Synonymous with the I-T revolution in India, Bangalore or Bengaluru is the capital of the state of Karnataka in India. With a population of approximately of 6.8 million (2006), Bangalore is India's third-largest city. The sylvan surroundings of Bangalore are sure to soothe your weary nerves. Bangalore has earned the sobriquets "Silicon Valley of India", " Pub Capital of India, and City of Gardens among others. With its beautiful parks, avenues, multiplexes and historical monuments, Bangalore is undoubtedly bubbling with life and energy. In addition, with its pulsating nightlife, happening pubs and a salubrious climate, Bangalore is sure to set your heart aflutter. If you are looking for that elusive joie de vivre, look no further than Bangalore.
How to Get There
* By Air: Bangalore is easily accessible from all major Indian cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Panaji, Kochi etc by air. The airport is located 6 km from the city center. Domestic airlines flying to Bangalore include Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Kingfisher Airlines, Spicejet and Air Deccan. The city also houses the booking offices of all major international airlines.
International airlines that fly in directly to Bangalore include Air India, Indian Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Air Malaysia, Thai Airways and Jet Star Asia. Click here for Bangalore Flight Schedules
* By Road: National Highways connect Bangalore to Chennai, Mumbai and other neighboring cities. The main bus terminal in Bangalore is located opposite the City Railway Station. Officially named after the founder of Bangalore, Kempegowda, the bus terminus in Bangalore is better known as the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand. Buses from here connect Bangalore to all major cities and states in south India. Click here for Bangalore Road Companions
* By Rail: Bangalore is well connected to all major Indian cities by rail. The train stations in Bangalore include Bangalore City, Bangalore Cantonment, Yeshwantpur and Bangalore East. The Rajdhani Express and the Karnataka Sampark Kranti provide fast and safe connectivity between Bangalore and the national capital New Delhi.
Geography
The capital of the state of Karnataka, Bangalore occupies the heart of the Mysore Plateau with an average elevation of 920 m (3,018 feet). It is located at 12.97° N 77.56° E. Bangalore district shares borders with the Kolar, Tumkur, Mandya, Charamrajanagar districts of Karnataka and the state of Tamil Nadu. Though no major rivers run through Bangalore, the Arkavathi and South Pennar cross paths at Nandi Hills, 60 km away from Bangalore. The Vrishabhavathi, a minor tributary of Arkavathi, arises within the city and furrows its way through the city. Bangalore has a large number of lakes -the prominent among which are Sankey lake, Ulsoor lake and Yediyur lake. It receives adequate rainfall from the Northeast Monsoon as well as the Southwest Monsoon.
Bangalore Weather and Climate Bangalore enjoys a pleasant climate right through the year. In summer the maximum and minimum temperatures hover between 36°C and 20°C, while in winter the temperatures range between 27°C and 17°C. The salubrious locales of Bangalore are sure to put a song in your lips.
Some Quick facts
* Population: With a population of around 6.8 million, Bangalore is the 27th largest city in the world by population. The city represents a pot-pourri of people and culture.
* Languages Spoken: Bangalore is one of the most cosmopolitan cities of India. Kannad, the official language of the state of Karnataka, is widely spoken in Bangalore, as are English, Tamil, Telugu, Tulu and Hindi.
* Best Time to Visit: You can hop in any time, but you would enjoy Bangalore best between September and March.
* What to Wear: Both Indian and western clothes are chic. You can wear whichever you choose.
History & Culture
How Bangalore Got its Name
If you thought that Bangalore is only about technos and geeks, think again. Bangalore has got a glorious past. There are many theories regarding the origin of Bangalore. One of them goes like this .King Veera Ballala II of the Hoysala dynasty got lost in the jungles during one of his hunting trips and was extremely hungry. Luckily, he ran into an old woman who offered him boiled beans. The King, pleased with her hospitality, decided to name the place benda-kalu-ooru, which in the local parlance means, the place of boiled beans. Some other theories suggest that the name derives from a tree Benga or "Ven-kai", popular as the Indian Kino Tree (Pterocarpus marsupium) The earliest reference to the name Benguluru occurs in a 9th century Ganga inscription found in a place called Begur. The place referred to in the said inscription is found even today in a place called Kodigehalli. It is presently known by the name Halebenguluru or Old Bangalore.
