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User:(WT-en) Maj/Sandbox/Bangalore

Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka State.

Districts
Bangalore is made up of two districts, Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural. This article covers Bangalore Urban.

History
The earliest records of a place named 'Bengalooru' were found in a 9th century temple in an area that is now known as 'Old Bangalore'. Once the feudal lord Kempe Gowda was hunting in this area, a rabbit turned and attacked his dog. This made a great impression on the lord and he gave the place a title of gandu bhoomi (the place of heroes) and in 1537, with the assistance of the local king, he constructed three districts protected by a walled fort on the site.

During the next three centuries, Bangalore existed very much in the shadow of its neighboring city Mysore, and control of the town changed hands many times. The year 1831 marked a major turning point for the city. Claiming misrule by the king Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, the British took control of the Mysore Kingdom and, possibly influenced by the city's mild climate, moved the administrative capital to Bangalore. New telecommunication systems were laid, rail connections built, fine government buildings constructed and the city's famous parks and gardens established. After independence, Bangalore maintained its position as the Karnataka state capital, and continues to flourish.

For many years, Bangalore was known throughout India as the most green, liberal and forward-thinking city. In recent years, these attributes have propelled Bangalore to the forefront of the high-tech industry boom in India, and it currently ranks as India's most developed city and one of the world's fastest growing urban areas.

The name Bangalore appears to come from an Anglicization of adaptations of the original name in Kannada - Benda Kaal Ooru(The Town of Boiled Beans). Apparently this rather humble name was bequeathed to the city by king Vira Ballala. Once while lost in the area, he was offered boiled beans by an old woman, and it was out of gratitude that he named the area after this simple offering.

Epithets

 * Pensioner's Paradise reminds Bangaloreans of the time when it was a sleepy old city with very little to zero pollution, no competition for its resources, low crime rate, wide roads lined with shady trees and pleasant weather all ideal for a quiet retirement.

 * Pub City- With its many pubs and bars, and also with the city being the headquarters of United Breweries, makers of the popular Kingfisher Beer, Bangalore is a drinker's dream.

 * Garden City was once the epithet Bangalore proudly claimed before rising population and pollution reduced the amount of green space and Bangaloreans quietly began referring to their city as the Silicon valley of India - however, due to an increase in park developments in residential areas, Bangaloreans are once again proclaiming this epithet.

Some Facts
Area: 365.6 sq.km.

Altitude: 914.4 m (3000 ft) above sea level

Geographical Location- Latitudinal Parallels: 12° 57' N Longitudinal Meridians: 77° 37' E

Climate- March to May (warmest months) June to September (rainy - South-West Monsoon) November to December (rainy - North-East Monsoon) December to January (coldest months)

Temperature- Highest maximum of 37 degree Celsius to lowest minimum of 14 degree Celsius

Regional Language: Kannada Spoken Languages: Kannada, English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil Population: Around 70 lakhs

By plane
Bangalore Airport (BLR) is a domestic airport that caters to certain international flights too. Among others, notable direct flights are from Frankfurt on Lufthansa  (daily flights), from Singapore on Silk Air (Singapore Airlines ), from Kuala Lumpur (KL) on  Malaysian Airlines, from London on British Airways  (daily flights) and from Bangkok on  Thai Airways. Recently, Air France  has started operating flights between Bangalore and Paris. From Jan 2006, the low cost airline JetStarAsia will fly between Bangalore and Singapore five times a week.

Proposal for an International Airport in Bangalore has been accepted and construction is underway at Devanahalli, 30 km (19 mi) north of downtown Bangalore. The Airport will be ready in the first quarter of 2008.

Indian Airlines, now renamed as Indian, connects Bangalore with all parts of the country. In addition, Jet Airways  and Air Sahara  are other two major domestic airlines that fly into Bangalore from other major cities. Air Deccan is a popular no frills airlines that operates to most cities and large towns. Other no-frill airlines that operate from Bangalore include Go Air and  SpiceJet. Kingfisher Airlines is a Bangalore based discount airline company, offering regular flights between Bangalore, Delhi, Goa and Mumbai. With a little bit of investigation, you might get a better fare on Kingfisher than from even the discount airlines.

Once off the plane you can take a prepaid taxi to get where you want to. There are two choices, a government run service with lower prices or a private operator with better service. At the government-run counter, you mention the locality you want to reach and pay a fixed amount. You get a receipt with the registration number of the taxi that will pick you up printed on it. Locate the taxi (the driver will probably be waiting for you just outside) and you're set.

Call taxis are a cheaper alternative to prepaid taxis. Pick a number from the get around section and call one of them. They will turn up for you and charge you by the meter.

By train
The Bangalore City railway station is situated in the centre of the city, around the Majestic Bus stand and all trains, local and out-bound arrive and depart from here. A new terminal at the Yeswantpur railway station, not very far away from the main railway station, is growing and there are a few outbound trains that regularly arrive and depart from it.

Bangalore also has a railway station in the Cantonment Area, called the Cantonment Railway Station - this is centrally located and in a better part of town. 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.

Bookings can be done at either the railway station or at a few of Indian Railways booking counters at major residential areas. Booking can also be done online from the Indian Railways site. Note that if you are booking at Bangalore Central and are travelling to Mysore, there is a different line for travellers to Mysore and travellers to all other destinations. This is to cater for the large amount of travellers between Bangalore and Mysore. If travelling to Mysore on a Sunday afternoon, arrive early as there is usually a long line for buying tickets!

Buses are very frequent to mysore. Almost evry 20 minutes at the KSRTC bus stand. We need no booking. Road is also very good.

Make sure which railway station your train departs from. And bring some patience for delays.

By bus
Bangalore bus stand is well maintained and conveniently located opposite the city railway station. Officially named after the founder of Bangalore, 'Kempegowda' but more commonly known as 'the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand,' it handles buses that connect Bangalore to all major cities and states in south India. The main bus stand of 'the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) ,' which maintains bus services within the city, is located next to the Kempegowda Bus Station, which is more commonly known as 'the Majestic Bus Station'.

Unlike other metros, the display boards in the bus show the bus number and the name of destination only in Kannada. The display board shows only the bus number in English. Everything else is written in Kannada.

There are frequent services of inner and outer-state buses. The standard of vehicles ranges from the most basic and economical to semi-deluxe and even plush Volvo buses.

Package trips can be arranged from private travel offices and ITDC tourist office. Travel offices are common near railway station and bus stand but usually they have their main offices in KR Market area. Package trips are very convenient. They take care of what to see, where to eat, accommodation, guide etc. Buses are also good. A one-day package tour to Mysore costs about Rs 300 (250 + 60 entrance fees and guide fees). We can request a catalogue from a travel agent's office of various package tours they offer. We can compare catalogues from various travel agents to select the tour timing that suits us. Tour to Mysore, Ooty, Tirupati, South Karnataka etc are common choices of travelers.

If you had difficulty in arranging a plane or railway ticket timely to your next destination, you can contact private bus travels. They run good services to major near by cities like Bombay, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai etc. Buses can be a a normal luxury bus, a A/C volvo bus or a sleeper bus for night travel. Highways are in better shape in South India as compared to north.

By car
Get your own car, go to a petrol pump (i.e. gas station), fill the tank and you're on your way. Petrol is more expensive in India than in the U.S. If you only have driven in western countries before and not used to driving on the left side of the road it is not recommend learning left-side-driving in India. In short, if you rent a car make sure it includes a driver also.

By hired car
Pondicherry and Bangalore will cost less than Rs. 6,000 with an AC car.

Get around
Pick up a copy of City Guide when you see it. It is generally available at a lot of places (hotels and stores), but not guaranteed to be found at any! It is a monthly publication, and is a mini yellow pages, but is up to date. Even an older copy is useful--so ask

By bus
Buses in Bangalore are cheap and usually frequent. If at all anybody gets lost in the city what they have to do is to look for a "majestic" going bus and board it. All the buses are numbered according to route.

City buses will be crowded during rush hours but one can travel wth little difficulty during day time. Bus service is less frequent after 9:30 - 10 pm and becomes rare after 10:30 pm.

Local city buses display only route number in english. Source and destination information is written in Kannada. Therefore outsiders will have to take help of fellow passengers or bus conductors.

It is always better to buy a daily pass if you plan to travel the city whole day on bus. The daily pass costs 25 Rs and it comes handy if you need to travel on several buses in a single day. Daily pass is issued by the on-duty bus conductor or on the bus stands, mostly till 1 pm in the afternoon. Using this pass you can travel in any bus (other than A/C Volvo) for the entire day, any number of times. It is a very economical option for travel in Bangalore.

There are 3 major Bus stands:
 * Majestic Bus stand also known as the Kempegowda bus stand near Gandhi Nagar is close to the railway station and is quite neatly organised and is easily navigable. There is an inquiry office near platform number 1 on ‘Majestic’ where you can ask the bus number and platform for your desired destination. You can find a large map on display, which you can use to find the bus number you need to take if you know the area you are going to. You can of course always ask the conductor or other passengers. Route maps are also sold on the platforms.
 * City Market is around 2 km (1.2 mi) to 3 km (1.8 mi) away from Majestic and could daunt newcomers, since it is very disorganised.
 * Shivajinagar in the north. This is also neatly organised and there is an enquiry window to find about buses.

From all of these three bus stands, buses are available for all major regions of city. K R Market is not a clean place however because of vegetable market near by and should be avoided.

Other important bus stands are
 * BTS, Important junction of major routes near Lalbag
 * Jayanagar, also known as 4th Block is towards south of city
 * Banashankari, South West
 * BTM, South East
 * Vijaynagar, West
 * Malleswaram, North West
 * Yeshwantpur, Far North West
 * Domlur, East

Most Bus stops in the city are undergoing a revamp and have good display depicting the buses that frequent the stop and the name of the stop.

Buses with black display board of their number run within the city. Red board buses covers long distance and go to adjoining suburbs. There is a ‘Pushpak’ service with better seating. Recently A/C Volvo buses have also been introduced for selected routes.

By auto-rickshaw
Autos are quite frequent and are usually found clustered near bus stands, prominent roads, etc., Autos charge according to the meter, and you should simply refuse to board if the meter is faulty or the driver refuses to use it. Saying "meter please" will usally do the trick. Autos add a 50% surcharge after 10 pm (called "one and half"). Some drivers may demand 100% surcharge after 10PM or 11PM but one must refuse to board in such a case. Heavy luggage will incur an additional fare, usually around Rs.10 or 20.

Nowadays a lot of auto-rickshaws come fitted with an electronic fare meter. Look for an auto fitted with one of these, as they are generally accurate. They already show the corrected price for the trip (1.5x) after 10PM.

