Friday, September 28, 2007

Bangalore Entertainment

Making love at the war of the DJs

If you didn't happen to make it for this show you really missed something. After all, MTV VJs Nikhil Chinnapa and Nafisa Joseph were there to host the hooplah. Nikhil even forsaked the premiere of his latest film "Snip" to be with the Bangalore crowd. It's interesting to note that every time he gets the opportunity to be in Bangalore he jumps at it because it's just great to be in the Garden City. The energy level of the crowd is always something to be admired and this night was no exception. People were craning their bodies to be in the front of the crowd and it was nice to see many lovely ladies shedding their inhibitions and dancing the night away.

Okay, so there were DJs competing for the opportunity to get famous and step out of the shadow of the regular Bangalore DJs like Anup, Assad, Bipin and Vachan. Bangalore's most famous DJ Ivan was there to judge who would be top cat. The DJs did not disappoint. They played some thumping tracks and one got the opportunity to check out their mixing skills with the help of an overhead screen. They were full of tricks and sent the crowd into raptures with some soul stirring melodies. It was a war all right but most of the people were making love in true Bangalore spirit. In the end DJ Sean was judged the winner for his groovy style and Afro-trance mixes. All the DJs impressed with their innovativeness and willingness to take their cues from the audience. After all, in today's interactive world it's important for DJs to improvise their act and spark an almost telepathic relationship with the audience where they give them what they want without them having to come up to the booth and ask for a particular song. It must come naturally. In the words of a great musician, "Soundbeams, soundbeams produce a sympathetic vibration…" The War of the DJs was a futuristic step in the right direction.

About Bangalore

Introduction
Bangalore is booming, and a look at some of its nicknames says why: "India's Silicon Valley", "Fashion Capital of India", "The Pub City of India", and on. Home to well over 6 million people, and a base for 10,000 industries, Bangalore is India's fifth largest city and the fastest growing city in Asia.

The capital of the state of Karnataka, Bangalore is situated halfway betwen the coasts in southern India. The city was founded in the 16th century, and witnessed great southern dynasties like the Kadambas, the Hoysalas and Vijayanagar emperors. Legend has it that the name Bangalore comes from "boiled beans" (Benda Kaluru), which were served by a humble old lady to a hungry ruler in the 10th century.

Surprisingly, despite some adverse environmental impact of industrial development in Bangalore, another of its nicknames is "The Garden City". That's thanks to many local parks, along with pink cassias, golden acacias, and jacarandas which bloom throughout the city.

Many international visitors come to Bangalore for its excellent schools and universities, such as the Indian Institute of Science. While enjoying the warm weather year-around, tourists can also use the city as a central base for day trips to other Karnataka attractions. And Bangalore doesn't only produce fine silk and software. "The Fruit Market of the South" is great for grapes, mangoes and guavas.

Last but not the least, Bangalore is even gaining the status of the "Floriculture Capital" due to the present blossoming of flower exports from the city. Because of its rich stone resources, Bangalore is also known as the "Stone City", for its granite deposits.

Bangalore Sports

Back to winning ways; finally!!
The Indian team has finally done it – won a series, and that too quite empathically, beating Sri Lanka 6-1. A lot of questions were being raised about the new coach’s approach, but he seems to have silenced his critics.

Greg Chappell’s methodology of experimenting has paid of big in the series – what with practically every match seeing a different player at No. 3, and barring a few exceptions, all the experiments succeeded. So here’s a toast to the freshly new Banglorean!!

If you have an opinion on sports in general Or simply post a message on Communique, the VirtualBangalore Bulletin Board. Let’s build a sports community that is dedicated to the upliftment of sport in Bangalore and India as well as fans of sports and sports-persons all over the world. This is Olympic year and the start of a new millennium so it can’t get any more exciting than this. Let’s make 2000 the beginning of higher, faster and stronger times.

BangalorePeople - Profiles

People - Profiles
Bangalore, the city of 4 ½ million people – undoubtedly the fastest growing city in Asia, is a dynamic mix of a fascinating history & an equally wondrous techno culture. Among the rustle of the trees & the threat of rain, the lush foliage of the city invites you to live
life to the fullest, the smells & sounds carrying the very essence of traditional Deccan life.

Like any other Indian city, Bangalore with its pollution, rich, poor & middle class, its vegetable markets, autorickshaws, crazy traffic, cows roaming the streets, government bureaucracy & more offers more to life. The roots of global culture are very prominent among the people of Bangalore, be it the IT ring or the more than tens-of-thousands of students.

Best known within India for being the country’s unofficial high-tech capital, the city is the playground of many Indian as well as multinational Infotech companies. Filtering down to everyday life, cyber joints can be found in every major block of the city. It is the urban-oriented, technology based culture that drives the people of this beautiful city, to make what it is.

We’ll try to capture this pulse of the city, by profiling the people who are behind the success story of Bangalore. Every month our focus will be to bring the spotlight on people from different genres of life, who have had a significant influence in Bangalore’s growth.

This month profile is on Girish Karnad.
In 1999, Karnataka gained a rare literary distinction. When Jnanpith Award was awarded to noted playwright Girish Karnad, it became the only state, and Kannada the only language, to have seven Jnanpith Awardees.

Let us know how you like this profile at people@virtualbangalore.com

You could suggest us, people, you would like to be profiled on VIRTUALBANGALORE.COM. Send all suggestions to people@virtualbangalore.com.

