Bengaval-uru", the "City of Guards" in Halegannada (Old Kannada.^[6] An article, published in The Hindu, states:

An inscription, dating back to 890 CE, shows Bangalore is over 1,000 years old. But it stands neglected at the Parvathi Nageshwara Temple in Begur near the city... written in Hale Kannada (Old Kannada) of the 9th century CE, the epigraph refers to a Bengaluru war in 890 in which Buttanachetty, a servant of Nagatta, died. Though this has been recorded by historian R. Narasimhachar in his Epigraphia of Carnatica (Vol. 10 supplementary), no efforts have been made to preserve it.^[7]

An apocryphal, though popular, anecdote recounts that the 11th-century Hoysala king Veera Ballala II, while on a hunting expedition, lost his way in the forest. Tired and hungry, he came across a poor old woman who served him boiled beans. The grateful king named the place "benda-kaal-uru" (Kannada: ಬೆಂದಕಾಳೂರು) (literally, "town of boiled beans"), which eventually evolved into "Bengalūru".^[8][9]

On 11 December 2005, the Government of Karnataka announced that it had accepted a proposal by Jnanpith Award winner U. R. Ananthamurthy to rename Bangalore to Bengaluru.^[10] On 27 September 2006, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) passed a resolution to implement the proposed name change,^[11] which was accepted by the Government of Karnataka and it was decided to officially implement the name change from 1 November 2006.^[12][13] However, this process has been currently stalled due to delays in getting clearances from the Union Home Ministry.^[14]

History

After centuries of the rule of the Western Gangas, Bangalore was captured by the Cholas in 1024 CE which later passed on to the Chalukya-cholas in 1070. In 1116 the Hoysala Empire, overthrew the Cholas and extended its rule over Bangalore. Modern Bangalore was founded by a vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire, Kempe Gowda I, who built a mud-brick fort and a Nandi Temple in the proximity of modern Bangalore in 1537. Yelahanka is one of the oldest towns in Karnataka and it is believed that it has a history of more than 500 years. It is the home town for the ruling king called Kempegowda (under a provision given by Krishnadevaraya) who built Bangalore City. Kempe Gowda referred to the new town as his "gandubhūmi" or "Land of Heroes".^[9]

Within Bangalore Fort, the town was divided into smaller divisions – each called a "pete" (IPA: [peːteː]). The town had two main streets – Chikkapete Street, which ran east-west, and Doddapete Street, which ran north-south. Their intersection formed the Doddapete Square — the heart of Bangalore. Kempe Gowda's successor, Kempe Gowda II, built four famous towers that marked Bangalore's boundary. Myth says that the city would befall great calamity if it extended beyond these four towers.^[15] During the Vijayanagara rule, Bangalore was also referred to as "Devarāyanagara" and "Kalyānapura" ("Auspicious City").

After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, Bangalore's rule changed hands several times. In 1638, a large Bijapur army led by Ranadulla Khan and accompanied by Shahji Bhonsle defeated Kempe Gowda III and Bangalore was given to Shahaji as a jagir. In 1687, the Mughal general Kasim Khan defeated Ekoji I/Venkoji, son of Shahaji, and then sold Bangalore to Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar (1673–1704) of Mysore for 300,000 rupees.^[16][17] After the death of Krishnaraja Wodeyar II in 1759, Hyder Ali, Commander-in-Chief of the Mysore Army, proclaimed himself the de facto ruler of Mysore. The kingdom later passed to Hyder Ali's son Tippu Sultan, known as the Tiger of Mysore. Bangalore was eventually incorporated into the British Indian Empire after Tippu Sultan was defeated and killed in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799). The British returned administrative control of the Bangalore "pētē" to the Maharaja of Mysore, choosing only to retain the Cantonment under their jurisdiction. The 'Residency' of Mysore State was first established at Mysore in 1799 and later shifted to Bangalore in the year 1804. It was abolished in the year 1843 only to be revived in 1881 at Bangalore and to be closed down permanently in 1947, with Indian independence. The British, found it easier to recruit employees in the Madras Presidency and relocate them to cantonment area during this period. The Kingdom of Mysore relocated its capital from Mysore city to Bangalore in 1831.^[18] Two important developments during this period contributed to the rapid growth of the city: the introduction of telegraph connections and a rail connection to Madras in 1864.

In the 19th century, Bangalore essentially became a Twin city, with the "pētē", whose residents were predominantly Kannadigas, and the "cantonment" created by the British, whose residents were predominantly Tamils.^[19] Bangalore was hit by a plague epidemic in 1898 that dramatically reduced its population. New extensions in Malleshwara and Basavanagudi were developed in the north and south of the pētē. Telephone lines were laid to help co-ordinate anti-plague operations, and a health officer was appointed to the city in 1898. In 1906, Bangalore became the first city in India to have electricity, powered by the hydroelectric plant situated in Shivanasamudra. Bangalore's reputation as the Garden City of India began in 1927 with the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the rule of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Several projects such as the construction of parks, public buildings and hospitals were instituted to beautify the city. After Indian independence in August 1947, Bangalore remained in the new Mysore State of which the Maharaja of Mysore was the Rajapramukh. Public sector employment and education provided opportunities for Kannadigas from the rest of the state to migrate to the city. Bangalore experienced rapid growth in the decades 1941–51 and 1971–81 , which saw the arrival of many immigrants from northern Karnataka. By 1961, Bangalore had become the sixth largest city in India, with a population of 1,207,000.^[15] In the decades that followed, Bangalore's manufacturing base continued to expand with the establishment of private companies such as Motor Industries Company (MICO; a subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH), which set up its manufacturing plant in the city. Bangalore experienced a growth in its real estate market in the 1980s and 1990s, spurred by capital investors from other parts of the country who converted Bangalore's large plots and colonial bungalows into multi-storied apartments.^[20] In 1985, Texas Instruments became the first multinational to set up base in Bangalore. Other Information Technology companies followed suit and by the end of the 20th century, Bangalore had firmly established itself as the Silicon Valley of India.

Geography

Bangalore
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3   27 15     7   30 17     4   32 19     46   34 22     120   33 21     81   29 20     110   28 20     137   27 19     195   28 19     180   28 19     64   27 17     22   26 16 average max. and min. temperatures in °C precipitation totals in mm source: World Weather Information Service
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.1   81 59     0.3   85 62     0.2   90 67     1.8   92 71     4.7   91 70     3.2   85 68     4.3   82 67     5.4   81 67     7.7   82 67     7.1   82 66     2.5   80 63     0.9   79 60 average max. and min. temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches

Bangalore lies in the southeast of the South Indian state of Karnataka. It is in the heart of the Mysore Plateau (a region of the larger Precambrian Deccan Plateau) at an average elevation of 920 m (3,018 ft). It is positioned at 12°58′N 77°34′E / 12.97°N 77.56°E / 12.97; 77.56 and covers an area of 741 km² (286 mi²).^[21] The majority of the city of Bangalore lies in the Bangalore Urban district of Karnataka and the surrounding rural areas are a part of the Bangalore Rural district. The region consisting the Bangalore Urban and Rural districts is known as the Bangalore (region). The Government of Karnataka has carved out the new district of Ramanagara from the old Bangalore Rural district.

The topology of Bangalore is flat except for a central ridge running NNE-SSW. The highest point is Doddabettahalli, which is 962 m (3,156 ft) and lies on this ridge.^[22] No major rivers run through the city, though the Arkavathi and South Pennar cross paths at the Nandi Hills, 60 km (37 mi.) to the north. River Vrishabhavathi, a minor tributary of the Arkavathi, arises within the city at Basavanagudi and flows through the city. The rivers Arkavathi and Vrishabhavathi together carry much of Bangalore's sewage. A sewerage system, constructed in 1922, covers 215 km² (133 mi²) of the city and connects with five sewage treatment centers located in the periphery of Bangalore.^[23]

In the 16th century, Kempe Gowda I constructed many lakes to meet the town's water requirements. The Kempambudhi Kere, since overrun by modern development, was prominent among those lakes. In the earlier half of 20th century, the Nandi Hills waterworks was commissioned by Sir Mirza Ismail (Diwan of Mysore, 1926–41 CE) to provide a water supply to the city. Currently, the river Kaveri provides around 80% of the total water supply to the city with the remaining 20% being obtained from the Thippagondanahalli and Hesaraghatta reservoirs of the Arkavathi river.^[24] Bangalore receives 800 million litres (211 million US gallons) of water a day, more than any other Indian city.^[25] However, Bangalore sometimes does face water shortages, especially during the summer season- more so in the years of low rainfall. A random sampling study of the Air Quality Index (AQI) of twenty stations within the city indicated scores that ranged from 76 to 314, suggesting heavy to severe air pollution around areas of traffic concentration.^[26]

Bangalore has a handful of freshwater lakes and water tanks, the largest of which are Madivala tank, Hebbal lake, Ulsoor lake and Sankey Tank. Groundwater occurs in silty to sandy layers of the alluvial sediments. The Peninsular Gneissic Complex (PGC) is the most dominant rock unit in the area and includes granites, gneisses and migmatites, while the soils of Bangalore consist of red laterite and red, fine loamy to clayey soils.^[26]

Vegetation in the city is primarily in the form of large deciduous canopy and minority coconut trees. Though Bangalore has been classified as a part of the seismic zone II (a stable zone), it has experienced quakes of magnitude as high as 4.5.^[27]

Climate

Bangalore features a tropical wet and dry climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Due to its high elevation, Bangalore usually enjoys a more moderate climate throughout the year, although occasional heat waves can make things very uncomfortable in the summer.^[28] The coolest month is January with an average low temperature of 15.1 °C and the hottest month is April with an average high temperature of 33.6 °C.^[29] The highest temperature ever recorded in Bangalore is 38.9 °C and the lowest ever is 7.8 °C (on January 1884).^[30][31] Winter temperatures rarely drop below 12 °C (54 °F), and summer temperatures seldom exceed 36–37 °C (100 °F). Bangalore receives rainfall from both the northeast and the southwest monsoons and the wettest months are September, October and August, in that order.^[29] The summer heat is moderated by fairly frequent thunderstorms, which occasionally cause power outages and local flooding. The heaviest rainfall recorded in a 24-hour period is 179 millimetres (7.0 in) recorded on 1 October 1997.^[32]

Civic Administration

Bangalore City officials
Administrator	S. Dilip Rau
Municipal Commissioner	Bharat Lal Meena
Police Commissioner	Shankar Bidari[33]

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP, Greater Bangalore Municipal Corporation) is in charge of the civic administration of the city.^[34] It was formed in 2007 by merging 100 wards of the erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, with the neighbouring 7 City Municipal Councils (CMC), one Town Municipal Council and 110 villages around Bangalore.^[34]

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is run by a city council composed of elected representatives, called "corporators", one from each of the wards of the city. Elections to the council are held once every 5 years, with results being decided by popular vote. A mayor and commissioner of the council are also elected through a quota system from a Scheduled Castes and Tribes candidate or to an Other Backward Class female candidate. Members contesting elections to the council represent one of more of the state's political parties. However, elections to the newly constituted body were not held, due to delays in delimitation of wards and finalising voter lists. After several months of delay, and following orders from the Karnataka High Court, the Government of Karnataka released the delimited list of 198 wards, with reservation quotas, in December 2009.^[35] Elections are now expected to be held by January 2010, more than three years after the expiry of the previous council's term.^[36]

Bangalore's rapid growth has created several problems relating to traffic congestion and infrastructural obsolescence that the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has found challenging to address. A 2003 Battelle Environmental Evaluation System (BEES) evaluation of Bangalore's physical, biological and socioeconomic parameters indicated that Bangalore's water quality and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems were close to ideal, while the city's socioeconomic parameters (traffic, quality of life) scored poorly.^[37]

The unplanned nature of growth in the city resulted in massive traffic gridlocks that the municipality attempted to ease by constructing a flyover system and by imposing one-way traffic systems. Some of the flyovers and one-ways mitigated the traffic situation moderately but were unable to adequately address the disproportionate growth of city traffic.^[37] In 2005 both the Central Government and the State Government allocated considerable portions of their annual budgets to address Bangalore's infrastructure.^[38] The BBMP works with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development Task Force (ABIDe) to design and implement civic projects. Bangalore generates about 3,000 tonnes of solid waste per day, of which about 1,139 tonnes are collected and sent to composting units such as the Karnataka Composting Development Corporation. The remaining solid waste collected by the municipality is dumped in open spaces or on roadsides outside the city.^[39]

The Bangalore City Police (BCP) has six geographic zones, includes the Traffic Police, the City Armed Reserve, the Central Crime Branch and the City Crime Record Bureau and runs 86 police stations, including two all-women police stations.^[40] As capital of the state of Karnataka, Bangalore houses important state government facilities such as the Karnataka High Court, the Vidhana Soudha (the home of the Karnataka state legislature) and Raj Bhavan (the residence of the Governor of Karnataka). Bangalore contributes three members to India's lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, and 28 members to the Karnataka State Assembly.^[41]

Electricity in Bangalore is regulated through the Bangalore Electricity supply Company (BESCOM)^[42]. Like many cities in India, Bangalore experiences scheduled power cuts, especially over the summer, to allow electricity providers to meet the consumption demands of households as well as corporations.

Economy

Bangalore's Rs 260,260 crore (US$ 100 billion) economy (2002–03 Net District Income) makes it a major economic centre in India.^[43] With an economic growth of 10.3%, Bangalore is the fastest growing major metropolis in India.^[44] Additionally, Bangalore is India's fourth largest fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) market.^[45] The city is the third largest hub for high net worth individuals and is home to over 10,000 dollar millionaires and about 60,000 super-rich people who have an investable surplus of Rs. 4.5 crore (US$ 1 million) and Rs. 50 lakh (US$ 109,500) respectively.^[46] As of 2001, Bangalore's share of Rs. 1,660 crore (US$ 400 million) in Foreign Direct Investment was the fourth highest for an Indian city.^[47]

In the 1940s, industrial visionaries such as Sir Mirza Ismail and Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya born in nearby Muddenahalli played an important role in the development of Bangalore's strong manufacturing and industrial base.

The headquarters of several public sector undertakings such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL),Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) are located in Bangalore. In June 1972 the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established under the Department of Space and headquartered in the city.

Bangalore is called the Silicon Valley of India because of the large number of information technology companies located in the city which contributed 33% of India's Rs. 144,214 crore (US$ 32 billion) IT exports in 2006-07.^[48] Bangalore's IT industry is divided into three main clusters — Software Technology Parks of India (STPI); International Tech Park, Bangalore (ITPB); and Electronics City. UB City, the headquarters of the United Breweries Group, is a high-end commercial zone.^[49] Infosys and Wipro, India's second and third largest software companies are headquartered in Bangalore, as are many of the global SEI-CMM Level 5 Companies.

The growth of IT has presented the city with unique challenges. Ideological clashes sometimes occur between the city's IT moguls, who demand an improvement in the city's infrastructure, and the state government, whose electoral base is primarily the people in rural Karnataka.^[50] Bangalore is a hub for biotechnology related industry in India and in the year 2005, around 47% of the 265 biotechnology companies in India were located here; including Biocon, India's largest biotechnology company.^[51][52]

Transport

Air

Bangalore is served by the newly built Bengaluru International Airport (IATA code: BLR) which started operations from 24 May 2008. The city was earlier served by the HAL Airport which was India's fourth busiest airport.^[53][54][55] Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines have their headquarters in Bangalore.^[56] It is now the third busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic. Yelahanka, the hometown of Kempe Gowda has become one of the fastest growing areas in the city due to the proximity to BIAL (14Kms).

Rail

A rapid transit system called the Namma Metro is being developed and is expected to be operational by 2012. Once completed, this will encompass a 42.3 km (26.3 mi) elevated and underground rail network comprising 41 stations. It is expected to connect central locations in Bangalore to Devanahalli and the Chikballapur regions.^{[57] [58]} Bangalore comes under the South Western Railway zone of the Indian Railways. Bangalore City Railway station and Yesvantpur Junction connect it to the rest of the country through the Indian Railways. The Rajdhani Express connects the city to New Delhi, the capital of India. Bangalore is also connected by rail to most cities in Karnataka, as well as Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Mysore and other major cities in India.^[59]. The sprawling Rail Wheel Factory is Asia's second largest manufacturer of Wheel & Axle for Railways and headquartered in Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

Road

Three-wheeled, black and yellow auto-rickshaws, referred to as autos, are a popular form of transport.^[60] They are metered and can accommodate up to three passengers. Taxi service within Bangalore is provided by several operators commonly referred to as Citi taxis which can carry up to four passengers and are usually metered and more expensive than auto-rickshaws.^[60]

Buses operated by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) are also a means of public transport available in the city.^[61] While commuters can buy tickets on boarding these buses, BMTC also provides an option of a bus pass to frequent users. BMTC also runs air-conditioned Volvo buses on major routes.^[61] The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation operates 6,600 buses on 5,700 schedules, connecting Bangalore with other parts of Karnataka as well as other states.^[62]

Demographics

Population Growth
Census	Pop.		%±
1971	1,654,000		—
1981	2,922,000		76.7%
1991	4,130,000		41.3%
2001	5,101,000		23.5%
Source: Census of India[63]

With an estimated population of 5.8 million in 2001,^[64] Bangalore is the third most populous city in India and the 28th most populous city in the world.^[65] Bangalore was the fastest-growing Indian metropolis after New Delhi between 1991–2001, with a growth rate of 38% during the decade. Residents of Bangalore are referred to as Bangaloreans in English or Bengaloorinavaru in Kannada, whose native speakers form about 39% of the city's population.^[66][67]

The cosmopolitan nature of the city has resulted in the migration of people from other states to Bangalore.^[68] Scheduled Castes and Tribes account for 14.3% of the city's population. Apart from Kannada and English, other major languages spoken in the city are Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.^[69] According to the 2001 census of India, 79.37% of Bangalore's population is Hindu, roughly the same as the national average.^[70] Muslims comprise 13.37% of the population, which again is roughly the same as the national average, while Christians and Jains account for 5.79% and 1.05% of the population, respectively, double that of their national averages. Anglo-Indians also form a substantial group within the city. Women make up 47.5% of Bangalore's population. Bangalore has the second highest literacy rate (83%) for an Indian metropolis, after Mumbai. Roughly 10% of Bangalore's population lives in slums^[71] — a relatively low proportion when compared to other cities in the developing world such as Mumbai (42%) and Nairobi (60%).^[72] The 2004 National Crime Records Bureau statistics indicate that Bangalore accounts for 9.2% of the total crimes reported from 35 major cities in India.^[73]

Culture

The Lal Bagh Glass House, famous for its flower shows, is now a heritage monument.

