User:(WT-en) Maj/Sandbox/Bangalore

Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka State.

Districts
Bangalore is made up of two districts, Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural. This article covers Bangalore Urban.

History
The earliest records of a place named 'Bengalooru' 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 adaptations of the original name in Kannada - Benda Kaal Ooru(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.

Epithets

 * Pensioner's Paradise reminds Bangaloreans of the time when it was a sleepy old city with very little to zero pollution, no competition for its resources, low crime rate, wide roads lined with shady trees and pleasant weather all ideal for a quiet retirement.


 * Pub City- With its many pubs and bars, and also with the city being the headquarters of United Breweries, makers of the popular Kingfisher Beer, Bangalore is a drinker's dream.


 * Garden City was once the epithet Bangalore proudly claimed before rising population and pollution reduced the amount of green space and Bangaloreans quietly began referring to their city as the Silicon valley of India - however, due to an increase in park developments in residential areas, Bangaloreans are once again proclaiming this epithet.

Some Facts
Area: 365.6 sq.km.

Altitude: 914.4 m (3000 ft) above sea level

Geographical Location- Latitudinal Parallels: 12° 57' N Longitudinal Meridians: 77° 37' E

Climate- March to May (warmest months) June to September (rainy - South-West Monsoon) November to December (rainy - North-East Monsoon) December to January (coldest months)

Temperature- Highest maximum of 37 degree Celsius to lowest minimum of 14 degree Celsius

Regional Language: Kannada Spoken Languages: Kannada, English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil Population: Around 70 lakhs

By plane
Bangalore Airport (BLR) is a domestic airport that caters to certain international flights too. Among others, notable direct flights are from Frankfurt on Lufthansa  (daily flights), from Singapore on Silk Air (Singapore Airlines ), from Kuala Lumpur (KL) on  Malaysian Airlines, from London on British Airways  (daily flights) and from Bangkok on  Thai Airways. Recently, Air France  has started operating flights between Bangalore and Paris. From Jan 2006, the low cost airline JetStarAsia will fly between Bangalore and Singapore five times a week.

Proposal for an International Airport in Bangalore has been accepted and construction is underway at Devanahalli, 30 km (19 mi) north of downtown Bangalore. The Airport will be ready in the first quarter of 2008.

Indian Airlines, now renamed as Indian, connects Bangalore with all parts of the country. In addition, Jet Airways  and Air Sahara  are other two major domestic airlines that fly into Bangalore from other major cities. Air Deccan is a popular no frills airlines that operates to most cities and large towns. Other no-frill airlines that operate from Bangalore include Go Air and  SpiceJet. Kingfisher Airlines is a Bangalore based discount airline company, offering regular flights between Bangalore, Delhi, Goa and Mumbai. With a little bit of investigation, you might get a better fare on Kingfisher than from even the discount airlines.

Once off the plane you can take a prepaid taxi to get where you want to. There are two choices, a government run service with lower prices or a private operator with better service. At the government-run counter, you mention the locality you want to reach and pay a fixed amount. You get a receipt with the registration number of the taxi that will pick you up printed on it. Locate the taxi (the driver will probably be waiting for you just outside) and you're set.

Call taxis are a cheaper alternative to prepaid taxis. Pick a number from the get around section and call one of them. They will turn up for you and charge you by the meter.

By train
The Bangalore City railway station is situated in the centre of the city, around the Majestic Bus stand and all trains, local and out-bound arrive and depart from here. A new terminal at the Yeswantpur railway station, not very far away from the main railway station, is growing and there are a few outbound trains that regularly arrive and depart from it.

Bangalore also has a railway station in the Cantonment Area, called the Cantonment Railway Station - this is centrally located and in a better part of town. Not all trains stop here, though. However, there is a proposal to develop this into a new hub, in order to ease congestion out of the ever bustling Bangalore station.