Founder of Bangalore
Kempe Gowda I (1513-1569) is credited with having established Bangalore in 1537. Kempe Gowda I served under the Vijayanagara kings. During one of his hunting expeditions, Kempe Gowda was taken aback to see a hare chase his dog, prompting him to believe that the place was meant for heroes and heroics, and he started referring to that place as "gandu bhoomi" (heroic place). He built a mud fort in 1537 around that place and with the help of King Achutaraya, built the towns of Balepet, Cottonpet, and Chickpet inside the fort. Kempe Gowda's son's constructed the four watchtowers to mark the boundaries of Bangalore, which stand even today.
People, Ethnicity, Religion, Rituals and Festivals
Since the days of yore, Bangalore has welcomed people from all across India. While Kannadigas make up 38% of the population of Bangalore, many people from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have made Bangalore their home. With the I-T boom, people from all over India and even abroad have made a beeline for Bangalore. According to the 2001 census figures, 79.37% of Bangalore's population is Hindu -while Muslims comprise 13.37% of the population. Bangalore celebrates many festivals with traditional fervor. Among the many festivals celebrated in Bangalore, mention may be made of Karaga , Kadalekaye Parishe, Makara Sankranthi or Pongal , Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Ugadi, which is the Kannad new year day and Varamahalakshmi
Local Administration
There are many bodies to take care of the civic and infrastructure needs of the ever expanding city of Bengaluru. Flummoxed? Bengaluru and Bangalore are just the same. On October 7, 2006, the Government of Karnataka decided to officially change the name of Bangalore to Bengaluru, its Kannad name from November 1st 2006. Bangalore is following the pattern of other Indian cities like Calcutta, Madras and Bombay, which have reverted to their pre-British names of Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai respectively.
* Bangalore Development Authority : Set up on 6th January 1976 as a successor to the erstwhile City Improvement Trust Board, the Bangalore Development Authority was set up with the mandate of developing Bangalore in a planned manner, creating good infrastructure, providing sites and services and to cater to the housing needs of the under privileged.
* The Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BMP): The Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BMP) or Bengaluru Metropolitan Council consists of corporators from each of the 100 wards of the city. A Mayor and Commissioner head it.
Means of Local Transport
There are many ways to explore Bangalore. You can take your pick. The various places within the city are well connected and efficient, reliable and safe transportation facilities add to the pleasure of discovering Bangalore, without burning a hole in your pocket.
* Auto Rickshaws: Metered auto-rickshaws are available at travel within the city. They provide cheap and quick connectivity.
* Taxi: Metered taxi services are also available in Bangalore, though they are a trifle expensive than autos.
* Buses: Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) provides a cheap and efficient bus service in the city. Recently, air-conditioned buses have also been introduced in the city.
Economy and Industry Watch
Bangalore is undoubtedly one of the engines, which is powering India's growth as an emerging economic giant. It provides an excellent industrial climate. The easy availability of trained technical manpower, research and development facilities provided by a number of Central Government laboratories and research institutions, salubrious climate, good transport and communication facilities have combined to make Bangalore a favorite industrial hub. Some of the major industries in Bangalore are listed below:
Electronics & Telecommunications
Bangalore steals a march over many other Indian cities in the field of electronics and telecommunications with many of the world's leading companies having set up base here. The leading companies include bigwigs like Siemens, Motorola, AT&T, Alcatel, Sony, Sanyo, GE and British Aerospace, BPL Limited etc. Bangalore provides the highest bandwidth in the country.
Information Technology
Bangalore, is the undisputed IT Capital of India. Apart from leading Indian IT companies like Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, the world's leading IT companies like GE, Texas Instruments, CISCO, Digital, IBM, HP, Compaq, Sun Micro Systems, Motorola, Microsoft, Lucent Technologies,Oracle, Novell etc. have set up shop in Bangalore. More than 40% of Bangalore's software exports are in the high technology areas-IT access networks, optical networks, video broadcasting, Bluetooth, WAP, 3G Wireless Applications etc.
