Firstly lets tackle the laid back tag. The only reason for people being confused about calling Bangalore a town or a city, is because it’s in reality a global village. What with temples selling incense sticks against computerized bills, sprawling golf courses that cater to the space-starved Japanese tourist on weekends, and software moguls making it the silicon bazaar of India. Catering to the cosmopolitan Bangaloreans are restaurants dishing out everything from Mexican to Polynesian fare, the environment plays a suporting role with a cool, sunny skyline that encompasses satellite-dish studded terraces, flowering trees and traditional domes in one glance.

This ‘Little Bit of England in India’ catalysed by a brand invasion of sorts from all over, has acquired a make-shift personality that incorporates everything like a sponge. sunny skyline that encompasses satellite-dish studded terraces, flowering trees and traditional domes in one glance.

This ‘Little Bit of England in India’ catalysed by a brand invasion of sorts from all over, has acquired a make-shift personality that incorporates everything like a sponge.This city has a unique atmospheric depth that usually causes serious withdrawal symptoms on leaving it. It isn’t called the ‘one-way city’ for its road traffic pattern alone.

This pub capital of Asia and travel hub of South India, is the ideal place to establish a base and take off to experience the most interesting cultural cocktail - Karnataka.

Behind Bangalore’s modern appearance lies a glorious past. The name of the City appears to be older than is generally realized, for it was found in an inscription of the 9th century A.D., at Begur village.

Bangalore has a singular charm of arousing the interest of both Indians and foreigners in its checkered history. Its strategic position, close to the borders of three states, has played a great part in influencing the history of peninsular India. It is interesting to know that Bangalore had been a pawn on the chessboard of Indian intrigues. Kempe Gowda built it. The Bijapur Sultanate conquered it. The Moghuls sold it. Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar purchased it for Rupees 3,00,000. It was the personal jagir (property) of Shahji Bhonsley and Haider Ali, two great historical personalities, at different periods in its history.

Into this ever-shifting kaleidoscope also came Lord Cornwallis, the English Governor General in India, with the biggest army that ever invaded Bangalore in March 1791.

When the treaty of Srirangapatnam was concluded, it was handed back to Tippu Sultan. After the fall of Tippu Sultan in the Fourth Mysore War, in 1799, Bangalore became part of the newly carved out Mysore State under the rule of Krishna Raja Wodeyar III. In 1831, the British resumed the administration of the new State.

It acquired the status of administrative centre of the State, for the first time, in the days of the British Commission in Mysore (1831-1881).

In 1949 the City and Cantonment areas of Bangalore were amalgamated to form the Corporation of the City of Bangalore comprising an area of 26.7 square miles. In 1956, by virtue of the re-organisation of states, it became the metropolis of the enlarged Mysore State.

Channapatna (59 km)
The land of toy makers. Colourful lacquered and wooden toys in various shapes and sizes are the specialty of this region. Wooden beads, bangles, boxes and light furniture are also made here.

Magadi (46 km)
This birthplace of Kempe Gowda, it now has the remnants of an old fort and four temples of unspoiled charm. Someshwar Temple has a Nandi and decorated arches. This temple complex also has the figures of men, women and animals. It also contains Indo-Saracenic architecture.. The Ranganathaswamy Temple has a beautifully painted “Gopuram”. Well-laid out steps lead to an open rectangular tank facing the temple.

Savandurg (60 km)
Also known as the Magadi Hills, this is a towering granite hill, 1207 metres high, with a base about 10 km in circumference. A hill fortress of Sawantaraya, in olden days it was also called “Nelepatna” i.e. underground city. It was a hideout of Kempe Gowda. Later it was renamed as Savantdurg after its ruler Sawantharaya. It has temples dedicated to Basaveswara, Narasimhaswamy and Veerabhadrasamy. Between these two temples is the tomb of Sayyed Ghulam Hussain Shah Qadri, a Muslim saint.

Devanahalli (35 km)
Tipu Sultan was born here. A monument has been created in the memory of Tipu. A fort and a fine temple of Dravidian style Venugopal are the other attractions. Interesting episodes from the Ramayana have been carved on the outside temple walls. The Shilpakala Shala imparts training in traditional painting and sculpture. There is also an old mosque.

Devarayanadurga (79 km)
Perched at a height of 3,940 feet is Devarayanadurga, a hill station on Tumkur Road. An interesting natural spring called “Namada Chilume” is at the foot of the hill. Temples dedicated to Ugra Narasimha are situated at the top of the hill.