Bookings can be done at either the railway station or at a few of Indian Railways booking counters at major residential areas. Booking can also be done online from the Indian Railways site. Note that if you are booking at Bangalore Central and are travelling to Mysore, there is a different line for travellers to Mysore and travellers to all other destinations. This is to cater for the large amount of travellers between Bangalore and Mysore. If travelling to Mysore on a Sunday afternoon, arrive early as there is usually a long line for buying tickets!

Buses are very frequent to mysore. Almost evry 20 minutes at the KSRTC bus stand. We need no booking. Road is also very good.

Make sure which railway station your train departs from. And bring some patience for delays.

By bus
Bangalore bus stand is well maintained and conveniently located opposite the city railway station. Officially named after the founder of Bangalore, 'Kempegowda' but more commonly known as 'the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand,' 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, which is more commonly known as 'the Majestic Bus Station'.

Unlike other metros, the display boards in the bus show the bus number and the name of destination only in Kannada. The display board shows only the bus number in English. Everything else is written in Kannada.

There are frequent services of inner and outer-state buses. The standard of vehicles ranges from the most basic and economical to semi-deluxe and even plush Volvo buses.

Package trips can be arranged from private travel offices and ITDC tourist office. Travel offices are common near railway station and bus stand but usually they have their main offices in KR Market area. Package trips are very convenient. They take care of what to see, where to eat, accommodation, guide etc. Buses are also good. A one-day package tour to Mysore costs about Rs 300 (250 + 60 entrance fees and guide fees). We can request a catalogue from a travel agent's office of various package tours they offer. We can compare catalogues from various travel agents to select the tour timing that suits us. Tour to Mysore, Ooty, Tirupati, South Karnataka etc are common choices of travelers.

If you had difficulty in arranging a plane or railway ticket timely to your next destination, you can contact private bus travels. They run good services to major near by cities like Bombay, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai etc. Buses can be a a normal luxury bus, a A/C volvo bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Highways are in better shape in South India as compared to north.

By car
Get your own car, go to a petrol pump (i.e. gas station), fill the tank and you're on your way. Petrol is more expensive in India than in the U.S. If you only have driven in western countries before and not used to driving on the left side of the road it is not recommend learning left-side-driving in India. In short, if you rent a car make sure it includes a driver also.

By hired car
Pondicherry and Bangalore will cost less than Rs. 6,000 with an AC car.

Get around
Pick up a copy of City Guide when you see it. It is generally available at a lot of places (hotels and stores), but not guaranteed to be found at any! It is a monthly publication, and is a mini yellow pages, but is up to date. Even an older copy is useful--so ask

By bus
Buses in Bangalore are cheap and usually frequent. If at all anybody gets lost in the city what they have to do is to look for a "majestic" going bus and board it. All the buses are numbered according to route.

City buses will be crowded during rush hours but one can travel wth little difficulty during day time. Bus service is less frequent after 9:30 - 10 pm and becomes rare after 10:30 pm.

Local city buses display only route number in english. Source and destination information is written in Kannada. Therefore outsiders will have to take help of fellow passengers or bus conductors.

It is always better to buy a daily pass if you plan to travel the city whole day on bus. The daily pass costs 25 Rs and it comes handy if you need to travel on several buses in a single day. Daily pass is issued by the on-duty bus conductor or on the bus stands, mostly till 1 pm in the afternoon. Using this pass you can travel in any bus (other than A/C Volvo) for the entire day, any number of times. It is a very economical option for travel in Bangalore.

There are 3 major Bus stands:
 * Majestic Bus stand also known as the Kempegowda bus stand near Gandhi Nagar is close to the railway station and is quite neatly organised 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 disorganised.
 * Shivajinagar in the north. This is also neatly organised and there is an enquiry window to find about buses.

From all of these three bus stands, buses are available for all major regions of city. K R Market is not a clean place however because of vegetable market near by and should be avoided.