Bangalore Information Technology

Information Technology

ALIT
218/219, Museum Road
Phone: +91-80-558 7811
Fax: +91-80-558 4708

Aditi Technologies Pvt Ltd.
224/60, Ramana Maharishi Road
Phone: +91-80-331 2966
Fax: +91-80-334 6201

Ampersand Software Appl. Ltd.
68, 14th Cross, Ist Block,
R.T. Nagar
Phone: +91-80-333 6173
Fax: +91-80-333 3891

Aptech Ltd.
6th Floor, Mittal Towers, M.G.Road
Phone: +91-80-555 0483
Fax: +91-80-559 6471

BFL Software Ltd.
45/3, Residency Road Cross
Phone: +91-80-558 8722
Fax: +91-80-558 1918

Citicorp
Raheja Towers, M.G.Road
Phone: +91-80-559 7602
Fax: +91-80-558 4381

CMC Ltd.
10/3, Kasturba Road
Phone: +91-80-227 2425
Fax: +91-80-227 7189

Compaq India
92, Industrial Suburb, 2nd Stage,
Yeshwantpur
Phone: +91-80-337 4785
Fax: +91-80-337 4601

Dell Asia Pacific SDN
77, J.S.Towers, Brigade Road
Phone: +91-80-554 5126
Fax: +91-80-554 4738

Deutsche Software (I) Ltd.
Raheja Towers, M.G.Road
Phone: +91-80-559 6314
Fax: +91-80-559 7439

Digital Equipment (Ind) Ltd
92, Industrial Suburb, Yeshwantpur
Phone: +91-80-337 4785
Fax: +91-80-337 4601

Hewlett Packard India Ltd.
Embassy Point, 150, Infantry Road
Phone: +91-80-209 1858
Fax: +91-80-225 6186

IBM Global Services Ltd.
Golden Enclove, Airport Road
Phone: +91-80-526 7117

IMR (I) Ltd.
Naganathapura, Singasandra
Phone: +91-80-852 1224
Fax: +91-80-852 1268

Infosys Technologies Ltd.
Electronic City, Hosur Road
Phone: +91-80-852 0261
Fax: +91-80-852 0362

Intel Asia Electronics Inc.
Duparc Trinity, M.G.Road
Phone: +91-80-550 879

ITC Ltd Information Systems Div.
1-4, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road
Phone: +91-80-227 8372
Fax: +91-80-221 4345

Mascot Systems
99, J.K.S.Koramangala Extn
Phone: +91-80-552 2800
Fax: +91-80-552 1704

Microland Ltd.
58, 80 Ft. Road, Koramangala
Phone: +91-80-571 1257

Microsoft Corporation
17, Duparc Trinity, M.G.Road
Phone: +91-80-559 5733

Motorola Information Systems Group
108, Gavipuram, Bannerghatta Road
Phone: +91-80-661 2973

Multimedia Studio Ltd. NO: 294, 8th Block
39 thCross, Jayanagar
Phone: +91-80-634 9452, 654 0406


Nashsoft Systems (P) Ltd.
41, Lavelle Road
Phone: +91-80-229 0836
Fax: +91-80-227 1657

NIIT Ltd.
1/5, Palace Road
Phone: +91-80-226 2719
Fax: +91-80-225 6314

Novell Software Dev. Ind. P Ltd.
7th Mile, Hosur Road
Phone: 5+91-80-721 852
Fax: +91-80-572 1870

Oracle Software (I) Ltd.
150, Embassy Pt., Infantry Road
Phone: +91-80-225 6099
Fax: +91-80-225 6207

Peutronics Pvt Ltd. (Tally)
331-336, Koramangala
Phone: +91-80-553 3156
Fax: +91-80-553 3986

SAP India Pvt Ltd.
7/4, Brunton Road
Phone: +91-80-559 2554

Satyam Computers Services Ltd.
3rd Block, 4th Stage,
60 ft Road, B. Nagar
Phone: +91-80-335 5237

Sonata Software Ltd.
1/4, Bull Temple Road
Phone: +91-80-661 0330
Fax: +91-80-661 0972

Sun Micro Systems Pvt. Ltd.
Duparc Trinity, M.G.Road
Phone: +91-80-559 9595


Sybase India Ltd.
148, Infantry Road
Phone: +91-80-228 3850
Fax: +91-80-228 3851

Tata Consultancy Services
11, Palace Road
Phone: +91-80-225 0552
Fax: +91-80-225 0558

Tata Elxsi (I) Ltd.
123, Richmond Road
Phone: +91-80-556 3945

Tata Honeywell Ltd.
715, 1st Main, 1st Stage,
Indiranagar
Phone: +91-80-529 2815

Tata Infotech Ltd.
80 ft Road, IndiraNagar
Phone: +91-80-528 4681
Fax: +91-80-528 4685

Tektronix India Ltd.
Hayes Road
Phone: +91-80-227 5577
Fax: +91-80-227 5588

Texas Instruments (India) Ltd.
Wind Tunnel Road
Phone: +91-80-526 9451

Trigent
820, 8th Block,
Koramangala
Phone: +91-80-553 7711
Fax: +91-80-553 7744

TVS Electronics South Asia (P) Ltd.
CVR Building, Hosur Road
Phone: +91-80-224 1679
Fax: +91-80-224 5010

Verifone
Wind Tunnel Road
Phone: +91-80-529 8151
Fax: +91-80-529 9876

Wipro Infotech Group
Doddakannelli, Sarjapur Road,
Bangalore - 560 035, India
Phone: +91-80-844 0011

Education in Bangalore

Introduction
Bangalore is a hub for education for students from all over India and all over the world as well. Institutions here have excelled in the deliverance of high-quality education in various disciplines to enable students to be prepared for a highly competitive working environment after graduation. Whether you’re interested in studying a subject in the Arts, Humanities, Business, Medicine, Science or Computers you can be sure that Bangalore has something for you. We’ve got a list of all the schools and colleges so you can take your pick. It really doesn’t matter what degree you are pursuing because it’s all right here from PUC to Ph.Ds.

The standard of education is already high and rising rapidly to meet the standard of the new Internet Economy. In addition to the schools and colleges there are computer training centers like NIIT, Wintech, Aptech, Zap and many more to choose from. It’s evident that once you come to Bangalore to study you will be in the fast lane and learn about cutting edge trends in technology in addition to what you are studying.

Among schools some of the best ones are Bishop Cottons (for boys and girls), Baldwins(for boys and girls), Sophia High School for girls, Frank Anthony Public School, Bangalore International School and the Mallya Aditi School. These schools place emphasis on a good academic education as well as extra-curricular activities to provide a well balanced education. It is advisable to book your child’s place in these schools years in advance (maybe before they’re born) as the waiting list is considerably long.

