Georgraphy: It is positioned at 12.97� N 77.56� E and covers an area of 741 km� (286 mi�). The majority of the city of Bangalore lies in the Bangalore Urban district of Karnataka and the surrounding rural areas are a part of the Bangalore Rural district. Climate : March to May (warmest months) December to January (coldest months) June to September (rainy - South-West Monsoon) Due to the tremendous industrialization and very high traffic volume, the air is getting polluted and the summers hotter, however the weather is more bearable than the rest of India during the summers.

Best Season : Although the weather of Bangalore is pleasant throughout the year, it is best visited in the winters.

Home to some of the most well-recognised colleges and research institutions in India, the city has the second-highest literacy rate among the metropolitan cities in the nation. University Studies Abroad Consortium's Mission Statement: Year Founded: 1982 It is a nonprofit consortium of 32 US universities offering you quality study abroad programs for 25 years from housing, internships, field study courses and more; from the point you apply, your arrival and stay, to your transcript upon return. The mission of the University Studies Abroad Consortium is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, experiences and attitudes to prepare them for the global society of the 21st century. We believe study abroad is the most effective way to accomplish these goals. Minimum Education: High School

The following are some of the area attractions near Gateway Hotel on Residency Road Bangalore: Vidhana Soudha, Government Museum, Cubbon Park, The Bull Temple, Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, Lal Bagh Gardens, Nandi Hills, Shiva Statue, Sri Gavi Gangadhar-Eshwara Temple, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, ISKCON Temple, Bangalore Palace, Tipu?s Palace.

Bangalore lies in the southeast of the South Indian state of Karnataka. It is in the heart of the Mysore Plateau at an average elevation of 920 m (3,018 feet). Area : 484 square kilometers Altitude : 3000 ft. above sea level

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) handles all the buses plying within the city while the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates the buses within the state as well as outside. Bangalore is connected with Mumbai through National Highway No.4, to Hyderabad (565 km) and Vijayawada (719 km) through National Highway No.7 and Mangalore (349 km) on NH 48. Bangalore also serves as a gateway for touring Mysore and Ooty.

Bangalore City railway station is situated in the center of the city, around the Majestic Bus stand. All trains, both local and long-distance, arrive and depart from here. Bangalore also has a railway station in the Cantonment Area, called the Cantonment Railway Station. Not all trains stop here, though. However, there is a proposal to develop this into a new hub, in order to ease congestion out of the ever bustling Bangalore station.

Bangalore Airport is 8 km from the city centre. Bangalore has also now been designated as an International airport. Bangalore is connected with all major metropolitan cities. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and private carriers operate regular flights to the Silicon Valley of India from Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Calicut (Kozhikode), Pune, Lucknow, Varanasi, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Goa, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Mangalore.

Bangalore has a rich diversity of cultures and this is very much evident in the way Fairs and Festivals are celebrated in Bangalore. Makara Sankranthi/Pongal : (January) One of the most popular Fairs & Festivals in Bangalore, Makara Sankranthi/Pongal is celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest season. Karaga Festival : (Dharmaraya Temple). It is celebrated by taking out an earthen pot embodying Shakti on a night procession with devotees balancing the pots on their heads in order to test the strength of their characters. The pot is immersed in the Sampangi Tank, which is 20 km from the city of Bangalore. Ganesh Chaturthi: (September) This festival is celebrated in Bangalore with the same jest and enthusiasm as it is celebrated in Maharashtra. This festival is celebrated in September on the day before Swarna Gowri.

Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city. Kannada is the principal language spoken here. In addition people are well versed in English and a little bit of Hindi also. Telugu and Tamil are also widely spoken and understood Bangalore is also a major center of Indian classical music and dance. The Bengaluru Gayana Samaja has been at the forefront of promoting classical music and dance in the city. Cricket is one of the most popular sports in this city A significant number of national cricketers have come from Bangalore, including former Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, etc,.