Biotechnology
Apart from I-T, Bangalore is also emerging as a hub for biotechnology. It is home to some leading bio-tech companies and start-ups, besides some of the finest Research & Development centers in the world like the Indian Institute of Science, the National Centre for Biological Sciences, the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, the University of Agricultural Sciences, the Central Food Technological Research Institute, and the Institute of Bio-informatics and Biotechnology. Biocon, located in Bangalore is India's leading biotechnology company and ranks 16th in the world in terms of revenues.
Automobiles
Companies like Toyota, Hindustan Motors and Volvo have set up manufacturing plants in Bangalore. Bangalore is also the base for India's first electric car-REVA.
Apparel Industry
Bangalore has also emerged as a hub for world-class designers for the Indian and international markets. The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) located in Bangalore, churns out world-class human resources for the apparel industry.
Heavy Industries
Bangalore is home to several major public sector heavy industries. This has been made possible due to funding from the Central government, Bangalore's strategic location, availability of high-quality technically qualified manpower and support from the State government. Some of the major industries are listed below.
* Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (Hal): The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is involved with research and development activities for developing aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Besides, it develops, under license, an array of fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) like the Sukhoi 30 and Jaguars.
* National Aerospace Laboratories (NAl): The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) develops technologies for the civil aviation sector.
* Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) are other notable enterprises.
Bangalore Real Estate
The real estate sector is Bangalore is booming. The most popular segment of Real Estate in Bangalore is apartments. Home loans are being offered by several banks, fuelling the real estate boom.
Catch the News
If you are the sort who can't gulp your morning tea without a newspapers, Bangalore will not disappoint you. Many English and regional language dailies are published from the city. Major English-language dailies published from Bangalore include The Deccan Herald, The Hindu, Times of India, The Indian Express. The Times of India, Bangalore edition, is the largest circulated daily in the city. Vijaya Karnataka is the largest circulated Kannad daily in the city, while Prajavani, Sanjevani, Udayavani and Kannad Prabha are other leading Kannad dailies. Newspapers in other regional languages are also widely circulated.
A Mecca of Learning
Bangalore is a Mecca for education. Students come here from all over India and indeed all across the world. Bangalore has something for everybody. You would not be running short of good institutions-whether it is in Arts, Humanities, Business, Medicine, Science or Computers.
* Schools
- Bishop Cotton
- Baldwins
- Sophia High School
- Frank Anthony Public School,
- Bangalore International School
- Mallya Aditi School.
* Medical Colleges
- Bangalore Medical College
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College
- Kempegowda Institute of Medical Science
- M.S.Ramaiah Medical College.
* Engineering Colleges
- BIT (Bangalore Institute of Technology)
- M.Vishweshwaraiah Institute of Technology,
- B.M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology
- R.V. College of Engineering
- U.V.C.E.( Visvesvaraya College of Engineering)
* Bangalore University
Founded in 1964, the University was initially built around the Central College and the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering. It became an affiliating university offering regular & correspondence courses with the promulgation of the Karnataka State Universities Ordinance 1975.
* Other Prominent Institutes and Organization
o IIM-BANGALORE
Established in the year 1973, The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) is arguably India's best management institute. It also occupies a pride of place among the best business schools in Asia and the world.
o NSLIU
Established in 1987, the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) is India's leading institution for under-graduate and graduate legal education.
* Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
The flag bearer of India's ambitious space programme, ISRO works for the development of satellites and launch vehicles. It has notched up many successful launches putting India on the space map
o Science/Research Institutes
o The Indian Institute of Science
The premier post-graduate institution of research and higher learning in India, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, offers postgraduate and doctoral research programs
o The National Center for Biological Sciences.
o The Raman Research Institute.
o The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.
o National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
o Indian Statistical Institute
o Indian Institute of Plantation Management
o Indian Institute of Information Technology
o Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
What to See
Landmarks
Bangalore has a wide range of attractions. Whether it is historical monuments, religious places, parks, lakes, treks, museums et al, Bangalore has something for everyone.
o Vidhana Soudha: This imposing building houses the Legislative Chambers of the state government and is Bangalore's best known landmark. The building has four domes on the four corners and houses 22 departments and 300 rooms.
o Attara Kacheri (High Court): Attara Kacheri, built in 1867, is a two-storied building painted in red Literally meaning 'Eighteen Courts', it presently houses the High Court and several lower courts.