Bangalore Karaga, one of the oldest and most important festivals in the heart of Bangalore.

Dasara, a traditional celebratory hallmark of the old Kingdom of Mysore, is the state festival and is celebrated with great vigour.

Bangalore is known as the Garden City of India^[74] because of its greenery and the presence of many public parks, including the Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park.

The city will celebrate which is known to be Bangalore's most important and oldest festivals called "Karaga Shaktyotsava" or Bangalore Karaga.^[75] Deepavali, the "Festival of Lights", transcends demographic and religious lines and is another important festival. Other traditional Indian festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Ugadi, Sankranthi, Eid ul-Fitr, and Christmas are also celebrated.

Bangalore is home to the Kannada film industry, which churns out about 80 Kannada movies each year.^[76] One of the most notable contributors to Sandalwood, as the Kannada Movie Industry is referred to, was the late Dr. Rajkumar.

The diversity of cuisine is reflective of the social and economic diversity of Bangalore. Roadside vendors, tea stalls, and South Indian, North Indian, Chinese and Western fast food are all very popular in the city. Udupi restaurants are very popular and serve predominantly vegetarian, regional cuisine.

Bangalore is also a major center of Indian classical music and dance. Classical music and dance recitals are widely held throughout the year and particularly during the Ramanavami and Ganesha Chaturthi festivals. The Bengaluru Gayana Samaja has been at the forefront of promoting classical music and dance in the city.

The city also has a vibrant Kannada theater scene with organizations like Ranga Shankara leading the way. Bangalore is also sometimes called as the "Pub Capital of India" and is one of the premier places to hold international rock concerts.^[77]

Sister Cities

• Minsk, Belarus.^[78]
• San Francisco, California, United States.^[79]
• Cleveland, Ohio, United States.^[80]
• Kharkiv, Kharkiv oblast, Ukraine

Sports

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in Bangalore. A significant number of national cricketers have come from Bangalore, including former Indian cricket team captains Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble, and Robin Uthappa among others. Many children play gully cricket on the roads and in the city's many public fields. Bangalore's main international cricket stadium is the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 40,000^[81] and has hosted matches during the 1987 Cricket World Cup and 1996 Cricket World Cup. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is also the home of India's National Cricket Academy.

The Indian Premier League franchise Bangalore Royal Challengers, the Premier Hockey League franchise Bangalore Hi-fliers, and the Karnataka Premier League franchisees Bangalore Brigadiers and Provident Bangalore are based in the city. India's Davis Cup team members, Mahesh Bhupathi^[82] and Rohan Bopanna^[83] also reside in Bangalore. The city hosts the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Bangalore Open tournament annually. Beginning September 2008, Bangalore has also been hosting the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open ATP tournament annually.^[84]

Bangalore has a number of elite clubs, like Century Club,The Bangalore Golf Club, the Bowring Institute and the exclusive Bangalore Club, which counts among its previous members Winston Churchill and the Maharaja of Mysore.^[85] The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC is based in Bangalore. Other sports personalities from Bangalore include national swimming champion Nisha Millet, world snooker champion, Pankaj Advani and former All England Open badminton champion Prakash Padukone.

Education

Until the early 19th century, education in Bangalore was mainly run by religious leaders and restricted to students of that religion.^[86] The western system of education was introduced during the rule of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, when two schools were established in Bangalore. Subsequently, Wesleyan Mission established a school in 1851 and the Bangalore High School which was started by the Government in 1858.^[87]

In post-independent India, schools for young children are mainly based on the kindergarten form of education.^[88] Primary and secondary education in Bangalore is offered by various schools which are affiliated to one of the boards of education, such as the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC), ICSE and CBSE.^[89] Schools in Bangalore are either government run or are private (both aided and un-aided by the government).^[90] After completing their secondary education, students typically attend Pre University (PUC) in one of three streams – Arts, Commerce or Science.^[91] Upon completing the required coursework, students enroll in general or professional degrees in univerities. The Bangalore University,established in 1964, provides affiliation to about 500 colleges, with a total student enrollment exceeding 300,000. The university has two campuses within Bangalore – Jnanabharathi and Central College.^[92]

Indian Institute of Science, which was established in 1909 in Bangalore, is the premier institute for scientific research and study in India.^[93] Nationally renouned professional institutes such as the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) and the Indian Statistical Institute are located in Bangalore.^[93] The city is also home to the premier mental health institution in India National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).

Media

The first printing-press was established in Bangalore in the year 1840.^[94] In 1859, Bangalore Herald became the first English bi-weekly newspaper to be published in Bangalore^[95] and in 1860, Mysore Vrittanta Bodhini became the first Kannada newspaper to be circulated in Bangalore.^[94] Currently, Vijaya Karnataka and The Times of India are the most widely circulated Kannada and English newspapers in Bangalore respectively, closely followed by the Prajavani and Deccan Herald both owned by the Printers (Mysore) Limited - the largest print media house in Karnataka.^[96][97]

Bangalore got its first radio station when All India Radio, the official broadcaster for the Indian Government, started broadcasting from its Bangalore station on 2 November 1955.^[98] The radio transmission was AM, until in 2001, Radio City became the first private channel in India to start transmitting FM radio from Bangalore.^[99] In recent years, a number of FM channels have started broadcasting from Bangalore.^[100] The city also has India's Oldest Amateur (Ham) Radio Club - Bangalore Amateur Radio Club VU2ARC ^[101][102] celebrating its Golden Jubilee along with Hamfest India HFI 2009 this November ^[103] amongst various clubs for HAM radio enthusiasts.^[104].

Bangalore has a number of newspapers and magazines that cater to the varied interests. Magazines like Open and 080 cater to lifestyle, citizen issues and fashion, newspapers like Mid-Day and Vijay Karnataka provide localised news updates. On the web (as Bangalore is the silicon city of India), Explocity provides listings information, while My Bangalore is more news centric.

Bangalore got its first look at television when Doordarshan established a relay centre here and started relaying programs from 1 November 1981.^[105] A production center was established in the Doordarshan's Bangalore office in 1983, thereby allowing the introduction of a news program in Kannada on 19 November 1983.^[105] Doordarshan also launched a Kannada satellite channel on 15 August 1991 which is now christened DD Chandana.^[105] The advent of private satellite channels in Bangalore started in September 1991 when Star TV started to broadcast its channels.^[106] Though the number of satellite TV channels available for viewing in Bangalore has grown over the years,^[107] the cable operators play a major role in the availability of these channels, which has led to occasional conflicts.^[108] Direct To Home services are also available in Bangalore now.^[109]

The first internet service provider in Bangalore was STPI, Bangalore which started offering internet services in early 1990s.^[110] This internet service was however restricted to corporates, until VSNL started offering dial-up internet services to the general public at the end of 1995.^[111] Currently, Bangalore has the largest number of broadband internet connections in India.^[112]

See also

• Bangalore (region)
• Karnataka
• Tourist attractions in Bangalore
• List of tallest buildings in Bangalore

References

Further reading

• Hasan, Fazlul. Bangalore Through The Centuries. Bangalore: Historical Publications, 1970.
• Plunkett, Richard. South India. Lonely Planet, 2001. ISBN 1-86450-161-8
• Vagale, Uday Kumar. "Public Space in Bangalore: Present and Future Projections"PDF (773 KB). Digital Libraries and Archives. 2006. Virginia Tech. 27 April 2004.
• "Environmental Impact Analysis"PDF. Bangalore Metropolitan Rapid Transport Corporation Limited. 2006. Government of Karnataka. 2005.
• Hunter, Cotton, Burn, Meyer. "The Imperial Gazetteer of India", 2006. Oxford, Clarendon Press. 1909.
• "Bangalore." Encyclopedia Britannica. 1911 ed.
• Hayavadana Rao, The Mysore State Gazetteer, 1929

External links

• Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike - (Municipal government)
• Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore
• Bangalore at the Open Directory Project
• My Bangalore / Bangalore City Portal
• Photo Gallery / Bangalore City Gallery
• Bangalore travel guide from Wikitravel

Articles Related to Bangalore Bangalore topics History History of Bangalore · Kadambas of Banavasi · Western Ganga Dynasty · Chalukya Empire · Rashtrakuta Empire · Hoysala Empire · Vijayanagara Empire · Kingdom of Mysore, Tipu Sultan · Kempe Gowda  · Bangalore Cantonment · Bengaluru Pete Places of worship Bull Temple · Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple · ISKCON · Meenakshi Temple · Halasuru Someshwara Temple · Dodda Ganesha Temple · Ram Anjaneya Gudda · Ragigudda Anjaneya temple · St. Mary's Basilica · Jamia Masjid · St Patrick's Church · Infant Jesus Church Buildings Vidhana Soudha · Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum · Nehru Planetarium · Karnataka High Court · Daly Memorial Hall · Mayo Hall · Bangalore Town Hall · Utility Building · M. Chinnaswamy Stadium · Bangalore Palace Transport Auto rickshaw · Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation · Bangalore Metro · Bengaluru International Airport · HAL Airport · BMIC · Hosur Road Elevated Expressway Culture Bangalore Kannada · Kannada films Malls The Forum · Garuda Mall  · Bangalore Central  · Sigma Mall  · Cosmos Mall  · Lido Mall  · Esteem Mall  · Fame Value Mall  · Gopalan Mall  · Mantri Square Groups Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore · Karnataka Quiz Association · Bangalore Linux User Group · Bangalore Agenda Task Force · Bangalore IT.COM · Sankalp India Foundation Parks Bannerghatta National Park · Lal Bagh · Cubbon Park  · Bugle Rock  · Freedom Park   Localities Anil Kumble Circle  · Arekere · Brigade Road · BTM Layout · Banashankari  · Basavanagudi · Basaveshwaranagar · Bommanahalli · Dasarahalli · Domlur · Electronics City · Ganganagar, Gavipuram  · Girinagar  · HSR Layout  · Halasuru  · Hebbal  · Hulimavu · Indiranagar · Jalahalli · Jayanagar · J P Nagar · Jeevanbheemanagar · Kaggadasapura · Kamalanagar  · Kengeri  · Kodigehalli  · Konanakunte  · Koramangala  · Krishnarajapura  · Kumaraswamy Layout  · Madiwala · Mahalakshmi Layout · Malleshwaram · Marathahalli · M. G. Road  · Murugeshpalya  · Nagarbhavi · Padmanabhanagar · Peenya · Rajajinagar · Rajarajeshwari Nagar · R. T. Nagar · Sadhashivnagar · Sanjaynagar · Sahakara Nagar  · Shivajinagar · Thyagarajanagar · Uttarahalli · Varthur  · Vidyaranyapura · Vijayanagar · Vimanpura · Whitefield  · Yelahanka  · Yeswanthpur  · Bugle Rock  · Peninsular Gneiss   Institutions Education List of schools in Bangalore · Bishop Cotton Boys' School · Baldwin Boys High School · Mallya Aditi International School · National Public School, Indiranagar · St. Joseph's Indian High School · St.Germain High School · Little Flower Public School · Venkat International Public School · Kensri School Higher Education List of Bangalore colleges · Central College · University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering · Indian Statistical Institute · National College · Indian Institute of Science · Indian Institute of Management Bangalore · Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship · Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering · Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute Of Technology · Bangalore Medical College · International Institute of Information Technology · Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology · Indian Institute of Astrophysics · University of Agricultural Sciences · National Centre for Software Technology · National Law School of India University · National Institute of Fashion Technology · Bangalore Institute of Technology · BMS College Of Engineering · Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering Hospitals Victoria Hospital · Vanivilas Women and childrens hospital · Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospitals · Minto eye hospital · SDS Tuberculosis Sanatorium · NCBS · NIMHANS · HOSMAT · Narayana Hrudayalaya  · Manipal Hospital  · Apollo Hospital  · Wockhardt Hospital  · Sagar Hospitals  · Chinmaya Mission Hospital  · St. John's Hospital Industry List of Bangalore telecom companies · Hindustan Aeronautics Limited · National Aerospace Laboratories · Indian Space Research Organisation, Avanade · Infosys · Wipro · Biocon · Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) · Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) · Hindustan Motors (HM) · Genpact · Accord Software and Systems · ITC Limited · Cisco Systems · Motorola · Juniper Networks · Alcatel-Lucent · Nokia · Siemens · HP · Cypress Semiconductor · Microsoft · Toyota-Kirloskar Motor Famous people · Bangalore Rural District · List of cities in India · List of cities by population · List of cities known as Silicon Valleys · Pubs · Tourist attractions in Bangalore · Lakes in Bangalore · Peninsular Gneiss · Economy    Geographic locale Lat. and Long. 12°58′N 77°34′E / 12.967°N 77.567°E / 12.967; 77.567  Karnataka topics Overviews Cinema · Climate · Cuisine · Demography · Economy · Education · Folk Arts · Geography · History · Media · People · Sports · Transportation · Wildlife History Aihole · Alupas · Amoghavarsha · Badami · Banavasi · Chalukyas · Chitradurga Nayaka · Gangas · Halmidi · Hampi · Hoysala Empire · Kadambas · Keladi Nayaka · Kittur Chennamma · Manyakheta · Pattadakal · Pulakesi II · Rashtrakutas · Srirangapatna · Tipu Sultan · Unification of Karnataka · Vijayanagara empire · Western Chalukyas · Mysore Kingdom Geography Cities and towns · Districts · Rivers · Taluks · Villages · Bayaluseeme · Malenadu · Karavali · Western Ghats Culture Bharatanatya · Bhuta Kola · Bidriware · Channapatna toys · Chitrakala Parishat · Gaarudi Gombe · Ilkal saree · Kamsale · Kannada · Karnatik music · Kasuti · Khedda · Mysore Dasara · Togalu Gombeyaata · Udupi cuisine · Veeragase · Yakshagana · Mysore musicians Literature Haridasa · Hoysala · Kannada literature · Medieval literature · Kannada poetry · Kannada Sahitya Parishat · Kannada Sahitya Sammelana · Karnataka · Rashtrakuta · Vachana · Vijayanagara Empire · Western Chalukya · Western Ganga · Mysore Kingdom Society Beary · Bunt · Havyaka · Hebbar Iyengar · Hoysala Karnataka · Kannadiga · Kodava · Konkani · Kota · Lingayat · Mogaveera · Sankethi · Tuluva · Vokkaliga · Karnataka ethnic groups People Akka Mahadevi · Aluru Venkata Rao · U.R. 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From Wikiquote

Quotes referencing the city of Bangalore, India:

Sourced

• It was somewhere between the interview with the Indian entrepreneur who wanted to do my taxes from Bangalore and the one who wanted to write my software from Bangalore, and the one who wanted to read my x-rays from Bangalore, and the one who wanted to trace my lost luggage from Bangalore...I was realizing that, while I had been sleeping, while I had been off covering the 9/11 wars, I had missed something really fundamental in this globalization story. I had lost the thread, and I found it in Bangalore ~ Thomas Friedman, "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century".

• Bangalore is a brand the world identifies India with. It is also the single biggest reason why India has become such a hot investment destination. ~ Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India. Union Budget 2005-2006, 12 Feb. 2006

External links

From Wikitravel

Bangalore,[1] officially known as Bengaluru, is one of the most hip and happening cities in India and also a major center of the I.T. industry.

Understand

History

The earliest records of a place named 'Bengaluru' were found in a 9th century temple in an area that is now known as 'Old Bangalore'. Once the feudal lord Kempe Gowda was hunting in this area, a rabbit turned and attacked his dog. This made a great impression on the lord and he gave the place a title of gandu bhoomi (the place of heroes) and in 1537, with the assistance of the local king, he constructed three districts protected by a walled fort on the site.

During the next three centuries, Bangalore existed very much in the shadow of its neighboring city Mysore, and control of the town changed hands many times. The year 1831 marked a major turning point for the city. Claiming misrule by the king Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, the British took control of the Mysore Kingdom and, possibly influenced by the city's mild climate, moved the administrative capital to Bangalore. New telecommunication systems were laid, rail connections built, fine government buildings constructed and the city's famous parks and gardens established. After independence, Bangalore maintained its position as the Karnataka state capital, and continues to flourish.

For many years, Bangalore was known throughout India as the most green, liberal and forward-thinking city. In recent years, these attributes have propelled Bangalore to the forefront of the high-tech industry boom in India, and it currently ranks as India's most developed city and one of the world's fastest growing urban areas.

The name Bangalore appears to come from an Anglicization of the native name "Bengaluru" - an adaptation of the earlier name in Kannada: Benda Kaale Uru (The Town of Boiled Beans). Apparently this rather humble name was bequeathed to the city by king Vira Ballala. Once while lost in the area, he was offered boiled beans by an old woman, and it was out of gratitude that he named the area after this simple offering.

• Garden City
• Silicon Valley of India

Some facts

Area: 1080 sq.km.

Altitude: 1036 m.s.l (3400 ft) above sea level

Geographical Location

• Latitudinal Parallels: 12° 57' N
• Longitudinal Meridians: 77° 37' E

Climate

Unlike other parts of India which are extremely hot in the summer months, Bangalore enjoys a relatively mild climate year round.

• February to May (warmest months)
• June to August (Windy, Heavy rain - South-West Monsoon)
• September to Octover (Windy, Rain - Retreating monsoon)
• November to December (Light Rain - North-East monsoon)
• January to February (coldest months. Often showers of North-East monsoon in January as well)

Temperature

• Highest maximum of 28°C (81°F) to lowest minimum of 5°C (41°F).

Languages

• Regional Language: Kannada
• Spoken Languages: Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, English, Hindi, Urdu.

Population

• Around 88 lakhs [8.8 Million]

Distance from Bangalore to various cities:

• Chennai (334 km)
• Goa (592 km)
• Hyderabad (562 km)
• Mumbai (998 km)
• Mysore (137 km)
• Ooty (290 km)

Talk

Being the capital of Karnataka, the official language in Bangalore is Kannada. However, most educated people are also able to speak Hindi and English. Other languages like Telugu and Tamil are also widely understood.Also, Bangalore being the cultural hub that it is, has smatterings of Thigalas,Malayalam, Tulu, Konkani and other languages.

One common expression probably peculiar to Bangalore would be the "By two coffee" meaning a coffee shared between two people. Mostly overheard at the stand-and-eat darshinis. A very basic use of Kannada may be necessary to harangue with autorikshaw drivers.