A few auto-rickshaw drivers are ill-mannered, and you should be careful when dealing with them. Although Bangaloreans are known for their polite and mild manners, auto drivers are an exception. Therefore to avoid conflict, consider taking taxis.

The minimum charge from 16th March is Rs 12 for 2 km (1 mi) and Rs 6 for every additional km. A trip from the Airport to Brigade road costs about 50rs including (a good) tip.

By law the autodrivers are required to display their ID papers on the back of their seats.

By taxi
The taxis in Bangalore are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Maruti Omni Vans or Tata Indica cars, which are much safer than Auto rickshaws, and the drivers are polite. If you are alone or going to an unknown destination, you are strongly advised to choose this option, even though the rates will be double that of an auto. The rates are Rs. 35 for 4 km (2.5 mi)(minimum) and Rs 9 for every extra kilometer.

 * Celcabs, +91 80 2346-6666
 * City Safari +91 80 2553-9999
 * Garden City Taxis, +91 80 2343-7646, +91 80 2343-4274,
 * Gopinath Radio Taxi Services, +91 80 2360-5555, +91 80 2332-0152,
 * KK City Taxi, +91 80 5151 9999, +91 80 2525-6333
 * RK City Taxi, +91 80 2312 9999, +91 80 2332-7589,
 * Roman Taxis, +91 80 2548 6606, +91 80 2548-6616
 * Spot Taxis, +91 80 2551-0000

Landmarks

 * Vidhana Soudha - The legislative House of the State of Karnataka, this granite building was built by Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, Chief Minister of the then Mysore state 1951 to 1956. The then Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru laid the foundation on 13th July 1951. It was built at an expenditure of Rs 1.84 crores. Marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and one of the most imposing building not only in Bangalore but in India. One of the interesting feature of this building in grand stairs in its front. The grand stairs has a flight of forty-five steps 62 m (204 ft) wide 21 m (70 ft) deep giving a direct access to the foyer of first floor leading to an Assembly Chamber. The architecture of the building is based on Dravidian style, comprising richly carved bases and capitals for pillars, deep friezes, kapotha cornices, chaithya arches, heavy pediments domical finials, etc; At the same time, the construction has been on modern designs, making use of the present-day materials like steel, reinforced cement concrete glass, plastic, etc.
 * Vikasa Soudha - Is it possible to gild a lily? Well you judge for yourself. This ultra modern construction, adjacent to majestic Vidhana Soudha built in the same classic style, is supposed to come fitted with the latest gizmos to help govern the state. It was inaugurated sometime in February 2005.
 * Seshdari Iyer Memorial is a distinctive building constructed of red sand stone in Cubbon Park. It houses a public library and the Bangalore High Court, while the grounds include a children's recreation area with a toy train, fairground and theater.
 * Bangalore Palace was constructed by the Maharajahs of Mysore. For many years the building was neglected as a tourist attraction, but is now open to the public.

Temples

 * The Bull Temple is a typical Dravidian style temple, and is famous for its mammoth  bull statue that was carved from a single boulder. Legend has it that the temple was built to appease a  marauding bull that stole local crops, and that the offering was effective with the bull subsequently leaving the area. Since then, local farmers have held an annual festival to express their gratitude.
 * The Maha Bodhi Society Temple (see 'learn' section) is a relatively new structure, with the main shrine built as a replica of the historic stupa at Bodh Gaya. The temple grounds are very peaceful, and visitors are welcome to stroll around. In addition, the temple houses an excellent library of books on Buddhism, many of which are in English.
 * The Iskcon Temple, built on a hillock atop scenic surroundings, the Hare Krishna temple is a perfect blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony. The huge cultural complex was built to promote vedic culture and spiritual learning. The annual Krishna and Balarama Rath Yatra is attended by thousands.
 * Gavi Gangadeshwara Cave Temple, was built by Kempe Gowda. This temple with four remarkable monolithic pillars is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple also has a rare idol of Agni god of fire. The annual festival is on Makara Shankranti and thousands of devotees flock to see the suns rays fall on the Shivlinga.
 * VenkataramanaSwamy Temple is a fine example of Dravidian architecture. This ancient temple was built by Maharaja Chikka Devaraya Wodeyar and is situated next to the summer palace of Tipu Sultan.
 * Dodda Ganapathi - one of the oldest temples in Bangalore.

Parks

 * The Lal Bagh is a meticulously cared for garden located on the southern fringes of the city. Throughout its 97 ha (240 acre), there are lotus ponds, fountains, glass houses and stone formations that date back over 3.0 billion years. Described as the most romantic garden in India, it was laid during the 18th century by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. There is a small entrance fee.
 * Cubbon Park is a 121 ha (300 acre) green lung in the center of the city. Sitting in the shade of one its many magnificent trees and watching towering bamboo sway in the breeze, it is hard to imagine that you in the heart of a metropolis of over 6.0 million people and one of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing cities.

Do

 * Experience the Bangalore pub scene, mostly around MG Road, Brigade Road, and Church Street.
 * Go shopping at Banglore's famous malls and traditional markets, though leave your car as it's almost impossible to find a parking spot over weekends. Some of the more popular malls in Bangalore are 'The Forum,' 'Garuda Mall' and 'Bangalore Central.'
 * Try your hand at go-carting.
 * Attend a wonderful outdoor concert at Palace Grounds.
 * Enjoy the unique shopping experience on Sampige Road at Malleswaram in the traditional south Indian styled shops.

Theater

 * There is a theater hall located in J. P. Nagar, called Rangashankara. 36/2/, 8th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase. Tel: 26592777 or 26494656. Tickets range between Rs. 45 – 100. Usually the evening shows start at 7:30 pm. The theater hall management is very strict about starting time. They will not let you in even one minute after the show have started, so make sure you plan to arrive at least 4-5 minutes earlier. You will also not be allowed to bring in any drinks or refreshments. Many local groups perform there, although more often shows are presented by groups touring entire India. Quality of the performances varies, but most plays are worth seeing, especially the ones by Indian playwrights and / or directors, as they can show you an "Indian" (or let's say "non-western") perspective. You can visit the website: www.rangashankara.org for information on what plays are running. Shows are in various languages, so it is a good idea to double-check whether the play is in English before buying / reserving (“blocking”) tickets.

Buddhism

 * The Maha Bodhi Society, 14 Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar, +91 80 2250684, (mahabodhi@vsnl.com),, has a very active temple in Bangalore. There are teachings on the Dharma in English on the first two and last Sundays of every month from 9:30-11:30AM, while on the 3rd Sunday there is a meditation retreat. Anyone is welcome to attend. The temple also has a good library and a beautiful garden - a great place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis outside.

IT Education

 * There are many IT training companies in the city that cater to the needs of the Knowledge hungry. Check what they have to offer and the kind of hands-on training they provide. Avoid companies that put out flyers, as they usually do not provide quality training.hi

Science and Stuff
Bangalore is famous for its innumerable educational and research institutes. The India Institute of Science, set in sprawling grounds, is the largest and best in india. It does cutting-edge research on almost any topic imaginable. Also, there are other places like JNCASR (Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research), the various veternary and agriculture universities, the University of Bangalore, and NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences).

Other places include the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, DRDO Defence Research and Devlopment Org.), ISRO Satellite Centre, Raman Research Institute, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Centre for Airborne Systems Studies and Analysis, Microwave Tube Research and Development Centre, Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Central Power Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation (CMMACS), Indian institute of Management - Bangalore (IIM -B), Indian Institute of Information Technology - Bangalore (IIIT-B), Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Science.

Whew... in short, b'lore is the place to go to in india for postgraduation or higher.

Non-Indians
With a little hard work and persistance finding a job is quite possible in Bangalore. Most of the available positions are in the IT field but not necessarily IT based. Several Expats do marketing, quality assurance, accent training and translation among other things. All jobs in India require either a business or employment visa which must be obtained abroad and sponsorded by the hiring company. In general, the salary is very high compared to the local Indian wage. Internships in general, pay around 15000-20000Rs per month while full-time jobs average between 30000-50000Rs per month plus flights and housing. The best resource for jobs is through the expat community. Ask around but a good place to meet people are at the Sunday brunches at the 5 Star hotels or the numerous coffee shops in the MG Road area.

Handicraft

 * The Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium, 45 M G Road, +91 80 2558-1118, is a large store, offering a wide selection of some of Karnataka's best hand made products. The carvings made of Mysore sandalwood are an especially good buy.
 * Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), M G Road - A government run store promoting traditional Indian hand crafts. The CCIE has major outlets in New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore and Chennai.
 * Royal Arts & Crafts, 21 K.H. Road, +91 80 2248-4797 has a particularly wide selection of silk carpets and paper mache products.
 * Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, 45 K.S.H.D.C Complex, M.G.Road, +91 80 2558-1118 - specializes in Karnataka handicraft.

Books

 * The Strand book stall, 1st Floor, Manipal Centre, Dickenson Road, +91 80 2558-0000, . Best known for the latest releases in art, design, architecture and all at good prices.
 * Gangarams, 72 M G Road, +91 80 2558-6743, +91 80 2558-7277. Four floors crammed with books makes this book store one of the largest (as well the most organized) book store in India.
 * Higginbothams, 68 M G Road, +91 80 2558-7359, +91 80 2558-6574 - a good selection of maps, postcards, guides  and novels
 * Premier Book Shop, 46/1 Church Street (off M G Road), +91 80 2558-8570. Is a venerable Bangalore institution that has books on every conceivable subject literally stacked from floor to ceiling. Although the store may appear to be utterly chaotic, the owner knows where every piece of his stock lies - just be careful with those elbows, a slight nudge and the whole place will come tumbling down!
 * Landmark, In Forum Mall on Luskar Hosur Road, Koramangala, +91 80 2206-7777 / 78 / 80 - a modern bookshop. A good place to pick up the most recent publications. Various household appliances; CDs and DVDs of music albums, computer and video games (the quality varying from time-to-time) and movies can also be found on the next floor.
 * Blossoms, near Coconut Grove Restaurant, Church Street (parallel to MG Road) - For those dreamy old books, there are 3 full floors of them. You definitely won't leave be disappointed.
 * Select Bookshop, off Brigade Road Behind Curzon Court Hotel, Brigade Road - Used to be the only old bookstore. Mr Murthy, who runs the bookstore, is one of the most knowledgeable people. His grandfather started the bookstore. He also has a collection of lithographs, stained glass paintings and collectors copies of antique books.
 * Oxford Book Store, At the Leela Galleria (next to Hotel Leela Palace) - Has some of the latest collection of books and magazines but, doesn't offer any discounts. It has a Cha Bar attached offering 69 blends of tea.
 * Tata Book House, At the Indian Institute of Science, Malleswaram - Has a large collection of technical books, on which it offers a flat 20 percent discount. Lots of books in a small place. Also worth visiting just because it is in IISc.
 * Bangalore Book shop,on 17th cross,Margosa Road Malleswaram has a wide range of books on Technical and other books spread over 5000 sq fts.This is one of the best places to buy books in Malleswaram. This is owned by the same people who run Tata Book House, above.
 * Streelekha, This is a great bookstore to explore the feminist literature and activism that is being produced in India, as well as other texts on the research and work of Indian NGOs. The atmosphere is relaxing and inviting. The bookstore is located at 33/1-9, Thyagaraja Layout in Jaibharath Nagar, telephone: 91 80 25492783.
 * Sapana Book House, This is a large bookstore on 3rd Main road, near Kamat Yatri Nivas, Gandhi Nagar (Walking distance from Majestic Bus stand). They also have branches in Sadashivnagar and Jayanagar.