As far as colleges is concerned there are many colleges that provide a decent education and hands-on-training. As far as medical colleges are concerned some of them are Bangalore Medical College, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Science and M.S.Ramaiah Medical College. Some of these are world-famous and offer exchange programs with the leading institutes in the world. Engineering colleges are also well known here and the leading ones are I.I.Sc. (Indian Institute of Science), BIT (Bangalore Institute of Technology), M.Vishweshwaraiah Institute of Technology, B.M.S., Ramaiah Institute of Technology, R.V. College of Engineering and U.V.C.E. They’ll really put you through the grind and teach you the art of engineering. Please scan our list of Schools and Colleges to find the one that best suits your purpose.

Business and Bangalore-Engineered for growth

Business and Bangalore-Engineered for growth

The cantonment history of Bangalore is long lost.

Bangalore developed its Engineering Educational Institutions over the last century and formed the nucleus of skilled manpower for the primarily Government Engineering companies. Amongst them Hindustan Machine Tools, Bharat Electronics Limited and Indian Telephone Industries. In the private sector, Motor Industries Company better known as MICO the automotive components manufacturer, a subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany and WIDIA the machine tool manufacturer.

These companies employing together over 50,000 skilled employees developed their “old economy” products with great success.

However, the last ten years-possibly less-have seen the emergence of the new economy. Bangalore is leading the country in the development of software companies of world class. The two stars are Infosys Technologies and WIPRO. These companies have drawn from the same source-the excellent educational centers of Bangalore. Where the engineering companies looked primarily for male employees, the new software companies have opened up a whole new field of opportunity for the women employees- their percentage in the software companies being as high as 25%. These companies have also through their rapid growth developed a number of highly rewarded employees through their generous stock option schemes. A first in India and an important part in the democratization process of industrial ownership in India.

Bangalore is also a leader in exports to different parts of the world. It’s textile exports, especially silk are very high and account for a large portion of state revenue. Due to a large number of granite quarries in and around the city granite exports are also very high. Then there is sandalwood and agarbattis (incense sticks) that are also thriving businesses and international exports. Clearly, these are areas of high growth that will see significant developments in the years to come.

Bangalore sees this rapid growth cause some problems-affluence bringing heavy pressure on the infrastructure-in particular the roads over-burdened with a range of new cars and two-wheelers. But the corporate citizens of Bangalore have been a concerned lot and support the development of infrastructure with an active State Government leadership.

It is imaginable that the next phase of development in Bangalore will marry both software and engineering hardware skills to produce intelligent products like the new generation of white and brown goods, electronic controlled components to make cars and driving safe and more economical.

Bangalore has the foundation to be the industrial leader in India for the new millennium.

Bangalore Popular Shopping Areas

Popular Shopping Areas

Pay close attention to these next few lines. You’ll learn about three of Bangalore’s most popular areas for all sorts of shopping. You might get lost if you’re not careful, so it might be helpful to rope in someone reliable to help you navigate the area.

Brigade Road

This is a popular hangout for young people, because there is a lot of entertainment available, as well as a lot of shopping options.

You’ll get just about everything here. There is Rex (the best movie theatre in town). There is Cyber CafĂ© (coffee and the Internet). You will find a bowling alley, a discothèque, a video game parlor, eating places (including The Only Place, which serves great steaks and desserts) and Nilgiri’s (which is a really good grocery store). There are showrooms for brands like Lee, Van Heusen, and Louis Phillippe. You can buy a lot of unbranded clothes, shoes and jewelry as well.

There are malls like Fifth Avenue and Mota Royal Arcade, which are worth exploring. You’ll get a range of items and the stores range from low budget to exorbitant.

Commercial Street
This is a strictly shopping area. You won’t find entertainment outlets as you would on Brigade Road. Here, you can buy clothes, dress materials, jewelry, and food.

Woody’s serves good South Indian food. They also have continental and North Indian items, but I personally suggest you go for the classic masala dosa. Nothing beats it! (Unless, perhaps, you make it everyday at home.) This place is definitely value for money.

Coffee Day is popular with people of all ages. The ambience is excellent—informal, discreet and generally appealing. They have different kinds of coffee, and they also have items like sandwiches, pizzas and pies. And of course, you can surf the Internet. A friend of mine once told me that you could do just about anything there as along as you don’t burn the place down. That’s a little exaggerated, but the management does allow you a fair amount of freedom. You can ask them to play any cassettes that you may have brought along…

Natural’s is heaven on earth for ice-cream lovers. For Rs.22, you can feast on the most delicious and exotic flavors imaginable. They use real fresh fruit in their ice cream. This is not to be missed.

The Cakeshop of the Taj, with its pastries, cakes and patties, is located right next to Natural’s. Indulge your stomach by eating some of the Taj’s goodies, and topping it off with dessert at Natural’s!

The side streets are definitely worth exploring. You never know what you might stumble upon. Clothes and jewelry here tend to be inexpensive, especially if they are unbranded. The clothes aren’t of particularly high quality, but if you’re not too snobbish about it, you’ll find some really good deals. Most people do not remember the names of the smaller stores, because it really does not matter. Just go ahead and look around!

M.G. Road

M.G.Road is a very popular commercial area. There is a large number of sari stores, like Deepam Silks and Prasiddhi. There are plenty of stores that sell saris as well as other clothes. The Raymond’s and Cotton World showrooms are located here. Go ahead and browse—as a shopper it’s your prerogative!

There are two movie theatres—Plaza and Symphony. Gangaram, a well-established bookstore, is a very popular stop, as is Higgin Botham, which is also a bookstore, but much smaller.

Jamal’s is frequented by buyers of china and cutlery.
There’s a lot to see, so you should allocate a goodish amount of time and explore.

The best part is, M.G. Road is right next to Brigade Road! Rejoice!