Other important bus stands are
 * BTS, Important junction of major routes near Lalbag
 * Jayanagar, also known as 4th Block is towards south of city
 * Banashankari, South West
 * BTM, South East
 * Vijaynagar, West
 * Malleswaram, North West
 * Yeshwantpur, Far North West
 * Domlur, East

Most Bus stops in the city are undergoing a revamp and have good display depicting the buses that frequent the stop and the name of the stop.

Buses with black display board of their number run within the city. Red board buses covers long distance and go to adjoining suburbs. There is a ‘Pushpak’ service with better seating. Recently A/C Volvo buses have also been introduced for selected routes.

By auto-rickshaw
Autos are quite frequent and are usually found clustered near bus stands, prominent roads, etc., Autos charge according to the meter, and you should simply refuse to board if the meter is faulty or the driver refuses to use it. Saying "meter please" will usally do the trick. Autos add a 50% surcharge after 10 pm (called "one and half"). Some drivers may demand 100% surcharge after 10PM or 11PM but one must refuse to board in such a case. Heavy luggage will incur an additional fare, usually around Rs.10 or 20.

Nowadays a lot of auto-rickshaws come fitted with an electronic fare meter. Look for an auto fitted with one of these, as they are generally accurate. They already show the corrected price for the trip (1.5x) after 10PM.

A few auto-rickshaw drivers are ill-mannered, and you should be careful when dealing with them. Although Bangaloreans are known for their polite and mild manners, auto drivers are an exception. Therefore to avoid conflict, consider taking taxis.

The minimum charge from 16th March is Rs 12 for 2 km (1 mi) and Rs 6 for every additional km. A trip from the Airport to Brigade road costs about 50rs including (a good) tip.

By law the autodrivers are required to display their ID papers on the back of their seats.

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. The rates are Rs. 35 for 4 km (2.5 mi)(minimum) and Rs 9 for every extra kilometer.


 * Celcabs, +91 80 2346-6666
 * City Safari +91 80 2553-9999
 * Garden City Taxis, +91 80 2343-7646, +91 80 2343-4274,
 * Gopinath Radio Taxi Services, +91 80 2360-5555, +91 80 2332-0152,
 * KK City Taxi, +91 80 5151 9999, +91 80 2525-6333
 * RK City Taxi, +91 80 2312 9999, +91 80 2332-7589,
 * Roman Taxis, +91 80 2548 6606, +91 80 2548-6616
 * Spot Taxis, +91 80 2551-0000

Landmarks



 * 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.
 * Seshdari 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.

Temples

 * The Bull Temple 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 Temple, built on a hillock atop scenic surroundings, the Hare Krishna temple is a perfect blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony. The huge cultural complex was built to promote vedic culture and spiritual learning. The annual Krishna and Balarama Rath Yatra is attended by thousands.
 * Gavi Gangadeshwara Cave Temple, 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.

Parks

 * The Lal Bagh is a meticulously cared for garden located on the southern fringes 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.
 * Cubbon Park is 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 in the heart of a metropolis of over 6.0 million people and one of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing cities.

Do

 * Experience the Bangalore pub scene, mostly around MG Road, Brigade Road, and Church Street.
 * Go shopping at Banglore's famous malls and traditional markets, though 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.'
 * Try your hand at go-carting.
 * 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.

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 7:30 pm. The theater hall management is very strict about starting time. They will not let you in even one minute after the show have started, so make sure you plan to arrive at least 4-5 minutes earlier. You will also not be allowed to bring in any drinks or refreshments. Many local groups perform there, although more often shows are presented by groups touring entire 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 the website: www.rangashankara.org 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.

Buddhism

 * The Maha Bodhi Society, 14 Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar, +91 80 2250684, (mahabodhi@vsnl.com),, has a very active temple in Bangalore. 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.

IT Education

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

Science and Stuff
Bangalore is famous for its innumerable educational and research institutes. The India Institute of Science, 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 veternary and agriculture universities, the University of Bangalore, and NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences).