o Bugle Rock: The Bugle Rock was so named because Kempe Gowda's watchtower, which stands on it, used to warn the people about invaders by a bugle call. The huge rock is estimated to be around 3000 million years old.
o Tipu Sultan's Fort and Palace: Tipu's fort is located in the crowded City Market area. Originally built by Chikkadeva Raya, it was later rebuilt by Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. The courtyard of the fort houses the Ganesha Temple, which is proof of Tipu Sultan's religious tolerance. Within the fort are the remnants of Tipu's Palace. Its construction was started by Haider Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791.
o Aquarium: Located on Kasturba Road, the Aquarium has a wide variety of exotic and ornamental fish and is certainly worth a visit.
o Bangalore Palace: Don't be surprised when you run into the Windsor Castle in Bangalore. Built way back in 1887 by Chamaraja Wodeyar, the Bangalore Palace is inspired by the Windsor Castle. The Palace has fortified towers, arches and green lawns with elegant woodcarvings in its interiors and Tudor-style architecture.
Museums and Galleries
o The Government Museum: The museum houses an exquisite collection of coins, sculptures, inscriptions, old paintings and excavated items.
o Venkatappa Art Gallery: Situated adjacent to the government museum, it is named after the noted artist, K. Venkatappa.. It showcases his famous paintings, Plaster of Paris works and wooden sculptures. Besides, it also displays the works of various contemporary artists.
o Visweswaraiah Industrial & Technological Museum: This museum is a fitting tribute to Sir M. Visvesvaraya, one of the architects of modern Karnataka. It houses the working models of different machines. There is a wide variety of exhibits on electronics, motor power and the uses and properties of wood and metal. The highlights of the museum are the five galleries : Engine hall, Electronic Technology Gallery, Kimbe Paper Metals Gallery, Popular Science Gallery and Childrens' Science Gallery.
Parks
o Lalbagh Gardens
Spread over an expanse of 240 acres, Lal Bagh has a rare collection of tropical and sub-tropical trees, plants and herbs. Though Hyder Ali laid the foundation of the park in the 17th century, it was Tipu Sultan who imported several specimens from Afghanistan, France and Persia(Iran). The Park also houses a majestic glass house built on the lines of London's Crystal Palace.
o Cubbon Park
Named after the erstwhile Commissioner of Bangalore - Sir Mark Cubbon, the Cubbon Park in the heart of the city is a paradise for Bangaloreans, providing a lush green expanse trees for the city dwellers. Here you can just laze around reading a newspaper or better still doing nothing
For The Religious-Minded
If you are in Bangalore searching for spiritual solace, Bangalore will not disappoint you. Bangalore has many religious places for people of all religious faiths.
o Bull Temple (Dodda Basavanna Temple): Built by Kempe Gowda, this temple is famous for a huge monolithic bull that stands 4.5m tall and 6m long. Every year, a groundnut fair is held near the temple where farmers offer their first crop.
o Dodda Ganapathi Temple: Kempegowda I also founded the Dodda Ganesha Temple on Bull Temple Road in Basavanagudi. The monolithic Ganesha in this famous temple stands about 18 ft tall in height and 16 ft in width.
o Jumma Masjid : Located on Old Poor House Road, it is the oldest mosque in the city. It marks the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's conquests in the Deccan.
o Iskcon temple: A perfect and breathtaking blend of modern and traditional south Indian temple architecture, the ISKCON temple houses a multi-vision cinema theatre, computer aided presentation theatres, vedic library and a preaching library. The temple should be a must-see on your itinerary.
o Whitefield: Situated 16 kms from Bangalore, Whitefield is famous for Sri Sathya Saibaba Ashram. Devotees flock here from all over the world for his darshan and blessings.
o St. Mary's Basilica : Believed to have been built by a French missionary in 1882, St.Mary's Basilica stands out for its tower and quintessentially Gothic pointed arches. Situated in Russell Market Square, it draws visitors from far and wide.
Other Places of Interest
* Ulsoor Lake: Right in the heart of the city, the lake was earlier known as "Halsur" or "Alasur". Constructed by Kempe Gowda, it is a major draw for tourists. The lake also has many tiny islands.
