Bangalore

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 12.971606
• Longitude: 77.594376

On Travellerspoint

• 5 Bangalore Apartments
• 4 Bangalore Guesthouses
• 2 Bangalore Hostels
• 16 Bangalore Hotels

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Introduction

Government Building

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Bangalore was established in the 16th century by a local ruler, Kempe Gowda. The name Bangalore (or Bengaluru) originated from the Kannada word (language of the state Karnataka) benda kaluru which means "boiled beans", the meal that was offered to the 10th century Hoysala-king when he, hungy as he was, knocked at the door of an old lady.^[1]

Today, Bangalore is also called the Sillicon Valley of India because of its sprawling IT business these days. Bangalore is the fifth largest and fastest growing city of India. Before the high-tech boom started (at the end of the eighties) the city was especially known as Garden City because of the green areas and its comfortable climate. With its growing population of young professionals the city breathes a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Although it's not as popular as cities like Delhi or Mumbai, it is in fact India's third most populous city and the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the country.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

Nandi Temple

Nandi

© All Rights Reserved soupatrvlr

The Nandi Temple is located in the neighborhood of Basavanagudi. This temple is exclusively for the worship of the sacred Hindu god Nandi, the bull. This temple was built in 1537 and is home to one of the largest Nandi idols in the world with a height of 4.6 metres (15 feet) and is 6.1 metres (20 feet) long. This temple is not one of the largest in India but is a very nice visit.

Bangalore Palace

The Bangalore Palace located in the heart of the city and was built to look like a smaller version of Windsor Castle in England. Construction started in 1862 and was not completed until 1944. The castle is currently owned by the Mysore royal family. The wide and open grounds of the palace are used to hold public event including large concerts for bands like Iron Maiden, Sting and The Rolling Stone. The interior of the castle has an amazing design and is being renovated.

Other Religious Sights

• International Society for Krishna Consciousness is an interesting temple that mixes modern and ancient styles.
• St Patrick's Church was built in 1844 and is on Residency Road.
• St. Mary's Basilica was built in 1685 and is the only minor basilica in all of India.

Parks and Green Spaces

• Cubbon Park is a popular park in the city and spreads over 250 acres and has nice attractions like a rose garden.
• Hesaraghatta Lake is a nice green space to relax by.
• Lal Bagh is a nice botanical garden located in the city limits. Built in 1760 these gardens are a great place to visit to smell some flowers or just enjoy the grass and trees. The gardens are also home to the Lal Bagh Rock which is over 3000 million years old.

Other Sights and Activities

• Shopping: There is great shopping to be found in Bangalore, especially on Brigade Road or Forum Mall.
• Vidhana Soudha is the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka. This large building is built in a Neo-Dravidian style.
• Karnataka High Court is an amazing red building with great columns.
• MG Road also known as South Parade, is a popular shopping and hang out place.
• Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum is a great modern museum that is fun for the whole family.
• Modern Architecture: Bangalore is home to some amazing modern buildings like the class pyramid, which is the headquarters for Infosys.

Around Bangalore

• Bannerghatta National Park is only 22 km south of the city and is 25,000 acres. This park is home to several different animal species, such as white tigers.
• Nandi Hills Fortress is a great place for a hike during the summer.
• Savandurga is home to two nice hills and is 60 km from the city
• Thottikallu, also known as TK falls, is a nice waterfall.
• Muthyalamaduvu is a nice green space 40 km from the city and home to a 92 meter waterfalls.
• Shivanasamudra Falls is a nice set of waterfalls. These twin waterfalls are home to the site of the first hydro power station in Asia.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Bangalore has a tropical climate with warm/hot and humid conditions year round. March to May is definately the hottest time of the year with temperatures averaging around 33 °C during the day and just over 20 °C at night. Between June and February, temperatures are a much more bearable 26-29 °C during the day and between 15 and 18 °C at night. The disadvantage is that between May and November almost all of the annual rain falls, making December and January (like much of India except the Himalayas) the best time for a visit.

Getting There

By Plane

Bengaluru International Airport (BLR) is a large international airport and is about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the city. This new airport was opened in May of 2008 and has great service. Currently the only way to get to the airport on public transport is on Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses, although the city metro and a high speed rail are planning to be built by 2010. This large airport has direct service to almost every airport in India, most major cities around Asia and a few European cities. Lufthansa flies to Frankfurt, British Airways to London, Air France to Paris and other international connections go to Kuala Lumpur, Sjarjah, Bangkok, Dubai, Hong Kong, Dubai, Mauritius, Bahrain, Malé, Muscat, Singapore, Jeddah, Riyadh and Colombo.

By Train

Bangalore is an important railway station on the vast and extensive Indian Railway network. It is well connected to all the major cities of India by fast trains, including those to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. For more details about timings, fare and availability of seats have a look at the Indian Railways official website.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Kempegowda Bus Station Bangalore

© All Rights Reserved LauHot10

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

BMTC provides bus services throughout the city.

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

• Bangalore University

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

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