Other places include the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, DRDO Defence Research and Devlopment Org.), ISRO Satellite Centre, Raman Research Institute, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Centre for Airborne Systems Studies and Analysis, Microwave Tube Research and Development Centre, Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Central Power Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modelling 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.

Whew... in short, b'lore is the place to go to in india for postgraduation or higher.

Non-Indians
With a little hard work and persistance finding a job is quite possible in Bangalore. Most of the available positions are in the IT field but not necessarily IT based. Several Expats 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 sponsorded by the hiring company. In general, the salary is very high compared to the local Indian wage. Internships in general, pay around 15000-20000Rs per month while full-time jobs average between 30000-50000Rs 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.

Handicraft

 * 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, Calcutta, 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.

Books

 * The Strand book stall, 1st Floor, Manipal Centre, Dickenson Road, +91 80 2558-0000, . 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.
 * Higginbothams, 68 M G Road, +91 80 2558-7359, +91 80 2558-6574 - 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!
 * 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) - For those dreamy old books, there are 3 full floors of them. You definitely won't leave be 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 Cha 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.
 * Bangalore Book shop,on 17th cross,Margosa Road Malleswaram has a wide range of books on Technical and other books spread over 5000 sq fts.This is one of the best places to buy books in Malleswaram. This is owned by the same people who run Tata Book House, above.
 * 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 25492783.
 * Sapana Book House, 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 Sadashivnagar and Jayanagar.

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

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 a tiresome approach it used to be (sounds yodaish)...but now it's much better..and you have 'Grasshopper' a space that exhibits clothing design from the most experimental designers in india and also showcases other ideas - lighting design, products, theatre, music - an open space for expression! and 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 resevoirs strewn across the area - you can still find your very own private haven. Enjoy

Brigade Road was used to be where once British soldiers bought their necessities. How things have changed! 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), 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 either side of the roads and on the side roads that lead 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 parlor.

Commercial Street a legacy of the British is another shopping mecca that sells international brands (similar to Brigade road) along side locally produced items. Commercial Street has more of a bazaar feel than Brigade Road. In addition, it is famous for its tattoo and 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 ('The Mall') These days no trip to Bangalore is complete without a visit to the Forum on Hosur road in the upmarket suburb of Koramangla, which is fast becoming the shopping hub of Bangalore ready to throw the M.G/Brigade Road area of its throne. 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 cusine 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 mall in Bangalore. This Mall is definitely catered to the upper class of Indian society. Many of the same brands as Forum are available as well as some that are not. One of the major draw points of this mall is that it houses the Indian department chain store: Shoppers Stop, which once stood across the road as a separate building but is now part of this new mall. The Mall also houses a INOX cinema multiplex on the top floor.

Bangalore Central Opened around the same as the Forum, Bangalore Central is more of a large department store than a mall with separate retailers. It still is must visit for shoppers in Bangalore. It is located in city centre on the corner of M.G and Residency Roads (Opposite Mayo Hall), so unlike the Forum it is walkable distance to the main M.G/Brigade Roads shopping area. It has a huge range of everything (like department stores in the west), clothing (Indian and Western brands), electronics, perfumes, accessories as well as a supermarket on the top floor and food court plus a Cafe Coffee Day. They have a altering service with in the store and can be done in two hours depending on the rush.

Safina Plaza Is sale central in 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).

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 2kms,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.

Eat
Bangalore is far from the sea, hence if you have a sensitive stomach and are new to the Indian cuisine you should stay away from seafood and fish in Bangalore.

European/International

 * Grasshopper, 45 kalena agrahara, bannerghata Road. Tel:+91 80 2659 3999, 98454 52646 - freshly prepared seven course meal served on the table. reservation required. Closed on Mondays.