Bangalore Gifts Shopping

Gifts (for yourself and others)

Ahhh…Gifts…There’s a million billion gazillion cool things to buy and almost as many cool places to buy them from. Here’s a list some popular places where you can buy an assortment of things.

Now you can also buy a variety of gifts online to surprise friends and family at Bangalore or in India, Just a click and you have lit up a couple of eyes. Buy just anything from Music to Books to Jewelry to Toys or even some atta-dal (i mean Groceries).

Raga’s
This place stocks terracotta jewelry, cool T-shirts with Indian motifs, funky candles and other stuff. It’s a very popular place.

Archie’s
Mostly cards, stationery, posters, and mugs. Also things like friendship bands, stickers and the like. There are outlets on Brigade Road, St. Mark’s Road and Commercial Street. There are many other outlets all over the city as well.

MusicWorld
This is a music store of truly international standards. Located on Brigade Road, it has a large variety of cassettes, audio CD’s and CD-ROMs. There is enough space for you to walk around. They also have a number of listening booths. The staff is discreet and very helpful.

Fast Forward is a similar place, and also worth looking at.

You can try the HMV outlets, but frankly, they don’t hold a candle to MusicWorld and Fast Forward. Some of these outlets are on St. Marks Road, M.G. Road, and Brigade Road.

Arihant Plaza
Overflowing with fake brands at dirt-cheap prices. You get a lot of stuff that’s imported (and not legally, either), which you won’t find in other places. You’ll find virtually everything here—trendy clothes, accessories, shoes, perfumes, cosmetics, cutlery, chocolates and innumerable other items.

Arihant Plaza is located opposite the beginning of Commercial Street. Symbolically enough, it’s underground!

Westside
Located on Commercial Street. The top floor has lots of lovely stuff, right from cool mugs to tablecloths to cushions to candle-stands. It’s not particularly inexpensive. It’s worth a look. (They also sell clothes, cosmetics and jewelry.)

Strand Bookstall
Located in Manipal Centre, it is the book-lover’s dream come true. They actually encourage browsing, and they have comfortable and strategically placed chairs where you can sit and browse! And they always have a twenty percent discount on their books. The collection of books is really good, and just in case you don’t find the title you’re looking for, you can leave your name and number…they’ll get the book and then inform you. This is what a bookstore should be!

Another good bookstore is Sankar’s. They also sell a lot of magazines. They have outlets in the airport and in the Taj Residency.

Gangaram’s
All sorts of books, from fiction to fact. They stock textbooks, technical books, CD-ROMs. They also have cards, stationery, diaries, planners and little knick-knacks. It’s pretty big, and spread over four floors. They don’t like browsers.

Bangalore Jewelry Shopping

Jewelry


Okay…jewelry! This is classified as Serious Jewelry (like precious metals and stones), Light Jewelry (like costume jewelry, semiprecious stones and silver), and what is popularly called Junk Jewelry (which is very popular among school- and college-going students).

Buy Jewellery online You can now buy jewelry online for yourself or gift it to your near and dear ones.

Serious Jewelry
If you want to buy gold, diamonds, emeralds and similar precious stones, you should head for Ganjam or Krishnaiah Chetty and Sons. These places basically keep traditional designs. However, if the design of your dreams is not in sight, go ahead and describe it to them. They’ll be more than happy to create it for you!

Light Jewelry
If you want to buy costume jewelry, the best brand would be Estelle. It’s good quality, gold-plated stuff and there’s a large variety in the designs. It ranges from cute stuff to formal stuff, so if you like modern, gold-plated jewelry, Estelle is for you. Estelle is available at Shoppers’ Stop, Topaz, and a number of other stores.

Junk Jewelry
This is something that you’ll find basically on roadsides of Commercial Street and Brigade Road, and on the side streets off these areas. Shopping complexes like Devatha Plaza also have junk jewelry. The best thing to do if you’re shopping for junk jewelry is to take someone with you, someone who is well acquainted with the city, and who can bargain convincingly. If you have a foreign accent, you’ll have to pay higher prices, so you’d do well to let someone else do the talking for you. If anything about you indicates that you’re rich, the shop owners will overcharge you, so avoid wearing overly classy clothes and don’t pull up in a fancy car.

Bangalore Clothes Shopping

Clothes
Bangalore has a pretty happening fashion scene, and is, at any given time, generally over-run by models and the designers. The only pre-requisites for shopping at designer boutiques are:A model's body (negotiable at times)A well-stocked wallet (non-negotiable)
One place you can start off with is ffolio. This boutique stocks more “wearable” clothes than some of the other boutiques. ffolio always has both ethnic as well as western wear. The westerns definitely require a fairly well-moulded body for the best effect, but the ethnic wear is less demanding. In fact, if you don’t mind spending a little more than you would at other places, then ffolio’s Indian wear is definitely worth buying. More often than not, there’s an exhibition of an up and coming designer’s lines, and these are always worth a second glance. Even when there isn’t an exhibition as such, there are always plenty of designer labels to keep the fashion-conscious shopper happy.
Munish Hinduja’s Scandale, a boutique, and Manoviraj Khosla’s Kingfisher line of apparel are also for lovers of designer-wear.
Now we move on to places that are more affordable and less bohemian.
Shoppers’ Stop is the place to go if you want to do comprehensive shopping without traveling too much. Leading brands like Lee, Laungani, PepperTree, Pepe are available. So are cosmetic products by Revlon, Lakme, Biotique, Pierre Cardin, Chambor and Elizabeth Arden. Go ahead and pick up some designer perfumes by Calvin Klein, Escada and Nina Ricci, if you can afford it! There’s a good collection of jewelry, shoes and other accessories.
If you are pushed for time, but have to buy a lot of things, this is the place for you. Even otherwise, it’s worth checking out Cotton World is another good place for anyone who likes trendy, affordable clothes which won’t fall apart in the washing machine. It’s an especially popular place among young people (teens to twenties). They stock cool shirts in a range of designs, and there will definitely be something for everyone. They have long and short skirts, shorts, dresses and crinkly pajamas. What I really like is their t-shirts, which have really funky designs, and often have funny things written on them, like “He who laughs last thinks slowest.”
FabIndia is a fabulous place for buying Indian clothes. They also stock skirts, shirts, shorts and western dresses which have Indian prints. Incidentally, you can buy curtain material and Durries (traditional Indian woven carpets) from here. They also sell incredibly yummy cakes and stuff. (Definitely try the chocolate cake.) And they sell some other cool things, which make great gifts. Don’t miss FabIndia, especially if you’re not Indian! You’ll virtually buy out the whole place

Bangalore Survival Guide

Bangalore Survival Guide


The "Bangalore Survival Guide" consists of important information about Bangalore. It is a ready-reckoner on Bangalore made for your pocket.