Shopping
Many visitors come to Bangalore searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk sarees and so miss out on the true Bangalore shopping experience. Here is a low down on shopping - Bangalore style:

The M.G Road/Brigade Road area is the most popular place for tourists, and these two roads are filled with shops of every kind, whether it be traditional handicrafts or the latest western wear (this is especially true for Brigade Road).

Bannerghatta Road a tiresome approach it used to be (sounds yodaish)...but now it's much better..and you have 'Grasshopper' a space that exhibits clothing design from the most experimental designers in india and also showcases other ideas - lighting design, products, theatre, music - an open space for expression! and if that's too boring, you can keep driving and you have a thousand ways that you can take to enjoy the wildlife and the myriad resevoirs strewn across the area - you can still find your very own private haven. Enjoy

Brigade Road was used to be where once British soldiers bought their necessities. How things have changed! Today Brigade road is the centre of yuppie Bangalore, you'll see hordes of college students on the road anytime of day or night. Some of the stores on Brigade Road include: Planet M (a huge music store with everything), Louis Phillipe, Pepe Jeans, Levis,Lee, SanFrisco Jeans, Nike, Titan (great Indian made watches) just to name a few... There are also many eateries on either side of the roads and on the side roads that lead of Brigade road, so that you can refuel yourself for shopping! There are your fast food outlets: KFC (right at the entrance), Pizza Hut at the other end of the road and many cafes including the Indian Coffee Chain Cafe Coffee Day.Also includes a Tattoo parlor.

Commercial Street a legacy of the British is another shopping mecca that sells international brands (similar to Brigade road) along side locally produced items. Commercial Street has more of a bazaar feel than Brigade Road. In addition, it is famous for its tattoo and body piercing centers. The price of goods here is very competitive and it is a great place to pick a bargain.

Malls in India are a recent phenomenon, the first opened back in 1999, since then there has been a boom with malls around every corner in large cities (now also in smaller cities). Bangalore is no exception! Here is list of the major Malls in Bangalore, but beware that there are at least a dozen in the planning and construction stages!

Forum ('The Mall') These days no trip to Bangalore is complete without a visit to the Forum on Hosur road in the upmarket suburb of Koramangla, which is fast becoming the shopping hub of Bangalore ready to throw the M.G/Brigade Road area of its throne. Again like other shopping areas, you can find anything at the Forum, high international brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Swarovski Crystals to traditional Indian Khadi clothing at the Khadder. Other brands with outlets include: United Colours of Bennetton (much cheaper here than in the west), Pepe Jeans U.K, William Penn, Wrangler Jeans, Weekender and of course Nike. The Forum incorporates the clothing from international brands as well as haute couture boutiques including: Mustard, Isis, B and the Chai shop. For books head straight to Landmark and huge store has everything from books to perfumes and music. On the top floor of the mall you will find a PVR multiplex comprising 11 cinemas. For eating there is everything, Fast food (KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway) Cafe Coffee Day and a food court with world cuisines including: Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican and Italian and Indian. Not to be missed is the Indian cusine at Sahib Sindh Sultan and the British style pub, Firangi Pani. So that is a forum for all your shopping needs under one roof! Its just a must see, especially the outside.

Garuda Mall Located on the corner of McGrath and Commissariat Roads, is the newest mall in Bangalore. This Mall is definitely catered to the upper class of Indian society. Many of the same brands as Forum are available as well as some that are not. One of the major draw points of this mall is that it houses the Indian department chain store: Shoppers Stop, which once stood across the road as a separate building but is now part of this new mall. The Mall also houses a INOX cinema multiplex on the top floor.

Bangalore Central Opened around the same as the Forum, Bangalore Central is more of a large department store than a mall with separate retailers. It still is must visit for shoppers in Bangalore. It is located in city centre on the corner of M.G and Residency Roads (Opposite Mayo Hall), so unlike the Forum it is walkable distance to the main M.G/Brigade Roads shopping area. It has a huge range of everything (like department stores in the west), clothing (Indian and Western brands), electronics, perfumes, accessories as well as a supermarket on the top floor and food court plus a Cafe Coffee Day. They have a altering service with in the store and can be done in two hours depending on the rush.

Safina Plaza Is sale central in Bangalore, located on Infantry Road. Every week there is sale going on of any type. One week it might be home furnishings and the next men's wear. Good place to find some bargains. Many exhibitions are also held here, although there are retailers (Dockers, Lee Jeans, Titan too name a few) here too. So for quiet shopping come here (much less crowded than the other malls). Its best to visit during end of season sales (summer, monsoon) or during festivals (New Year, Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi).

Sampige Road,Malleswaram Tired of going to mall, and indulging in window shopping.Try Sampige (a flower name) Road. Sampige Road is the heart of Malleswaram and connects Sheshadripuram to IISc.Sampige Road is around 2kms,has a wide range of shops that sells books, electronic items, silk sarees, handicrafts, cloth materials, Hindu pooja materials, sweets and all the trivial things you can buy on earth. Also try Malleswaram 8th cross on Sampige road(aptly named Brigade Road of Malleswram) for a vibrant shopping experience.Sampige Road is also home to best flower market and fruits market in Bangalore. If you are tired of going to individual shops you can go for the best departmental stores in Bangalore like Fabmall, foodworld, Nilgiris.

Marathahalli Main Road and Factory Outlets Located a distance from central Bangalore (although not difficult to reach), is Marathahalli (a village in a previous life). The main road of this suburb is now a haven for factory outlets for all major brands: Nike, Adidas, Pepe Jeans, Killer Jeans, Louis Phillipe, Levi's, Reebok etc.. You can expect prices here to be cheaper than in the Malls, at least 20-30% price difference but can be up to 50% cheaper when it comes to some of the major denim brands! As if India wasn't cheap enough. Although this is the best place to go to for factory outlet shopping, there are smaller factory outlets scattered across the city. Also look out for sales held by the major brands to get rid of end of season stock (again end of summer or end of monsoon), these are usually advertised in newspapers or look for signs posted on major roads.

Metro shopping mall Near Yashwanthpura railway station and ISKON temple.

Eat
Bangalore is far from the sea, hence if you have a sensitive stomach and are new to the Indian cuisine you should stay away from seafood and fish in Bangalore.

European/International

 * Grasshopper, 45 kalena agrahara, bannerghata Road. Tel:+91 80 2659 3999, 98454 52646 - freshly prepared seven course meal served on the table. reservation required. Closed on Mondays.

Ethnic

 * Tijouri. North Indian restaurant inside the Hotel Atria.
 * Karavalli. Kerala and west coast restaurant within the Gateway Hotel on Residency Road.
 * MTR Tiffin Room, Lalbagh Gate. Typical South Karnataka fare. Known for its breakfast.
 * Kamat Yatrinivas, Gandhinagar. Serves special N Karnataka meals with jowar(Sorghum) rotis.
 * Kadambam. Authentic Iyengar cuisine ranging from Puliogare, Sakkare Pongal, Thayir Sadham, of course Kadambam (which is actually a type of a heavenly concoction of Sambhar and rice, akin to Bisibele Huliyanna), and a wide array of traditional Iyengar sweets. It has two branches, one in Jayanagar 4th Block, not very far from the Shopping complex, and another just off West of Chord road, near Modi eye Hospital in Rajajinagar.

Persian

 * Sufi, Windtunnel Road (Off Airport road). Perhaps the only Persian food place in town and they do a good job. The ambience is not really luxurious, but the food more than compensates.

Continental

 * Herbs & Spice, Off CMH Road, Behind Domino's. Great desserts.
 * Casa Picola, has interesting, tasty Italian and continental food in a casual ambience. An old favourite for many locals, it has a few branches.
 * Grasshopper, 45 kalena agrahara, bannerghata Road. Tel:+91 80 2659 3999, 98454 52646 - freshly prepared seven course meal served on the table. reservation required. Closed on mondays.
 * Spiga, 76/A Vittal Mallya Road, +91 80 22996781.
 * Friends Fast Food, Jyoti Nivas College Road, Koramangala (300m from Forum). Great Conti food at college prices. Casa Picola fans will like this one.
 * Cafe Y, Langford Road (Near Prestige Elgin, Hosur Road-Langford Road junction), +91 80 511-44561. Amazing sizzlers and steaks, nice ambience.
 * Indi Joe, 1 Airport Road (Carlton Towers), +91 80 5111-3636, +91 80 5112-1234. Offers fondue, pizza, steak and Mexican food. Their Lunch buffet is good.
 * New Shanti Sagar. This is an especially good chain of south Indian restaurants. Branches scattered all over the city, notably in Koramangala 80ft road, Jayanagar, Domlur, etc.

South Karnataka

 * Karavalli, Residency Road (at the Gateway Hotel), +91 80 2558-4545. Mangalorean, Goa, Karwar, and Kerala style cuisine.
 * Konkan, 6th cross, 6th Block, Koramangala, +91 80 2552-1530. Mangalorean and Goan style cuisine.
 * Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR), 11 Lal Bagh Road, +91 80 2222-0022, +91 80 2222-1706. One of the very old traditional breakfast places in Bangalore. There are a few people who have been having their breakfast at MTR everyday for the past 15 years.
 * Vidyarthi Bhavan, 32 Gandhi Bazaar, 91 80 2667-7588. Another very old and traditional breakfast place, exclusively known for its Masala Dosa. Similar to MTR, you can find people who have been having breakfast here since times immemorial.
 * The Palms, 33 Church Street (at the Highgates Hotel), +91 80 2559-7172. Mangalorean, Coorgi, and Malabari style.
 * Janatha Hotel, 8th Cross, Malleshwaram. Another great place, famous for its Butter Masala Dosas and Vadas.
 * Halli Mane, 3rd Cross, Malleswaram (close to Malleswaram Circle). Truly authentic and top notch traditional Kannada fare

Chinese

 * Mainland China - Church Street (The one at St. Mark's Road is closed). Tel: +91 80 2227-7722, 2224-5864. Ok food and good service. Serving lunch buffé.