Ethnic

 * Tijouri. North Indian restaurant inside the Hotel Atria.
 * Karavalli. Kerala and west coast restaurant within the Gateway Hotel on Residency Road.
 * MTR Tiffin Room, Lalbagh Gate. Typical South Karnataka fare. Known for its breakfast.
 * Kamat Yatrinivas, Gandhinagar. Serves special N Karnataka meals with jowar(Sorghum) rotis.
 * Kadambam. Authentic Iyengar cuisine ranging from Puliogare, Sakkare Pongal, Thayir Sadham, of course Kadambam (which is actually a type of a heavenly concoction of Sambhar and rice, akin to Bisibele Huliyanna), and a wide array of traditional Iyengar sweets. It has two branches, one in Jayanagar 4th Block, not very far from the Shopping complex, and another just off West of Chord road, near Modi eye Hospital in Rajajinagar.

Persian

 * Sufi, Windtunnel Road (Off Airport road). Perhaps the only Persian food place in town and they do a good job. The ambience is not really luxurious, but the food more than compensates.

Continental

 * Herbs & Spice, Off CMH Road, Behind Domino's. Great desserts.
 * Casa Picola, has interesting, tasty Italian and continental food in a casual ambience. An old favourite for many locals, it has a few branches.
 * Grasshopper, 45 kalena agrahara, bannerghata Road. Tel:+91 80 2659 3999, 98454 52646 - freshly prepared seven course meal served on the table. reservation required. Closed on mondays.
 * Spiga, 76/A Vittal Mallya Road, +91 80 22996781.
 * 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 ambience.
 * Indi Joe, 1 Airport Road (Carlton Towers), +91 80 5111-3636, +91 80 5112-1234. Offers fondue, pizza, steak and Mexican food. Their Lunch buffet is good.
 * New Shanti Sagar. This is an especially good chain of south Indian restaurants. Branches scattered all over the city, notably in Koramangala 80ft road, Jayanagar, Domlur, etc.

South Karnataka

 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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

Chinese

 * Mainland China - Church Street (The one at St. Mark's Road is closed). Tel: +91 80 2227-7722, 2224-5864. Ok food and good service. Serving lunch buffé.

Bengali

 * Bangaliana, 355, 1st 'B' Main, 7th Block, Koramangala, (Opp. HDFC Bank) Tel: +91 80 2571-1058 - 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 80 336-7622 -  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.
 * 36 Chowringhee Lane, No. 1, Milkman Street, Langford Road, Shantinagar Nanjappa Circle, Near Hockey Stadium, Richmond Town. See the following review:
 * 6 Ballygunge Place, 1F., 612, 12th Main, Indira Nagar (above Café Coffee Day). See the following review:

Fast Food and Ice Cream Parlors
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.
 * 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. 2. Adiga's Foodline,502,40th Cross,8th block. 3. Adiga's Delicacy,105,Dickenson's road,Manipal Centre. 4. Adiga's Majestic, Next to Fkcci Bldg, KG Road. 5. Adiga's Nalapaka, Opp.to HSBC Complex,Bannerghatta, Arikere
 * Sree Krishna joint 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
 * Vidhyarthi Bhavan, just off Gandhi Bazar in Basavanagudi - A gastronomic haven - offering some of the best Masale Dose 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.
 * Hotel Janatha, 8th Cross Road, Malleswaram - Makes some of the best Vade sambhar and Masale Dose in town.
 * Corner House, Residency Road (2558-3262), BTM Road, Koramangala (Off 80ft Road), Airport Road (Arlton Towers), Marthahalli (Whitefield Road) 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.
 * Central Tiffin Room (a.k.a CTR), Margosa Road, Malleswaram - Another landmark hotel, dishing out some divine 'Benne Masale Dose', which literally melts in the mouth.
 * Upahara Darshini, on DVG road, Basavanagudi. Another of Bangalore's new found Darshinis dishing out top notch Masale Dose and Vade Sambhar
 * Lake View Milk Bar, MG Road. Tel: +91 80 2558-7410 - excellent ice creams
 * McDonalds, Forum Mall - Don't expect to find any meat items.
 * T.G.I Friday's, Carlton Towers & Airport Road - Don't expect cheap Indian prices.
 * 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.