It has telephone numbers for emergency requirements like Transportation, 24 hour Petrol pumps, Day/Night Medical stores, Emergency Hospitals, Blood Banks, Oxygen Services, Eye Banks, etc.

The basic amenities like Electricity & Water boards, Sewage boards, Street lights, Telephone have their respective departments listed with contact numbers.

For the younger generation, it has a listing of the Cinema Halls, Pizza Delivery & of course the Pubs.

Other timely services like the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Dog Catching, Monkey Catching, Snake Catching, Garbage/Dead Animal Removal, etc. are also listed.

Bangalore Sight-seeing Tour

Bangalore Sight-seeing Tour
(1/2 day) Twice daily. Fare : Rs. 75/- Departure : 7.30 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. Return:1.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Vidhana Soudha, Lalbagh, Bull Temple, Tipu's Palace, Museum, Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium and Ulsoor Lake.

Mysore Sight-seeing Tour
(1 day) Daily. Fare Rs. 160/- (By Deluxe Coach) Rs. 175/- (By Aero Tech Coach)Departure : 7.15 a.m. Return : 11.00 p.m. Srirangapatna. Daria Daulat, Gumbaz, Ranganathaswamy Temple, St. Philomena's Church, Chamundi Hills, Art Gallery Handicrafts, Brindavan Gardens, Mysore Palace and Zoo.

Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola
(1 day) Daily. Fare Rs. 225/-. Departure : 7.15 a.m. Return : 10.00 p.m. Belur,Halebid, Sravanabelagola.

Tirupati, Mangapura
(1 day) Daily. Fare : Rs. 315/- (including darshan and bathing facility) Departure: 10.00 p.m. 1st day Return : 9.00 p.m. 2nd day. Venkateshwara Temple, Govinda Rajaswamy Temple and Padmavathi Temple.

Mysore, Srirangapatna, Ooty, Nanjangud
(3 days) Daily in season (April-June). Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the off-season. Fare : Rs. 900/- (including accommodation). Departure : 7.15 a.m. 1st day. Return : 10.30 3rd day. Srirangapatna, Daria Daulat, Gumbaz, Ranganathaswamy Temple, St. Philomena's Church, Chamundi Hills, Mysore Palace, Art Gallery,Cauvery Handicrafts, Brindavan Gardens, Ooty, Nanjangud and Shiva Temple.

Mantralaya, T.B. Dam, Hampi
(3 days) Every Friday. Fare Rs. 550/- (including bathing and accommodation) Departure : 8.00 p.m. 1st day. Return 10.00 p.m. 3rd day. Raghavendra Swamy Temple, Tungabhadra Dam and Hampi.

North Karnataka
(5 days) Every Thursday during the season (October-January). Fare Rs. 675/- (including accommodation). Departure : 10.00 p.m. 1st day. Return : 6.00 a.m.. 5th day. Tungabhadra Dam, Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole, Bijapur and Kudala Sangama.

Goa, Gokarna
(5 days) Every Thursday during the season (October-January). Fare : Rs.1,250/-(including accommodation and bathing). Departure : 9.00 p.m. 1st day. Return 6.00 a.m. 5th day. Beaches of Goa, Gokarna and Jog Falls.

South Canara Tour
(5 days) Every Thursday. Fare : Rs. 750/- (including accommodation). Departure: 9.00 p.m. 1st day. Return : 6.00 a.m. 5th day. Sringeri Mutt, Kollur Mookambika Temple, Murdeshwara Temple, Udupi, Katil, Mangalore, Dharmastala and Kukke Subramanya Temples.

Bannerghatta, Muthyalamaduvu (Pearl Valley)
(1 day) Monday and Wednesday. Fare : Rs. 100/-. Departure 9.00 a.m. Return :6.00 p.m. Bannerghatta Game Sanctuary and Pearl Valley.

Nandi Hills, Muddenahalli
(1 day) Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Fare : Rs 100/-. Departure: 8.30 a.m. Return : 6.00 p.m. Tipu's Drop, Yoganandishwara Temple, Muddenahalli - Sir M.Vishwesvaraya's birth place.

Shivanasamudra, Somanathapur, Ranganatittu
(1 day) Sundays & Holidays. Fare : Rs. 175/- Departure : 8.00 a.m. Return : 8.30 p.m. Cauvery Falls, Somanathapur Temple and Ranganatittu.

Hogenakal Falls, Krishnagiri Dam
(1 day) Sundays and Holidays, July to December. Fare : Rs. 175/- Departure : 8.00 a.m. Return : 8.30 p.m.

Nagarhole, Mercara, Nisargadhama
(2 days), Every Friday and Saturday during the off-season. Daily during the season. (November-January & April-June) Fare: Rs. 460/- (including accommodation). Departure : 7.00 a.m. 1st day. Return : 10.00 p.m. 2nd day. Nagarhole, Talacauvery, Abbey Falls and Nisargadhama.

Jog Falls
(3 days) in season (July-October). Fare : Rs. 475/- (including bathing facility at Jog). Departure : 10.00 p.m. 1st day. Return : 6.00 a.m. 3rd day. Jog Falls, MGHE Works and Linganamakki Dam.

