Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka ranks as one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. Its pleasant climate, friendly people, and its highly educated population have made this the Silicon Valley of India with almost all Computer related multinationals setting up their India head office at Bangalore. Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister termed this as "India's city of the future".
Bangalore is the "Garden City of India" with its many gardens and boulevards. Its pleasant climate and laid back charm attracted many senior citizens and thus later on came to be called at "the retired man's paradise". With the multinational Computer companies setting up their offices here and its the rich technical expertise found in the city gave it the name of "Silicon City". And of course what is Bangalore without all its Pubs. Its is now also called the Pub City with over 200 Pubs all over the town.
Climate of Bangalore
Bangalore is endowed by nature with a very salubrious and equable climate. The mean temperature in the warmest month (April) is 27.1°C (80.8°F) and in the coldest month (January) is 20.4°C (68.8°F). The temperature during the day rarely exceeds 34°C (93°F) in summer (April and May) and seldom falls below 15.5°C (60°F) on winter nights (December, January and February). The atmosphere is neither very humid nor very dry. The mean values of the relative humidity in the wettest (September) and driest (January) months are 76 and 63 percent respectively.
Early morning fog occurs between October to February but mainly in December and January. An important feature influencing the climate of Bangalore is the low cloud which covers almost the entire sky during greater part of the day from June to September. The morning hours in these months, with overcast skies, little or no rain and a fresh breeze with temperature of the order of 21°C to 25°C (70°F to 77°F) are the most pleasant in the year. The period from June to September considered the "Season" in Bangalore.
Bangalore Clothing
Informal. Skimpily dressed women (no matter how normal by western standards) will be stared at. Wear suits for business meetings. The only dress code Bangaloreans subscribe to is the one dictated by the weather. Laidback, cosmopolitan and trendy-Indian and Western clothes are worn with equal élan. Weddings, of course, bring out traditional splendour in jewellery, flowers and clothes.
Visas
Citizens of other countries need to have a valid passport and an entry , transit or tourist visa obtained from the Indian Embassy in their country. Tourist visa is normally valid for 120 days. Those wishing to visit a neighboring country like Sri Lanka or Nepal, and returning to India, should obtain a double/multiple entry visa.
Currency
Currency is Indian Rupees. Major credit cards are accepted at large stores and hotels but it is recommended to carry some money in Rupees. Indian Rupee has limited convertibility; to convert back to your original currency, you need to have the evidence of original conversion to Rupees. It is recommended to keep all the receipts given at the time of conversion.
Credit Cards
American Express, Master Charge, Visa and Diners Club credit cards are generally accepted by large establishments including hotels, shops, and airlines.
Tipping
Porters and bellboys expect at least Rs 10 per bag. Taxi Drivers, barbers and hairdressers expect 10-15%. Service charges are not normally included in the bill. When the service has been pleasant a 10-15% tip based on the price of the meal would be ideal.
Geography
Bangalore city is located in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, in South India. It is 3,113 feet (949 m) above sea level, on top of a ridge in the Karnataka plateau. Bangalore is 998 km from Mumbai (Bombay) and 562 km from Hyderabad. The climate is moderate and pleasant. Summers are mild (April-June) and winters are cool (October-February). The city experiences southwestern monsoon rains in June-August.
Population
India: 1 billion
Bangalore: 5.2 million
Languages
Kannada 31%
Tamil 27%
Telugu 17%
Hindustani/Urdu 15%
other languages 10%
Literacy
75.42%
Religion
Hindus 85.92%
Muslims 11.05%
Christians 2.96%
Sikhs 0.02%
Buddhists 0.11%