Indian

 * 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 Groove, Church Street - try the appams and Kerala parottas with a chicken source dish. Their lunch offer for 80rs is also really good.
 * 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, besides HSBC Bank and above Fabmall - Dalfryday is opening shortly.

Italian

 * I-Talia, The Park, M.G. Road. Tel: +91 80 2559-4666 - very expensive
 * 100 ft Boutique, 100 ft Road, Indiranagar (after Fab Mall when you are travelling from CMH road side) - the food and drinks are good, but it's a bit pricey.
 * little italy,100 ft road,indranagar- a chic italian vegetarian restaurant, faddish and over priced. Sometimes the staff switches off air conditioning if the tables are less than half-filled!!

Thai

 * Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine, 2nd Floor, #12 CMH Road, Indiranagar (next to Citibank ATM). Tel: +91 80 4116-1800 - this restaurant offers the some of the most authentic South East Asian food in Bangalore

Vietnamese

 * Blue Ginger, Taj West End. The setting is beautiful and the food is good, but is probably one of the most expensive places in Bangalore. Just next door to Blue Bar.

Dhabas

 * There are hundreds of 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.

What

 * Fresh coconuts are abundant in Bangalore, and the juice drunk 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.

Cafes

 * Cafe Coffee Day - Can be found all over Bangalore. In my opinion this is where you can find the best coffee in Bangalore.
 * Barista - Can be found all over Bangalore. Stay away form their Café-late and cappuccino.
 * Coffee World - Can be found all over Bangalore. the coffee is ok but not as good as Coffe Day.
 * 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.

Pubs and bars
Bangalore is home to numerous pubs and bars - earning it the epithet the Pub City of India.

Mid-range

 * Pecos, off Brigade Road, known for its very 60's retro feel.
 * Nasa, Church Street.
 * Tavern at The Inn, Museum Road.
 * Styx (next to Cauvery Handicrafts on M.G. Road) - known for its heavy metal and hard rock music. 'Happening' nights are Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
 * Purple Haze, Residency Road. Popular for the classic rock that's played there.
 * 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, Koramangala.
 * Dewars, next to cantonment railway station - beautifull old bunglow.... slow but charming service (you don't need to order drinks - just buy the bottle!) - excellent tapas kind of food (primarily carnivorous and hell! spicy)no music!...thank god you can actually talk with the people you go out with - might just disappear very soon!

Splurge
Most hotels have spiffy bars with every imaginable concoction of drinks available.
 * Blue Bar, Race Course Road - Usally open past midnight. On weekends you need to buy drink-tickets for 1500rs to enter.Excellent drinks if you make sure Danny makes them. Officially they have a couple's only policy. Spontaneous dancing likely next to the bar.
 * Taika, Church Street (off Brigade Road) - Usally open past midnight and has a huge dance floor. 3 bars and a launge area. Entrance is 1200rs.
 * Spin, just next to Brigade circle. Closes early at 23.30. You have to buy dink-tickets for 500rs to enter.
 * Tuscan Verve (off Brigade Road)
 * Hint, 5th Floor Bangalore Central, M.G Road
 * 13th Floor, Barton Center, M.G Road
 * Cosmo Village, Magrath Road
 * iBar, Park Hotel, M.G Road
 * Geoffrey's, Airport Road
 * F-Bar (Fashion Bar - a theme bar by FTV) inside Le Meridien
 * Aura, Cunningham Road

Sleep
Some of the more expensive hotels have different rates for foreigners and Indians. Serviced Apartments are a good alternative to standard hotels and are chosen by visiting executives and travellers these days. Media has talked much about the Bangalore serviced apartments. Big Hotel groups like Hilton group etc are said to be considering launching their Serviced Apartments in Bangalore.