User Development Fee Until July 1, 2008, a User Development Fee of INR 1070 or Rs 260 (for international and domestic passengers respectively)has to be paid by all departing passengers. The fee is now included in the ticket.

The long-awaited new Bangalore International Airport (IATA: BLR) at Devanahalli, 44 km (27 mi) north of downtown Bangalore, finally opened in May 2008. The airport is among India's busiest and most modern, with direct flights to many major European and Asian destinations. Notable international flights are from Frankfurt on Lufthansa [2], from Singapore on Singapore Airlines [3], Indian Airlines [4] and Tiger Airways [5], from Kuala Lumpur (KL) on Malaysian Airlines [6], from London on British Airways [7], from Dubai on Emirates [8] and Indian Airlines [9], from Paris on Air France [10], Bangkok on Thai Airways [11], Hong Kong on Dragonair [12].

Domestic flights are also plentiful. Indian Airlines [13], now part of Air India, connects Bangalore with all parts of the country, as do private competitors Jet Airways [14] and Kingfisher Airlines [15]. Paramount Airways [16] is a startup business-class only airline, with service to Chennai and other southern cities. Kingfisher Red [17], previously known as Air Deccan is a popular no frills airline that operates to most cities and large towns. Other no-frill airlines that operate from Bangalore include Go Air [18], Jet lite [19] and SpiceJet [20].

Connectivity to the Airport

• Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operates buses from various points of the city every 15 minutes to the Bangalore International Airport (BIAL). A total of 156 buses ply to and from the airport. 40 of these buses are air-conditioned Volvo buses, called Vayu Vajra. The cost for each trip in these buses ranges between Rs. 20 and maximum Rs 200 depending on the distance. This is the cheapest and an extremely convenient way to get to the airport moreover, this service is available everyday, day and night.. More information on this service is available at [21]

• A high speed rail link to the Central Business District is being planned that will cut travel time to about 22 minutes. However, a reliable completion date is not yet available.

• Helicopter services are operated by Air Deccan Air Limousine where passengers can get a helicopter service to take them to the airport. Many new apartment complexes in Bangalore are equiped with these helipads, such as Golden Grand Apartments and Brigade Gateway Hotel and Apartments. Contact the Deccan counter at the airport terminal. Rates begin from Rs 5000 for a lift to UB-City Towers at Bangalore's CBD.

• Post-paid taxi facilities:BIAL has selected MERU and EASYCAB to provide basic taxi services. The taxi operators will have basic AC cars, all equipped with tracking devices to ensure safety and transparency. Both operators have professional call centres. Hence, Guests coming to the airport can call the cab call centres and a cab will pick them up and drop them at the airport. For Guests arriving at the airport, there is a dedicated taxi holding area where the Guest can get a cab. The post paid taxi facility will be available on meter charges @ Rs.15/- per km (subject to Govt regulation). These are by far the best and most convenient mode of transport from the airport. It may cost you approximately Rs. 600 to get to Bangalore's CBD.

• Share Taxis are operated by Airlift. As soon as you exit the airport terminal, look for the bus stand with the bright red Volva buses. The share taxis are yellow and red Toyota Innovas parked just next to the buses. These are very convenient and cheaper than a regular taxi as a one way drop to Bangalore's CBD will cost around Rs. 300. These are air conditioned and offer each passenger a personal television screen.

• Pre-paid facilities:Hertz and Akbar Travels will provide pre paid Limousine and car rental facilities. Hertz will launch a fleet of Mercedes - C and E class cars and will expand the fleet depending on the demand and business objectives. Limousine services will be available at the limo service counters at the terminal building arrival and based on special tariffs applicable for BIAL.

• Cars will also be available on self drive basis. There will be three ranges of self drive cars - the compact category (Suzuki Swift), the intermediate range (Ford Fiesta), the standard category (Toyota corolla), Multi Utility Vehicles (Toyota Innova) and Sports Utility Vehicles (Ford Endeavour). These cars will be given to the Guest with a full fuel tank and the car has to be returned with full fuel tank. A flexible pick up and drop off facility in town and at the airport will be offered. The Guest can pick up the car at the airport and then drop it off anywhere in the city or in Hyderabad or Chennai. Similarly, the car can be picked up at any of these cities and dropped off at the airport. Conditions Apply (the Guest has to be over 21 yrs of age and possess a valid Indian license).

• Another option is to arrange with your hotel in Bangalore [22] to have a driver pick you up at the airport. Some hotels, especially those in the higher price ranges, provide this service for free if you are staying with them. If it's your first time traveling to Bangalore, this is by far the easiest way to get from the airport to your hotel. The driver will be found outside the airport with a card bearing your name, the only difficulty being that about 100 other drivers will also be waiting outside the airport, all vying for your attention. Luckily there is a short fenced walkway that separates the drivers from those leaving the airport, giving you some time and space to find your ride into Bangalore.

• Cheaper Transport: You can still find a ride into Bangalore City in your own taxi at a much cheaper rate than the above options, if you are willing to take the risk involved. Taxi drivers not approved by the airport will attempt to negotiate with you a much lower fare than the approved EASY and MERU cabs, and may come down to as much as Rs. 200-300 for a ride to Bangalore's CBD. These drivers can be found just beyond the terminal plaza at the covered walkway that leads to the parking lots. Once you leave the walkway, some drivers may become fairly aggressive, and might try to take your bag without your permission. The best thing to do is to keep track of, and in control of, your belongings. Even the most aggressive taxi driver or tout will leave you alone if you stand firm and make it clear that you do not want their help. Upon arriving at your destination a tip of 20-40 Indian Rupees is plenty.

By train

Bangalore has two major railway terminals. The Bangalore City (IR station code : SBC) railway station is situated in the heart of the city, around the Majestic Bus stand. Most trains, both local and long-distance, arrive and depart from here. The other terminal is Yeswantpur Junction (IR station code : YPR) located on NH-4 (Tumkur Road). A few (mostly long-distance) trains arrive and depart from here.

Bookings can be done at either the railway stations or at the Indian Railways booking counters located in major residential areas. Booking can also be done online [23]. Note that if you are booking at Bangalore City and are traveling to Mysore, there is a separate counter for travellers to Mysore. This is to cater for the large amount of travelers between Bangalore and Mysore. If travelling to Mysore on a Sunday afternoon, arrive early as there is usually a long line for buying tickets!

As with all Indian railway travel, bring some patience for delays. Trains are usually on time, but can sometimes be several hours late. A digital departure board in the station will tell you what platform your train is on and what time it leaves.

Train travel is usually fairly cheap. For example, a ticket to Chennai, about 360 km (5-6 hrs) away, costs anywhere from Rs 125 for the lowest class to Rs 1105 for the highest class.

For train arrival/departure and PNR status inquiries at various railway stations at Bangalore, call 139.

Here is a list of useful trains to Bangalore:

Train Number	Train Name	You may board at	You may alight at
2630	Nizammudin-Yesvantpur Sampark Kranti Express	Nizammudin(Delhi), Bhopal, Pune, Miraj, Belgaum, Hubli	Yesvantpur, Bangalore
1017	Dadar (Mumbai)- Bangalore City Chalukya Express	Dadar(Mumbai), Pune, Sangli, Miraj, Belgaum, Hubli	Bangalore City
1014	Coimbatore-Lokamanya Tilak Express	Coimbatore, Erode, Salem	Bangalore City
2007	Chennai-Mysore Shatabdi Express	Chennai Central	Bangalore City
2027	Chennai-Bangalore Shatabdi Express	Chennai Central, Katpadi	Bangalore City
2658	Chennai-Bangalore Mail	Chennai Central, Katpadi	Bangalore City
2678	Coimbatore-Bangalore Intercity Express	Coimbatore,Erode, Salem	Bangalore City
2735	Garib Rath Express	Secunderabad (Hyderabad), Raichur, Guntakal	Yesvantpur Junction
2785	Kacheguda-Bangalore Express	Kacheguda (Hyderabad), Raichur, Guntakal	Bangalore City
2430	Rajdhani Express	Nizamuddin (Delhi), Bhopal, Nagpur, Secunderabad (Hyderabad)	Bangalore City
2650	Sampark Kranti Express	Nizamuddin (Delhi), Kacheguda (Hyderabad)	Yesvantpur Junction
6525	Kanyakumari-Bangalore Express	Coimbatore, Thiruvanantapuram Central	Bangalore City
7310	Vasco-Yesvantpur Express	Madgaon Junction (Goa), Hubli, Davangere	Yesvantpur Junction
7312	Vasco-Chennai Express	Madgaon Junction (Goa), Hubli, Davangere	Yesvantpur Junction
6518	Mangalore-Yesvantpur Express	Mangalore Central, Mangalore Junction	Bangalore City, Yesvantpur Junction

Note: Travelling from Mumbai to Bangalore by train takes a long time (23-24 hours). Buses are comparatively faster and take around (18-20 hrs), provided there is no traffic jam in Mumbai and Pune enroute. Effective travel time by both train or bus is long. Air travel is recommended for Business Travelers which is about 90 minutes. Low cost airlines charge the same fare as AC train or Volvo bus. However, sleeper class(Non-AC) train travel from Mumbai to Bangalore is economical and you can have view of some ever green lush forests and river valleys across Western India.

Also see Rail travel in India

By bus

If you have difficulty in arranging a plane or railway ticket to your next destination, or you prefer a little more adventure, you can go by bus. There are both government and private busses that run services to major nearby cities like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai etc. Buses can be a normal luxury bus, a Volvo A/C bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Some bus operators like Karnataka State Road Transport Corpration [24]/ redBus [25]/ / Ticketkaran [26]/ Raj National Express [27]/KPN Travels [28]/Customer Needz [29]/TicketGoose.com [30] offer online bookings.

All intercity buses arrive and depart from Bangalore bus stand, which is located opposite the city railway station. Officially named after the founder of Bangalore, 'Kempegowda Bus Station' is more commonly known as 'the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand' or 'the Majestic Bus Station'. It handles buses that connect Bangalore to all major cities and states in south India. The main bus stand of 'the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) ,' which maintains bus services within the city, is located next to the Kempegowda Bus Station. BMTC has now introduced Air conditioned Volvo buses in order to maintain the status of the IT city.

Unlike other metros, the display boards in the bus show the destination in Kannada. But the bus numbers are mostly in English. If you don't speak Kannada, you will likely need to get some help to get on the right bus. However, the newer Volvo buses are all equipped with electronic displays that display the destination and route numbers in both Kannada and English. Non-Volvo buses are being gradually retrofitted with these electronic displays; this should make bus travel much simpler if you are unfamiliar with the local language.

By car

Driving in India can be very stressful. Use of the horn is mandatory in all situations. Lane discipline is practically nonexistent, and games of chicken, combined with razor thin passing margins are common. One ride in a taxi will most likely convince you that driving yourself is not worth the risk, so if you do want to arrive by car you'll probably want to hire both a car and a driver. Cost varies, but most car/driver combinations cost Rs 1400 to Rs 1700/day. Depending on where you are coming from, you may be able to negotiate a lower fare if the trip isn't far, and it may be a higher fare if you are traveling far and your driver has to travel back on his own time. Be aware that Bangalore can get quite hot during the day, even in the winter. Although it costs more, consider requesting an air conditioned car if you aren't used to the heat. An "Air Con" car will also help filter out the air pollution, which is considerable, especially on congested roadways. If you want something even more special, such as a fancy car or SUV, be prepared to pay extra.

Get around

By bus

Buses in Bangalore are cheap and usually frequent, but traveling on them can be very difficult if you don't know the system well. Ordinary city buses display only the route number in English, with the destination and route information written in Kannada. This means you will have to know what route number you need before you get on, which you can find from the BMTC website [31], Bus Routes [32] or by asking locals. Unlike many Western countries, posted route maps of the bus system are rare, although maps are sold at the main bus terminals (Kempegowda Bus Stand and Shivajinagar).

Buses with black display boards run within the city. Red board buses covers long distance and go to adjoining suburbs. The ordinary city buses are white and blue in color. The newer city buses tend to be silver in color and have LED display boards. There is a bus service called Pushpak with better seating; these buses are tan rather than the usual blue and are slightly more expensive. There are red Volvo buses, called Vajra, that operate on certain routes within the city. They offer a comfortable air-conditioned ride at slightly higher prices than the regular buses (which are not air-conditioned). These are a great way to get around the city. Unlike most other buses, the Vajras have illuminated LED display boards on the front and sides which display the destination and route information in English as well as Kannada.

New bus services are introduced from time to time by the BMTC. The latest service introduced in early 2009 known as Big 10 consists of ten routes along major roads into the city, bringing passengers from the outer suburbs to central Bangalore. These buses are yellow in color, have LCD destination boards, and prominently feature the Big 10 logo on the sides. More information about these buses, including stops and route maps, can be found here [33].

City buses are crowded during rush hours but one can travel with little difficulty during the daytime. Many have seats reserved for women in the front. Bus service is less frequent after 9:30-10PM and becomes rare after 10:30PM.

It is always better to buy a daily pass if you plan to travel the whole day on the bus. The daily pass costs Rs 32 and it comes handy if you need to travel on several buses in a single day. Daily passes are issued by the on-duty bus conductor or at the bus stand. Using this pass you can travel in any bus (other than the Vajra) for the entire day, any number of times. It is a very economical option for travel in Bangalore.

There are three major bus stands:

• Kempegowda bus stand, also known as the Majestic Bus Stand, near Gandhi Nagar is directly opposite the Bangalore City railway station. It is quite neatly organized and is easily navigable. There is an inquiry office near platform number 1 on ‘Majestic’ where you can ask the bus number and platform for your desired destination. You can find a large map on display, which you can use to find the bus number you need to take if you know the area you are going to. You can of course always ask the conductor or other passengers. Route maps are also sold on the platforms.
• City Market is around 2 km (1.2 mi) to 3 km (1.8 mi) away from Majestic and could daunt newcomers, since it is very disorganized. It is a large dirt parking lot under an overhead highway, and there isn't much order to where buses park.
• Shivajinagar is in the north. This is also neatly organized and there is an inquiry window to find about buses. You can find a large map on display here too, which you can use to find the bus number you need to take if you know the area you are going to. Route maps are also sold on the platforms.

Buses are available to all major localities of the city from these three bus stands.

Other important bus stands are:

• Chandra Layout West
• Shantinagar, Central
• Jayanagar, South
• Banashankari, South
• BTM Layout, South East
• Vijaynagar, West
• Malleswaram, North West
• Yeshwantpur, North West
• Domlur, East
• Kadugodi, East
• Hebbal, North
• Shivaji Nagar
• Rajarajeshwari Nagar

By auto-rickshaw

Auto-rickshaw drivers are the nightmare of the city, even if you live here they can be the most difficult group of people to deal with. Auto-rickshaws are supposed to charge fares as per the meter reading, which most often equals to 7 INR x Distance (in kilometers) (Minimum charge of Rs.14 for the first 2 km or less), they generally tend to charge on an ad-hoc basis depending on the distance of the destination or the chances of getting another customer from the mentioned locality. However, a bad business sense and the inexplicable reasons elicited by them for refusing to ferry a customer have earned them enough brick-bats. Tourists should be tactful when approaching an auto-rickshaw during night, or during heavy rains. Chances are they will charge exorbitant rates. Help could be taken from the local traffic police to avail auto-rickshaws during such circumstances.

Auto-rickshaws are everywhere at any time of day. They are yellow three wheeled contraptions that use simple two-stroke engines and belch out pollutants. Nevertheless, they are a fast way to get around the city.

Autos are supposed to charge according to the meter, and you should simply refuse to board one where the meter is faulty or the driver refuses to use it. Saying "meter please" will usually do the trick. If you are desperate to get somewhere, you should at least negotiate the fare before boarding.

If you are a visitor and do not know the route to the destination it is a good idea to bargain and fix the fare before boarding to avoid long, convoluted routes taken by the auto.

Autos add a 50% surcharge after 10PM (called "one and half" and is the legal charge). Some drivers may demand 100% surcharge after 10PM or 11PM but you must refuse to board in such a case. Heavy luggage costs an additional fee of around Rs10 or 20.

Rickshaw drivers are required by law to display their identification on the dashboard or the back of their seats. Refuse to get into a rickshaw that does not.

In case an auto driver troubles you, please note their identification number and report to BBMP Control room who can withdraw their licenses. This is a very effective technique to deal with them. The BBMP control room number as on December 2009 is +91-80-22975803.

If a rickshaw driver offers to show/drive you to some great places to shop, firmly refuse. A common tactic is to drive you to local shops where you will be pressured to buy Indian crafts that you probably don't want. Know your destination and insist upon it. Be firm.

The minimum charge as of February 2008, is Rs 14 for the first 2km and Rs 7 for every additional km. A trip from the old airport to Brigade road costs about Rs.55 including (a good) tip.

Another thing to keep in mind is to be firm but not loud in an argument while traveling in the auto. Some of the drivers may team up with their other hooligan-friends midway to cause trouble.

Finally, although Bangaloreans are known for their polite and mild manners, some auto drivers are an exception. Therefore be careful in dealing with them. Some will think nothing of trying to rip you off. If in doubt consult a local or your hotel travel desk. Don't pay exorbitant prices, you are only ruining it for the locals.

By taxi

The taxis in Bangalore are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Maruti Omni Vans or Tata Indica cars, which are much safer than Auto rickshaws, and the drivers are polite. If you are alone or going to an unknown destination, you are strongly advised to choose this option, even though the rates will be double that of an auto. Most taxi companies will charge a flat rate of Rs 150 for a pick-up and drop from anywhere to anywhere within city limits. Waiting or return trips will be charged extra, as will a lot of heavy luggage.

Unlike many other countries, taxis are not marked with 'TAXI' signs on the top. Instead, the cars will be marked with the logo of the fleet operator or taxi company on the sides of the car. Some companies have a yellow sign with a identification number (usually an alphabet followed by two digits) on the top. Keep in mind that these taxis cannot be hailed from the street, but have to be called by telephone. When you call, you must give the operator your location, destination as well as phone number, who will in turn tell you the charge (or will inform you that you must go by the meter) as well as the taxi number. The taxi will come pick you up, and call you when they are close. When you go out on the street, look at the license plate for the number they gave you -- it will be the last four digits of the license plate. Alternatively, look for the yellow board atop the car with the taxi's identification number. The license plate number is usually in the format "KA" followed by 01 to 05, followed by two alphabets, followed by a four digit number. Taxis generally have yellow license plates with black letters.