Dharmastala
(Overnight) Daily. Fare : Rs. 90/- Departure from Bangalore : 10.00 p.m. Departure from Dharmastala : 2.00 p.m.

Conducted Tours with explanation of India's philosophy, culture, lecture/demonstrations in dance, vegetarian lunch (chemical free, home grown vegetables) Rs. 500 per head. Minimum group of 4 persons. Closed on Monday.

Transportation in Bangalore

Local Transport
There are very few yellow-top taxis in the city, mostly around the airport area, but tourist taxis are easily available from agencies, hotels and taxi stands. Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) maintains a fleet of cars for hire.

Other Transport
A very commonly used mode of transport is the metered auto-rickshaw. The city also runs an efficient city-bus service, but the buses are usually crowded and the bus staff is generally rash and ruthless.

Getting Here in Bangalore

By Air
Bangalore is connected to all the four metropolitan cities and other major places by air. Indian Airlines and private carriers operate regular flights to the Silicon Valley of India from Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Goa, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Mangalore, are the other cities on the air route of IA and private airlines. A few international flights come in directly form Singapore, Dubai, London, Oman, Hong Kong and Saudi.

Bangalore Airport is 8 km from the M.G. Road area. Transfer to the city by tourist taxi takes about 20 minutes and costs about Rs. 180. Prepaid taxi service is also available. An autorickshaw, charging about Rs. 80 takes nearly the same time.



By Rail
Bangalore is connected to the National Capital by weekly Rajdhani Express and daily Karnataka Express. It is also well connected with Bombay by Udayan and Kurla Express, to Madras by Madras Mail, Lal Bagh Shatabdi and Brindavan Express and also to Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Calcutta, Hyderabad, and Mangalore by express trains. Mysore (140 km) is just 2.5 to 3 hours from Bangalore by train but it is preferable to do it by road.



By Road
Bangalore is well connected with Bombay and Pune through National Highway No. 4, to Hyderabad (565 km) and Kanyakumari (719 km) through National Highway No. 7 and Mangalore (349 km) on NH 48. Madras is approachable via Dharmapuri and Vellore (340 km). Buses of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala State Transport Corporations, and a large number of private roadways connect Bangalore with all the major centers in the region.

The interstate bus terminus of Bangalore is situated in Subashnagar near Majestic Circle and faces the Bangalore City Railway Station.

Bangalore As A Hub For South India

Bangalore As A Hub For South India

No matter where you’re going in South India it’s probably a good idea to rendezvous in Bangalore first and then move on. That’s because most places are easily accessible from here and the cost of travel is most reasonable. Though taxis are readily available it’s best to take a train or a public or private bus. Luckily the Central bus stand is right opposite the City train station which makes things convenient.

But before you go away and leave us don’t forget to check out all that Bangalore has to offer . Places like Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park and Museums, Bull Temple and Tipu Sultan’s Palace are all worth visiting. So are the central shopping locations of Brigade Road, M.G.Road and Commercial Street. This also happens to be Pub City so guzzle down a few at one of the city’s watering holes. Bangalore has it all, so take your time and enchant yourself.

There are so many interesting places to see in Karnataka including Mysore which is only about three hours away and full of palatial monuments, sandalwood and incense. The famous Hoysala temples at Halebid, Belur and Somnathpur are also close by. Sravanabelagola, one of the most important Jain pilgrimage centers in India is here in Karnataka. The unique, fun-loving, coffee growing culture of Coorg is not far away either. Mangalore and the Western Ghats offer some picturesque beaches. Visit the holy town of Gokarna and experience something truly special on Om Beach. The rock-cut temples in Hampi, once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire are a must-see and transport you to another age. So does the northern town of Badami, once the capital of the Chalukya empire.

If you’ve just about had it with India’s Silicon Valley Bangalore and seen all there is to see in Karnataka maybe it’s time to move north to Andhra Pradesh or south to Tamil Nadu and then Kerala. These four states make up what we know as South India today. In Andhra Pradesh places to see are the capital Hyderabad, or now more trendily known as Cyberabad for it’s booming software and modern infrastructure along with some famous monuments.Secunderabad is right alongside and equally interesting. Vishakapatnam, on the North-East corner and India’s largest shipbuilding yard is also worth a visit. So is Vijayawada, considered by many to be the heart of Andhra culture and language. The famous Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupathi beckons the religious seekers or just people who want to see a great temple. Sai Baba’s ashram at Puttaparthi invites you to meet a man of miracles.

Tamil Nadu has Chennai, it’s booming capital city and the guardian of Tamil language and culture. Visit the fabulous rathas of Mammalapuram and its fantastic beach. Kanchipuram, one of India’s sacred cities is worth a checkout.Pondicherry, once a French colony and a charming town with an amazing ashram beside the sea is also here. So is Auroville, a very interesting and self-sufficient commune.The Nataraj temple in Chidambaram is also worth visiting. So is the ancient Chola capital of Thanjavur or Tanjore. Visit Trichy and it’s famous Rock Fort Temple. Madurai, one of South India’s oldest cities and a center of learning and pilgrimage is worth a tour. Rameswaram, the Varanasi of the South and the Island of Prayeris home to many a legend about Lord Rama.So is Kanyakumari, the meeting point of India’s three oceans. Don’t miss the hillstations of Kodaikanal and Ooty either as they have wonderful vegetation, climate and historic spots.

As far as Kerala is concerned there are many beautiful places to see like Trivandrum, a bustling city built over seven hills. Kovalam has one of the best beaches that India has to offer. So does Varkala, containing a great sunset view of the Arabian Sea. Kottayam, a center for rubber production and close to the famous Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is a must-see. So is Munnar, a beautiful hill-station with sprawling tea estates. Cochin in the north provides glimpses of Kerala’s diversity and its little islands. Don’t forget the famous back waters either as they are simply out of this world.

Wherever you go in South India it’s best to start your journey from Bangalore because it’s right in the middle of the action. Be it air, rail or bus, north, south, east or west, Bangalore is the best. We hope you enjoy the rich cultural experience that South India has to offer.