Budget

 * Sri Rama Krishna Hotel (good, cheap hotel) - in the "Majestic Area" near City Rail and Bus Station. 170rs (close to $4) per night will get you a very secure single with morning Freezing cold water, tea/coffee TV, phone in room and a good views if on upper floor (request). However, if you have a problem with cockroaches, then you'll probably want to look else where.  Also, make sure you bring mosquito netting as there are vents that are impossible to close. The hotel also has a very popular, large restaurant serving South Indian food.
 * Ajantha, 22 MG Road. Good simple hotel with veggie restaurant. Tel:+91 80 2558-4321.
 * YMCA, Nrupathunga Road (near Cubbon Park), no-frills hotel. Tel:+91 80 2221-1848

Splurge

 * Grand Ashok Hotel, Kumara Krupa High Grounds. Tel:+91 80 22-2404-2211 (9 lines). Email: mailto:grandashok@nivalink.com
 * Taj Residency Hotel], 41/3 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 5660-4444. Email: mailto:residency.bangalore@tajhotels.com

Super Deluxe


 * Park Hotel, 14/7 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 2559-4666. Email: mailto:resv.blr@theparkhotels.com
 * ITC Windsor Sheraton Hotel, Sankey Road,
 * Oberoi Hotel, 37-39 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 2558-5858.
 * Taj West End Hotel, Race Course Road. Tel:+91 80 5660-5660. Email: mailto:westend.bangalore@tajhotels.com
 * Leela Palace Kempinski, Tel:+91 80 2521-1234. Email: mailto:bangaloresales@theleela.com

Talk
The official language in Bangalore (being the capital of Karnataka) is Kannada. English is the common denominator.

"Chennaagidira?"Are you fine? (equivalent of Hope you are doing well?)

"Yen aagoithu ninge? " What happened to you?

"Sumne nodu!" Keep quiet and see!

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.

Contact
The dialling code for Bangalore is 080. When calling from overseas, dial +91 80 XXXX XXXX. If you have a non-working phone number with only 7 digits try to add a "2" in front of it.

If you don’t have an Indian phone number I strongly recommend that you get a pre-paid calling card if you planning on using your phone frequently. By government regulation you need a photocopy of your passport (visa and the id-page) and a color photo to be able to buy a pre-paid card. Pre-paid card are sold in most shops that sell mobil equipment.

Stay Safe
Bangalore is a relatively safe city. But it is not advisable to walk along deserted alleyways or lanes after dark. Rising incomes has brought an influx of people from outside the city, leading to extreme disparities in earnings between localites and expatriates (people from other states) which arguably has resulted in a substantial increase in crime rates.

Avoid using an autorickshaw if the driver is not alone.

Groceries
Besides the local trader found on most main roads and in most residential areas, there are a few supermarkets in most areas. Prominent among them are Foodworld with outlets in Basavanagudi, Jayanagar 4th Block, Malleshwaram, M.G.Road and new ones coming up in prominent areas. Other chains with a less prominent presence include Nilgiris(M.G.Road), Dmart(D.V.G Road), etc.,

Body and Soul - Near Purvankara-Riviera (Marath halli) - expensive and not good

Fabmall - One stop shop for quality groceries, present all over the city.

Hospitals
List of Major Hospitals and healthcare centers: ="High end"=
 * E.P.M.C's women's clinic and surgery-9th block, Jayanagar
 * Manipal Hospital - Airport Road
 * Mallya Hospital - Vittal Mallya Road
 * HOSMAT Hospital (Sports and Orthopedic Medicine) - near MG Road
 * Sagar Apollo Hospital - Bannerghatta Road, Tilaknagar
 * Wockhardt Hospital - Cunningham Road
 * Columbia Asia Hospital - Bellary Road, Hebbal

="Low end"= Plus a whole lot of smaller hospitals in every area.
 * St. John's Medical College & Hospital - Sarjapur Road, Koramangala
 * M S Ramaiah - New BEL Road, Mathikere
 * Indira Nursing Home - Banashankari IInd Stage
 * Shekar Nursing Home - Hanumanth Nagar
 * Sai Baba Hospital - Whitefield Road
 * Bangalore Baptist Hospital - Bellary Road, Hebbal
 * Divakara nursing home- JP Nagar

Laundry
Band Box on Brigade road. Snow white on Mission road Also You can find almost one laundry shop in every major road.