Although it can be hard for non-Indians to grasp at first, the system is actually very effective. If in doubt, ask a member of your hotel staff to help you, and when your taxi comes be sure to tip them Rs. 35 or Rs. 40 for the assistance. Call just Dial 69999999 for any info

• Easy Cabs, +918043434343
• Karnataka Taxi,
• Bengalooru Cabs,
• Celcabs,
• City Safari
• Garden City Taxi,
• Gopinath Radio Taxi Services,
• KK City Taxi,
• RK City Taxi,
• Roman Taxis,
• Spot Taxis,
• Meru Cabs, +918044224422

By private car

Most taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers will be more than happy to offer you either a daily rate or an hourly rate, and take you around wherever you need to go. Alternately, your hotel or a travel company can arrange a private car.

If you find a good taxi or auto driver, this can be a great way to go for a foreigner. You'll certainly pay a lot more than if you bought individual rides, but you'll always have a driver waiting for you, and he can help with recommending local tourist sites, finding a good restaurant to eat at, and otherwise coping with day-to-day life. This can take a lot of the stress out of traveling.

Rates are generally something like Rs. 50 to 100 per hour for an auto-rickshaw, and Rs 150 to 250 per hour for a taxi. Rates for a private car booked via the hotel will probably be more. Like everything else in India, rates are very fluid.

• You can use Google Maps India [34], Yahoo Maps India [35], or Latlong [36] to locate places and get driving directions for Bangalore.
• You can use the Latlong SMS service by sending "help" to 90088 90088, or "GO <origin> to <destination>" to get directions.

Although Bangalore is not known as a tourist city, there is still a lot to see. If you only have a limited amount of time in the city, you should consider taking one of these:

• The half-day [37] or full-day city tours offered by KSTDC [38], the government tourist office, are cheap and cover the city's major attractions with English speaking guides.
• The full-day tour, called Bangalore Rounds, organised by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation [39], is conducted in an air-conditioned bus and covers most important tourist spots in the city. It is advisable to book seats the previous day by dialling 080-12667. The tour costs Rs.250.

Typically, the city tours do NOT include entry fees into the attractions. Bangalore, as with the rest of India, has a habit of charging foreigners a lot more than locals. For example, Tipu Sultan's Palace, which is on the half-day tour, charges Rs. 10 for Indians and Rs. 100 (or $2 USD) to non-Indians.

• Vidhana Soudha - The legislative House of the State of Karnataka, this granite building was built by Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, Chief Minister of the then Mysore state 1951 to 1956. The then Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru laid the foundation on 13th July 1951. It was built at an expenditure of Rs 1.84 crores. Marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and one of the most imposing building not only in Bangalore but in India. One of the interesting feature of this building in grand stairs in its front. The grand stairs has a flight of forty-five steps 62 m (204 ft) wide 21 m (70 ft) deep giving a direct access to the foyer of first floor leading to an Assembly Chamber. The architecture of the building is based on Dravidian style, comprising richly carved bases and capitals for pillars, deep friezes, kapotha cornices, chaithya arches, heavy pediments domical finials, etc; At the same time, the construction has been on modern designs, making use of the present-day materials like steel, reinforced cement concrete glass, plastic, etc.
• Vikasa Soudha - Is it possible to gild a lily? Well you judge for yourself. This ultra modern construction, adjacent to majestic Vidhana Soudha built in the same classic style, is supposed to come fitted with the latest gizmos to help govern the state. It was inaugurated sometime in February 2005.
• Seshadari Iyer Memorial is a distinctive building constructed of red sand stone in Cubbon Park. It houses a public library and the Bangalore High Court, while the grounds include a children's recreation area with a toy train, fairground and theater.
• Bangalore Palace was constructed by the Maharajahs of Mysore. For many years the building was neglected as a tourist attraction, but is now open to the public. The fee is Rs. 100/200 Indian/Foreigner and 500 to take photos even of the exterior. This includes a guide to point out things like the mounted elephant head, though no mention is made of the numerous nude paintings.
• Tipu Sultan's Palace, which dates from about 1790, is the summer retreat for Tipu sultan. The two story structure is made mostly out of wood with finely embellished balconies, pillars and arches.
• Omthara Kala Kuteera is located 40 km (25 mi) from Bangalore. Just one hour from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore, Omthara Kala Kuteera is an oasis of peace and tranquility. Built as homage to India's ancient culture and its vibrant art, this masterpiece is a monument like none other. Located amidst 30 acres of lush gardens in rustic surroundings, Omthara Kala Kuteera offers an environment that soothes the soul and energizes the mind. A visit to Om Thara Kala Kuteera has been described variously by guests as "Heaven on Earth", "Temple like none other", "Place of Divinity", "Uplifts my Soul", and "Source of Peace and Happiness". See www.OmtharaKalaKuteera.com for directions and more details on this remarkable place.

• The Bull Temple, located in Basavanagudi, is a typical Dravidian style temple, and is famous for its mammoth bull statue that was carved from a single boulder. Legend has it that the temple was built to appease a marauding bull that stole local crops, and that the offering was effective with the bull subsequently leaving the area. Since then, local farmers have held an annual festival to express their gratitude.
• The Maha Bodhi Society Temple (see 'learn' section) is a relatively new structure, with the main shrine built as a replica of the historic stupa at Bodh Gaya. The temple grounds are very peaceful, and visitors are welcome to stroll around. In addition, the temple houses an excellent library of books on Buddhism, many of which are in English.
• The ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple, built on a hillock in Rajajinagar atop scenic surroundings, is a perfect blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony. The huge cultural complex was built to promote vedic culture and spiritual learning, and abounds with shops selling devotional items and souvenirs. The annual Krishna and Balarama Rath Yatra is attended by thousands.
• Maruthi Mandir, a Hanuman Temple is located just opposite - 5 minutes drive from ISKCON temple, in the gate of Mahalakshmi Layout. This is a rock hill with huge idols of Hanuman and Mahalakshmi temples. The annual festival of Hanumad Jayanthi during December is very attractive.
• Gavi Gangadeshwara Cave Temple,located in Gavipuram, was built by Kempe Gowda. This temple with four remarkable monolithic pillars is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple also has a rare idol of Agni god of fire. The annual festival is on Makara Shankranti and thousands of devotees flock to see the suns rays fall on the Shivlinga.
• VenkataramanaSwamy Temple is a fine example of Dravidian architecture. This ancient temple was built by Maharaja Chikka Devaraya Wodeyar and is situated next to the summer palace of Tipu Sultan.

• Dodda Ganapathi - one of the oldest temples in Bangalore, is situated adjacent to the Bull Temple.
• Vasanthapura,in South Bangalore, is a small hillock with an ancient temple dedicated to Sri Vasantha Vallabharaya Swamy.
• Shiva Temple, on the Old Airport Road has a massive monolith of Lord Shiva, located in the middle of an artificial pool. There is a cave-like walkthrough behind the statue. It is extremely crowded on the festival of Maha Shivaratri.
• Banaswadi Hanuman Temple,constructed in the Dravidian style, attracts a large number of devotees especially on week-ends. It has smaller temples dedicated to Lord Rama, Shiva and Ganapathi within the walled compund.
• Ragi Gudda is a famous Hanuman temple abode in the Jayanagar 9th block, South of Bangalore. The temple is situated on a mammoth rocky hill, and has very attractive chain of temples like Spathika Shiva, Ganesha and scenery within the premises. This is a very crowd attracting place during the period of Hanumad Jayanthi in December.
• Sri RajaRajeshwari Temple located in RajaRajeshwari Nagar, just before Kengeri on Mysore Road is a famous temple dedicated to Godess Parvathi (RajaRajeshwari). Built in the ancient style with stones, the temple is very spacious. One can feel the peace and satisfaction when visited. Week ends are very crowdy.
• DakshinaMukhy Nandeeshwara Temple, located in the heart of Bangalore is very ancient temple. This is on Sampige Road in the Malleshwaram area. The speciality of the temple is that, the natural (mineral) water flows from the mouth of Nandi (naturally) which is above a ShivaLingam, and pours all over the year as ABHISHEKAM by nature itself. This water, after Abhishekam is taken by devotees as medicinal water, believed to cure many diseases. People from all over the world take this water in small containers with a lot of trust and devotion.
• Mukti Naga temple in Bangalore is world's largest monolithic statue of Lord Naaga, about 16 feet tall and 36 tons of weight. The Mukti Naga temple which is run by Shri Subrahmanya Seva Trust, is situated in a serene ambience of Ramohalli, a village on the outskirts of Bangalore city. Further details can be had at address [40]
• Meenakshi Sundaram Temple, located on the Bannerghatta Road - after Indian Institute of Management, South of Bangalore, is a beatiful, spacious temple devoted to Sri Meenakshi Amma. Built in ancient style with stone structures, this place is very cool and mind refreshing place to see. You will feel that you are in a temple at Tamilnad, when in this temple.
• Sri Ramakrishna Ashram - There are many Ramakrishna Ashrams in Bangalore, but the special and central one is in Gandhi Bazaar - the place of temples in Bangalore. This mutt contains a vast meditating hall, a beautiful park, a vedic school and many more facilities. Sri Sharada Devi had meditated on a location in the park in this boundary. This location is preserved as a monument. A stone on which Swami Vivekananda had sat when he visited Bangalore is also kept as a monument. This is a calm and peaceful place for the place who enjoy the meditation.

• Cubbon Park. A 121 ha (300 acre) green lung in the center of the city. Sitting in the shade of one its many magnificent trees and watching towering bamboo sway in the breeze, it is hard to imagine that you are in the heart of a metropolis of over 8.8 million people and one of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing cities. Avoid the secluded areas. There is also a toy train offering children's rides. [41]
• The Lal Bagh. A meticulously cared for garden located on the southern part of the city. Throughout its 97 ha (240 acre), there are lotus ponds, fountains, glass houses and stone formations that date back over 3.0 billion years. Described as the most romantic garden in India, it was laid during the 18th century by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. There is a small entrance fee after 9AM. A flower show is held during the week preceding Indian Independence day (August 15) and Republic day (January 26) in the Glass House. This flower show features exquisite flowers and patterns designed by the experienced gardeners of Lalbagh. Beware the tour guides, especially if you come in with a taxi driver. ALWAYS negotiate the tour price for the party at the outset. Otherwise, you will be charged a hefty fee at the tour's conclusion. Tour guides are not necessary.

• Bannerghatta National Park is on the southern fringe of the city. This 100 sq.km national park consists mostly of dense forest and scrub land, and is home to wild animals like bison, leopard, wild boar as well as being an important corridor for elephants migrating between the eastern and western ghats. Other attractions here are a crocodile farm, serpentarium and a newly added butterfly park. In addition, a portion of the park is used as a sanctuary for wild rescued animals.
• Lumbini Gardens. A new attraction in Bangalore. It is located near hebbal flyover and is on the lake front oF Nagvara lake. It has been recently developed with a grant of Rs 10 crore. Major attractions of the park include boat rides, wave pool and children's garden.
• Bugle Rock Park Named so because during the monarchy, a bugle call was sounded from the watch tower to alert soldiers about impending danger. Adjacent to the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi, this park has been recently renovated and is home to the watch tower that marked the southern limits of the city during the times of Kempegowda. The park is relatively small, well maintained and is a favourite location for couples from the nearby educational institutions.
• Wonder La Amusement park. A new attraction in Bangalore. It is India's biggest amusement and water park which belongs to V-Guard firm. This park boasts of several rides(both ground & water). This is one of the best spots to visit in Bangalore. It is in the outskirts of the city off Mysore Road. This Park is very expensive so you should have enough money to enjoy. The entry fee is only Rs 450 per head. If two people are going to Wonderla bring at least Rs 1000. Overall, very clean bathrooms and the water, excellent rides, trained operators for the rides, well maintained equipment, decent food in restaurants, fun water rides, enjoy the rain dance and fire crackers/laser lights in evening. Enough rides to keep you busy all the day; however, there were no roller coasters. *The park does not allow outside food. You can find out more by visiting the website [42]
• The Innovative Film City(IFC).The Innovative Film City(IFC) [43] located on the Bangalore - Mysore highway at Bidadi. Built on an area of around 50 acres it is supposed to be the biggest entertainment centre, theme park and much more. The film city has several small attractions such as world famous Ripley's Believe it or not museum, Louis Tussad wax museum, Funplex, Aqua Kingdom (artificial beach), Dinosaur world, cartoon city. It is also having a go-carting zone, a mini golf course, a 4D amphitheater, fossil museum. The entry fee to the park is Rs.50. There is a separate fee for each of the attractions.

Scenic spots

Below are listed some lovely locations to visit, outside the city. All of these are within a two hours' drive from the city.

Bangalore Rural District

• Art Of Living Ashram is at a distance of 21 km (13 mi) from the city centre on Kanakpura road (NH-209). It is the ashram of Sri Sri Ravishankar. On regular day Satsang is at 7 PM and on Sundays at 4PM. The ashram is full of greenery and the soothing ambiance provides a great place to relax.
• Nrityagram [44] is in Hessaraghatta, 28 km (17 mi) from the city centre. This unique experimental village is dedicated to gurukula tradition of dance, music, choreography and painting.
• Hesaraghatta Lake is 29 km (18 mi) from the city centre. It is a delightful artificial lake spread over 405 ha (1,000 acre) and provides facilities for sailing. A livestock breeding and poultry center have been established as a part od a Indo-Danish project.
• Omthara Kala Kuteera is located 40 km (25 mi) from Bangalore. Just one hour from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore, Omthara Kala Kuteera is an oasis of peace and tranquility. Built as homage to India's ancient culture and its vibrant art, this masterpiece is a monument like none other. Located amidst 30 acres of lush gardens in rustic surroundings, Omthara Kala Kuteera offers an environment that soothes the soul and energizes the mind. A visit to Om Thara Kala Kuteera has been described variously by guests as "Heaven on Earth", "Temple like none other", "Place of Divinity", "Uplifts my Soul", and "Source of Peace and Happiness". See www.OmtharaKalaKuteera.com for directions and more details on this remarkable place.
• Muthyala Maduvu , 44 km (27 mi) from Bangalore, is a picnic spot having an enchanting waterfall and a small temple.
• Ghati Subramanya, 52 km (32 mi) from Bangalore, is a famous pilgrimage center and houses a Lord Subramanya Temple. Also located nearby are the rock formations of Makalidurga, which are excellent for trekking.
• Shivaganga , 56 km (35 mi) from Bangalore, is a good trekking site.

• Halenijagal is located around 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore on NH-4 amidst several other exotic hills and valleys.
• Chunchi Falls are beautiful waterfalls located 85 km (53 mi) from Bangalore. The water from a nearby dam flows down this ravine, and the area is very rocky so one needs to be careful. There are also reports of crocodiles inhabiting the area, though this has not been substantiated. The water from Chunchi flows down to meet Kaveri river at Sangam, a distance of about 15 km.

Chikkaballapur District

• Chamrajsagar Reservoir, 35 km (22 mi) from Bangalore, is an excellent picnic spot near the river Arakavati.
• Devanahalli, located 40 km (25 mi) from the city centre, is close to the airport. It is the birthplace of Tipu Sultan and has a massive fort and some beautiful temples.
• Nandi Hills, 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore, is a beautiful hill station. Apart from being a scenic area it also houses two 10th century Chola temples with Vijayanagara style mantapas. The temples are in excellent condition. One temple is after the entrance to the fortifications half way up the hill and the other at the top. The location is famous for Kannada film shootings.

Ramanagaram District

• Magadi, 46 km (29 mi) from Bangalore, is the birthplace of Kempe Gowda. The place has the remnants of a fort and four temples of unspoilt charm.
• Ramanagara, the district headquarters, is 49 km (30 mi) from Bangalore, on the Bangalore-Mysore highway. The place is a treat for rock climbers.One of the famous hills is the Sri Revanna Sideshwara (SRS) hills. The forests around this place are now proposed as a wildlife sanctuary to not only protect the wildlife of the scrub jungle but also to protect the massive prehistoric rocks and boulders that are present all around. The Bollywood film Sholay was shot among the rocks of Ramanagara.
• Janapada Loka is 53 km (33 mi) from Bangalore, on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, and is spread over 6 ha (15 acre). The center was established for the preservation and promotion of local folk culture and traditions. An art gallery, open air theatre and museum are also located here.
• Kanva Reservoir, 69 km (43 mi) from Bangalore, is an excellent picnic spot and has facilities for fishing.
• Savandurga, 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore, is famous hilltop pilgrim center has temples dedicated to Gangadeshwara, Hanna Devi and a cave spring called Pattala. When viewed from a distance, the outline of the hill looks like the figure of a bull (Nandi) on the east, Lord Ganesha from the west, A cobra from the north and a Shiva linga from the south.
• Mekedatu, meaning 'Goat's Leap',is 98 km (61 mi) from Bangalore. Here, the river Kaveri flows through a spectacular rock chasm, wide enough for only a goat to leap across. This gives Mekedatu its name. It is a very popular picnic spot.
• Sangama is 103 km (64 mi) from Bangalore. Here the river Arakavati joins the Kaveri inside the Chilandavadi forest. The Kaveri has several whirlpools in the stretch between Mekedatu and Sangama and it is not advisable to swim in the river at either of these places.

Each of these places are like a paradise in rural setting including ancient temples as well as scenic picnic spot for the tourists.

• Experience the Bangalore pub scene, mostly around MG Road, Brigade Road, and Church Street.
• Go shopping at Banglore's famous malls and traditional markets, however, leave your car as it's almost impossible to find a parking spot over weekends. Some of the more popular malls in Bangalore are 'The Forum', 'Garuda Mall' and 'Bangalore Central'. The city's largest vegetable and fruit market is in the heart of the city called "KR Market". A smaller but more lively one can be found in Gandhi Bazaar Road, Gandhibazaar.
• Try your hand at go-karting.
• Attend a wonderful outdoor concert at Palace Grounds.
• Enjoy the unique shopping experience on Sampige Road at Malleswaram in the traditional south Indian styled shops.
• Visit the beautiful lakes in Bangalore. Ulsoor Lake and Sankey Tank offer an enriching, pleasant experience.

