Shopping

Bangalore offers visitors some good shopping opportunities. The city's best buys are high-quality Indian silks, Lambani tribal jewellery, and woodcarvings. The liveliest place to shop is the MG Road and Brigade Road area, which contains a good mix of traditional stores, souvenir outlets and more modern shops. For mall shopping, and all the westernised boutique stores and fast food outlets you might expect, head to Forum Mall on Hosur Road. Bangalore Centre on MG Road and the department stores on Sampige Road are also worth a look.

For discount outlets and factory shops, catch a taxi to Marathahalli Main Road. Looking for fake brands like Nike and Addidas? Make a beeline to the underground emporia of Arihant Plaza, opposite the beginning of Commercial Street.

Don't expect bargains in the high-rental shops - this is an affluent city, with prices to match. One place you can haggle is, of course, the markets, which are also the best place to find Indian souvenirs and trinkets. City Market is mostly a local market but has plenty of foodie gifts, and Majestic Market is packed with cheap Bollywood and world cinema dvds, interesting curios and keepsakes.