ArunChandran.com

For many years, Bengaluru was known throughout India as the greenest, liberal and forward-thinking city. In recent years, these attributes have propelled Bengaluru 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.

Bengaluru has many nicknames. Garden City was once the nickname Bengaluru 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. With its many pubs and bars, and also with the city being the headquarters of United Breweries, makers of the popular Kingfisher Beer, Bengaluru is a drinker’s dream.

Bengaluru is situated at an altitude of 920 meters above sea level and famous for its tree-lined streets and profuse greenery. Unlike other parts of India which are extremely hot in the summer months, Bengaluru enjoys a relatively mild climate year round.

Modern marvels combined with stunning nightlife make it an ideal destination for everybody. Bengaluru has carved a special niche for itself in the Software Services world. So as corollary to this it is a place frequented by the technology Czars from all over the world. Added to this the salubrious climate of the place and its other interesting attractions make it a captivating destination for leisure vacationers too.

Bengaluru 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. There is also the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, which conducts two sky-gazing shows daily, and conducts many exhibitions and workshops by / for children

Bengaluru provides wide range of options for shoppers. One can buy many things ranging from silk saree and latest clothing to hi-fi electronic goods and latest vehicles. Being IT city, Bengaluru provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier.

Many visitors come to Bengaluru searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk sarees and so miss out on the true Bengaluru shopping experience. Here is a low down on shopping - Bengaluru 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). The dialing code for Bengaluru is 080. When calling from overseas, dial +91 80 XXXX XXXX.

If you don’t have an Indian phone number, it is strongly recommended that you get a pre-paid calling card if you plan on using your phone frequently. Because of government regulations, you need a photocopy of your passport (visa and the ID pages) and a color photo when buying a pre-paid card. Pre-paid cards are sold in most shops that sell mobile equipment.

Bengaluru 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 people from other states, which arguably has resulted in a substantial increase in crime rates. Avoid using an auto rickshaw if the driver is not alone.