* Bal Bhavan: Located within the Cubbon Park, the Bal Bhavan houses an amusement park and recreation center for children. The toy train, dolls' museum, the mini park with swings, horse rides and tree houses are a big hit with children. The Geological Survey of India has gifted the Bal Bhavan a tree which dates back to 20 million years.
Quick Getaways Once you are through with the sights and sounds of Bangalore, you are ready for some quick getaways. These sights are well connected from Bangalore, so that means you can be back to Bangalore in the night for a good night's sleep and not be caught in the middle of nowhere. Now, that's what you call a win-win deal.
* Big Banyan Tree (Ramohalli): Located 18 kms from Bangalore on the Mysore Road, the popular Big Banyan tree spreads over an area of nearly four acres and is a major draw for tourists.
* Nandi Hills: Just 60 kms from Bangalore, Nanhi Hills provides a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore and is a popular summer resort. One of the main attractions here is the Tipu's Drop. Legends say that Tipu's used to hurl his enemies to death from this spot.
* Vishwashanti Ashram: Situated 25 kms from Bangalore, it houses the tallest statue of Vitthala, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
* Nrityagram Dance Village: Founded by one of the finest Odissi dancers of India - Protima Gauri Bedi, it is located 30 kms from Bangalore. This dance village imparts training to classical dancers in a traditional gurukula system. Students from all over the world flock here to train in various Indian dance forms including Bharatnatyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi.
* Shivaganga : Located 60 kms from Bangalore via Tumkur Road, Shivaganga is famous for temples dedicated to Gangadhara and Honnadevi. Another attraction is a fresh water spring called Pathala Ganga.
* Mekedatu (Goat's Leap) : Mekedatu, at a distance of around 98 kms from Bangalore is famous for the Sangameshwara temple located at the confluence of the river Arkavathi and Cauvery. The name Mekedatu derives from the fact that the river Arkavathi flows here through a narrow ravine over which a goat can easily leap.
* Bannerghatta National Park: Just a short ride (About 25 kms) from Bangalore, the Bannerghatta National Park presents a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature. The major attraction is the lion safari. The Park serves as a habitat for bisons, lions, elephants and panthers, besides other animals. Besides, it houses a serpentarium and a crocodile farm.
* Devarayanadurga: The hill resort of Devarayanadurga is located 79 kms from Bangalore. Its chief attractions are the Indo-Danish Dairy project and Government horticultural and dairy farms.
* Muthyala Maduvu (Pearl Valley): A picturesque picnic spot with a waterfall, which is 300ft. high, Muthyala Maduvu is located 44 kms from Bangalore.
* Savana Durga : 58 kms from Bangalore, Savanadurga is famous for a hill fortress, which served as the hideout of Kempe Gowda. Another attraction is a temple dedicated to Narasimhaswamy and Veerabhadraswamy.
* Mysore : The capital city of the Wodeyars, Mysore is one of the most famous tourist centers of Karnataka. Located at a distance of 140 kms from Bangalore, Mysore presents an array of sights and sounds for the visitor. Some of the major attractions include the Mysore Palace, Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, St. Philomena's Church, Chamundi Hills, KRS Dam & Brindavan Gardens
* Srirangapatna: 123 kms away from Bangalore stands Srirangapatna. It is famous for the Daria Doulat Bagh where a museum displays some of Tipu Sultan's belongings, Tipu's mausoleum and also for a magnifcient mosque.
* Hesaraghatta: A much sought-after picnic spot, overlooking a huge tank, Hesaraghatta is a delight for the adventure sport buffs with facilities for windsurfing, yachting etc. It is just 26 kms from Bangalore.
Bangalore Nightlife
Bangalore is a city, which never sleeps. It has a pulsating nightlife with a plethora of pubs. No wonder it is " The Pub Capital of India, " where drinking is not looked askance. Some of the pubs to look for in Bangalore include NASA, Pecos, Purple Haze, Guzzlers Inn, Scottish Pub, Sparks, Spinn Courtyard, Styx , Tavern At The Inn and The Eleven. Bangalore is a safe city for women, so even womenfolk can have a nice time in the pubs
Shop Till you Drop If you are the one who likes to shop till you drop, Bangalore will leave you gasping for more.
