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Until 1831, Bangalore slumbered in the shadow of neighbouring city Mysore. When the British took control over the local kingdom they moved the capital to Bangalore, upgrading its infrastructure in the process with fine colonial buildings, roads, rail connections and wonderful parks and gardens. Bangalore, now officially known as Bengaluru, is today the state capital of Karnataka - and is still known informally as the 'Garden City' due to its leafy avenues and quiet suburbs.

Bangalore was the first city in India to become electrified, and has ever since retained the cachet of being India's most technologically modern and progressive city. It is also quite literally one of the country's coolest cities, with an average temperature far lower than the scorching plains of the surrounding region. Among other advantages Bangalore enjoys, are noticeably cleaner streets and a generally calmer and less frenetic atmosphere than other Indian cities.

Bangalore is also well-known as the centre of India's IT and telecommunications industries, and thus attracts professionals from all over India and abroad. The influx of westerners and knowledge-workers, coupled with the rise in affluence, have made this India's most modern and secular of cities - imbued with relaxed and refreshing attitudes that many find liberating, but others find scandalous.

Bangalore is not a city packed with tourist attractions, but is more often used as a base for tourists to explore the charms of southern India. However, that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to see in the city itself. Apart from some attractive buildings and parks, what is on show here is the modern face of India: confident, brash and progressive, connected to the world at large and evolving all the time. It's a fascinating and energising glimpse into the future of this developing superpower of a nation.