Shoe Repair
Mochis on Brigade Road and the forum mall. You'd find the regular cobbler on every street corner.

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 categorised as Schedule H drugs. Cash Pharmacy on Residency Road should get you most allopathic drugs.

Scenic spots

 * Chunchi Falls - are beautiful waterfalls located in Bangalore Rural. However, be content with only looking at the cascading water. Besides the crocodiles that inhabit this area, the water is also heavily polluted with Bangalore's sewage, so it strongly advised not to get into the water.
 * Muthyala Maduvu  is a picnic spot about 44 km (27 mi) from Bangalore, has an enchanting waterfall and a small temple.
 * Kokkare Bellur - a village famous for its rare birds
 * Chennai - also known as Madras, is the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India
 * Mekedatu (Goats Leap) is a place where the waters of the Cauvery River are squeezed through a narrow ravine. It is located in Bangalore Rural, about 98 km (61 mi) from Bangalore city.
 * Mysore - famous for its palace and sandalwood, Mysore is an elegant city and popular tourist center.
 * Nandi Hills - 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore is a beautiful hill station.
 * Shivanasamudram - site of waterfalls
 * Srirangapatna - a former fortress capital of the region controlled by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan.
 * Supa Dam Canoeing on Supa Reservoir. This dam is located close to Bangalore.
 * Tirupati
 * Yelagiri Hills - a peaceful hill station in Tamil Nadu, 160 km (99 mi) from Bangalore.
 * Bannerghatta National Park is 21 km (13 mi) from Bangalore. This 100 km² 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.
 * Chamrajsagar Reservoir is 35 km (22 mi) from Bangalore and is an excellent picnic spot near the river Arakavati.
 * Hesaraghatta Lake is 29 km (18 km) from Bangalore with a wonderful climate. 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.
 * Janapada Loka is 53 km (33 mi) from Bangalore and is spread over 6 ha (15 acre). The center was established for the preservation and promotion of folk culture and traditions. An art gallery, open air theatre and museum are also located here.
 * Kanva Reservoir is 69 km (43 mi) from Bangalore and is an excellent picnic spot and has facilities for fishing.
 *  Nrityagram, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore Rural, (28 km from Bangalore City). This unique experimental village is dedicated to gurukula tradition of dance, music, choreography and painting.
 * Ramnagara is about 49 km (30 mi) from Bangalore. apart from being famous for toys, the place is a treat for rock climbers. 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.

Temples

 * Gavipuram Gangadeshwara Cave Temple
 * Bull temple
 * Ghati Subramanya, 55 km (32 mi) from Bangalore is a famous pilgrimage center and houses a Lord Subramanya Temple. It is 52 km from Bangalore.
 * 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.
 * Vasanthapura, 12 km (7.5 mi) from Bangalore, is a small hillock with an ancient temple dedicated to Sri, Vasantha VallabharayaSwamy.
 * Magadi is 46 km (29 mi) from Bangalore and is the birthplace of Kempe Gowda. The place has the remnants of a fort and four temples of unspoilt charm.
 * Nandi Hills is 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore. 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 at the foot of the hill and the other at the top. The location is famous for Kannada film shootings.
 * Sangama is 103 km (64 mi) from Bangalore. Here the river Arakavati joins the Kaveri inside the Chilandavadi forest. A temple built during the Chola period can be found here.
 * Whitefield at a distance of about 20 km (12 mi) from Bangalore is the ashram of Sri Satya Sai Baba. The ashram gets devotees from all over the world.

isin: Karnataka

Bangalore