• Ultimate Frisbee, Police Grounds, MG Road, [45]. Come and experience the budding ultimate scene in India. The teams comprise of players of all skill levels. Join us for a game of ultimate on Tues/Thurs/Sat mornings starting 6:30AM. For more information, contact learningtofly.in@gmail.com  edit

• BangaloreWALKS, ☎ 98806 71192, [46]. 3hours. BangaloreWALKS is great way to discover unique areas of Bangalore. Whether a visitor, or a long time resident, one can discover unknown facets of the city. The walks include Traditional Bangalore walk, Victorian Bangalore walk & the Lalbagh walk. The walks range from Rs. 300 (approx $6 ) to Rs. 500 (approx $10 ) and include breakfast/brunch at famed Bangalore eateries. Email: bangalorewalks@gmail.com  edit

Theater

There is a theater hall located in J. P. Nagar, called Rangashankara. 36/2, 8th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase. Tel: 26592777 or 26494656. Tickets range between Rs. 45 – 100. Usually the evening shows start at 7:30PM. The theater hall management is very strict about starting time. They will not let you in even one minute after the show has started, so make sure you plan to arrive at least 4-5 minutes earlier. You will not be allowed to bring in any drinks or refreshments. Many local groups perform there, although more often shows are presented by traveling groups touring around India. Quality of the performances varies, but most plays are worth seeing, especially the ones by Indian playwrights and / or directors, as they can show you an "Indian" (or let's say "non-western") perspective. You can visit Rangashankara's website [47] for information on what plays are running. Shows are in various languages, so it is a good idea to double-check whether the play is in English before buying / reserving (“blocking”) tickets.

Movies

Take in a movie at one of the innumerable theaters around the city, splurge at the PVR Gold Class Cinema [48] in Forum Mall or Inox theatre [49] in Garuda Mall. Nani Cinematheque [50] has film series almost every weekend programmed by local film clubs, like Collective Chaos [51] and the Bangalore Film Society [52]. A club membership (around Rs 500/year) is typically required for entrance. The Alliance Francaise [53] and Goethe Institute [54] also host frequent foreign film series and cultural events.

Spa

The professionals of India's "silicon city" work and play hard, and massages and spa treatments are easily available in Bangalore. Visitors might need a little respite from the roaring traffic and fast-paced lifestyle too. Spas are very much a part of Bangalore's East-meets-West culture, and new ones spring up across the city all the time. Among the best day spas is "The 5th Element" Thai spa near Dell office on Inner Ring Road [080-41268111] and SPA.ce [55] on Cunningham Road, run by an ex-pat Brit. The Fifth Element Spa is the only spa where all the practitioners are authentic Thai. They specialise in Thai massages,relaxation massages, exotic scrubs and wraps. It's best to book in advance for these spas. Perfect getaways without checking into a resort or driving a long distance out of the city. Recently, Aroma Home Spa (www.aromahomespa.com, 080-4205 3467) has opened in Whitefield area (at Marathahalli, close to the Bangalore tech parks and upcoming 5 star hotels). This spa boasts of ALL natural eco-friendly products in use and a first of its kind hydro therapy massage in addition to therapies suited to individual needs.One must definitely try the latest high end boutique spa called 'akaasa' that is located in the posh location of Defence Colony (www.akaasa.in).Its a perfect way to 'treat your senses'.

• The Maha Bodhi Society, 14 Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar, +91 80 2250684, E-mail: mahabodhi@vsnl.com [56]. This temple has a very active schedule. There are teachings on the Dharma in English on the first two and last Sundays of every month from 9:30-11:30AM, while on the 3rd Sunday there is a meditation retreat. Anyone is welcome to attend. The temple also has a good library and a beautiful garden - a great place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis outside.

• Thubten Lekshey Ling (Dharma Subhashita), Tel: +91 98 80296930, E-mail:info@dharmasubhashita.org, [57], is an Indo-Tibetan Buddhist meditation and study group founded under the spiritual guidance of HH Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche. Weekend teachings in meditation and philosophy are offered by lamas from Namdroling Monastery, Bylakupee. Thubten Lekshey Ling follows the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism as our spiritual practice lineage. Thubten Lekshey Ling upholds the non-sectarian values of the ri-me' movement.

• Choe Khor Sum Ling (CKSL), Ashwini, No. 24, First Floor, Domlur Layout, Tel: +91 80 41486497, E-mail: admin@choekhorsumling.org, [58]. This Tibetan Buddhist meditation and study center is in Domlur near Shanti Sagar Hotel on Airport Road. CKSL is a center for the study and practice of Mahayana Buddhism following the lineage and example of Lord Buddha. The Center, whose name means 'The Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma' was founded in 2003 by Lama Zopa Rinpoche under the guidance of HH the XIVth Dalai Lama. The Center offers courses in various Buddhist meditation techniques and teachings on different aspects of Buddhism. Teachings are offered free to the public and are conducted in English or in Tibetan (with translation in English). In addition to regular teachings, every few weeks the Center invites senior Lamas to give talks on important aspects of the Buddhist path. Such talks are also accompanied by instructions and initiations by the Lama into different meditation practices.

• There are many IT training companies in the city that cater to the needs of the knowledge hungry. Check out what they have to offer and the kind of hands-on training they provide. Avoid companies that put out fliers, as they usually do not provide quality training.

Science and stuff

Bangalore is famous for its innumerable educational and research institutes. The Indian Institute of Science, [59] , set in sprawling grounds, is the largest and best in India. It does cutting-edge research on almost any topic imaginable. Also, there are other places like JNCASR (Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research), the various veterinary and agriculture universities, the University of Bangalore, and NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences). There is also the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, which conducts two sky-gazing shows daily, and conducts many exhibitions and workshops by / for children. More information can be found at [60].

Other places include the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, ISRO Satellite Centre, Raman Research Institute, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Central Power Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation (CMMACS), Indian institute of Management - Bangalore (IIM -B), Indian Institute of Information Technology - Bangalore (IIIT-B), Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) , Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Science.

In short, Bangalore is the place to go to in India for post-graduation (graduate studies) or higher.

Work

Non-Indians

With a little hard work and persistence finding a job is quite possible in Bangalore. Most of the available positions are in the IT field but not necessarily IT based. Several ex-pats do marketing, quality assurance, accent training and translation among other things. All jobs in India require either a business or employment visa which must be obtained abroad and sponsored by the hiring company. In general, the salary is very high compared to the local Indian wage. Internships in general, pay around Rs.10,000-Rs.15,000 per month while full-time jobs average between Rs.30,000-Rs.50,000 per month plus flights and housing. The best resource for jobs is through the expat community. Ask around but a good place to meet people are at the Sunday brunches at the 5 Star hotels or the numerous coffee shops in the MG Road area.

• chilli billi, indiranagar, bangalore, ☎ +91 9241799105, [61]. great for women's westernwear - especially the dresses! good collection of bags, shoes and jewellery. they also offer home decor solutions. very affordable.  edit

• C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons-The Diamond Flagship Store, 2-1 Main Cross Road (Next to Safina Plaza), ☎ 080 4000 1869, [62]. 14 000 sqt dedicated to the finest gold and diamond jewellery, spread over two floors.   edit
• C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons-The Heritage Store, 35 & 36 Commercial Street, ☎ 080 4000 1869, [63]. The only store dedicated to the gold and silver.   edit

• Chandi - The Divine Gallery, Shop No. 12, First Floor, Public Utility Building, M.G. Road +91 80 4112-3590/41123610, specializing in Indian divine figures in all mediums. Claims to have the biggest collection of Ganeshas in Bangalore. High-quality and locally-priced wares, no pushy salesmanship.
• The Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium, 45 M G Road, +91 80 2558-1118, is a large store, offering a wide selection of some of Karnataka's best hand made products. The carvings made of Mysore sandalwood are an especially good buy.
• Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), M G Road - A government run store promoting traditional Indian hand crafts. The CCIE has major outlets in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai.
• Royal Arts & Crafts, 21 K.H. Road, +91 80 2248-4797 has a particularly wide selection of silk carpets and paper mache products.
• Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, 45 K.S.H.D.C Complex, M.G.Road, +91 80 2558-1118 - specializes in Karnataka handicraft.

• Kala Madhyam Store located in Benson Town show cases over 15 exquisite folk and tribal art paintings, handicrafts from across India, clothing for women and specialises in wall murals (of folk and tribal art as well as terra cotta). Please visit: #77/8, Nandidurg Road, (Benson Cross Road Corner, Second Floor, Flat No 2, Benson Town, Bangalore - 560 046. Email: mail@kalamadhyam.org www.kalamadhyam.org

• Bookport, Casa Andree II, Ist floor, No 18/3, Andree Road,Near Yellamma Dassappa Hospital, Shanti Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka 560027,+91 80 41124956. bookportbangalore@gmail.com, [64]. They stock hand picked books on Art, Literature, philosophy, gender&sexuality, film, feminism, current critical thinking,fiction, travel etc. Also do art & literature events.
• Axis Books, 330/9, Domlur Inner Ring Road, Near Indira Nagar Flyover, Domlur Layout,Bangalore -71, +91 80 4038-3838,41526657. [65]. It's a fairly New book shop. Started by one of the members of the Gangarams Family. They stock books, stationery, multimedia, movies, and toys. [66]
• The Strand book stall, 1st Floor, Manipal Centre, Dickenson Road, +91 80 2558-0000, [67]. Best known for the latest releases in art, design, architecture and all at good prices.
• Gangarams, 72 M G Road, +91 80 2558-6743, +91 80 2558-7277. Four floors crammed with books makes this book store one of the largest (as well the most organized) book store in India.
• Crossword, ACR Towers, Opp. Gateway Hotel, Residency Road, +91 80 2558-2411-16. A hot spot for books of various genres combined with seating areas, spacious racks- music and movie section, children's section and a coffee shops; this proves to be a wonderful hangout to read, browse and shop.
• Higginbothams, 68 M G Road, +91 80 2558-7359, +91 80 2558-6574. This bookstore has a good selection of maps, postcards, guides and novels.
• Premier Book Shop, 46/1 Church Street (off M G Road), +91 80 2558-8570. Is a venerable Bangalore institution that has books on every conceivable subject literally stacked from floor to ceiling. Although the store may appear to be utterly chaotic, the owner knows where every piece of his stock lies - just be careful with those elbows, a slight nudge and the whole place will come tumbling down! This store however, will shut down shortly.
• Landmark, In Forum Mall on Luskar Hosur Road, Koramangala, +91 80 2206-7777 / 78 / 80 - a modern bookshop. A good place to pick up the most recent publications. Various household appliances; CDs and DVDs of music albums, computer and video games (the quality varying from time-to-time) and movies can also be found on the next floor.
• Blossoms, near Coconut Grove Restaurant, Church Street (parallel to MG Road),+91 80 2559733,+91 80 25320400. There are 3 full floors of those rare, hard to find old books. All second hand, good condition and at low rates. You definitely won't leave disappointed.
• Select Bookshop, off Brigade Road Behind Curzon Court Hotel, Brigade Road - Used to be the only old bookstore. Mr Murthy, who runs the bookstore, is one of the most knowledgeable people. His grandfather started the bookstore. He also has a collection of lithographs, stained glass paintings and collectors copies of antique books.
• Oxford Book Store, At the Leela Galleria (next to Hotel Leela Palace) - Has some of the latest collection of books and magazines but, doesn't offer any discounts. It has a Chai Bar attached offering 69 blends of tea.
• Tata Book House, At the Indian Institute of Science, Malleswaram - Has a large collection of technical books, on which it offers a flat 20 percent discount. Lots of books in a small place. Also worth visiting just because it is in IISc.
• Streelekha, This is a great bookstore to explore the feminist literature and activism that is being produced in India, as well as other texts on the research and work of Indian NGOs. The atmosphere is relaxing and inviting. The bookstore is located at 33/1-9, Thyagaraja Layout in Jaibharath Nagar, telephone: +91 80 2549-2783.
• Sapna Book House, [68] This is a large bookstore on 3rd Main road, near Kamat Yatri Nivas, Gandhi Nagar (Walking distance from Majestic Bus stand). They also have branches in three other locations Sadashivnagar, Jayanagar, and Indiranagar. Sapna Book House also provides online book delivery through [69].
• Fusion Rental, First time in Bangalore, Company offering a service of online renting of books & movies. Vast collection of both books & movies at one place. Free Pick up & Delivery all over Bangalore. [70]
• The Bookworm, This is a small used book store in one of the by-lanes perpendicular to Brigade Road (near McDonalds). Good bargains on used and new books are available here.
• Elloor Library, A circulating library that has a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, including new titles. Located at Blue Cross Chambers on Infantry Road, close to Commercial Street. Requires membership which includes a deposit.

Shopping

Bangalore provides a wide range of options for shoppers. One can buy many things ranging from clothing to electronic goods and vehicles. Being an IT city, Bangalore provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier.

Many visitors come to Bangalore searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk saris and so miss out on the true Bangalore shopping experience. Here is a low down on shopping - Bangalore style:

The UB City and Vittal Mallya Road are Page-3 shopping areas. You'll find brands like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Kimaya in the UB City. Vittal Mallya Road's got shopping places like The Collective which is a shop only for men, too bad!. Armani, Versace, BOSS, you name it they have it. There's even Canary Blue and ESPIRIT on the same road.

The M.G Road/Brigade Road area is the most popular place for tourists, and these two roads are filled with shops of every kind, whether it be traditional handicrafts or the latest western wear (this is especially true for Brigade Road).

Bannerghatta Road, newly improved. You have 'Grasshopper,' a space that exhibits clothing designs from the most experimental designers in India and also showcases other ideas - lighting design, products, theatre, music - an open space for expression! If that's too boring, you can keep driving and you have a thousand ways that you can take to enjoy the wildlife and the myriad reservoirs strewn across the area - you can still find your very own private haven. Enjoy

Brigade Road used to be where British soldiers bought their necessities. Today Brigade Road is the centre of yuppie Bangalore; you'll see hordes of college students on the road anytime of day or night. Some of the stores on Brigade Road include: Planet M (a huge music store with everything),Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Phillipe, Pepe Jeans, Levis,Lee, SanFrisco Jeans, Nike, Titan (great Indian made watches) just to name a few. There are also many eateries on the road and on the side roads that lead off of Brigade road, so that you can refuel yourself for shopping! There are your fast food outlets: KFC (right at the entrance), Pizza Hut at the other end of the road and many cafes including the Indian Coffee Chain Cafe Coffee Day. Also includes a tattoo studio.

Commercial Street a legacy of the British is another shopping mecca that sells international brands (similar to Brigade road) alongside locally produced items. Commercial Street has more of a bazaar feel than Brigade Road. In addition, it is famous for its body piercing centers. The price of goods here is very competitive and it is a great place to pick a bargain.

Malls in India are a recent phenomenon, the first opened back in 1999, since then there has been a boom with malls around every corner in large cities (now also in smaller cities). Bangalore is no exception! Here is list of the major Malls in Bangalore, but beware that there are at least a dozen in the planning and construction stages!

• Forum Mall - The Forum on Hosur road is in the upmarket suburb of Koramangla, fast becoming a key shopping hub in Bangalore. It is the largest mall in Bangalore, covering an area of 6.5 lakh square feet of retail space. Again like other shopping areas, you can find anything at the Forum, high international brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Swarovski Crystals to traditional Indian Khadi clothing at the Khadder. Other brands with outlets include: United Colours of Bennetton (much cheaper here than in the west), Pepe Jeans U.K, William Penn, Wrangler Jeans, Weekender and of course Nike. The Forum incorporates the clothing from international brands as well as haute couture boutiques including: Mustard, Isis, B and the Chai shop. For books head straight to Landmark and huge store has everything from books to perfumes and music. On the top floor of the mall you will find a PVR multiplex comprising 11 cinemas. For eating there is everything, Fast food (KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway) Cafe Coffee Day and a food court with world cuisines including: Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican and Italian and Indian. Not to be missed is the Indian cuisine at Sahib Sindh Sultan and the British style pub, Firangi Pani. So that is a forum for all your shopping needs under one roof! Its just a must see, especially the outside.

• Garuda Mall - Located on the corner of McGrath and Commissariat Roads, is the newest and the second largest mall in Bangalore.

• Bangalore Central Opened around the same as the Forum, Bangalore Central is more of a large department store than a mall with separate retailers.

• Safina Plaza is the sale capital of Bangalore, located on Infantry Road. Every week there is sale going on of any type. One week it might be home furnishings and the next men's wear. Good place to find some bargains. Many exhibitions are also held here, although there are retailers (Dockers, Lee Jeans, Titan too name a few) here too. So for quiet shopping come here (much less crowded than the other malls). Its best to visit during end of season sales (summer, monsoon) or during festivals (New Year, Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi).

• Lifestyle - This two-story store is on Victoria Road in the heart of the new mall shopping district with malls like Garuda Mall, Bangalore Central and Globus, all within easy walking distance and was one of the most coveted stores until the malls came along. It's an easy place to go shopping when you don't want too many options to confuse you or when you're tired and don't want to visit too many shops - you can get everything under one roof here. Good for clothes, cosmetics, watches, jewelry, shoes etc. You also get stylish furniture and other home and living items for a decent price.

Sampige Road,Malleswaram Tired of going to mall, and indulging in window shopping. Try Sampige (a flower name) Road. Sampige Road is the heart of Malleswaram and connects Sheshadripuram to IISc. Sampige Road is around 2 km, has a wide range of shops that sells books, electronic items, silk sarees, handicrafts, cloth materials, Hindu pooja materials, sweets and all the trivial things you can buy on earth. Also try Malleswaram 8th cross on Sampige road(aptly named Brigade Road of Malleswram) for a vibrant shopping experience. Sampige Road is also home to best flower market and fruits market in Bangalore. If you are tired of going to individual shops you can go for the best departmental stores in Bangalore like Fabmall, foodworld, Nilgiris.

Marathahalli Main Road and Factory Outlets Located a distance from central Bangalore (although not difficult to reach), is Marathahalli (a village in a previous life). The main road of this suburb is now a haven for factory outlets for all major brands: Nike, Adidas, Pepe Jeans, Killer Jeans, Louis Phillipe, Levi's, Reebok etc. You can expect prices here to be cheaper than in the Malls, at least 20-30% price difference but can be up to 50% cheaper when it comes to some of the major denim brands! As if India wasn't cheap enough. Although this is the best place to go to for factory outlet shopping, there are smaller factory outlets scattered across the city. Also look out for sales held by the major brands to get rid of end of season stock (again end of summer or end of monsoon), these are usually advertised in newspapers or look for signs posted on major roads.

Metro shopping mall, Near Yashwanthpura railway station and ISKON temple.