Bengali

 * Bangaliana, 355, 1st 'B' Main, 7th Block, Koramangala, (Opp. HDFC Bank) Tel: +91 80 2571-1058 - Authentic Bengali Delicacies (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Restaurant, Take-away, Catering. Specialities: fish, mutton chicken and, of course, sweets.
 * Sonar Bangla, 88/1, Shubh Arcade, 1st floor, 16th Cross, Margosa Road, Malleswaram. Tel: +91 80 336-7622 -  The restaurant undertakes orders of authentic Bengali food for gourmets who fancy a whole meal and also delivers it at the doorstep. Fish is considered sacred in the coastal state and is consumed universally. So, all fish lovers can take heart as the non-vegetarian cuisine is delivered, but not served at the restaurant.
 * 36 Chowringhee Lane, No. 1, Milkman Street, Langford Road, Shantinagar Nanjappa Circle, Near Hockey Stadium, Richmond Town. See the following review:
 * 6 Ballygunge Place, 1F., 612, 12th Main, Indira Nagar (above Café Coffee Day). See the following review:

Fast Food and Ice Cream Parlors
Bangalore literally has hundreds of fast food joints serving south Indian vegetarian food. They usually are identified with small round steel tables and diners standing around them having food. Dosas, idlis, vada's, curd rice, Vegetable Pulao, rice with sambar, lemon rice are usually standard fare. Quality widely varies, since most of them cater to working people.
 * The Adiga's chain of restaurants to the south of Bangalore. Prominent among them are the joints located in: Jayanagar 4th Block, take the road facing BHS First Grade College, Basavanagudi. Here is the list: Adiga's Park 585,10th Main,42nd cross,5th Block Jayanagar. 2. Adiga's Foodline,502,40th Cross,8th block. 3. Adiga's Delicacy,105,Dickenson's road,Manipal Centre. 4. Adiga's Majestic, Next to Fkcci Bldg, KG Road. 5. Adiga's Nalapaka, Opp.to HSBC Complex,Bannerghatta, Arikere
 * Sree Krishna joint a little further from the road connecting Lalbagh Westgate with Basavanagudi.
 * SLV chain of restaurants. Prominent among them are located in:Banashankari 2nd Stage, opposite BDA park
 * Vidhyarthi Bhavan, just off Gandhi Bazar in Basavanagudi - A gastronomic haven - offering some of the best Masale Dose in the world! This quaint little place is so famous that it has not even bothered to change it's age old sign board (who needs it anyway, the aroma wafting through the air is a good enough indication that you are in the vicinity of the place)!!! Get there early for a breakfast, there's always a bee-line for places to sit.
 * Hotel Janatha, 8th Cross Road, Malleswaram - Makes some of the best Vade sambhar and Masale Dose in town.
 * Corner House, Residency Road (2558-3262), BTM Road, Koramangala (Off 80ft Road), Airport Road (Arlton Towers), Marthahalli (Whitefield Road) is one of the best ice cream parlours offering a variety of treats. Their famed 'Death by Chocolate' (popularly known as DBC) is a must for all chocolate lovers and has attained a cult status.
 * Central Tiffin Room (a.k.a CTR), Margosa Road, Malleswaram - Another landmark hotel, dishing out some divine 'Benne Masale Dose', which literally melts in the mouth.
 * Upahara Darshini, on DVG road, Basavanagudi. Another of Bangalore's new found Darshinis dishing out top notch Masale Dose and Vade Sambhar
 * Lake View Milk Bar, MG Road. Tel: +91 80 2558-7410 - excellent ice creams
 * McDonalds, Forum Mall - Don't expect to find any meat items.
 * T.G.I Friday's, Carlton Towers & Airport Road - Don't expect cheap Indian prices.
 * U S Pizza, Church Street. Tel: +91 80 2559-9347 - If you are looking for a western tasting pizza this is the closest you get, try lamb-pepperoni.

Indian

 * Shiv Sagar, Narayan Pillai Street, Off Commercial Street. Tel: +91 80 509-8892 - Don't get put off by the location! It's a great place to eat.
 * Coconut Groove, Church Street - try the appams and Kerala parottas with a chicken source dish. Their lunch offer for 80rs is also really good.
 * Bay Leaf, Raheja Arcade, Opposite Forum Mall, Kormangala - A really nice place with reasonable prices.
 * Queens, Church Street, Opposite Amoeba - Small restaurant but great food at reasonable prices.
 * D A L F R Y D A Y, Banerghatta Road, besides HSBC Bank and above Fabmall - Dalfryday is opening shortly.

Italian

 * I-Talia, The Park, M.G. Road. Tel: +91 80 2559-4666 - very expensive
 * 100 ft Boutique, 100 ft Road, Indiranagar (after Fab Mall when you are travelling from CMH road side) - the food and drinks are good, but it's a bit pricey.
 * little italy,100 ft road,indranagar- a chic italian vegetarian restaurant, faddish and over priced. Sometimes the staff switches off air conditioning if the tables are less than half-filled!!

Thai

 * Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine, 2nd Floor, #12 CMH Road, Indiranagar (next to Citibank ATM). Tel: +91 80 4116-1800 - this restaurant offers the some of the most authentic South East Asian food in Bangalore

Vietnamese

 * Blue Ginger, Taj West End. The setting is beautiful and the food is good, but is probably one of the most expensive places in Bangalore. Just next door to Blue Bar.

Dhabas

 * There are hundreds of Dhabas catering to all tastes. Both South and North Indian fare is available at most places and is clean and cheap. A special mention is the green park dhaba on the outskirts on bellary road and Golconda Chimney on the airport road. Try the Chicken Kathi rolls and the Biryani.

What

 * Fresh coconuts are abundant in Bangalore, and the juice drunk straight from the nut is a healthy, enjoyable and cheap way to quench the thirst.
 * As in many parts of India, the yogurt based drink lassi is readily available in Bangalore. It is served plain or flavored with sugar or fruit, mango being a popular one. Lassi is particularly refreshing on a hot day and is also very effective in cooling and calming the stomach after an overly-spicy meal.

Cafes

 * Cafe Coffee Day - Can be found all over Bangalore. In my opinion this is where you can find the best coffee in Bangalore.
 * Barista - Can be found all over Bangalore. Stay away form their Café-late and cappuccino.
 * Coffee World - Can be found all over Bangalore. the coffee is ok but not as good as Coffe Day.
 * Coffee Workers Co-op - M.G. Road - a venerable Bangalore institution, with waiters in traditional uniforms and customers slowly savoring the age-old tradition of coffee drinking - though there are just two choices of coffee: black or white.

Pubs and bars
Bangalore is home to numerous pubs and bars - earning it the epithet the Pub City of India.

Mid-range

 * Pecos, off Brigade Road, known for its very 60's retro feel.
 * Nasa, Church Street.
 * Tavern at The Inn, Museum Road.
 * Styx (next to Cauvery Handicrafts on M.G. Road) - known for its heavy metal and hard rock music. 'Happening' nights are Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
 * Purple Haze, Residency Road. Popular for the classic rock that's played there.
 * Sparks,Brigade Road extension, next to Brigade Towers.
 * Ego's, Castle Street, off Brigade Road.
 * J'Cubez, Banshankari 2nd Stage, opp. BDA complex - For all those rock lovers
 * The Bunker, off Residency Road.
 * Legends of Rock, Koramangala.
 * Dewars, next to cantonment railway station - beautifull old bunglow.... slow but charming service (you don't need to order drinks - just buy the bottle!) - excellent tapas kind of food (primarily carnivorous and hell! spicy)no music!...thank god you can actually talk with the people you go out with - might just disappear very soon!

Splurge
Most hotels have spiffy bars with every imaginable concoction of drinks available.
 * Blue Bar, Race Course Road - Usally open past midnight. On weekends you need to buy drink-tickets for 1500rs to enter.Excellent drinks if you make sure Danny makes them. Officially they have a couple's only policy. Spontaneous dancing likely next to the bar.
 * Taika, Church Street (off Brigade Road) - Usally open past midnight and has a huge dance floor. 3 bars and a launge area. Entrance is 1200rs.
 * Spin, just next to Brigade circle. Closes early at 23.30. You have to buy dink-tickets for 500rs to enter.
 * Tuscan Verve (off Brigade Road)
 * Hint, 5th Floor Bangalore Central, M.G Road
 * 13th Floor, Barton Center, M.G Road
 * Cosmo Village, Magrath Road
 * iBar, Park Hotel, M.G Road
 * Geoffrey's, Airport Road
 * F-Bar (Fashion Bar - a theme bar by FTV) inside Le Meridien
 * Aura, Cunningham Road

Sleep
Some of the more expensive hotels have different rates for foreigners and Indians. Serviced Apartments are a good alternative to standard hotels and are chosen by visiting executives and travellers these days. Media has talked much about the Bangalore serviced apartments. Big Hotel groups like Hilton group etc are said to be considering launching their Serviced Apartments in Bangalore.

Budget

 * Sri Rama Krishna Hotel (good, cheap hotel) - in the "Majestic Area" near City Rail and Bus Station. 170rs (close to $4) per night will get you a very secure single with morning Freezing cold water, tea/coffee TV, phone in room and a good views if on upper floor (request). However, if you have a problem with cockroaches, then you'll probably want to look else where.  Also, make sure you bring mosquito netting as there are vents that are impossible to close. The hotel also has a very popular, large restaurant serving South Indian food.
 * Ajantha, 22 MG Road. Good simple hotel with veggie restaurant. Tel:+91 80 2558-4321.
 * YMCA, Nrupathunga Road (near Cubbon Park), no-frills hotel. Tel:+91 80 2221-1848

Splurge

 * Grand Ashok Hotel, Kumara Krupa High Grounds. Tel:+91 80 22-2404-2211 (9 lines). Email: mailto:grandashok@nivalink.com
 * Taj Residency Hotel], 41/3 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 5660-4444. Email: mailto:residency.bangalore@tajhotels.com

Super Deluxe

 * Park Hotel, 14/7 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 2559-4666. Email: mailto:resv.blr@theparkhotels.com
 * ITC Windsor Sheraton Hotel, Sankey Road,
 * Oberoi Hotel, 37-39 MG Road. Tel:+91 80 2558-5858.
 * Taj West End Hotel, Race Course Road. Tel:+91 80 5660-5660. Email: mailto:westend.bangalore@tajhotels.com
 * Leela Palace Kempinski, Tel:+91 80 2521-1234. Email: mailto:bangaloresales@theleela.com

Talk
The official language in Bangalore (being the capital of Karnataka) is Kannada. English is the common denominator.