Bangalore is dotted with shrines and temples of various denominations and sizes, besides mosques and churches as it is home to people of all faiths. Gavi Gangadhareshvara Temple : One of Bangalore's oldest temples, the Gavi Gangadhareshvara Temple was built inside a natural cave in Gavipuram by Kempe Gowda in the 16th century. Legend has it that Kempe Gowda built this temple in gratitude after being released from his five-year imprisonment by Rama Raya. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is carved out of a monolithic stone. The highlights here are the granite pillars, two of which support huge discs representing the sun and the moon, while the other two are topped by a Nandi and a trident. Devotees gather here during the Makar Sankranti festival to witness a unique phenomenon - the evening sun's rays passing between Nandi's horns and falling directly on the linga inside the cave. Bull Temple : Located at Basavanagudi is in Bangalore at the top of a hill. The Bull temple, is built in the Dravidian style of architecture and dates back to the mid-sixteenth century. It has a huge Nandi Bull carved out of a single grey granite.

Tipu Sultan's Palace : The Bangalore Fort and Tipu Sultan?s Palace are four km from the center of the city. The fort was originally built in mud by the city founder, KempaGowda, in 1537 . Two centuries later it was restructured in stone by Haider Ali, and further improved by his son, Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan?s palace inside the fort is a two-storeyed building made of Wood. A museum on the ground floor now provides glimpses of the life and times of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. Vidhana Soudha : Constructed in 1956 and was designed by Kengal Hanumanthaiah, the then chief minister, who intended it to "reflect the power and dignity of the people". It is capped by a 20-m (66-ft) dome, which is surmounted by the four-headed Ashokan lion, symbol of the Indian state. Built of granite and porphyry, this imposing building houses the Secretariat and the State Legislature of Karnataka. The woodwork inside is noteworthy, especially the sandalwood door to the Cabinet Room, and the Speaker's Chair made of rosewood from Mysore. The building looks spectacular on Sunday evenings when it is beautifully illuminated.

Bangalore offers adventure activities like trekking and rock climbing to the adventure seeker. Devarayandurga (70 km), and Ramanagaram (49 km) are important spots for adventure. Ramanagaram : 49 Kms south-west from Bangalore, provides the ideal location with landscaped rock faces. One of the most famous Hindi movies Sholay was shot in Ramanagaram.

Bangalore city is famous for its nightlife and is also called the pub capital of India. There are approximately 200 clubs and bars. This city is known for great and rocking nightlife. It is known for drawing lots of international artists, such as pop and rock stars. Some of the nightspots of Bangalore are F-bar & Lounge, Nasa, Purple Haze, Jockey Club etc. The most popular Club X is situated on the Wind tunnel Road. The Club X is a 3-floor complex that has a U shape. The nightclub has an open-air roof top bar.

Ramohalli : Located at 28 Kms west is a popular picnic spot. A major attraction at Ramohalli is the 400 year old giant Banyan tree which sprawls over an incredible 3 acres. Muthyalamaduvu : (40 Kms away) Also known as the Pearl Valley. The beautiful cascading water falls surrounded by verdant settings provide an ideal picnic getaway.

One can find anything on the streets and shops of Bangalore. Brigade Road at Bangalore, is famous for electronic items such as televisions, refrigerators, music systems, computers, washing machines; garments; crockery and footwear. Commercial Street is one of the busiest and crowded shopping areas in Bangalore. The shops are filled with shoes, jewelry, art decors, stationery, novelties, travel kits and sports goods. Chickpet is known for pure silk saris, jewelry in gold and silver and dress material. Arcot Srinivaschari Street is the right place for shopping of brassware, silverware and copperware. Major attraction at Ramanagaram(49 km south-west from Bangalore)is the silk cocoon marketing centre. Janapada Lok (near Ramanagaram) and Channapatna (60 km southeast of Bangalore) are famous craft centers.