Sringeri Away from Bangalore

Sringeri - This is a well known pilgrim center on the left bank of the River Tunga in Chickmagalur. Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the exponent of the Advaita philosophy, founded this monastery. There are 12 zodiac pillars in Vaidya Shankara Shrine which are arranged so that the rays of the sun fall on the pillar corresponding to the months. In front of the temple are stone lions, with stone spheres inside their mouths that can be rotated.

Dharmastala Away from Bangalore

Dharmastala - 349 Kms. from Bangalore via Hassan. 60 Kms. from Mangalore. Dharmastala is a remarkable example of communal harmony. The Manjunatha Temple attracts thousands of people all through the year. Every person who come here, irrespective of caste or creed is welcomed and given a free meal. During the Laksha Deepotsava, the temple is illuminated with one lakh lamps.

Malpe Away from Bangalore

Malpe - 6 Kms. from Udupi. An ideal picnic spot with its virgin beach. The endless stretch of golden sand, graciously swaying palm trees, the clear blue sky, gurgle of the sea… all set the perfect mood for an unforgettable holiday.

Murudeshwar Away from Bangalore

Murudeshwar - 16 Kms. from Bhatkal. This picturesque place has a gorgeous temple perched on a hillock by the shore. The temple which embodies a linga is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the Atmalinga at Gokarna while lifting it. Bounded by the shimmering sea and rolling hills, this place is a favourite tourist spot.

Gokarna Away from Bangalore


Gokarna - 60 Kms. from Karwar by road. Literally meaning "Cow's Ear", this town is formed by the ear shaped confluence of two rivers. Gokarna is renowned for Atmalinga in an ancient temple which is also in the shape of a cow's ear. Legend has it that Ravana tried to pull it out after Lord Ganesh had permanently placed it there. He was sent there by his father Lord Shiva to prevent Ravana from taking it back to Lanka and enhancing his power. It is a Sanskrit learning center. Om beach, a paradise by the sea in the shape of an Om is also located here. Don't miss the sunsets here.

Karwar Away from Bangalore

Karwar - 520 Kms. from Bangalore. Pristine white sands, palms lining the beaches. Karwar, a charming town, with glorious weather, has all the makings of a perfect holiday. There is a 300 years old Venkatarama Temple, the unique Octagonal Church… all sure to leave you with lingering memories.

Bijapur Away from Bangalore


Bijapur - 550 Kms. from Bangalore. Bijapur is best known for its Gol Gumbaz, the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah. The second largest dome in the world, 44 meters in diameter, it is a highly sensitive echo chamber where the tick of a clock held at one end can be heard at the opposite end, 125 feet away. The Ibrahim Roza in Bijapur is said to have inspired the Taj Mahal at Agra.

Aihole Away from Bangalore


Aihole - 483 Kms. from Bangalore. The earliest capital of Chalukyas(6th to 7th century A.D.), Aihole is a picturesque village, the cradle of Indian architecture, with over 100 temples. The oldest Lad Khan Temple dates back to the 5th century. The Durga Temple is also very famous.

Madikeri Away from Bangalore

Madikeri - 252 Kms. from Bangalore is this hill station of Madikeri, which is 1525 Kms. above sea level. It is called the Scotland of India, for its breathtaking scenic beauty. The Fort, Om Kareshwara Temple, Raja's seat are a few spots in Madikeri that deserve a visit. The Abbey Falls, Bhagamandala and Talacauvery lie around Madikeri are worth visiting.

Coorg Away from Bangalore

Coorg - Cradled in the seductive charms of the Western Ghats, Coorg is one of the loveliest districts of Karnataka. It is a thick wooded region (altitude 823 - 2700 meters) with coffee plantations, orange groves and smiling rice fields

Mangalore Away from Bangalore


Mangalore - 357 Kms. West of Bangalore lies the coast of Mangalore. The visiting places in Mangalore are St. Aloysius Chapel, Mangala Devi Temple, Ullal beach. Around Mangalore too, there are places to be seen, like Katil, Moodabidri, Karkala, Udupi, Malpe Beach, St. Mary's Island, Maravanthe and Kollur. Mangalore has lots of beautiful beaches and great scenic spots around.

Jog Away from Bangalore


Jog - 378 Kms. from Bangalore & 80 Kms. from Shimoga. Jog, a hamlet of Kargal village, is famous for its magnificent waterfalls. The Sharavathi River flowing over a rocky bed takes a spectacular leap from a height of 292 meters and divides into 4 smaller ones, Raja, Rani, Rocket and Roarer. Best time to visit this place is just after the monsoons during June-November.

Shimoga Away from Bangalore

Shimoga - 273 Kms. South-West of Bangalore. This place was once the home of Keladi Nayakas. The fort, Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Government Museum are worth seeing. Gajanur, Tyaverekoppa, Agumbe, Jog Falls are scenic spots around Shimoga, well worth a visit.

Kemmanagundi Away from Bangalore

Kemmanagundi - 380 Kms. from Bangalore. Kemmanagundi, a hamlet, lies in the Tarikere taluk of Chickmaglur district. Situated on the Baba-Budan range at a height of 1434 meters, its quite and peaceful, amidst forests.

Bhadra Away from Bangalore

Bhadra - 257 Kms. from Bangalore. Badhra Sanctuary is in Chickmaglur and Shimoga districts. The great Indian gaur, mongoose, barking deer, flying fox, elephant, panther, macaque, babbler, barbet, bluejay, kingfisher, robin and weaver bird can be seen here.

Chickmagalur Away from Bangalore

Chickmagalur - 251 Kms. from Bangalore. A town resting in Baba Budan Mountains. The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kemmanagundi, Sringeri are a few tourist places near Chickmagalur.

Nagarhole Away from Bangalore


Nagarhole - 236 Kms. from Bangalore. In the Mysore and Kodagu districts is the Nagarhole National Park, getaway for nature lovers. If you want to tour Nagarhole in royal style, do it on elephant back. Jeeps and vans are also available. See the four horned antelope, warblers, spotted deer, panther, mouse deer, gaur and giant flying squirrel.