Jayanagar Shopping Complex: From a small shopping hub, reflecting the true Banglore flavour to a major commercial hub, the transformation has been steady. It houses stores for practically everything - from antique Jewellery (the famous Bhavani's, the more recent Kushal's, The Gallery), the authentic gold jewellery stores, saree stores (Kalamandir, Kalaniketan, Mysore Silk Udyog), sweet meat stores (Sri Krishna Sweets, Arya Bhavan), classic Iyengar Bakeries, Dress stores (Famous Paridhan, Rangoli, Bafna's, Vinayaka Collections) to fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and butter...everything under the sun that one can think of... Quite an interesting outing for a tourist..Jayanagar 4th Block can mesmerise you for all its splendour and choas, which somehow gels well together!

Boutiques

Apart from the numerous malls that have that have taken Bangalore by storm, the essential element and soul of the city comes through in its myriad small and unique boutiques that are all over the city, usually tucked away though. Have tried to list the must check out stores..

Mahendra Textiles, Chickpet. Tel: +91 80 41249900. Sarees and Dress Materials from Surat, Mumbai, Kolkata, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Kerela and Srilanka. They have a neat collection for the working women of today. Priced reasonably.

Levitate - InDiA in A RooM, 100 Ft. Road Indiranagar, Tel: +91 80 64528190, Mob: +91 9845317776, email: levitateindia@gmail.com. Silver & Costume handcrafted Jewelry, Bohemian Apparel, Indian Kitsch, Amazing Life & Style Accessories at unbelievable prices! All in 1 Room! C/o 100 Ft. Boutique Restaurant (mezz floor), 777/1, 100 Ft. Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore-38

Chilli Billi, indiranagar, bangalore, ☎ +91 9241799105, [61]. great for women's westernwear - especially the dresses! good collection of bags, shoes and jewellery. they also offer home decor solutions. very affordable.

Native Place, Behind Museum Road Post Office, Museum road. Loads of interesting merchandise, crafts made by NGOs, c/o The Only Place Restaurant.

One G, (jewelry) Hatworks Boulevard, Cunningham Road. Tel: +91 80 41231231

Marmalade, Adj to Spratt Salon, Magrath Road, (Left before Coffee Day, on Brigade Rd Extn), Tel: +91 80 41221814. Loads of affordable young designer wear.

Arnav, Tel:2656 8416/99860 01216, [71]. The quaint little jewelry store located at Ashoka Pillar, Jayanagar makes for very interesting jewelry buys, a range of antique, restored, contemporary and fusion jewelery are on display. They could help you design a piece of jewelery to suit your needs, an in-house jewelery consultant could help you choose your jewelery.

Necessary Evil, Tel : 080-41638757, [ilovenecessaryevil.com] 12th A main, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar. Casual luxury has finally reached Bangalore with the opening of it's newest concept store. Necessary Evil will be offering shoppers the latest international brands such as 7 For All Mankind, Splendid and Alice + Olivia. Some of which are in India for the first time. They also offer and exclusive line of fine jewelry and home furnishings. This is definitely a space not to miss - so come see, be seen and get fabulous call in advance for a personal shopping experience.

Sakhi- By Chandras, Tel : 080-41155551, [72]. 6th main, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar. Sakhi is an exclusive boutique in Indiranagar, Bangalore. Sakhi combines traditional fabrics and craftsmanship with contemporary themes to create an ensemble that embodies the values of the modern Indian woman. Sakhi’s Sarees, Salwars and Kurtis combine Kanchivaram, Tussar, Chiffon, Georgette, Crêpe, Organza and Cotton with traditional techniques such as Cut Work, Block Print, Kalamkari, Badla, Mirror Work, Chamki (Sequins) and Embroidery in a glorious mélange of colours. Sakhi unveils a stunning collection for the modern woman.

With its flagship store in Indiranagar, Bangalore, and a recently launched online store, [73] Sakhi is a popular destination for the new-age woman.

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• Habitat, "Movies and Music", Church Street, Off Brigade Road is tiny compared to other retail music/movie stores, but its a delight for lovers of good music especially Jazz. Has an excellent and varied selection of DVDs for rent as well, though membership is currently closed.

Eat

Bangalore is far from the sea, and as such the quality of seafood can vary. Some of the higher end and popular seafood places manage this well, but foreign travelers may want to tread a bit carefully.

Budget

Bangalore literally has hundreds of fast food joints serving South Indian vegetarian food. They usually are identified with small round steel tables and diners standing around them having food. Dosas, idlis, vada's, curd rice, Vegetable Pulao, rice with sambar, lemon rice are usually standard fare. Quality widely varies, since most of them cater to working people.

• Shettara Beedi (Food Street) The entire street adjoining the famous VB Bakery at V V Puram is Bangalore's miniature version of Kuala Lumpur's Jalan Alor foodstalls. A haven for anyone who enjoys hawker fare, one can stall-hop and have a variety of snacks that'll satisfy even the most ravenous hunger and spend less than Rs. 100/- (USD 2.50) in total. Some of the must-try dishes are dum-root and butter-bun congress at VB Bakery. The dosas, obbattu (sweet pancake), akkirotti (rice pancake), fried bondas, butter-gulkand, and masala-pepsi available at the various stalls are also delicious. Note that the street comes alive only in the evenings (after 6PM) and that only vegetarian fare is available here.

• Janani, J.P.Nagar.It is a great place to have breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can have idli and sambar for Rs. 8 and a cup of tea for Rs. 6. You can have a north Indian Roti Curri for Rs. 12. If you want to have good Punjabi food, go upstairs and get a good meals under Rs. 150.

• Anupams Coastal Express , Shivanand Circle. If you want to taste some real good sea food , you ought to go to this place. They make fantastic fish dishes. Neer Dosa with Chicken Pulimunchi ,Kori Roti and Chicken Ghee Roast are some things you really cant miss.

• Hotel Empire, Church Street(next to museum inn), & 2 other locations on Center Street and Koramangala, [74]. 10AM-3PM daily. Serves Indian, Chinese, and Middle eastern cuisine until late night. Try Butter Chicken, Chicken Kababs and Parathas. Chicken Thali in the evening is great taste and also good value for money budget.  edit

• Fanoos. Adjoining Johnson Market, off Brigade Road. One of the joints for getting Sheekh (beef) Rolls in Bangalore. They come in various sizes - sheekh roll, sheekh jumbo, sheekh mambo, sheekh rambo and sheekh sambo - the latter of which is almost 2 inches thick. There are other options like chicken, mutton and paneer rolls as well as kababs and shawarma. Rs. 30-100 per head. But the hygiene here is almost non-existent.

• Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR), 11 Lal Bagh Road, +91 80 2222-0022, +91 80 2222-1706. One of the very old traditional breakfast places in Bangalore. There are a few people who have been having their breakfast at MTR everyday for the past 15 years. Closed between 2:45 and 3:30 PM. Expect a long wait on weekends. Traditional 12 course Karnataka lunches are also available here for around Rs.90 per head. Advance reservations recommended at weekends. Their Rava idlis, Dosas and Bisi Bele Bath are excellent. It has maintained its excellent quality over the years and is very famous. It is on the road perpendicular to Lal bagh main gate.

• New Shanti Sagar. This is an reasonably reliable chain of (veg) south Indian restaurants. Branches scattered all over the city, notably in Koramangala 80ft road, Jayanagar, Domlur, etc. Rs 50-200.

• The Adiga's chain of restaurants to the south of Bangalore. Prominent among them are the joints located in: Jayanagar 4th Block, take the road facing BHS First Grade College, Basavanagudi. Here is the list: Adiga's Park 585, 10th Main, 42nd cross, 5th Block Jayanagar; Adiga's Foodline, 502,40th Cross, 8th block; Adiga's Delicacy, 105 Dickenson's road, Manipal Centre; Adiga's Majestic, Next to Fkcci Bldg, KG Road; Adiga's Nalapaka, across from HSBC Complex, Bannerghatta, Arikere.

• Sree Krishna fast food a little further from the road connecting Lalbagh Westgate with Basavanagudi.

• SLV chain of restaurants. Prominent among them are located in: Banashankari 2nd Stage, opposite BDA park and the one in J.P.Nagar 2nd Phase near Ragigudda Temple

• Vidhyarthi Bhavan, just off Gandhi Bazar in Basavanagudi - A gastronomic haven - offering some of the best Masala Dosa in the world! This quaint little place is so famous that it has not even bothered to change it's age old sign board (who needs it anyway, the aroma wafting through the air is a good enough indication that you are in the vicinity of the place)!!! Get there early for a breakfast, there's always a bee-line for places to sit.

• Brahmin's Coffee Bar, just off ShankarMutt in Shankarapuram(Basavanagudi) -Famous for Idly, Vada and Its famous Chutney.You also get Khaarabath. Dont expect Sambar for Vada here.

• Hotel Janatha, 8th Cross Road, Malleswaram - Makes some of the best Vada Sambhar and Masala Dosa in town.

• Corner House, Residency Road (2558-3262), BTM Road, Koramangala (Off 80ft Road), Airport Road (Arlton Towers), Marthahalli (Whitefield Road)and Shivananda Circle is one of the best ice cream parlours offering a variety of treats. Their famed 'Death by Chocolate' (popularly known as DBC) is a must for all chocolate lovers and has attained a cult status. Can be tricky to find a spot during peak times and you may find yourself being 'encouraged' by the staff to leave quickly once you do.

• Central Tiffin Room (a.k.a CTR), Margosa Road, Malleswaram - Another landmark hotel, dishing out some divine 'Benne Masala Dosa', which literally melts in the mouth.

• Upahara Darshini, on DVG road, Basavanagudi. Another of Bangalore's new found Darshinis dishing out top notch Masala Dosa and Vada Sambhar

• Lake View Milk Bar, MG Road. Tel: +91 80 2558-7410 - excellent ice creams, club sandwiches and burgers.

• McDonalds, Forum Mall, Koramangala - Don't expect to find any beef items.

• Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC) Indiranagar Serves good chicken and fast food.

• Shiv Sagar, Narayan Pillai Street, Off Commercial Street. Tel: +91 80 509-8892 - Don't get put off by the location! It's a great place to eat.

• Coconut Grove, Church Street - try the appams and Kerala parottas with a chicken source dish. Their lunch offer for Rs. 80 is also really good. A pretty good choice for reasonably priced quality seafood. Coco-Grove the outdoor 'beer cafe' extension is also worth a look.

• KC Das: This is a chain of Bengali sweets stores.shop in Bangalore. The one on Church Street is perhaps the most visible and famous but there are outlets on Coles Road, BTM Layout etc.

• Udupi Garden, 16th Main BTM Layout. Simple Udupi restaurant. Serves very good south Indian dishes at nominal prices. Also serves north Indian food.

• Nandini, the Andhra fast food chain serves some excellent biriyani and chicken dishes

• Shezan, on Lavelle Road and Cunningham Road, +91 80 22249319, +91 80 22249667, +91 80 22287895 +91 80 22262195. This restaurant provides Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines with a good menu choice where beef, fish, prawn, mutton and chicken meat are available. Excellent steaks.

• Savera Tea Shop. 24-hour tea shops near Russell Market in Shivajinagar and on MG Road. Good place to go for a cup of tea in the dead of the night. Serves tea, Suleimani (honey+lemon) tea and a variety of biscuits. Rs. 3-15

• Kanti Sweets. KG Road, Majestic, Malleswaram Circle, RT Nagar. Very good samosas, kachoris and North Indian sweets like rasmalai. Rapidly expanding chain, so there are plenty of branches all over the city now, which serve parathas and other food items as well. The main branch in Majestic is the best, and serves only samosas, kachoris and sweets. Rs. 10-50 per head.

• Kohinoor, Brigade Road. Serves very reasonably priced Kerala muslim style food.

• Java, (Phone: 080-4137-8888) in the G block of Diamond District apartment complex in Kodalli on the old Airport Road, is a hidden gem that serves buffet lunch and dinner for Rs 150 on weekdays, Rs 250 on weekends (as of 2008-06-30). The buffet consists of both North and South Indian dishes and caters to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Reasonably priced (Rs 90 to Rs 120 entree) a-la-carte selection is available outside of lunch and dinner hours.

• Richies on MMRoad off Mosque Road serves the kind of biryani that is the Bangalore original. It is located midway on MM Road, and hard to miss because of the crowds that throng its takeaway counter. One visits Richies only for the food—tables and chairs made of synthetic wood, and dim light from gaudy chandeliers don’t exactly make for great ambiance. A motley bunch of diners cram the place for lunch and dinner (they have only recently built the second and third floors). The biryani here is delicious, and you must love meat to love Richies. The menu is limited; but the mutton and chicken biryani stand out from each other—they are not flavoured with the same masala, or heaven forbid, rice, their kababs are something nice and unique too.

• Koshy's, St. Marks Road (below Church St). A Bangalore institution, serving a smattering of Western favorites (like fish and chips) along with the usual South Indian fare in a bohemian-for-India atmosphere. On weekends, they serve up greasy Western-style breakfast, including omelettes and Bombay (i.e., French) Toast. Appam and Stew is their Sunday breakfast special and a must eat. Turn right at the entrance for the more expensive (and decidedly less charming) AC room. Rs 50-200. Smoky, with sluggish service, and not particularly clean Koshy's still has plenty of character and history but its getting harder to justify their skyrocketing prices.

• HOT WOK - #297,100 Feet Road, Indra Nagar. "It's not a restaurant, it's a way of life." It serves good food in a nice ambience. Rs 150-500. HOT WOK is closed now.
• Sue's Food Place - Krishna Temple Road, Indira Nagar - It is a Caribbean style restaurant run by Sue (Susan John from Trinidad and Tobago). It has an excellent buffet. (Their Jamaican jerk chicken, salads and desserts are lovely.) A la carte menu is available too on certain days. Rs 200-500
• 100ft Restaurant - 100 Feet Road, Indra Nagar. westernized cooking, but notably better than any other pasta serving restaurant in the area. The restaurant is a bit of a hybrid, as a store/restaurant. rs 300-500.
• Ebony, MG Road. On the 13th floor of the tallest building on MG Road, this stylish eatery offers excellent evening views of the city. Service is a bit slow, but the ambiance makes it worth the wait. Book ahead for a terrace seat. Rs 200-400
• Little Italy, 100 Ft Road, Indiranagar. A chic Italian vegetarian restaurant, faddish and over priced. Sometimes the staff switches off air conditioning if the tables are less than half-filled!
• Mainland China, Church Street (near Museum Road), +91 80 2227-7722, 2224-5864. Upscale Chinese food. Good, fairly authentic food and excellent service. Serves a decent lunch buffet. New outlet on 100ft Road, Indiranagar. Rs 500-800.
• Nanking, 2nd Floor, Sigma Mall, Cunningham Road. Tel: +91 80 41472281, 41472282. As authentic you can get with Chinese food in India. Now part of a family owned chain with restaurants in Mumbai (the original one, called Ling's pavilion, New Delhi and Bangalore). Ask the maitre de for recommendations away from the menu.
• Sahib Sindh Sultan, Level 2, Forum Mall, Hosur Road, Koramangala, Phone: 22067878 Train-themed restaurant with a delicious, upscale menu. It is supposed to showcase NWFP good. Their kakori kebabs are excellent. It also serves wine with the food. Expect a long wait. Or book ahead and roam around the mall or grab a few drinks from the adjoining Firangi Paani. Rs 150-500
• Samarkand, Gem Plaza, 66, Infantry Road (East of Central St), +91 80 4111-3366. North West frontier food (i.e., kebabs, Afghani) in a kitschy atmosphere but the food is great. You will need to book on weekends. Rs 300-600.
• Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine, 96, Amar Jyoti Layout, Koramangala Inner Ring Road (right after Airport Road flyover), +91 80 65715555, [75]. This restaurant offers the some of the most authentic South East Asian/Thai food in Bangalore. (Moved from the earlier location on CMH Road) Rs 300-500
• T.G.I Friday's, Carlton Towers & Airport Road - Don't expect cheap Indian prices. But Happy Hours (1 + 1 free on alcoholic beverages) in the evening should make up for that.
• Pinx, Manipal center (off MG Road). A great place for Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet. Rs 200-400 per head.
• Canopy , PU Building, M.G.Road, Open air, multi-cuisine North-Indian food. Cooking techniques date back to the independence era offering the unique taste.Great outdoor ambiance in the middle of the Central Business District. Rs.125-750
• Le Rock Pub Cafe, Rest House Road, (off Brigade Road), +91 80 41231001, Hot Coffee to chilled Kingfisher beer on the tap awesome cocktails and even hand rolled Havana Cigars from Salads, Sandwiches, Jacket Baked Potatoes to Entree's. LRC also offers an Oxy Bar Bangalore's first. A must for every tourist visiting this city. Affordable prices.
• Mugen, 100 Ft Road, Indiranagar,http//mugen.co.in, +91 80 41481414 / 9945300004. Bangalore's new fine dining restaurant with an oriental twist, Mugen promises you an unforgettable journey through the world of flavors from Indonesia, Thailand and China, where exotic and authentic dishes cooked with the freshest ingredients and served in a truly breathtaking environment promises you a perfect culinary symphony of the Far East!
• Ceasar's Restaurant, M.G.Road. Indian and continental food. Ambiance is good though the food is tad expensive. Parking is a problem.
• Alibaba Cafe & Restaurant, Frazer Town - 08040917163. Arabian, Persian and Bhatkali cuisine described as "An Arabian Lake in the Indian ocean". A themed restaurant with the feel of Arabia, Persia and India. The "Shaiya Biryani" of the Bhatkali cuisine, the Al faham chicken barbeque out of the Arabian cuisine and the chicken Jujeh Kabab from the Persian cuisine are all recommended.
• The Egg Factory, St.Marks Road - 080-42110041. Multi Cuisine, The Menu,as the name suggests, is all based on the indispensable EGG. Its also modeled on a factory with functional chairs and a menu that looks like an instruction manual.Its open for all day dining. Egg dishes from all over the world, including Omelttes, Scrambles, French Toast, Curries, Sub's, Pasta & Dessets. Don't miss the fantastic Huevos Rancheros here, they make it as good as in Mexico.Innovative drinks, try the Chlorophyll Fix, it looks and sounds wierd, but tastes like heaven. Relaxed Service

• Bombay Post, Airport Road, next to TGIF - The menu of Bombay Post brings together the different flavours that make up Bombay’s crowded platter. In addition, the restaurant also serves specialties from Lucknow and Amritsar. So you can choose from street food like chat and kulfi, starters such as shahi rolls, kababs, or a main course comprising chicken, mutton and seafood delicacies.
• Blue Ginger, Race Course Road (in the Taj West End). This high-end Vietnamese restaurant has a beautiful setting and excellent food. You may be shocked by the bill, though. Just next door to Blue Bar.
• Cafe Mozaic, 41/3 MG Road (in the Taj Residency). Western-style dining in a casual atmosphere with some pool-side seating. Sundays before 3:30 PM, there is an all-you-can-eat/drink champagne brunch for Rs 1000.
• Grasshopper, 45 Kalena Agrahara, Bannerghata Road, +91 80 2659-3999 (+91 98 4545-2646). Freshly prepared seven course meal served on the table. Reservation required. Closed on Mondays.
• Leela Palace has several upscale restaurants. All-you-can-eat/drink brunch on Sunday is Rs 2000. They have four restaurants, Citrus Lounge (Brasserie Kitchen), Zen (Pan Asian), Library Bar(serves all cuisine) and Jamavar(Authentic Indian). Generally overpriced compared to the Taj outlets (Blue Ginger, Graze, Karavalli)
• Monsoon is a 24 hour cafe in The Park Hotel on Old Madras Road and next to Taj Residency. It offers a variety of Continental Dishes, Indian, South East Asian and Mediterranean. Ideal location for private parties.
• Sunny's at Embassy Diamante, 34, Vittal Mallya Road. +91 80 5132 9366, +91 80 5132 9391, +91 80 2212 0496. About Rs. 1,200 for a three-course meal for two, excluding drinks. Among the best restaurants in Bangalore. Try the excellent range of starters with fantastic sauces (salads are fine here!) and the Pasta with a bottle of Grovers is to die for! Also recommend the Hot sandwiches for a lunch-time feast. Owned by an Indian Film director.
• The Raj Pavillion ITC Windsor Manor, Golf Course Road. 24-hour restaurant that offers the taste of the British Raj. Anglo-Lucknowi, Far East and Continental cuisine is served. Amongst the best in Bangalore.
• Karavalli, Residency Road (at the Gateway Hotel), +91 80 2558-4545. Mangalorean, Goa, Karwar, and Kerala style cuisine. Best Indian food you will get when visiting BLR
• I.T-alia, in Park hotel, has the best Italian food in town
• Graze, in Taj Residency, has some of the best creative continental you will get in Bangalore
• Giancarlo's near Vittal Mallya Road. Offers some of the best Italian in town, tough quality tends to be unstable.
• Olive beach on Wood Street. A longtime favourite that will serve you Italian meats and cheese in a nice setting, this is still among Bangalore's best.

