i145 Hotel - Branch of Stay and Work @ infantry

So what’s this ‘bangalore’ ?
You mean the phenomenon called Bangalore ? Oh yes ! It’s The Weather, The People, Garden City, Cosmopolitan, Multicuisine, Fashion, Integrity In diversity, Information Technology, Rock Bands, Pubs, Multiplexes, Shopping Malls, MG Road, Brigade Road, Commercial Street, Vidhana Soudha, IIM, IISc, ITPL, Narayana Hrudyalaya, Azim Premji, Narayan Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar, Rahul Dravid, Sabeer Bhartia, Sai Baba That’s Bangalore.

That’s Bangalore

Facts

First International Technology Park - ITPL
Richest women of INDIA – Bio con CEO Kiran Mazumdar
Infosys chief – Narayan Murthy
Wipro chief – Azim Premji
Biggest heart hospital in INDIA – Narayana Hrudyalaya
Hotmail guy – Sabeer Bhatia
The Kannadigas (original inhabitants and Kannada is the local language,) are only 27% of Bangalore’s
population. Bangalore has the highest number of expatriates in India. You can speak any language here.
We are not kidding. And all in harmony. ……………… Do we need to say more ? we can go on.

That’s Bangalore!

Vidhana Sauda

Way back as one can imagine Bangalore was a small Halli - meaning a village, in the princely state of Mysore, now Karnataka. Bangalore today is one of the fastest growing cities in terms of industrialization and Commerce . Bangalore evolved into a manufacturing hub for public sector heavy industries—particularly aerospace, space and defense industries. Bangalore the 3rd largest city in India is also called the city of gardens. It is the 5th largest metropolitan city. Now a major IT destination, It is a home to a floating population of software professionals. 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 If things move in the right direction.

Bangalore 2010 will be truly be a city of the future where everyone wants to live. Metro Rail, the international airport at Devanhalli, more flyovers and underpasses are expected to make traveling both within the city and from outside more comfortable.

Wine and Dine

Some of the most popular hangouts are Hard Rock Cafe, Hypnos, NYK's, Zero G, Opus, 13th Floor, i Bar @ The Park Hotel, Sutra @ The Grand Ashok Hotel, Dublin @ Windsor Manor Hotel, Polo club @ Oberoi Hotel, Geoffreys @ Royal Orchid Hotel, Blue Bar @ the Taj West End Hotel, Athena & The Library bar @ the Leela Palace Hotel, Ice @ the Taj Residency Hotel.

International Cuisine :
are served in most of the eat outs. To mention a few Sunnys, Tandoor, Mainland China, Desmonds, Gian Carlos, Colonial, Mocha, Curry & Co, Sikander, Nanking, Samarkhand, Harima, Aromas of China, Rim Naam, Dakshin, Royal Afghan, Graze, Monsoon, Blue Ginger, Zen, Jamevar to only name a few.

Flying Time

Flying Time :
Bangaloreans after a busy day can catch up with some sports adventure like parasailing at the Jakkur aerodrome.

Festivals and Celebrations

Its festive time!!
and Bangalore is ever ready to celebrate its festivals in full zeal and spirit. Yugadi, Dussehra, Kadalekeya Parishe are a few of them.

Karaga is celebrated in March and April. The Karaga, literally an earthen pot decorated with jasmine flowers, is carried on the head by a young man, who is dressed as a woman (to symbolize Draupadi), from the midnight of Chitta Pournami till sunrise through all localities and almost all temples in the old city. The Karaga comes to the darga for a fateha (prayer) in the small hours of the next day. People of all communities — Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Marwari Jains — visit the darga.

Entertainment

Bangalore , in its heart of the city has many state-of the- art multiplexes.

Places worth a Visit

Bangalore Palace	The High Court

The Lal Bhag	Iskon

The Race Course

The Race Course : India has some of the world’s finest Thoroughbreds that shouldn’t be missed. The Bangalore Race Course is one of the finest of them

Shopping

Shopping :
Bangalore has a pretty happening fashion scene, and is, at any given time, generally over-run by models and the designers.