"Chennaagidira?"Are you fine? (equivalent of Hope you are doing well?)

"Yen aagoithu ninge? " What happened to you?

"Sumne nodu!" Keep quiet and see!

One common expression probably peculiar to Bangalore would be the "By two coffee" meaning a coffee shared between two people. Mostly overheard at the stand-and-eat darshinis.

Contact
The dialling code for Bangalore is 080. When calling from overseas, dial +91 80 XXXX XXXX. If you have a non-working phone number with only 7 digits try to add a "2" in front of it.

If you don’t have an Indian phone number I strongly recommend that you get a pre-paid calling card if you planning on using your phone frequently. By government regulation you need a photocopy of your passport (visa and the id-page) and a color photo to be able to buy a pre-paid card. Pre-paid card are sold in most shops that sell mobil equipment.

Stay Safe
Bangalore is a relatively safe city. But it is not advisable to walk along deserted alleyways or lanes after dark. Rising incomes has brought an influx of people from outside the city, leading to extreme disparities in earnings between localites and expatriates (people from other states) which arguably has resulted in a substantial increase in crime rates.

Avoid using an autorickshaw if the driver is not alone.

Groceries
Besides the local trader found on most main roads and in most residential areas, there are a few supermarkets in most areas. Prominent among them are Foodworld with outlets in Basavanagudi, Jayanagar 4th Block, Malleshwaram, M.G.Road and new ones coming up in prominent areas. Other chains with a less prominent presence include Nilgiris(M.G.Road), Dmart(D.V.G Road), etc.,

Body and Soul - Near Purvankara-Riviera (Marath halli) - expensive and not good

Fabmall - One stop shop for quality groceries, present all over the city.

Hospitals
List of Major Hospitals and healthcare centers: ="High end"=
 * E.P.M.C's women's clinic and surgery-9th block, Jayanagar
 * Manipal Hospital - Airport Road
 * Mallya Hospital - Vittal Mallya Road
 * HOSMAT Hospital (Sports and Orthopedic Medicine) - near MG Road
 * Sagar Apollo Hospital - Bannerghatta Road, Tilaknagar
 * Wockhardt Hospital - Cunningham Road
 * Columbia Asia Hospital - Bellary Road, Hebbal

="Low end"= Plus a whole lot of smaller hospitals in every area.
 * St. John's Medical College & Hospital - Sarjapur Road, Koramangala
 * M S Ramaiah - New BEL Road, Mathikere
 * Indira Nursing Home - Banashankari IInd Stage
 * Shekar Nursing Home - Hanumanth Nagar
 * Sai Baba Hospital - Whitefield Road
 * Bangalore Baptist Hospital - Bellary Road, Hebbal
 * Divakara nursing home- JP Nagar

Laundry
Band Box on Brigade road. Snow white on Mission road Also You can find almost one laundry shop in every major road.

Shoe Repair
Mochis on Brigade Road and the forum mall. You'd find the regular cobbler on every street corner.

Pharmacies
Pharmacies are dime a dozen and you should not have any problem locating one. You do not need any prescription for Modern Medicine Over the Counter drugs and ayurvedic medicine(proprietary and traditional), which are available for most common ailments like fever, headache, etc., But you will need prescription for other medicines, which are categorised as Schedule H drugs. Cash Pharmacy on Residency Road should get you most allopathic drugs.

Scenic spots

 * Chunchi Falls - are beautiful waterfalls located in Bangalore Rural. However, be content with only looking at the cascading water. Besides the crocodiles that inhabit this area, the water is also heavily polluted with Bangalore's sewage, so it strongly advised not to get into the water.
 * Muthyala Maduvu  is a picnic spot about 44 km (27 mi) from Bangalore, has an enchanting waterfall and a small temple.
 * Kokkare Bellur - a village famous for its rare birds
 * Chennai - also known as Madras, is the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India
 * Mekedatu (Goats Leap) is a place where the waters of the Cauvery River are squeezed through a narrow ravine. It is located in Bangalore Rural, about 98 km (61 mi) from Bangalore city.
 * Mysore - famous for its palace and sandalwood, Mysore is an elegant city and popular tourist center.
 * Nandi Hills - 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore is a beautiful hill station.
 * Shivanasamudram - site of waterfalls
 * Srirangapatna - a former fortress capital of the region controlled by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan.
 * Supa Dam Canoeing on Supa Reservoir. This dam is located close to Bangalore.
 * Tirupati
 * Yelagiri Hills - a peaceful hill station in Tamil Nadu, 160 km (99 mi) from Bangalore.
 * Bannerghatta National Park is 21 km (13 mi) from Bangalore. This 100 km² national park consists mostly of dense forest and scrub land, and is home to wild animals like bison, leopard, wild boar as well as being an important corridor for elephants migrating between the eastern and western ghats. Other attractions here are a crocodile farm, serpentarium and a newly added butterfly park. In addition, a portion of the park is used as a sanctuary for wild rescued animals.
 * Chamrajsagar Reservoir is 35 km (22 mi) from Bangalore and is an excellent picnic spot near the river Arakavati.
 * Hesaraghatta Lake is 29 km (18 km) from Bangalore with a wonderful climate. It is a delightful artificial lake spread over 405 ha (1,000 acre) and provides facilities for sailing. A livestock breeding and poultry center have been established as a part od a Indo-Danish project.
 * Janapada Loka is 53 km (33 mi) from Bangalore and is spread over 6 ha (15 acre). The center was established for the preservation and promotion of folk culture and traditions. An art gallery, open air theatre and museum are also located here.
 * Kanva Reservoir is 69 km (43 mi) from Bangalore and is an excellent picnic spot and has facilities for fishing.
 *  Nrityagram, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore Rural, (28 km from Bangalore City). This unique experimental village is dedicated to gurukula tradition of dance, music, choreography and painting.
 * Ramnagara is about 49 km (30 mi) from Bangalore. apart from being famous for toys, the place is a treat for rock climbers. The forests around this place are now proposed as a wildlife sanctuary to not only protect the wildlife of the scrub jungle but also to protect the massive prehistoric rocks and boulders that are present all around.

Temples

 * Gavipuram Gangadeshwara Cave Temple
 * Bull temple
 * Ghati Subramanya, 55 km (32 mi) from Bangalore is a famous pilgrimage center and houses a Lord Subramanya Temple. It is 52 km from Bangalore.
 * Savandurga, 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore, is famous hilltop pilgrim center has temples dedicated to Gangadeshwara, Hanna Devi and a cave spring called Pattala.When viewed from a distance, the outline of the hill looks like the figure of a bull (Nandi) on the east, Lord Ganesha from the west, A cobra from the north and a Shiva linga from the south.
 * Vasanthapura, 12 km (7.5 mi) from Bangalore, is a small hillock with an ancient temple dedicated to Sri, Vasantha VallabharayaSwamy.
 * Magadi is 46 km (29 mi) from Bangalore and is the birthplace of Kempe Gowda. The place has the remnants of a fort and four temples of unspoilt charm.
 * Nandi Hills is 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore. Apart from being a scenic area it also houses two 10th century Chola temples with Vijayanagara style mantapas. The temples are in excellent condition. One temple is at the foot of the hill and the other at the top. The location is famous for Kannada film shootings.
 * Sangama is 103 km (64 mi) from Bangalore. Here the river Arakavati joins the Kaveri inside the Chilandavadi forest. A temple built during the Chola period can be found here.
 * Whitefield at a distance of about 20 km (12 mi) from Bangalore is the ashram of Sri Satya Sai Baba. The ashram gets devotees from all over the world.

isin: Karnataka

Bangalore

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User:(WT-en) Maj/Sandbox/Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires city (official name Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, also called Federal Capital) is the capital of the Argentine Republic. It is one of the largest cities in Latin America, with a lot of cultural offerings, and is the point of departure for travelling to the rest of the country.

Districts
The City of Buenos Aires has about 50 districts called barrios. The most important and visited are:

 * San Telmo
 * La Boca
 * Palermo
 * Recoleta
 * Belgrano
 * Boedo
 * Caballito
 * San Cristobal
 * Puerto Madero
 * Retiro

Understand
The city is geographically contained inside the province of Buenos Aires, but it is politically autonomous. Its coordinates are 34º 36' S, 58º 26' W.

The city extends on a plain covering 19.4 kilometers (12 miles) from north to south and 17.9 kilometers (11 miles) from east to west.

Approximately three million people live in the City of Buenos Aires (the Federal Capital of Argentina with 202 square kilometers equivalent to 78.3 sq miles). The City is divided into 48 districts or barrios. Together with its metropolitan area or Greater Buenos Aires (Gran Buenos Aires) this is one of the ten most populated urban centers in the world with over 10 million people. Most of the country's activity is highly concentrated in this single city and its surroundings.

Buenos Aires constantly receives tourists from all over the world and offers a large choice cultural events, nightlife, restaurants and pubs, so you can expect good services and a wide range of options.

Newspapers
If you want to learn about local issues, there are many newspapers in Buenos Aires, most of them with internet versions. Some of them:

 * The Buenos Aires Herald, in English
 * Argentinisches Tageblatt, in German
 * Clarín, the best seller edition
 * La Nación, a traditional conservative newspaper
 * Página/12, former center-left newspaper
 * La Razón, given away for free at metro stations

Ezeiza International Airport (EZE)
Ricchieri Highway, Km. 22. Tel. 5480-6111 - International and some domestic flights use the Ezeiza International Airport (referred to as Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini), located in the suburban area named Gran Buenos Aires, about 30-45 minutes from downtown by highway. Planes fly to most countries in South America, the United States, and Europe.

Some flights from Aerolíneas Argentinas to Ushuaia leave from Ezeiza during peak season, so check which airport you fly into or leave from.

There is also a useful Aerolínas Argentinas flight direct to Sydney, with a stop in Auckland and a Malaysian Airways flight to Cape Town and Johannesburg. Direct flights to Europe are available with Lufthansa, Iberia and Air France. There is a departure tax of $18 USD (about 54 pesos) for all international flights.

From the airport there are the usual taxis, private cars (remises), buses and minibuses.

Trips on the comfortable Manuel Tienda León coaches from EZE to Retiro cost 25 pesos (as of December 2005). The coaches leave at least once an hour - more frequently during daytime. From the Retiro Terminal, a smaller van will deliver you to any downtown address for an additional 2 pesos. Manuel Tienda León also offers transfers between EZE and Aeroparque. Tickets can be purchased from their booth just outside of customs.