• Tijouri. North Indian restaurant inside the Hotel Atria.
• Kamat Yatrinivas, Gandhinagar. Serves special N Karnataka meals with jowar(Sorghum) rotis. They now have a branch on Bull temple road where they have local artists perform when you have dinner.
• Kadambam. Authentic Iyengar cuisine ranging from Puliogare, Sakkare Pongal, Thayir Sadham, of course Kadambam (which is actually a type of heavenly concoction of Sambhar and rice, akin to Bisibele Huliyanna), and a wide array of traditional Iyengar sweets. It has two branches, one on Bull Temple Road, near Ramakrishna Ashram and another just off West of Chord road, near Modi eye Hospital in Rajajinagar.

• Herbs & Spices, On 80ft rd above Planet M, 100m north of Reliance Fresh. Great pasta, pizza, and desserts.
• Casa Picola, [76] has interesting, tasty Italian and continental food in a casual ambiance. An old favourite for many locals, it has a few branches.
• Friends Fast Food, Jyoti Nivas College Road, Koramangala (300m from Forum). Great Conti food at college prices. Casa Picola fans will like this one.
• Cafe Y, Langford Road (Near Prestige Elgin, Hosur Road-Langford Road junction), +91 80 511-44561. Amazing sizzlers and steaks, nice ambiance.
• Indi Joe, 1 Airport Road (Carlton Towers), +91 80 4111-3636, +91 80 4112-1234. Offers fondue, pizza, steak and Mexican food. Their Lunch buffet is good.
• Rendezvous, 80 Ft Road, Koramangala. Near Barista and Maharaja Hotel.

• Kollapuri's, 429/31 30th Cross, 4th Block Jaya Nagar (Near Jain Mandir), ☎ 080-41211693, 26535207. An authentic Maharashtrian hotel run by Savaji.It serves bhakri,chapati and "Sheckle Edme" special Savaji stuffed roti with spicy sabjis.  edit

• Rajvardhan Foods, 1291 25th Main Road, 9th Block Jaya Nagar East (Near Big Bazaar), ☎ 9886303088/9886303089. Best known for its Vadapav, Sabudana Vada, Khichdi .It also offers bhakri,thalipeeth. The snacks/food offered here is comparatively expensive. This is because it is Bangalore's only authentic maharashtrian food outlet. It also serves food fresh, only prepared after placing the order, so the wait and price is compensated. The food quality is excellent.  edit

• Karavalli, Residency Road (at the Gateway Hotel), +91 80 2558-4545. Mangalorean, Goa, Karwar, and Kerala style cuisine.
• Konkan, 6th cross, 6th Block, Koramangala, +91 80 2552-1530. Mangalorean and Goan style cuisine.
• Vidyarthi Bhavan, 32 Gandhi Bazaar, +91 80 2667-7588. Another very old and traditional breakfast place, exclusively known for its Masala Dosa. Similar to MTR, you can find people who have been having breakfast here since times immemorial.
• The Palms, 33 Church Street (at the Highgates Hotel), +91 80 2559-7172. Mangalorean, Coorgi, and Malabari style. (shut for renovations)
• Janatha Hotel, 8th Cross, Malleshwaram. Another great place, famous for its Butter Masala Dosas and Vadas.
• Halli Mane, 3rd Cross, Malleswaram (close to Malleswaram Circle). Truly authentic and top notch traditional Kannada fare
• Kamath Yatrinivas Majestic, authentic Mangalorean meals
• Kamath Lookaruchi, On Mysore Road just before Channapatna...amazing food and ambience.Authentic mangalorean meals
• Upaahara Darshini, One of the bangalore's oldest food joints. Amazing dosas (pancakes!)
• Krishna darshini, Vasavi temple street, basavanagudi offers replicas of mtr's delicacies, damn reasonable
• Kudla, for sea-food, attached to Ramashree comforts serves excellent dishes.its like a thilak
• New Krishna Bhavan,1st Cross Malleswaram, for authentic Mangalorean food, reasonably priced. Try the Neer dosa and Badam Halwa there.

• Oh! Calutta, St Mark's Road - part of a chain of restaurants across the country, and the best Bengali food available in the city albeit pricier than the other options.
• Bangaliana, 355, 1st 'B' Main, 7th Block, Koramangala, (Opp. HDFC Bank) Tel: +91 80 25711058. Authentic Bengali Delicacies (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Restaurant, Take-away, Catering. Specialities: fish, mutton chicken and, of course, sweets.
• Sonar Bangla, 88/1, Shubh Arcade, 1st floor, 16th Cross, Margosa Road, Malleswaram. Tel: +91 80 3367622. The restaurant undertakes orders of authentic Bengali food for gourmets who fancy a whole meal and also delivers it at the doorstep. Fish is considered sacred in the coastal state and is consumed universally. So, all fish lovers can take heart as the non-vegetarian cuisine is delivered, but not served at the restaurant.
• 6 Ballygunge Place, 1F., 612, 12th Main, Indira Nagar (above Café Coffee Day). It has been rated best bengali restaurant by times food guide bangalore. It serves excellent fish (esp their Chital peti roast), Dab Chingri and Luchis. (Its mocktails are avoidable however). Prices are slightly on higher side. May cost around Rs 1000 for two but the food quality is good. The owners have added Calcutta style chaat on top floor also recently.
• 36 Chowringhee Lane, 100ft Road, BTM Layout. Opp Reliance Fresh.Tel:+91 80 41240979. Authentic Bengali Cuisine.
• The Esplanade, KHB Colony, Koramangala +91 80 4092 7878 offers authentic Bengali Cuisine. They also have a continental menu.

• Bheemas, Church Street, Off Brigade Road, The 'meals' here are to-die-for! Every dish is crafted to perfection by their cooks in strict Andhra tradition. If you have the penchant for spice this place is meant for you.
• RRs, Off Brigade Road, A renovation of the vintage RRs, the fun doubles here with the double storeyed restaurant, one serving Andhra and the other Hyderabadi cuisines. There's also alcohol, all the more reason to indulge on a Saturday afternoon.
• Nagarjuna Chimney,(1) Residency Road, Near Old Galaxy Theatre, (2) Jayanagar 3rd Block, Near ICICI Bank, Possibly have a few more branches elsewehere in Bangalore. The Biryani is almost intoxicating, not to mention their 'meals' which are served ritually on a banana leaf. Reach early for lunch, for, there are hordes in the waiting always.

• Krishna Cafe, Koramangala (Opposite China Pearl). Traditional Chennai-style food. Dosas, idlis, idiappam and the like with authentic Tamil sambar and chutney. Do note that this place is vegetarian-only, though. A vegetarian meal will cost you around 80Rs (2 USD) here. Most of the French expats eat here.
• Ponnuswamy, Koramangala (near the National Games Village, opposite to Legends of Rock). Authentic south Tamil Nadu food. Try the biryani and sukka fry here - excellent fare! No alcohol or smoking. Also at Residency Rd., Next to Imperial Hotel.Tel:+91 80 41511919
• Pongal, Jivan Bima Nagar (near the Indiranagar telephone exchange ). Tamil Nadu food - Lots of dosa varieties and is very famous for the Podi dosa, parotta with kurma are good. Ambience is not that great, but this place is for those who need a quick bite without a big pinch on the wallet.
• Anjappar Restaurant , #50 100 Feet Road 4Th Block,Koramangala, Bangalore - 560034
• Annachi ,100 Feet Road, Indiranagar . It serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. (Has some good chettinad style dishes)
• Annapoorna , Ulsoor, Near Sai Baba Temple in Ulsoor, Need to get down at Ulsoor police station. It serves pure vegetarian food in real tamil flavor.

• U S Pizza, Church Street. Tel: +91 80 2559-9347. If you are looking for a western tasting pizza this is the closest you get, try lamb-pepperoni.

• Richie Rich Ice Cream Parlor, With three branches around the city, this ice cream parlor has a variety of natural ice creams, softies and many scrumptious fast food items such as pav bhaji and vada Pav which will leave its customers with a craving for its foods. Try the Elvis Presley specialty or the traffic Jam or Richie Rich Special. The three locations are on St. Marks R, Airport Rd. and Kumara Park East. Tel: +91 802226-9655.

• Phalaamritha Icecream Parlor, 8th Cross, 14/1 West Park Road,Malleswaram. Tel:+91 80 65675755. Serves 25 Super Smooth Home-made Ice Cream Flavours along with Health Drinks, yummy varieties of Kulfi's,Milk Shakes,Ice Tea,Ice Cream Novelties and tasty Chaats.

• Corner House, 1 Airport Road (Carlton Towers). This is the place for you if you are looking for the best desserts in town. The "brown bomb" and "hot fudge" are a must have. Not a place for calorie counters.

• Yogi's, #86,21st Main, Banashankari 2nd Stage(Near BDA Complex). If you are looking for tasty Burgers you must visit Yogi's. The "Sakkat Burger" and "Sakkat Mexican" are a must have. Wide range of burgers, sandwiches, ice creams , shakes and sundaes available. Tel: +91 80 9845849025, 9845397363.

• Bay Leaf, Raheja Arcade, Opposite Forum Mall, Kormangala - A really nice place with reasonable prices.
• Queens, Church Street, Opposite Amoeba - Small restaurant but great food at reasonable prices.
• D A L F R Y D A Y, Banerghatta Road,near IIM -B, besides HSBC Bank and above Fabmall - Now open, serves very good North Indian non vegetarian cuisine in a fine ambience. (this is closed as of now, Hyderabadi biriyani has opened a branch at the same location)
• Hyderabadi biriyani Banerghatta Road,near IIM -B, besides HSBC Bank and above Fabmall (now More.) serves good biriyani
• Rasilas,J P Nagar 7 Block, Close to Brigade Gardenia and Millennium - Nice place with very fine cuisine
• Mast kalander, Bannerghatta Road has some very nice North India cuisine. It is very reasonably priced. There is a namesake in Indiranagar also.

• I-Talia, The Park, M.G. Road. Tel: +91 80 2559-4666 - Expensive, but arguably the best Italian food in town.
• Fiorano Ristorante/ 63, 100 ft Road, next to sukh sagar, 5th A block, Koramangala. +91 80 25534231. Easy to miss driving by but Incredible food, but entrees will set you back Rs.300-600. [77]
• 100 ft Boutique, 100 ft Road, Indiranagar (after Fab Mall when you are travelling from CMH road side, and a few stores after Benetton on the LHS if you're coming from Airport road) - the food and drinks are quite good, pricing is comparable to most continental restobars. The best part about it is that its a Boutique Restaurant, which means you can SHOP, while waiting for your meal to arrive, even after 9PM, which is when most other shops close in Banglaore. The Boutique houses many young designers, and also has a cosy nook called LEVITATE, which is a Shop-in-shop concept showcasing a wide array of eclectic street fashion and handcrafted kitsch from all over India. Must check out if you are in Indira nagar. tel: +91 80 41501781/64528190
• Little Italy, Nice vegetarian restaurant in Indira Nagar - little expensive. Good food.
• Via Milano, Near Sony World, Koramangla - Very Expensive authentic Italian food. 3 Course meal for 2 will cost an average of Rs 2000/ (wine not included)

• P!ng, No. 130, 1st Cross, 5th Block, Koramangala. Includes a Dessert Bay. THE place for Dim sum in Bangalore. Sensible portions, priced right.

• Aromas of China, Eva Mall, 5th floor.

• Shanghai Junction, No.8, Sri Sai, 60Ft. Road, G Block, Sahakarnagar.( Behind Big Market) Tel: +91 80 41744477 & 41744488

• Golden Lights, No.4032, 100ft Road, HAL-II Stage, Indranagar. Tel: +91 80 25597722 & 65374579 As close to an authentic Chinese meal as you will find in this city. Excellent food, good service. A tad pricey.

• Caesar's Multi Cuisine Restaurant, Mahalakshmi Chambers,9/2, M.G.Road. Operating Hour: 6:30PM-11:30PM From Monday to Sunday. Beside HSBC bank opposite ING Bank. Got a lot variety of tasty food. Classic Environment.

• Mainland China, 2 branches: Church Street & 100 ft road

• Chungs and Chung Wa, spread across bangalore

• Claypot, Tippasandra - very tasty
• K K Bakers, Malleshpalaya
• BigBoy Fried Chicken (BFC), Vignan Nagar
• Kalavara, Vignan Nagar
• Malabar Cuisine, MARATHA HALLI BRIDGE - very tasty
• Kairali, Near Forum Mall, Koramangala
• MAS, Madiwala, 2-3 km from Koramangala
• Gokulam Mess, GM Palaya, 3 km from Indiranagar
• Continental Spice, Airport Road, Close to Diamond District
• Hotel Ruchi, Vignan Nagar
• Kaayal, Jeevan Beema Nagar Road
• Hotel New Malabar, Near level cross, Kaggadasapura
• Tharavadu, Bommanahalli, On Hosur road after silk board
• Priyam Restaurent, Jagadish Nagar, behind BEML
• The Paramount Restaurant, Koramangala , Near Jyothi nivas college
• Little Home, Koramangala, 80ft road, near Wipro K2 office. - Very good south and central kerala food. Bad service though.

• There are few Dhabas catering to all tastes. Both South and North Indian fare is available at most places and is clean and cheap. A special mention is the green park dhaba on the outskirts on Bellary Road and Golconda Chimney on the airport road. Try the Chicken Kathi rolls and the Biryani.

• Try out Bobby-da-Dhaba near Ulsoor Lake. Take a left turn from MG Road - Trinity Circle and ask for Gurudwara (the Sikh temple). Right next to the Gurudwara is Bobby-da-Dhaba. The food is quite good (albeit slightly oily). It basically serves paranthas (with lots of butter), chaach, kheer and a number of side dishes (most notable being their Shahi Paneer and Rajma). You may have to wait for a while in case it is full. So it's better to go slightly early (say 12PM for lunch and 7:30PM for dinner to avoid rush).

Drink

Formerly having a reputation as the Pub City of India, Bangalore's buoyant pub and nightlife has been curtailed by police and regulatory action, and all bars and nightclubs must close no later than 11.30PM.

• Fresh coconuts are abundant in Bangalore, and the water sipped straight from the nut is a healthy, enjoyable and cheap way to quench the thirst.
• As in many parts of India, the yogurt based drink lassi is readily available in Bangalore. It is served plain or flavored with sugar or fruit, mango being a popular one. Lassi is particularly refreshing on a hot day and is also very effective in cooling and calming the stomach after an overly-spicy meal.
• Fresh lime soda, which is offered "sweet or salt".
• Kingfisher is the most popular and widely available beer in Bangalore. It is typically sold in 650 ml bottles, suitable for sharing between two or three people. Note: Indian beer may contain the additive glycerol, which can cause headaches.

Where

Cafes

• Cake Walk - #297,100 Feet Road, Indra Nagar. Tasty and Yummy desserts Cake Walk location [78]
• Cafe Coffee Day - Can be found all over Bangalore. [79]
• Barista - Can be found all over Bangalore. Barista locator [80]
• Coffee World - Can be found all over Bangalore. Coffee World locations [81]

The three places above are India's answer to Starbucks and serve snacks, teas, other drinks & coffee of exceptional quality.

• Coffee Workers Co-op - M.G. Road - a venerable Bangalore institution, with waiters in traditional uniforms and customers slowly savoring the age-old tradition of coffee drinking - though there are just two choices of coffee: black or white.Have some delightful "masala dosa" here. UPDATE - unfortunately closed due to landlord dispute in April 2009. Reopened in May 2009 at the Church Street"s Brigade Gardens just behind its previous location.
• BrewHaha - Koramangala [82] - a coffee shop which also offers snacks and desserts. But the best part is that they have over 50 board games for players of all skills/ages/group sizes. One of the best places for time-pass in Koramangala.

Pubs and bars

Budget

Most bars and pubs in the city are somewhat upscale, but many inexpensive restaurants serve beer and good quality food.

If you just need to go out you could go to one of the bars, but if you would like to have a great social experience and are in the city for a considerable period of time consider becoming a member of one of the social expat clubs in the city. The IVES Club [83] offers a meeting for it's members every Saturday at one or the other popular nightclubs in Bangalore, its members are interns, expats, volunteers and exchange students residing in the city.