Brigade Road
Out here you will find best movie theatres in town, you will find a bowling alley, a discothèque, a video game parlor, eating places like the Nilgiri’s. There are showrooms for all brand conscious people out there , to name a few Lee, Van Heusen, and Louis Phillippe. You can also buy a lot of unbranded clothes, shoes and jewelry. Malls like Mota Royal Arcade ,Fifth Avenue, are worth exploring as this is the place where we get a range of items to fit in all pockets.

Commercial Street.
This place is for all diehard shopping freaks!! You could get everything ranging from a pin to a palmtop. The ambience is excellent—informal, discreet and generally appealing

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. The Raymond’s and Cotton World showrooms are located here.

Health Care & Hospitals

The Healthcare Task Force of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in partnership with corporate companies and utility providers, have come out with a “joint action plan” to improve infrastructure facilities in Bangalore. There are the Manipals, The Sagar Apollo Hospital Super specialty Hospitals, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Karnataka Nephrology And Transplant Institute (KANTI), Bangalore West Lions Eye Hospital & Cornea Grafting Centre . Which provides world class health care.

International Airport
Bengaluru International Airport is located in Devanhalli which is 40 km (25 mi) from the city and it started its operations. As the new airport is 40 km outside the city, a new high speed rail link is being planned to connect the city to the airport. BMTC runs nine bus routes from as many locations in the city to connect to the new airport By Road, you can reach BIAL through Hebbal via Bellary Road, through NH-Yelahanka people can also reach BIAL throgh Yelahanka via Vidyaranyapura where Traffic is quite less The domestic / international arrival & departure section would eventually house one of the largest duty free outlets in India.

Weather In Bangalore
Situated at a height of 949 metres (3113 ft.) Above the sea level, the city is blessed with salubrious climate throughout the year. No weather goes to its extreme.The numerous gardens and parks, streets lined with trees make the weather of bangalore very soothing. One can visit the city any time of the year and enjoy the salubrious climate.

Warmest month - April, temperatures range from 33.4 C to 21.2 C
Coldest month - January, temperatures range from 25.7 C to 15.3 C

Getting Around the City

AUTORICKSHAWS
The most reasonable way to get around during the day. Insist on paying by the meter only. If a taxi is too expensive, hire an auto for the round trip - fix price in advance and tell the auto driver clearly what time you will expect to return.

PRIVATE TAXIS
Check with the hotels Travel Desk for assistance.

BUSES
Avoidable (except for residents).

TIPPING
This is indicative advice: In restaurants and hotels, tips are pooled and shared by all working staff. Be generous - most service people earn their livelihood from tips rather than salaries. When in doubt, 10%- 15% will do nicely.

HOTEL STAFF : Depends on how happy you are.
DRIVERS : Rs 30 for lunch and dinner each, plus a gratuity depending on how you much you liked the service.
ATTENDANTS : Rs 20. Tip more if you can afford it. (It won’t go unrewarded.)

BARGAINING
When buying in bulk, ask for a discount - shopkeepers do oblige. Otherwise, fixed price is the convention.

RETURNS/EXCHANGES
Do remember to keep your purchase bills safe - storeowners are usually very understanding.

PHONES
Thank god for Mobile Phones – Get one easily form a service provider in the city or else carry a lot of new Rs 1 coins for pay phones - look for the ISD/STD signs.

DRESS
Informal. Skimpily dressed women will be stared at. Wear jeans or skirts and you won’t feel uncomfortable. Suits for business meetings

ETIQUETTE
Bangaloreans are informal. But in some homes you must take off your shoes before entering. A pile of shoes at the front door is a good indication. No footwear in most places of worship.

INVITATIONS
It is fashionable to be late in Bangalore. If you are invited at 8pm, it’s expected that you won’t arrive until 9pm. Wine and mixed drinks are popular. People generally drink until dinner is served which is often not till midnight. Good idea to grab a bite before you go. Dinner also signals the end of the party. So, it isn’t impolite to eat and run.

EATING OUT
Bars close at 11pm (last orders 10:45 pm). Some restaurants stay open till midnight. Eating out after pub closing is best in a 24-hour Coffeeshop in the bigger hotels.

