Bangalore is situated at the southern edge of the Deccan plains, southeast of Goa. Originally a sedate and stately city, characterised by its quiet, broad streets and lush green spaces, Bangalore has recently been transformed into a major business hub for south India and is known by some as India’s ‘Silicon Valley’.

The city’s transformation into a high-tech centre started in the 1960s, when the Indian government decided to locate important telecommunications and defence operations here. From this point on, software development found a home in Bangalore, attracting a number of multi-national corporations – and the interest of US and European companies who were in need of outsourcing a variety of their services. Today, more than half of India’s software exports originate in Bangalore.

In the past several years, the city’s population has doubled, and is now approaching 8 million. Visitors may find that the recent building surge somewhat overshadows the historical attractions – but history is alive here nonetheless, in the city’s palaces and many temples. Tipu's Palace, located in old Bangalore to the south, is one such example. Modernisation and growth mean that visitors will find excellent choices in eateries and entertainment options, such as bars, clubs and cinemas.

Bangalore is alive with young entrepreneurs, techies, all the latest trends in fashion and cars. Its skyline is constantly changing and the number of hotspots for an evening of fun increases with even greater frequency. That said, there are those who are looking back to the city’s roots: leading city politicians are attempting to change Bangalore’s name to its historically significant, original name – Bengalooru.

Records were found in a 9^th century temple referring to the area that is now the oldest part of Bangalore as Bengalooru. Several hundred years later, in the mid-16^th century, Kempe Gowda, a feudal lord, was hunting in this spot when a rabbit attacked his hunting dog. The rabbit’s bravery impressed him to the point that he named the area ‘gandu bhoomi’, meaning ‘the place of heroes’, and built a walled fort at the site.

For more than 300 years after this point, Bangalore developed in the shadow of its more significant neighbour, Mysore; and control of the city changed hands on a number of occasions. Bangalore’s destiny changed in 1831 when the British took control of the Kingdom of Mysore, and chose Bangalore as the administrative capital. New rail and telecommunication infrastructures were put in place, government buildings were erected, and many significant parks and gardens were established. Even after independence from Britain, Bangalore continued as the capital of the state of Karnataka and grew in regional importance.

Bangalore has long been noted for being a forward-thinking city, with its politics more liberal than most. In recent years, the ‘forward-thinking’ nature has driven Bangalore to the forefront of India’s high-tech growth. It is not only one of the most highly-developed cities in the country, but it is also one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world.

The city’s name is an Anglicisation of the original Bengalooru, which itself was adapted from the name in the Kannada language ‘Benda Kaal Ooru’, or ‘Town of the Boiled Beans’. As a story goes, King Vira Ballala was lost in this area at one time and was offered a dish of boiled beans by an old woman he encountered along the way. Out of gratitude, he named the town after the beans that were offered to him.

Bangalore’s location atop a ridge on the Karnataka plateau contributes to its relatively mild climate, which typically doesn’t see dramatic temperature extremes. The summer season (April to June) is a time of warm temperatures, averaging 27°C. Occasionally the temperatures do rise, but seldom above 34°C, and not for long periods.

From late June through August, the region experiences the annual monsoon rains, making this one of the less desirable times to visit. By September, the monsoons have usually ceased, and cooler, drier weather is the norm.

Winter extends from October to February; and January most always is the coolest month, with temperatures dropping to 20°C during the day and 15°C at night. Even during the winter, with temperatures still this mild, you’ll only need a light sweater to keep warm when you’re outside in the evening.

Although the high season for tourism is June to September, visitors come to Bangalore throughout the year. In the winter, you’ll typically start the day with foggy skies that clear during the morning; and during the summer, you’ll normally be treated to clear blue skies all day long.