Mid-range

• Pecos, Rest House Road (off Brigade Road). This 60's retro pub (a mural of Jerry Garcia greets you at the door) is often crowded on all three floors, including the pleasant roof-top seating area. Free popcorn with every pitcher of beer. Cards are available for frequent customers which make every tenth pitcher of beer free, but you may have to ask several times in order to acquire one and to get it updated.

• Beer Joint Pub (aka BJP), Indira Nagar
• Nasa, Church Street.
• Tavern at The Inn, Museum Road.
• Styx (next to Cauvery Handicrafts on M.G. Road) - They put the "Heavy" in heavy metal!!
• Purple Haze, Residency Road. Popular for the classic rock that's played there. Now there is a new Purple Haze off Hosur Road, Koramangala (close to Jyothi Niwas College).
• Sparks,Brigade Road extension, next to Brigade Towers.
• Ego's, Castle Street, off Brigade Road.
• J'Cubez, Banshankari 2nd Stage, opp. BDA complex - For all those rock lovers
• The Bunker, off Residency Road.
• Legends of Rock, 80ft Road, 6th Block,Koramangala.+91 80 41303232. The only pub in Bangalore that lives up to its name. Watch the Legends perform on large format TV's. Its more than a pub its an experience.
• Opus, Palace Cross Road, near Sankey Road, +91 80 23442580, [84]. A chilled-out, ex-pat friendly lounge with a large outdoor space. Has karaoke on most Sundays and Wednesdays (Kroaknights) as well as regular live music and DJ dance nights. You may need to book ahead on theme nights. there has been a huge price increase on liquor off late!!
• Sultanate Of Swing: 4th floor, Garuda Mall, Free entry, mainly plays Rock, Retro, Heavy Metal and has a Video DJ.
• Bull n Bush:4th floor, Garuda Mall, Rs.500/- cover Charge, Plays Hip Hop, House and Occasionally Trance.
• Le Rock Pub Cafe, Rest House Road (off Brigade Road)+91 8041231001. The latest watering hole in Bangalore. Rock music across the board screened on large Plasma panels; every song can not only be heard but seen as well. Coffee, Kingfisher beer, cocktails, food and Bangalore's first oxy bar. Open from 10AM to 11:30PM.
• Windsor Pub Just Off Mount Carmel's in Kodava Samaja Building, Vasanth Nagar. A small place which serves only beer. Serves good food and nice for a family outing. But only limited tables!!
• Carpe Diem Church Street (Off Brigade Raod) It's a "Power Metal" Haven!!
• B11 Jayanagar 4th Block (above Hotel Pavithra), next to Cool Joint
• New Night Watchman corner Church and Museum Rds, a little bit dingy but helpful bar staff - satellite TV has the Australia Network so you can watch Rugby Union and AFL games.

Splurge

Most hotels have spiffy bars with every imaginable concoction of drinks available.

• Kosmo, Formerly Cosmo Village on Magrath Road, has 3 separate areas including a terrace. 81, Ali Askar Road Cross, Off Cunningham Rd. This nightclub is a remodeled colonial villa on a quiet lane, with excellent DJs and expensive drinks, and attracts a wealthy clientele.
• 13th Floor, Barton Center, M.G Road. Make a reservation.
• The Beach, 100ft Road, Indiranagar. Make a reservation. Starts with Retro Music, plays some good hip-hop and house towards the end. Makes you feel like you are in Goa.
• Aura, Cunningham Road
• Athena, The Leela Hotel, Airport Road - Really popular on most days of the week. The upper VIP lounge is the best part of the club, but the rest of the club is beautifully appointed and attracts a hip crowd.
• Blue Bar, Race Course Road - On weekends you need to buy drink-tickets for 1500 rs to enter. Excellent drinks if you make sure Joel makes them. Officially they have a couple's only policy. Spontaneous dancing likely next to the bar.
• F-Bar (Fashion Bar - a theme bar by FTV) inside Le Meridien
• Fuga The best place for House Music lovers, Richmond Town. Expensive and fashionable.
• Firangi Paani, Forum Mall, Koramangala.
• Geoffrey's, Airport Road (Royal Orchid). Really nice place.
• Hint, 5th Floor Bangalore Central, M.G Road. Tuesdays is ladies night (couples permitted).
• iBar, Park Hotel, M.G Road
• Spinn, just next to Brigade road circle. Closes early at 11:30PM. You have to pay a cover charge of Rs 500 to enter. Saturdays is a party goers energy paradise with full-on house and some hip hop towards the end.
• Taika, Church Street (off Brigade Road) - Usually open past midnight and has a huge dance floor. 3 bars and a lounge area. Entrance varies each night.
• Tuscan Verve (off Brigade Road).
• Vaayu, Cool bar on the 5th floor of Eve Mall on Brigade road. It has comfortable lounge seating, and is open air, giving some nice views over the city.

Sleep

Due to demand vastly outstripping supply, good hotels in Bangalore are insanely expensive — with average rates pushing US$200/night. Fortunately prices at the lower end of the spectrum are rather more reasonable.

• Silicon Suites, 174, Nagvarapalya, Rahat Bagh, Behind Big Bazaar, off Old Madras road, near Indiranagar Tel: +91 80 4019 8888 [85]
• VSL Grand Serviced Apartments, Offers Luxurious Single and Two Bedroom Apartments, close to Palace Grounds and easily accessible to the road leading to the New International Airport, "12, Bore Bank Road, Benson Town, Tel: +91 80 4128 9401 to 08 [86]
• Ajantha, 22 MG Road. Good simple hotel with veggie restaurant. Tel:+91 80 2558-4321.
• Royal Regency Lodge, S. C. Road (Next to Movieland theater),Clean rooms and convenient to the city’s local transports like the City bus station and the City Railway Station. Tel:+91 80 41130202 [87]
• Shree Vaishnav Gujarati Samaj (good, very cheap staying for gujaratis) - just behind "Majestic Area" Nr Sapna cinema, Kempe Gowda circle - a secure and decent place to stay if you are there for a day or two. Costs only Rs 50. A nice canteen just inside the place with Gujarati food available. In the vicinity there is another good place available for fast food / lunch named "SLV". Good value for money.
• UG Deluxe (Majestic) Thulsi Thotta, need to get down by the small road opposite to Upparpet Police station and next to Navruchi restaurant, then take right and then immediate left on a small lane and at the end of it take right and you will see the lodge on your right. You may want to take an auto instead of walking down if you are going after a rainy day as your shoes will catch up dirt. Non-A/C rooms cost around Rs. 550 (approx. $13), A/C rooms may cost a Rs. 200 ($5) more than that.
• YMCA, Nrupathunga Road (near Cubbon Park), no-frills hotel. Tel:+91 80 2221-1848
• Others around Majestic, If you are free for an hour, you can just go around the Majastic theatre and the Kempe Gowda Bus Station and look for a budget hotel yourself, as there are many on small streets and roads around this place. Or, you can even trust (to some extent) a broker who voluntarily offers help, but be sure you take a good look at the rooms before you pay any money to the lodge and the broker. But there is a wrong notion in the minds of people in and around Majestic that Whenever you go in pairs, they tend to look at you with a wrong and suspicious look. If coming with family, especially newly married, avoid the Majestic area.
• D-Habitat Hotel Apartments, in Koramangala Bangalore offers Deluxe Rooms, Suites, Studio, 2 and 3 Bedroom Apartments with the unique comforts of Home; The ambiance of a Corporate Guest House and the exclusive facilities of a fine serviced apartment ideal for short-term and extended stay. Tel:+91 080 41501950 [88]
• Maple Suites (Serviced Apartments), #142 & 143, Dollar Layout. 4th Main, BTM II Stage. Bangalore (Off Bannerghatta Road oppo to Mantri Elite.), ☎ +91 80 42822428, [89]. checkin: 12noon; checkout: 12noon. Located in the heart of Bangalore’s Southern IT Hub off Bannerghatta Road - Maple Suites has been exclusively designed or Long & Short Term stay needs of the urban traveler. Maple Suites has unparalleled facilities, comfort and attention to detail in the serviced apartment space. w:www.maplesuites.in Studio Apartment Tariff Starts at Rs1999.  edit\

• Basil Hotel, #8, Sampige road, Malleshwaram (Next to Sampige Theatre / close to central railway station and bus stand), ☎ +91 80 40402323, [90]. checkin: 24 hours; checkout: 24 hours. High quality hotel with good service Starting from Rs.2900.  edit

• Hotel Bangalore Gate, # 9 & 12, Gajanana Towers, K G Road, Bangalore-09 (Hotel is just 500 mts away from Majestic & Bangalore City Railway station), ☎ 080-41100777, [91]. checkin: 12 noon; checkout: 12 noon. Discover a home away from home at Hotel Bangalore Gate – “A Value for money Business/Boutique Hotel” completing a decade in the hospitality industry, during which customer care & satisfaction has consistently been our hallmark! The Contemporary, Classy & Subtle feel and décor of the hotel coupled with its convenient and central location makes Hotel Bangalore Gate the perfect choice for comfort loving leisure traveler and also the corporate traveler for whom time is synonymous with money! INR1600- 3600.  edit

• Citizen Lodge. Recommended by both Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide, this bare bones motel-style establishment is well located (about 1km from MG Road) but leaves much to be desired in terms of cleanliness and overall quality. A double non-AC room costs around Rs. 800.  edit

• Hotel Woodlands: No 5,Rajaram Mohan Roy Road,Near Richman Circle, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, tel: +91 80 22225111. Great mid-range hotel (very clean, great views of the city, delicious free South Indian breakfast buffet) for Rs. 3400 per night for an A/C double (two single beds pushed together). Nice location for exploring the city: walkable (long walk) to M.G. Road (shopping), Garuda Mall (shopping), and Commercial Street (and more shopping).
• Fantasy Golf Resort, Opp ITC (Next to Bangalore International Airport),Ideal for hotel stay next to Bangalore Airport or for Transit Passengers.Just 10 mins away. Tel: +91 99 72092701 [92]
• Hotel Vrindavan - Located just off M.G. Road.very near to M. G. Road/Brigade Road junction (Also called cauvery handicraft junction). Nice hotel for lodging & great south Indian food.
• Church Street Inn - Located near- the Hard Rock Cafe, MG Road, Brigade Road and Residency Road. Church Street Inn, 46,1-1 Church Street (Opposite Night Watchman Pub, Tel: +91 80 30577190 [93] Complimentary wi-fi access and an in house library from Dr.Seuss, Dahl to Dostoyevsky! Friendly and intelligent staff.
• Hotel St. Marks - St. Marks Road (Near Residency Road).
• Best Western The Capitol - Raj Bhavan Road. Tel: +91 80 22281234, 22281800.
• 9 Marks Inn - 9, St Marks Road. Tel: +91 80 22112889,[94]
• The Bouvice - 141C,S.T.Bed Layout, 1st Main Kormangala , Sector 4. Tel: +91 80 41524429, 9342856034. [95]- A beautiful apartment hotel in Kormangala. email: info@bouvice.com.
• Samrat Luxury Hospitality - ISKON Temple Foot hills, 149/A, R Block, West of Chord Road, Rajajinagar. Ph: +91 80 22792893, Email:contact@samrathospitality.com For More details visit [96]
• Chalet Hospitality - for luxury serviced / furnished apartments Bangalore, Ph: +91-9901976955, Email:info@chalethospitality.com For More details visit [97]

• Stopovers Serviced Apartments (Stopovers), Diamond District, Old Airport Road, Bangalore (Close to old airport road), ☎ 9845139800, [98]. checkin: 24hrs; checkout: 24hrs. Custom designed contemporary apartments Rs 4,500.  edit

• Mitaroy Cricket Hotel, Richmond Town (located near MG Road), ☎ 080 23617708 (ask@mitaroy.com), [99]. Asia's only Cricket Hotel, this unique boutique hotel has a phenomenal collection of cricket memorabilia including Sachin Tendulkar's autographed portrait with Sir Don Bradman and Sir Gary Sobers Bat. Rs 3500.  edit

• Grand Ashok Hotel, Kumara Krupa High Grounds. Tel:+91 80 22-2404-2211 (9 lines). Email: grandashok@nivalink.com [100]
• Taj Residency Hotel], 41/3 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 5660-4444. Email: residency.bangalore@tajhotels.com [101]. Besides the Leela, this is considered the Best Business Hotel in India.
• Chancery Pavilion, Residency Road. Nice business hotel, good service and food. About $200 US
• Park Hotel, 14/7 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 2559-4666. Email: resv.blr@theparkhotels.com [102]
• ITC Windsor Sheraton Hotel, Sankey Road, [103]
• Oberoi Hotel, 37-39 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 2558-5858. [104]
• Taj West End Hotel, Race Course Road. Tel:+91 80 5660-5660. Email: westend.bangalore@tajhotels.com [105]
• Leela Palace Kempinski, Tel:+91 80 2521-1234. Email: bangaloresales@theleela.com . [106]. The Leela has been voted 'The Best Business Hotel in the World' by Conde Naste Traveller, for this year.
• Le Meridien, Tel:+91 80 22262233. Email: leme.bangalore@lemeridien.com [107]
• Hotel Royal Orchid, Tel:+91 80 2520 5566. Adjoining KGA Golf Course, Airport Road. [108] Sometimes referred to as the "Royal Orchid Park Plaza". Not to be confused with Royal Orchid Central.
• The Paul139/28, Domlur Layout, Off Intermediate Ring Road, Tel: +91 80 40477777
• The Oterra Hotel, 43 Electronics City, Hosur Road, Tel: +91 80 30030303. [109]

Stay safe

Bangalore is a relatively safe city during day time. But it is equally unsafe once it gets dark. It is not advisable to walk along deserted alleyways or lanes after dark. Rising incomes has brought an influx of people including white collar immigrants and hard-labour immigrants from outside the city, leading to extreme disparities in earnings between locals, the casual labour immigrants and expatriates (people from other parts of the state and also from other countries) which arguably has resulted in a substantial increase in crime rates. Most of the victims are from IT industry who are waylaid on their way back home, and robbed of their belongings.

Avoid using an autorickshaw if the driver is not alone.

Contact

The Area code for Bangalore is 080. When calling from overseas, dial +91 80 XXXX XXXX. If you don’t have an Indian phone number, it is strongly recommended that you get a pre-paid calling card if you plan on using your phone frequently. Because of new government regulations, you need a photocopy of your passport (visa and the ID pages), a color photo, and proof of local address (in Bangalore) when buying a pre-paid card. If you do not have the appropriate paperwork, it is recommended that you ask a local friend to buy a pre-paid card on your behalf. Pre-paid cards are sold in a few of the shops that sell mobile equipment.

PCOs are a good option. You will find them almost every 100m. These are public pay-phones (post-pay) and there will be a person on the shop to take the payments. Check your bill generated (from the billing machine) and make the payment accordingly. Payments are always in Indian rupees.

Internet

There are plenty of Internet Centres which charge around Rs.10 per hour. If you have laptop with wi-fi connection, free internet services are also available at some places like "The Forum" mall.

Cope

Hospitals

List of Major Hospitals and health care centers:

• Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital - Hospital Road, Shivajinagar.
• EPMC's Women's Clinic & Surgery - 9th Block, Jayanagar
• Jayadeva Hospital - 9th block, Bannerghatta Road, Jayanagar.
• Sanjay Gandhi Hospital - Tilaknagar, Jayanagar.
• Manipal Hospital - Old Airport Road, Kodihalli.
• Manipal Hospital - Mysore Road, Rajarajeshwarinagar.
• Mallige Medical Centre-31/32,Crescent Road
• Mallya Hospital - Vittal Mallya Road.
• HOSMAT Hospital (Sports and Orthopedic Medicine) - Magrath Road.
• Sagar Apollo Hospital - Tilaknagar, Bannerghatta Road.
• Wockhardt Hospital - Cunningham Road.
• Wockhardt Hospital - Opp. I.I.M., Bannerghatta Road.
• Wockhardt Hospital - 80 feet road, Nagarbhavi.
• Columbia Asia Hospital - Bellary Road, Hebbal.
• M.S. Ramaiah Super Speciality Hospital, New B.E.L. Road, R.M.V. 2nd Stage.
• Chinmaya Mission Hospital - C.M.H. Road, Indiranagar.
• St. Johns Medical College Hospital - Sarjapur Road, Koramangala.
• Narayana Hrudayalaya - Hebbugodi, Hosur Road.
• National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) - Wilson Garden, Hosur Road.
• Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital - I.T.P.L., Whitefield.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are dime a dozen and you should not have any problem locating one. You do not need any prescription for Modern Medicine Over the Counter drugs and ayurvedic medicine (proprietary and traditional), which are available for most common ailments like fever, headache, etc., But you will need prescription for other medicines, which are categorized as Schedule H drugs.

Contact

Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. There are many service providers offering a wide variety of plans. Among them are Bharti Airtel [110], Vodafone [111],idea [112] , Tata Indicom [113], Reliance [114], Uninor, MTS and Aircel. It might be a good idea to buy a cell phone and use one of those prepaid plans to get yourself connected while you are in the city.

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From LoveToKnow 1911

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Proper noun 1.3.1 Translations 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.4 Verb

English

Etymology

From Kannada  (Bengaluru). The source of the name Bengaluru is usually attributed to Benga-val-ooru (City of Guards) in Old Kannada or Benda-kaal-ooru (Town of Boiled Beans) from Kannada folklore.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /'bæŋgəlɔː(ɹ)/, SAMPA: /"b{Ng@lor/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)

Proper noun

Singular Bangalore

Plural -

Bangalore

1. The state capital of Karnataka (India).

Translations

Synonyms

• Bengaluru
• Kalyanapura (former name)
• Devarayanagara (former name)

Verb

to Bangalore (third-person singular simple present Bangalores, present participle Bangaloring, simple past and past participle Bangalored)

1. (business) To outsource (an employee, position, or function) to India, especially to Bangalore.
   • 2003, John Wallace, in comp.os.vms [1]

     CPQ UK's order management stuff (which I *think* covers Europe) *was* in the process of being Bangalored.

   • 2004, Christopher Browne, in tor.jobs [2]

     They have gotten gored more heavily by being "Bangalored" than they perhaps deserved, but a "great fall" was certainly in the cards.

   • 2005, Dr.Sahib.Pandit.Shri.Shri.Rainam Ji Maharaj Ji Ustad, in soc.culture.indian [3]

     Even though your anger against Indians is justified given that you have been Bangalored by our sambhar-guzzling desi geeks Swami and Murty - who earn 1/5th your salary and ride to work on their pet elephant *Appu* , it is not fair of you to berate any and every Indian you come across.