Bandipur Away from Bangalore




Bandipur - 217 Kms. from Bangalore on the way to Ooty touching Mysore. Bandipur Sanctuary was set up by the Mysore Maharajas in 1931, at the foot of Nilgiri Hills. Travel into the forest, on well laid roads, to see elephants, barking deer, quail, wild dogs, sambar, hornbill, giant squirrels. Endless variety of flora and fauna flourish here, rosewood, teak, bamboo and sandal. Bandipur is a center for Project Tiger.

Ranganthittu Away from Bangalore


Ranganthittu - 125 Kms. from Bangalore on Mysore Road. This sanctuary is home to exotic birds coming all the way from Siberia, Australia and North America. Stretching on both sides of river Cauvery, its home to birds, otters and crocodiles. Take a ride in a cane boat, to see them, accompanied by the open bill stork, the white ibis, egret, heron, partridge or cormorant, an endless variety of delightful birds.

Hogenakal Away from Bangalore

Hogenakal -About 140 Kms. from Bangalore via Dharmpuri. This is a picturesque picnic spot. At several places from varying heights the Cauvery river falls here. These are also known as "Smoking Rocks" because of the mist.

Talakad Away from Bangalore

Talakad -132 Kms. from Bangalore on Mysore Road. Adorning the left bank of the river Cauvery, this pilgrim centre is buried in sand. The Vaidyeshwara Temple built in Dravidian style is visible. It is known for Panchalinga Darshan once in 12 years.

Srirangapatna Away from Bangalore

Srirangapatna - 123 Kms. from Bangalore on Mysore road. This historic place is surrounded by two branches of the Cauvery river. The Daria Doulat Bagh has a museum where some of Tippu's belongings are displayed. Tippu's Mausoleum and a large imposing mosque with tall minarets are also here. The town also has a Traveller's Bungalow for visitors.

Mysore Away from Bangalore



Mysore -140 Kms. from Bangalore. This city was the capital of Wodeyars. Mysore is one of the most important as well as famous tourist centers of Karnataka. The Mysore Palace, Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, St. Philomena's Church, Mysore Zoo, Chamundi Hills, KRS Dam & Brindavan Gardens are a few places to see in Mysore. Srirangapatna, Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary, Melkote, Somanathapur, Talakad, Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve, Cauvery Fishing Camp, Nagarhole National Park, Biligiri Rangana Betta are a few places around Mysore worth visiting. Mysore has so much to offer to visitors that they can stay here for a week without having to spend a minute idle.

Hampi Away from Bangalore


Hampi -353 Kms. from Bangalore. This was the old capital of Vijayanagar Kingdom on the bank of the river Tungabhadra. 6 Kms. from Hospet. Vast relics of the empire can be seen here. It tells the visitors about the glory that was the Vijayanagar empire. 6 Kms. from Hospet one can also find the Tungabhadra Dam.

Halebid Away from Bangalore


Halebid - 216 Kms. from Bangalore. The Hoysaleswara Temple here is full of intricately carved sculptures. This temple is guarded by a Nandi Bull which is incomplete despite 86 years of work on it!

Belur Away from Bangalore


Belur - 222 Kms. from Bangalore. This is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. The Chennakeshava Temple took 103 years to complete and deserves all admiration. The Veeranjaneya Temple and many other small temples are also beautiful

Shravanabelagola Away from Bangalore


Shravanabelagola -158 Kms. from Bangalore or 51 Kms. from Hassan, this is a main pilgrim centre of Jains. It has a 17 meters high monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali. The symmetry in stone was created around 983 AD by Chamundraya. Mahamastakabhisheka is a ceremony held once in every 12 years where the statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka is due in 2005.

Kolar Gold Mines Around Bangalore

Kolar Gold Mines-120 kms from Bangalore. Kolar is as rich in history as it is in gold. The gold mines here are the deepest mining pits in the world, reaching down to a depth of about 10,000 feet below the surface of the earth. The Secratary, Kolar Gold Mining Undertaking, K.G.F., may be contacted for permission to visit the mines. Bharat Earth Movers factory is also situated here.

Shivanasamudra Around Bangalore -

Shivanasamudra - 120 kms from Bangalore on Mysore Road. Home for two beautiful waterfalls Gaganachukki and Bharachukki. This has Asia's first hydroelectric power station built in 1905.

Kanva Reservior Around Bangalore

Kanva Reservior - 69 kms from Bangalore via Mysore Road. KSRTC Bus Service Available from Bangalore to Ramohalli-Ramanagaram Kanva Reservoir. For accommodation in Traveller's Bungalow, contact Assistant Executive Engineer, No. 2, Sub Division, Channapatna.

Savanadurga Around Bangalore

Savanadurga -58 kms from Bangalore via Magadi Road. A hill fortress which was the hideout of Kempe Gowda. There is a temple dedicated to Narasimhaswamy and Veerabhadraswamy. Accomodation is available at the Traveller's Bungalow.

Whitefield Around Bangalore

Whitefield - 16 kms from Bangalore. Sri Sathya Saibaba Ashram is here. A large number of devotees come here from all over the world, for his darshan and blessings whenever he visits the Ashram.

Muthyala Maduvu (Pearl Valley) Around Bangalore

Muthyala Maduvu (Pearl Valley)-44 kms from Bangalore via Brigade Road-Hosur Road-Anekal. A picturesque picnic spot with a waterfall which is 300ft. high. There is a Traveller's Bungalow 6 kms from Anekal Town on the Hosur Road. For reservations contact Block Development Officer, Anekal.

Devarayanadurga Around Bangalore

Devarayanadurga - 79 kms from Bangalore via Tumkur. A hill resort. At the foot of the hill there is a natural water spring (Take a deviation at 10th milestone). There is an artificial lake that spreads over nearly 1000 acres. The Indo-Danish Dairy project and Government Horticultural and dairy farms are located here. Accommodation : Traveller's Bungalow under BWSSB, Bangalore.