CRIME
Bangalore is relatively safe. The police confirm that organised crime is minuscule. Still, be careful. If in doubt, check routes in advance. Leave valuables/ passports in the hotel safe ... or with someone safe.

ONE LAST WORD OF ADVICE
Enjoy our city and expect surprises. After all, what is a holiday without them!

See Bangalore In A Day

STROLLING
Central Bangalore , (the M G Road, Brigade Road and Commercial Street area), is a great place in which to wander, for window-shopping or people watching. Roadside vendors sell roasted nuts and corn. In local parlance, this activity is called "time pass".

BOOK BROWSING
Central Bangalore is home to some of the best bookshops in the country – Landmark , Crosswords, Shankars are some to name a few

SITTING IN CAFES
This is an old Bangalorean pursuit. Bangalore is home to the nation’s coffee. The coffeehouses, like Koshy’s and India CoffeeHouse are still hang-outs for old Bangaloreans and people like academics, journalists, writers and poets. You just might find yourself engaged in a left-of-centre battle on world politics.

ART GALLERIES
With the boom of the mid-90s, art buying became fashionable in the city. Several art galleries showcase the nation’s talent. – Check with the hotel for more details

THE BIG BANYAN TR EE
25 Kms. Branches cover 3 acres! Awesome tree. Good for picnics. Liquor store/bar besides it (in good Bangalore tradition). Crowded on Sundays.

NET SURFING
Apart from silks, beer and coffee, Bangalore is the nation’s software capital. In tribute, are the hundreds of places that allow you to surf the Net with prices starting as little as Rs.30/- (0.70¢) for 30 minutes.

WALKING IN PAR KS
Cubbon Park and Lalbagh are delightful lung spaces. Over the years, the administrators of the city, notably Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan (19th century) and more recently, Richard Sankey and Narasimha Raja Wadiyar, were responsible for bringing a wide variety of trees to the city. Their legacy lives in these parks. The parks are safe, but don't interact with strangers beyond normal courtesies.

AMUSEMENT ARCADES
Bangalore has a list of video arcades, pool parlours and bowling alleys. Keep away from betting in these places. Betting here is illegal and if you play for wager (against our advice), watch out for sharks. Newman and Cruise could learn something from them.

PUBBING & DISCOS
For over a decade, pubs have been Bangalore ’s biggest draw. The draught beer is excellent. Hanging out includes discos.The crowd is young and hep and the music is new and loud.

Day Trips Out Of Bangalore

NRITYAGRAM DANCE VILLAGE
35 Kms Hessaraghatta, Bangalore Rural District. Pin 560 088 8466313/314 Fax: 8466312. http://www.allindia. com/nritya. Open 10 am. to 5 pm. Mondays closed.

Only Dance Village in the world set up for the preservation and popularisation of the seven Indian classical dance forms. Designed by Gerard da Cunha, winner of the Best Rural Architecture Award. Home of The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble ("One of the most luminous dance events of the year!" The New York Times). l Casual tour Rs. 20 per person. l Lecture-Demonstration Rs. 650 per person, for a minimum of four people. This includes a guided tour, lecture-demonstration on classical dance and a vegetarian meal. Advance booking required. l Dance performance Rs. 1100 per person for a minimum of ten people. Advance booking required. l Bus # 253, 253A, 253D, 253E from City Market and 253C from Shivaji Nagar to Hessaraghatta (5 kms from Nrityagram).

NANDI HILLS
59 kms. 4850 feet above sea level. Good for picnics or daytime getaway. Early mornings are best.

MEKEDATU
95 kms. (30 Kms from Kanakapura) Means 'Goat's Leap'. A narrow gorge made by the river Cauvery. Good for day long picnic. Ensure own transportation, food and specially beer.

HOGENAKAL
183 kms Waterfalls - Means 'Smoking Rock'. Picturesque. Highly entertaining coracle boat ride. Tends to be crowded and messy.

BANNERGHATTA NATIONAL PARK
21 kms. (0900 to 1200, 1400 to 1700) Closed Tuesdays. Bison, lions, crocodiles, elephants, monkeys. Department vehicles tour inside sanctuary. For Public Buses, call: 2872090 or 602177.

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