Bangalore, the fifth largest city in India is the capital of Karnataka. The presence of many parks and botanical gardens gave the name of "Garden city" to Bangalore. Kempe Gowda, who was a chieftain of the Vijaynagar Empire, founded the city of Bangalore four centuries ago. The former name of the city was Bangluru (Bengalooru). Some of the oldest Ganga inscriptions suggest that the village of Bangaluru existed even before 10th century. There is an interesting story that tells how Bangalore got its name. Legend has it that a prosperous King of the 11th Century, Veera Ballala the 2nd, was on a expedition when he lost his way in the thick forest. He met an old lady in the deep green forest who served him with her meals. It was boiled beans (benda kalu). When he came back and narrated his experience to everybody, the word spread so wide that villagers started addressing that place as Bendkaluru, that meant village of ben kal (boiled beans). Today the name has shortened to Bangalore. Today Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka ranks as one of the fastest growing cities in Asia.

Bangalore has dry tropical savannah type of climate. November to mid-January are winter months, when the days are cool and evenings and nights can be cold. In winter the maximum temperature can rise to 27°C (80.6°F) and fall to less than 17°C (62.6°F). March, April and May are the summer months, with April being quite hot. In summer the maximum temperature can rise to 36°C (96.8°F) while the minimum temperature can drop to 20°C (68°F). Rainfall can be expected from the end of May to October.

In a short span of time, Bangalore has emerged as the knowledge and technology capital of the country making rapid strides in the new economy as well. The city’s economy largely depends on trade and industries. The local economic structure is constituted by small and medium enterprises. The Bangalore Stock Exchange is the largest in South India, biotechnology is another rapidly expanding field in the city.

There are various modes of transport available in Bangalore. Buses, autos and taxis are the most common mode of public transport. Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operates more than three thousand public buses. Three wheeled auto rickshaws, more commonly called autos are the most used means to commute within the city, they have an electronic meter that displays the fare at the end of the journey. Taxi Service within Bangalore is provided by several private operators and are commonly called "City Taxis".

The educational institutes in Bangalore have excelled and delivered high-quality education in various fields like engineering, medical, management and various science courses. Bangalore has the pride of having the world renowned institutions like the Indian Institute of Science at Yeshwanthpur, Indian Institute of Management (IIM Bangalore) at Bannerghatta Road, Indian Institute of Information Technology, and the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology.

Bangalore, the fastest growing city of India, comprises a dynamic blend of people, belonging to various religions, castes and communities. With the introduction of information technology in the city, it has assumed an international character. IT professionals not only from the various parts of India, but also that of the world, are migrating to the city. This has led to Bangalore becoming more like the melting pot of various cultures.

Lalbagh Botanical gardens were laid out by Hyderali in 1760 while his son Tippu Sultan added a wealth of plants and trees from many countries. It was originally called Lalbagh because the garden had profusion of red roses. It has a very good collection of tropical and sub tropical and medicinal plants. The glass house, built in 1881 and based on London Crystal Palace, is the main attraction in this huge park. It is built in 1881. The gardens are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Banerghetta National Park situated about 20km from Bangalore in the densely forested hilly area where wild animals like bison, elephant, lion, panther etc. It has a crocodile farm, a serpentarium, a pets corner, a deer pen and a prehistoric animal park. Safari vans are available for the visitors to tour the park to view the animals at close quarters.