Prepaid taxis from EZE to downtown cost about 75 pesos. Hailing a non-prepaid taxi is not recommended for tourists, but if doing so be aware that there is a 2 peso toll and a 0.80 peso toll if the driver goes by the autopista; the driver will inform you as you approach the toll booths.

Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP)
Located in the Ave. Rafael Obligado. 4576-5300 extension 107/122 (Information: 4576-1111). Most domestic flights use the smaller Jorge Newbery Airport ( referred to as Aeroparque), 10 minutes away from the downtown area. You can take a taxi (25 pesos) or bus from there.

By train
There are some long distance domestic services, but the buses are usually quicker. There are several main stations in the BA area (see below).

By car
Theoretically, you can get to Buenos Aires from any of the neighboring countries by car, but it is far away from most of the borders. It is only common to travel there from Uruguay and southern Brazil.

By bus
Almost all the long-distance buses use the huge and well-organised Retiro bus station on the northern edge of the city centre. The buses are mostly modern and the roads are good; there are frequent services to most parts of the country and international bus services to neighbouring countries.

You may catch taxis from Retiro bus station, and the subte (underground) also stops there. There are many local buses that stop outside the station as well.

By boat
There are daily journeys to and from Colonia and Montevideo in Uruguay.

Two companies operate this service.

 * Buquebus - Puerto Madero terminal - Córdoba avenue & Madero avenue. 4316-6400/6500/6550.
 * Ferrytour - Dársena Norte terminal - Viamonte & Costanera Sur - 4311-4700

The services are now coordinated by Buquebus. The ferrytour ship is the slower one, used for Colonia. You may still make a fast trip to Colonia, at a higher price.

From the official city site:

The City is an important destination for the maritime and fluvial cruisers industry of South America. The Benito Quinquela Martín Passenger Terminal, a few blocks away from downtown, at Ramón Castillo street between Avenida de los Inmigrantes and Mayor Luisioni street, has a surface of 7,100 square meters, a boarding room for 1,000 passengers and baggage facilities with capacity for 2,500 suitcases. In addition, it provides tourist information, handicrafts shops, snack bars; and Migration, Customs, Interpol and Prefectura (Coast Guard) Offices.

You may also take a boat from nearby Tigre to Nueva Palmira in Uruguay. Trains leave from Retiro Station to Tigre frequently. Boat services to Nueva Palmira also connect to Colonia del Sacramento by bus.

There is also a service from Montevideo-Carmelo-Tigre-Buenos Aires. It costs around 10 dollars one way for the whole shebang. Get the tickets and depart from Tres Cruces in Montevideo. The price includes bus to Carmelo, boat to Tigre and bus to the centre of Buenos Aires. The official website is http://www.cacciolaviajes.com and they often have very good special offers that include some nights in hotels in Buenos Aires.

Get around
The public transport in Buenos Aires is very good, if crowded during the rush hours. There is a fairly large metro network (one of the longest in Latin America), a large range of bus routes and many suburban railways used by commuters.

Finding your way around is easy. Most of the city grid is divided into equal squares with block number in the hundreds. Most streets are one way with the adjacent parallels going the other way, so beware that the bus or taxi won't follow the same route back. Going by taxi, you simply need to tell the driver the street and block number, eg. "Santa Fe 2100"; or two intersecting streets, eg. "Corrientes y Callao".

City maps are issued by many different publishers (Guía T, LUMI) and the local tourist authority. They are indispensable for those wanting to use public transportation, since they include all bus routes.

By Taxi
Taxis are not the quickest option for moving around in the most congested areas at rush hours, as traffic jams are common. Still, you will find that taxis are usually very inexpensive, convenient, and exciting (in a white-knuckled, the roller-coaster-seems-to-have-some-pieces-missing kind of way.)

It is safest to have your hotel or host call for a radio taxi. If you must hail a cab on the street, watch out for private operators disguised as commercial services. Also avoid paying in large bills as there have been cases of counterfeit change.

If a taxi driver says that your money is counterfeit and says that he will take you to an ATM, just tell him you want to get out there. I worked at a hostel in Buenos Aires and heard many stories of travelers (especially when they spoke little Spanish and were coming from the airport) being robbed under this premise. It also helps if you see a police officer nearby because if they are trying to rob you they will probably be scared off. If you are headed to a hostel or hotel, the receptionist will usually understand the situation if you honestly do have counterfeit money, and will lend you money to pay the cab.

Also, if the cab "breaks down", I would recommend just getting out and finding another cab.

I would also recommend keeping your luggage in the seat with you if possible in case a situation arises in which you want to get out of the taxi.

By Bus
The principal means of public transportation within the city, are the buses (colectivos). They have a cheap maximum fixed price as long as you are moving inside the city borders (0.80 pesos, approx. 0.2 euros); be sure to have coins for the ticket (they don't accept bills).

There are more than one hundred lines, covering the whole city. They work 24 hours a day, the whole year; but run less frequently on holidays and at late hours. For each route the bus is painted differently to make them easier to distinguish. The best way to figure out the bus system is to buy a Guía "T". It's essentially a little book with a directory of streets, which correspond to map pages, and have a bus listing on the facing page for each map. Once you get your hands on one, it's very easy to figure out. These can be bought for about three pesos (the smaller one that only covers the Ciudad Autónoma is three pesos, not the larger Gran Bs As one) at many kiosks around the city.

Otherwise, visitors who are comfortable with speaking a little Spanish can call 131 toll-free from any phone for help finding which colectivo to take. You just have to tell the corner (or the street and the number) where you`re at and the one you want to get to.

On many services, board the bus and tell the driver your destination (or do what Argentines do -- just say "ochenta, por favor" meaning you'll be traveling a normal distance and want to pay 80 centavos); he will press a button instructing the coin machine to take a certain amount of money for you, which will then appear on the machine as the amount to insert. Step a bit further back into the bus and insert coins into the machine which now knows your destination and has calculated your fare because the driver punched it in. You will receive change and your ticket automatically, collect it at the bottom of the machine.

If you see a little metal knob on the coin machine, it's not for dispensing your ticket like the candy/toy machines in grocery stores in the U.S. ... it's the door to the inside of the machine to change the paper and whatnot. Don't turn it!

You can also use buses to move to and inside the suburban area (Gran Buenos Aires), but the fares are higher (up to 2 pesos, depending on the distance and service). The suburban-only lines (you can differentiate them because their line numbers are above 200) have lower standards of confort, and many of them don't run after 11 pm.

By metro
The city has a long metro network (subte', short form of subterráneo, which means underground''). It is very efficient - you can gain a lot of time by using it - and very cheap too (0.70 pesos for any combination, approx. 0.175 euros).

The lines converge to the downtown area and connect the main bus and train terminals. The tree-shaped network extends almost to the outer limits of the city.

In the southeast branch (the E line), the service is extended by a nice trainway known as premetro, but beware, it goes to some of the least secure places in the city. Premetro is 0.60 pesos (approx. 0.15 euros), or 0.70 with a Subte Transfer.

The subte works approximately from 5 am to 10 pm, except on Sundays, when service starts at 8 am.

The A line is a destination on its own because of the old wooden carriages. It is the one of the oldest lines in Latin America. The subte article on Wikipedia has some information on this. Many subte stations have interesting murals, tiles, and artwork. Transferring between lines is indicated by combinación signs.

You may purchase magnetic stripe tickets encoded with more than one fare. This saves the time of individual cashier transactions; and you may also buy a rechargeable card at some stations. Tickets are not swiped upon exiting stations, therefore you may use one magnetic stripe ticket for more than one traveller, as long as it has the required number of fares.

 * Buenos Aires metro map

By Train
There are a good deal of railways connecting the suburban area in a star shape. The quality of the service ranges from excellent to very bad, depending of the line; ask before using them at nighttime.

The main railway terminals are Retiro, Constitución, Once and Federico Lacroze. From all of these you can then use the metro and bus network to get right into the centre. The suburban fares are very cheap.

More information:

 * Metrovias: Urquiza trainway and metro
 * Good service, safe for travelling at any hour.
 * Metropolitano: San Martín, Roca, Belgrano Sur and other trainways.
 * Usually the worst service, and the least secure one. Used to be a acceptable service, but there are corruption issues.
 * TBA: Sarmiento and Mitre trainways
 * Good service and mostly good trains. The Sarmiento line is so far the most used one, is totally overhauled and can be very difficult to use in rush hours; also covers unsafe places. The Mitre line, in one of its branches (which covers the richest zones) has the best trains seen here and in Latin America, featuring air conditioning, internal heating and very comfortable seats. This branch takes you to some really beautiful places like "Tigre", a very picturesque small town with old french-style little houses and a beautiful walkside by the river near a theme park, Parque de la Costa in the north of the suburban area.
 * Trenes del Litoral: From Posadas (neighbooring Paraguay) to Estacion Frederico Lacroze throught Paso de los Libres (neighbooring Brazil) and Concordia (neighbooring Uruguay).
 * Fair service, depending on the price. All cars are a little dirty and the train is slow, but much more comfortable than a bus. Tourist Class have a bad service, but First Class or the Dormitory Class are fairly comfortable.

By Car
If one is truly adventurous (and has a bit of a death-wish), cars are available to rent in Buenos Aires. There are several major reasons that this is not a great idea. First, Buenos Aires is such an excellent city for walking that if something is within 20 or 30 blocks, it is often worth the extra effort to go on foot and get to know the city on a more intimate level. The terrain is flat...get out there and put those legs to work! Second, if you aren't (or can't be) much of a walker, the public transportation system in Buenos Aires is cheap and efficient. It can get you anywhere, and fast! Third, and perhaps most importantly, is that the citizens of Buenos Aires drive like lunatics. Stoplights, signs, traffic laws...for many porteño drivers, those are just *suggestions.* Picture trying to get several thousand head of cattle to move down the street and stay inside the lanes, and you have a decent idea of driving in Buenos Aires. Surprisingly, one witnesses very few traffic accidents there, because traffic flows more by custom and intuition...the porteños understand the customs of driving and somehow manage to know what everyone around them is doing. As a tourist, *you* probably won't. My advice? Take the bus! Otherwise, lots of luck to you.

See
If you are a fan of walking in open green spaces and parks in big cities like Buenos Aires, be sure not to miss a promenade in Palermo, a beautiful area in the eastern part of the city. Here you will not only find open spaces to walk in, but a large lake where you can rent paddle boats and an immense flower garden with free entry!

Another great place to walk along and experience Argentine street life in a safe area (during the day only, folks - interesting characters emerge here at night!) is El Puerto de Buenos Aires.

The National Immigration Museum is not open on the weekends like Moon Guidebooks says. Use the Retiro subte.

