
Bangalore
is one of Asia's fastest growing cities. Situated at an altitude
of 920 metres above sea level, Bangalore is the principal
administrative, cultural, commercial and industrial centre
of the state of

Karnataka. Spread over an area of 2190 square kilometres,
Bangalore enjoys a pleasant and equable climate throughout
the year. Tree-lined streets and abundant greenery made it
the 'Garden City' of India.
However, since local entrepreneurs and technology giant
Texas Instruments discovered its potential as a high-tech
city in the early 1980s, Bangalore has seen a major technology
boom and is now home to more than 250 high-tech companies,
including homegrown giants like Wipro and Infosys. The erstwhile
garden city has now been pegged the 'Silicon Valley' of
India.
To give you a little background, Bangalore was founded
by Kempe Gowda in the early 16th century. Two centuries
later, it became an important fortress city under rulers
Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The ruins of those periods can
still be seen on the Bellary Road, at Lal Bagh, Ulsoor and
Gavi Gangadhareswar Temple.
The people in the city are warm, hospitable and friendly.
Bangalore is generally regarded as a place that most visitors
like to chill out in. Not to say that it has nothing for
the people interested in history. Along with the modern
day pubs, discos and hangouts, one can still see remnants
of the older Bangalore. All in all, a lovely city to visit.
Sightseeing at Banglore -
Lalbagh Garden : Lal Bagh One of the many gardens in
the city, Lal Bagh is the most famous garden in Bangalore.
It derives its name from the profusion of Red roses which
are in bloom here.
The Bull Temple : The 4.57 m high and 6.10 meters long
image was built by Kempegowda in the 16th century. The image
has been carved out of single granite rock. The original color
of Nandi bull was grey which has now turned black due to the
application of coconut oil by the devotees. The statue of
the bull has been carved out of a single rock. Non Hindus
are not allowed in the temple. The temple is busy always with
some ceremony or other going on. On weekends there are musicians
who are performing at the temple.
Bangalore Palace : Built in the Tudor style and inspired
by the Windsor palace, a Wodeyar king built this palace in
1887. This unique edifice stands in the heart of the city.
Vidhan Soudha : A marvel of neo Dravidian architecture and
one of the most imposing building not only in Bangalore but
in India, the Vidhan Soudha houses the state legislative assembly
of Karnataka and part of the secretariat.
Tipu's Palace : The summer palace of Tipu Sultan was
built in Bangalore. The entire structure is built in Teak
wood. This double storeyed ornate structure was con

structed
in 1781-1791. This palace is beautifully decorated with floral
motifs on the walls and ceilings. The structure is completed
with pillars, arches and balconies. After the death of Tipu,
this building was used by the British as their secretariat
till 1867. In busy market place of the city are the remnants
of this fort built by Tipu. What ever remains of the fort,
reminds of the struggle by Tipu against the British. There
is a small Ganesha temple among the fort ruins.
Reaching Banglore -
By Air : Bangalore Airport is 13 km east of the City
Station. There are number of daily flights to important cities
like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad,
Goa, Kochi, Mangalore, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. Bangalore
is also an international airport, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines,
Air India, Thai Airways and Air Lanka operating direct flights.
By Rail : Bangalore is well connected to all major
Indian cities. There are number of daily express trains from
Bangalore to other cities of India.
By Road : Bangalore is well linked to Mysore (3 hours),
Hospet (9 hours), Chennai (8 hours) and serves as a gateway
to major South Indian tourist destinations.