The Lotus at Grand Ashoka is also one the popular restaurants in Bangalore. This, in fact, is treated as one of the best places to eat good quality Indian food. Punjabi food is the speciality of this restaurant. Some of the dishes that are worth trying here include Chicken tandoori, palak paneer and others. The restaurants in the city offer cuisine belonging to almost each and every part of the world. Some of the famous restaurants in the city are: Chinese : Memories Of China - Taj Residency (M.G Road) South Indian : Bheema's Andhra Style (Church Street) Multi Cuisine : Ebony Restaurant - Hotel Ivory Tower (M.G Road) Le Jardin - The Oberoi (M.G Road)

Government Museum : Established in 1866, this is one of the oldest museums in the country. Housed in a red stucco Neo-Classical building with Corinthian columns, it has 18 sections, with a fine collection of jewellery, minaiture paintings sculpture, artifacts from Mohenjodaro, and 5000 year old neolithic relics. The Venkatappa Art Gallery, named after an early 20th century artist patronized by the Wodeyar rulers of Mysore, forms one wing of this museum. It has watercolours and paintings made in the Mysore style. Nandi Hill Resort : 60 Km from Bangalore is the Nandi Hill Resort, which is famous for its temples and fort.

Two large parks, Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, along with numerous smaller ones such as the Kensington Gardens, act as the lungs of this verdant city. These gardens provide a welcome retreat from Bangalore's crowded streets and give a refreshing sense of space. The city is particularly charming in January and August when dahlias, marigolds and roses bloom in abundance. Cubbon Park - 2 kms From MG Road : Laid out in 1864 by Richard Sankey, The chief engineer of Mysore, and named in honour of the commissioner, Cubbon Park extends over an area of 135 ha (334 acres) Its partly formal landscaping imaginatively integrates natural rock out croppins with groves of trees and giant bamboos. The park is liberally dotted with statues, such as that of the 19th Century ruler Chamarajendra Wodeyar(1868-94). There are also marble statues of Queen Victoria and Edward VII. In the middle of the park a red painted, Neo-Classical building known as the Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Houses a Public Library.

The lakes around Bangalore are the Sankey Tank, the Yediyur Lake and the Lal Bagh Lake. The distinguished feature of Yediyur lake is the sculpture of a girl by artist John Devaraj, situated right at the centre of the lake. The surroundings are also green and peaceful. Ulsoor Lake, has boating facilities.

Bangalore is famous for fine silk, flowers and fruits such as grapes, guava and mangoes.

Try to carry suitcases made of light material with wheels, or suitcases with number-lock system. Rains are very unpredictable in Bangalore, so it?s best to carry an umbrella or a raincoat at all times. At places of worship such as temples and some businesses you must take off your shoes before entering. Thomas Cook, telephone: 558 6742, located at 55 MG Road, is the best place for speedy foreign exchange. It's open Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. It's always better to take photo copies of important documents and leave them with someone trustworthy.

Tourist Information City Railway Station (Reservation counters open from -06:30-13:15,13:45-21:00 City Railway Station 2870068 Arrival & Departure 131 / 134 Enquiries and Reservation(II Class) 132 Bangalore Cantonment 135 Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation(KSTDC) Airport, Information Counter, Bangalore, Tel. 5268012 Department of Tourism 1st floor, 'F' Block Cauvery Bhawan, KG Road, Bangalore, Tel. 2215489

ICICI ATM Center : M.G.Road Raheja Towers, East Wing, 3rd floor, # 26/27, M.G.Road, Bangalore - 560 001. Ph : 91-80-5594712/13/14/15/16 Citi bank ATM Center: 102-104, Prestige Meridian II, Mahatma Gandhi Road. Raheja Arcade, Koramangala Industrial Layout. Nilgiri's Shopping Center, 171, Brigade Road. Anjaneya Shopping Complex, Airport Road.

A visit to famous gardens and night clubs in Bangalore are a must, as this City is famous for gardens nightclubs.