La Boca has the Caminito pedestrian street with arts and crafts. There is also a river cruise you can take from there. There is a huge metal structure across the river which is picturesque. Tango dancers are in the cobblestone streets. You may try to catch a rowboat to Avellaneda on the other side of the water for 0.50 pesos (0.125 euros), but the rower may not allow you to if you are a tourist, citing it´s dangerous (peligroso). There is no subte to La Boca, but many buses go there. In addition to tango, La Boca is famous for its football, and you may also take a tour of the La Bombonera Stadium. The buildings are painted in bright colors. You can also take pictures with you and a tango dancer for a small price!

The Cementerio de la Recoleta: This is where all those of "good families" in Buenos Aires go to be buried. Be sure to visit the grave of Eva Peron (who, despite having the most visited tomb in the cemetery, is considered by many of the Buenos Aires aristocracy to be too "low class" for eternal interrment in Recoleta.)

The Palermo Viejo district: This is a trendy neighborhood with charming cobblestone streets, bookstores, bars and boutiques; definitely better than the touristic San Telmo area for a nightime excursion. The Plaza Italia station is the closest metro stop.

More information is available at the Buenos Aires official tourism website, including suggested itineraries.

Do

 * Tango: A trip to Buenos Aires is not complete without some sort of experience of the Tango, national dance of Argentina. For information of tango events, happening, lessons and more, visit http://www.buenosairestango.com/.
 * Explore: Buenos Aires is definitely a walking city, with many diverse areas and attractions all within close range of each other. Therefore an excellent way to explore the city would be to take an organised walking tour, with Buenos Aires Tours offering the best value regular walking tours in English - also see Tango History for further information on these and a guide to exploring Buenos Aires.
 * Whats Up Buenos Aires* was started to show the visitor a side of Buenos Aires culture not found in any guidebook or tourist agency. Art, Theater, Culture, Tango, Music, Nightlife, MP3s, Interviews, and more.  http://www.whatsupbuenosaires.com

Learn

 * Attend university: Foreigners have been flocking to Buenos Aires to take advantage of the great deals; a lot are taking very cheap Spanish language classes in the many academies around town. The University of Buenos Aires offers an excellent program for foreigners who want to learn Spanish:  http://www.cui.edu.ar/secretaria/espanol/?page=eng_espanol

Work
Employment is available for Spanish-speaking visitors who plan longer stays in Buenos Aires.

Nowadays call-centers are very common places for foreigners to work at. There are companies that provide Customer Care and Technical Support services to many big American and European companies like Microsoft, Verizon, Vodafone, Motorola and others. If you speak just a bit of Spanish you can get this kind of jobs and get a good deal.

Another option is to teach your mother tongue (English, German, French, or whatever you speak) in private institutes.

Buy
If you are interested in buying goods, you have a lot of shops in the downtown area, and many shopping centers, but beware, you can get much cheaper goods if you walk around the city.

If you want a souvenir, the most popular are:
 * The mate: It is a sort of cup made from different materials, commonly from a dessicated vegetal core, sometimes with silver or gold ornaments; which is used to drink mate, the most traditional social non-alcoholic beverage. The mate is drunk in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil.
 * Other gaucho items: Traditional clothes, knifes, etc.
 * Leather items: The cow is totally used here: meat, milk, sausages, and leather; all of that is high quality.

The Florida Street and the Lavalle Street (from 500 up to 1000) are for pedestrians only, where the main tourist's shops are located. At the intersection of these two pedestrian streets, there is often some sort of interesting street performance going on, especially at night. The Palermo Viejo district is the SoHo of Buenos Aires and has many shops that will appeal to young or artsy people. Nearby is Murillo Street, a block full of leather houses.

There are many artisans' fairs, most notably the weekend Recoleta fair located in the Francia park, near Recoleta cemetery (which is an excellent place for photography) and on Sundays the San Telmo market. In every fair you will find some excellent hand made products, but beware, also there are industrialized products disguised as "hand made".

In the Corrientes Ave. from the Obelisco (big obelisk landed in the intersection with 9 de Julio avenue) up to Callao Ave., you will find a lot of cheap bookstores where you can find many books mostly in Spanish. "El Ateneo," a massive bookstore with a reasonable offering of books in English, is at Santa Fe 1860.

The Último Taller at Jorge L. Borges 1975 (between Soler and Nicaragua streets) sells funky candles and street address plates and markers; there are charming cats, and photos can be etched onto these plates as well. The shop is open Monday to Saturday 10am-9pm; and its telephone number is 4831-4135. There are other stores that sell nice candles in this area as well.

Exchange money: The peso exchange rate is currently 3 pesos to the dollar or almost 4 pesos to the euro. You can exchange at Banco de la Nación Argentina at the airport, but there are many safe places downtown where one can find better rates of exchange. Before you change your money check out rates and fees!

ATM: There are several Banelco or "Red Link" ATMs all over the city that can dispense cash in pesos. This is probably the best way to get pesos in your hand, as they are more convenient and the exchange rates are usually better. Fees depend on your hometown bank and so there are few hidden surprises because the ATM can switch to English. Sometimes the machines also dispense dollars for international bank cards that are members of the Cirrus and Visa Plus/Visa Electron networks. Visitors from Brazil can find many Itaú agencies all over the city. Remember: banks open from 10 to 3 pm., only on weekdays.

Saturdays and Sundays are great days for the outdoor markets, especially in the summer. The Feria Recoleta (in Plaza Francia) is an assortment of all sorts of artesania, from jewelry to shawls; and Plaza Serrano in Palermo viejo comes alive in the afternoon with a feria of artesania in the plaza and freelance designer clothes in the bars surrounding the plaza. Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo offers tango and antiquities.

Eat
If you're not vegetarian you want to eat asado (beef/steak barbecue); if you want to try the meat specialities on offer, you should go to a parrilla, one of those are restaurants that specialize in roasted meats. You have fancy expensive parrillas, and more simple ones. Everybody eats a lot of meat here, it is really very tasty. The bife de lomo (tenderloin) is unbelievably tender in comparison to US beef and more like European cuts.

The Italian and Spanish food are almost native here, as the cultural heritage is mostly from there. Other popular meals are pizzas and empanadas (traditional meal, small self-contained pasties, stuffed with various ingredients; the traditional one is the meat empanada), you will find it comes in many varieties. They are quite a popular home delivery or takeawy/takeout option.

The Café Tortoni on Ave. de Mayo is famous in its own right; it is an old, classic and luxurious cafe. There is also a pool hall; buy a token (ficha) from a waiter for 2 pesos (0.5 euros). Coffee is 4 pesos (1 euro).

La Biela is another very nice cafe, located near the Recoleta cemetery.

One incredible and typical Argentinian kind of "cookie", is the alfajor, which basically consists of two round sweet biscuits joined together with a sweet jam, generally dulce de leche (milk jam), covered with chocolate, merengue or something like that. It's just delicious and can be easily found in any kiosko(their convenience store). Those sold at Havanna coffe shops, found all over Argentina (check their site to get the exact addresses), are just fantastic. Don't forget to try their coffe and the other kinds of candies they sell.

Budget
There are a lot of al paso (walk thru) places to eat; you eat standing up or in high chairs at the bar. Meals vary from hot-dogs (panchos), cow sausages (chorizos, or its sandwich version choripán), pizzas, milanesas (breaded fried cutlets), etc.

Mid-range
You can go to a huge variety of small restaurants, with cheap and generous servings, most notably the ones owned by Spanish and Italian immigrants. There are also many places which offer foreign meals, mostly Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian.

Splurge
The most expensive and luxurious restaurants are found in the Puerto Madero zone, near downtown, heading to the River Plate. Sometimes they are worth the price, sometimes not. Fixed price menus (three courses) can be had with drink and coffee for 25 pesos (approx. 6.25 euros); these restaurants have outside seating areas with excellent views of the dársenas, the Fragata Sarmiento and the old European-style warehouses. But the nicer places in terms of decoration, food and personality are mostly based on Palermo Viejo, Palermo SOHO or Palermo Hollywood neighbourhoods.

Drink
The main areas to go out are: Puerto Madero, close to the Casa Rosada, renovated harbour full of restaurants, some hotels and nice for a walk. Safe during the day and night. Recoleta area close to the famous cemetery, restaurants, bars, cinema complex, used to be trendy, now mainly for tourists. Palermo SoHo and Palermo Hollywood, full of trendy stores, restaurants, and bars; young and trendy, nice for a walk, eating and drinking. Palermo Las Cañitas is another nice area close to the Polo stadium.

Buenos Aires has a popular cafe culture.

 * Cafe Tortoni Avenida de Mayo 829 between Piedras and Tacuari. Opened in 1858.  The hot chocolate is incredible.
 * Confiteria Richmond Florida 468 between Lavalle and Corrientes. Mentioned in Graham Greene' The Honorary Consul. Opened in 1913.  It has been modified.
 * La Biela Quintana 596 nand RM Ortiz. Luxurious.  You can sit outside underneath a huge ancient rubber tree for a little bit extra.
 * Confiteria Ideal is ancient and less modified. It is located on Suipacha.
 * The unidentified cafe on the corner of Uriarte and Honduras in Palermo viejo (towards Santa Fe) has an incredible European ambiance with good food and lots of newspapers and magazines to read. Also try the community centre across the street named "Club Eros" that serves great lunches and dinners for ridiculously low prices (expect to pay 6 pesos for a menu including steak, salad, glass of wine).
 * "La Violeta" is also a lovely cafe, a bit off the beaten (tourist) path but you can take the oldest subway line in the city, Linea A, to get there. Well worth the trip.

You may want to try lágrima, a "tear" of coffee on a cup of milk.

Try mate: You can buy a mate in any Coto or Norte (these are the names for two of the many supermarket chains available, like K-Mart or Wal-Mart; anyway, this last one you can find in Buenos Aires as well) for 3-5 pesos (0.75 to 1.25 euros) and then a metal or bamboo "straw" (called a "bombilla") for around the same. Don't forget the yerba, the actual "tea" you drink; an excellent brand is Nobleza Gaucha, "Taragui", or "Rosamonte". Anyway, ask a local to help you in preparing and drinking the mate, since it's not as easy as it seems. Many visitors take mates as a gift when they go away and they become big fans (locals tend to drink it bitter (amargo), but foreigners generally like it sweet (dulce)). Outside the country, you can find yerba in Argentine stores in big cities like New York, Madrid, London, Paris, Miami, Tel-Aviv, and others.

Clubbing: Buenos Aires has a great variety of night clubs and discos, that are opened until late hours. For more info on open clubs, check the city government official webpage.