Where To Shop
* Brigade Road: A popular watering role for the young crowd, Brigade Road offers you a wide range of entertainment and shopping options. The main attractions include a movie theatre, bowling alley, discoth que, video game parlor, eating joints, malls and showrooms of reputed international brands.
* M.G. Road: M.G.Road, which is just next to Brigade Road, is another popular hangout. You will come across sari stores, showrooms, movie theatres, bookshops etc.
* Commercial Street: Though it doesn't have entertainment options, one can shop for clothes, dress materials, jewellery and gorge on sumptuous food in Commercial Street.
* Residency Road : Apart from many government emporia, Residency Road is the place to check out if you are looking for steel furniture and handicrafts in metal, clay and wood.
What to take back home
Though there are many things to splurge on in Bangalore, Mysore and Bangalore silks, wood carvings, cane and bamboo furniture and crafts, copperware, lacquer ware, jewellery etc. should be the main items on your shopping list.
A Hotel to Suit your Pocket
If you are looking for accommodation options in Bangalore, you will be spoilt for choice. Visitors to this city can choose between top-end, medium range and budget accommodation. The Leela Palace, The Taj West End, The Oberoi, ITC Hotel Windsor Sheraton & Towers, Le Meridian are some of the leading hotels catering to the top-end traveler, while those looking for medium budget accommodation can choose between leading hotels like Infantry Court, Hotel Ramanshree, The Chancery, Gateway Hotel, The Atria. Visitors can also look for economy options in Royal Orchid Harsha, Hotel Shangri-La, Hotel Vellara , Hotel Mourya among others.
Satiate Your Taste Buds Bangalore is one place where you can eat your heart out. Whether you are game for North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Continental or Thai, Japanese fare, you can rest assured that Bangalore has good quality restaurants to suit every palate and every pocket. Don't miss out on piping hot tea served in earthen pots or coffee(kapi in local lingo) in stainless steel glasses to complete your Bangalore sojourn. Take a early-morning stroll in the gardens of Bangalore. Your lungs will thank you!
Passport Office Bangalore Regional Passport Office, Bangalore, provides passport services to entire Karnataka. It provides passports to any applicant who can produce proof of normal residence in Karnataka.
Address: 1A, Brunton Road, Bangalore 560025
Lesser known facts about the city and its inhabitants
* A new international airport is being constructed at Devanahalli, 30 km from Bangalore. The new airport is slated to become functional by April 2008. This will take off the load from Bangalore's existing HAL airport. Devanahalli is famous in its own right, being the birthplace of Tipu Sultan.
* Though construction work on the Bangalore Metro, a mass-transit rail system for Bangalore was scheduled to start in 2005, it had a delayed start. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for the project in June 2006. The work is slated to be completed by 2011.
* The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, located in the heart of Bangalore is a premier cricket stadium of India. It can accommodate 55,000 people-it hosts Tests matches, One-day internationals and other first class matches besides musical and cultural events.
* Software exports from Bangalore are expected to cross US $ 10 billion by 2008.
* Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw , Chairman & Managing Director of Biocon headquartered in Bangalore is India's richest woman.
* The present captain of India's cricket team captain Rahul Dravid is from Bangalore and so are Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad, and Javagal Srinath.
Tips For Visitors
* Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. Take mineral water and carry an extra bottle.
* You can take a pre-paid auto / taxi available at the airport, railway station and bus-stand in case you do not have anybody to receive you.
* Beware of the occasional chain / purse-snatcher. Keep your passport and other important documents in a safe place or in a purse/ money belt if you are carrying them with you.
* It is a good sign to take off your shoes off before you enter someone's house in Bangalore. Remove your footwear while visiting temples / places of worship.
* Carry anti-Malaria pills, mosquito net, anti-mosquito spary or cream, suncream, anti diarhoea pills.
* Take a pair of good walking shoes and slippers
* The eternal travel advice: Travel Light
--------------------------
Karnataka-Districts
bagalkot bangalore-india bangalore-rural
belgaum bellary bidar
bijapur chamrajnagar chikmagalur
dakshin-kannad davangere gadag
gulbarga hassan haveri
kodagu koppal mandya
raichur shimoga tumkur
udupi uttarkannad
------------------------