Try the Niceto Club, Cocoliche, Bahrein, Mint, Lost, and El Living. Other popular hangouts are the omnipresent Irish pubs. You can try Kilkenny´s in Reconquista 600 in the Retiro area or The Shamrock in Rodriguez Peña 1200, in the Recoleta area. These places are very popular with local and foreign crowds. El Milion, in Parana, between Santa Fe and Marcelo T. de Alvear is a very nice upscale bar. It is located in a refurbished petite palais from the beginning of the century. It is also very popular with foreigners.

Sonoman Bar y Resto Fitz Roy 1655 @ Honduras - Pretty hip and trendy bar with loads of Argentines dancing and drinking the night away till around 5am on weekends (maybe later who knows). There's a restaurant as well as an outside area, but you can smoke inside and outside, so prepare! Bartenders are nice and check out the disco ball, it's not like any other I've seen before. Music is a mixture of beloved 80s and dance. The drinks ain't cheap either! The Palermo Barrios (SoHo, Hollywood, Las Canita or simply "PalVo") have many fantastic restaurants that turn into bars as it gets later. New bars are always opening, so look for an updated map or guidebook when you arrive. "Bar Uriarte" is always a favorite, though.

Buenos Aires has one of the largest homosexual communities in Latin America and there is a liberal attitude towards gay society. Within Capital Federal gay couples can form a legal civil partnership. Following the economic recovery, in recent years there has been an increase in gay-friendly businesses such as real estate, apartment rental, travel agents, language classes, tango classes, bars, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses. Year 2006 has seen arrivals of more gay cruise ships, the commencement of construction of a gay 5-star hotel and a general increase in gay tourism.

Sleep
In addition to the choice of hotels at bargain prices compared to the US or Europe, there are many apartments available for rent for as little as one week at unbelievably low prices as of April 2005. Check out the Buenos Aires Herald website for listings, or just do a search on the internet (many of them have a website).

Budget

 * La Casa Fitz Roy Hostel: Long Term Traveller's Volunteers ONG Artists favorite. Right in the trendiest part of the city, Palermo Hollywood,(Best restaurants+disco+ safest part of the city).This hostel has internet facilities(Free),WiFi, Best matress, and shared kitchen; . Fitz Roy 2461 ; tel: +54 (11) 4777-3454.
 * Milhouse Hostel: Backpackers favorite right in the center. Defenitely a party place, this huge hotel has internet facilities, and shared kitchen; also organizes many tours and tango lessons. Hipólito Yrigoyen Street 959; tel: +54 (11) 4345-9604 / +54 (11) 4343-5038.
 * Gardenhouse Hostel: With only 16 beds, a tiny but pleasant hostel, it takes only a hour to know all guests. It is located at the outskirts of San Telmo close to the San Juan metro station. Has an outdoor terrace, but conversation is hard due to the noise of the nearby highway. A dormbed cost 21 pesos (approx. 5.25 euros) per night and comes with breakfast. Ave. San Juan 1271 (San Telmo); tel: +54 (11) 4304-1824.
 * Versalles Palace: If you're looking for a simple, clean and affordable place, this is the one. Don't expect the services of a full hotel, it's much simpler, but much, much better then a hostel, including private clean bathrooms. It's not far away from downtown, with easy bus, cab or subte(subway) access. Dr. E. Finochietto 864 tel: (54 11) 4361-7356 / 4361-7357.
 * The Clan: A lively YMCA youth hostel. If you're looking to see the nightlife of Buenos Aires this is the place for you. The parties last all night in this international environment. Very affordable with a very laid back staff. Full breakfast provided. Information on excursions and spanish classes can be found. Located 1 block from 9 de Julio and 2 blocks from Avenida de Mayo it is in the center of all the action. Alsina 912 (San Nicolas); tel: +54 (11) 4334-3401.
 * Arahaus hostel: A sweet hostel located on Calle Mexico, Congreso (at the south end of centro). This is a converted apartment with nice rooms.  There is a great lounge room and free internet and a TV in the front room.  It is run by a really nice chica called Hebe, who will make you feel at home, and it is cheap (current prices are: US$7 for dorm US$17 for a single room).  Anyway - its definitely worth checking out for a tranquil stay in Buenos Aires.  see:  web: www.arahaus.com.ar, email: arahaus@yahoo.com,  Tel +54 11 4382 8375, Calle Mexico 1482 (second floor), Congreso

Mid-range

 * The Gran Hotel Hispano on Avenida de Mayo, near Cafe Tortoni is AR$ 75 per night. It is pleasant, although mattresses are not so comfortable, the sheets are nice.  Rooms are arranged around an interior courtyard and there are three floors of rooms.  You may use a gym on nearby Piedras if you stay here.  There are also in-room safes for which you keep a key.  There are some triples available, which overlook the Avenida de Mayo.  Other rooms will have doors overlooking the interior courtyard.  You have the option of closing and locking your shutters so the air can still come through an open door yet maintain privacy.  Shutters also block the light and allow you to sleep in late if you wish.  Have showers and not bathtubs (common for this price range).

 * There is a very nice room for rent in Buenos Aires - you can check it out at http://www.RoomForRentInBuenosAires.com The apartment is owned by a very respectable professional.

 *  Edificio Montevideo : Right in the middle of Recoleta, just a few steps from Libertador Av., Edificio Montevideo stands up. Owner of a superb location, it offers comfortable apartments of 1, 2 and 3 rooms, totally furnished and equipped starting at u$s 330/month..

 * Hostel San Telmo At only 14peso per person per night...its a bit cramped but because of this there is a real family atmosphere..located in the middle of San Telmo close to restaurants its a cheap place to hangout and get to know some interesting people!

 * La Acacia . In the middle of beautiful Belgrano, a very nice B&B, with nice owners who home made breakfast. Close to metro (green line) and divers bus lines.

 * The Cocker From the look of their website, you'd think it would sit in the 'splurge' section, but at US$60-70 per room they're definately mid-range.  The place has been getting rave reviews everywhere, is right in the middle of San Telmo and run by a male English couple!

Splurge
The InterContinental is on Piedras and Moreno streets, close to the San Telmo and Montserrat areas. Other international-class hotels are the Alvear Palace Hotel (said to be the most luxurious hotel in South America) in Recoleta, the Hilton, the Marriott-Plaza, the Sheraton in Retiro, and the Park Hyatt in Puerto Madero.

Also, individuals rent their upscale apartments by the day, week, or month. Many times these apartments are 3 times the size of a hotel at 1/2 the price. for example, www.buenosairesrealestate.blogspot.com

Contact
The local phone code is 11. Long distance prefix: 0, international prefix: 54.

Internet cafes are widely available for 1-3 pesos per hour; and many are open 24/7. Ask for a "máquina", or simply "Internet"; the verb for print is "imprimir".

Stay safe
Toll free call. 107
 * Tourist Police Station - Corrientes 436. 0800 999 5000 (toll free)/4346 5748  (turista@policiafederal.gov.ar). Provides information in English, Italian, French, Portuguese and Ukrainian.
 * Tourist Ombudsman - Communicate with the Tourist Ombudsman, phone number: 4302 7816. To contact personally, can go to Ave. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 ("Benito Quinquela Martin" Museum) in the neighborhood of La Boca. From Monday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM.
 * Emergency - Ambulance emergency service SAME (Immediate Health Emergency Service)

 * The public water supply is reliable.
 * Public hospitals - available for tourists, offer a 24-hour emergency service, without charge.

Taxis: If you have to flag one down on the street, pay atention; there have been robberies taking place by illegal cab drivers. When in doubt, play it safer, and call a Radio Taxi; these are generally a lot safer: you call by phone and a cab is quickly dispatched. Also you can ask when you order a cab for the car number so you know the cab that comes to pick you up is legitimate and actually the one that was dispatched.

Cope
Spanish in Buenos Aires--people pronounce things differently there. "Calle" and "pollo" sound very different and the double l´s sound like sh´s instead of y´s or j's. The difference in pronunciation probably reflects the influence of Portuguese traders in the port in the 19th century...many of the words that porteños pronounce differently from the rest of the Spanish-speaking world are pronounced identically to a Portuguese word for the same thing. Much has been written on Spanish language in Buenos Aires. It was influenced by the many Italians who immigrated here as well. If you have studied Spanish you'll find these differences enormous. Also vocabulary differs a lot from Iberian Spanish or other Latin American varieties of Spanish, so may be useful to get an Argentinian dictionary or take some lessons of Argentinian Spanish before getting there. Anyway, most of "Porteños" (inhabitants of Buenos Aires City) speak a little English and some of them are completely bilingual.

Haircuts are available at nice places for 8 pesos, or 10 pesos with a shampoo. A luxurious super-stylish one will be about 30 pesos.

Get out

 * Capilla del Señor - A country town that can be visited on a day trip in an old historic steam train.

By train
There are national railways, but they are scarce. The terminal stations are the same from suburban transportation. From Retiro station you can take the train to the Tigre Delta. There you can do a boat cruise and see the wetland and recreational area of the portenos.

By car
There are four main highways entering the city, those permit fast communication with the huge suburban area and access to the national routes. As with the trains, the most important routes are centered in Buenos Aires, so you will have no problem driving to and from the rest of the country.

Heading to Rosario city, you can travel by highway all the way (north access highway, then route 9), from here you can keep going to the north by a good route (Panamericana), or turn right about 150km from Buenos Aires and go to the Mesopotamia region.

To the west, you can drive to the Cuyo region using the north access highway, then the route 8.

Going out with the west access highway, you can follow by routes 7 and 5, heading to the west and southwest, respectively. For visiting western Patagonia, the route 5 is a good choice.

Finally for visiting the Atlantic shore of Buenos Aires (province), you head to the southeast access highway and the the route 2, a very good highway to Mar del Plata city.

By bus
There are very good services parting from Retiro bus station, covering the whole country. By buying the most expensive tickets, you can get very comfortable seats and on-board meals.

Terminal de Omnibus de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
 * Address: Antártida Argentina avenue & Ramos Mejía
 * Phone: 4310-0700
 * Subte: Retiro (Linea C)

There are numerous operators. The basement level is for cargo and package services. The ground level holds waiting areas, cafes, shops and services including a barber. The upper level contains the ticket offices, or boleterias. The upper level is conveniently divided by color into geographic areas for companies which serve the place you want to go, including an international area. Look for the signs.

Cama Suites or Dormi Camas lie completely flat and some have dividing curtains. With these services, the seating arrangement is one seat one side and two seats on the other side. Other Cama services are laid out two and two, and do not recline as far. Companies usually have photographs of bus interiors. Make sure the journey you choose has the service you want. Most buses are double decker.

See also: Buenos Aires (disambiguation)

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Buenos Aires South_America/Argentina/Provinces/Buenos_Aires_City

title: User:(WT-en) Maj/Sandbox/Buenos Aires