About Bangalore The capital of the state of Karnataka is located around 2000 km southwest of the capital of India, New Delhi. It is the 5th Metropolitan City in the country and is graced by a heady blend of history and technology. Bangalore has been called by many names. At first it was the "The Garden City of India", then, "The Neon City", "The Pub City of India", "Fashion Capital of India" and lately it has been known as "India's Silicon Valley". Bangalore is also known as "Stone City" thanks to its huge granite deposits. It is famous for fine silk, flowers and fruits such as grapes, guava and mangoes. Location & Attractions Vidhana Soudha Bangalore's best-known landmark, the Vidhana Soudha houses the Legislative Chambers of the State Government. This 46-metre high edifice was built almost entirely of granite and is a masterpiece of temple architecture. Government Museum This beautiful 125 year-old structure with its Corinthian columns houses one of the oldest museums in the city. The museum boasts an exquisite collection of coins, sculptures, inscriptions, old paintings and excavated items. Cubbon Park This 135 year-old park is a 300 acre oasis of greenery in the heart of modern Bangalore. The park was laid out in 1864 by Lord Cubbon, the then viceroy of India. The red Gothic structures of the State Central Library and the High Court enrich the natural beauty of the park. The park houses a number of significant institutions like the Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall, Ottawa Chatter, Museum, Century Club and the Press Club. The Bull Temple One of the oldest temples in Bangalore, the Bull Temple is situated in Basavanagudi and dedicated to Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva. The 4.5-metre tall and 6 metre long monolithic bull is supposed to be older than the temple housing it. It is believed that the source of the river Vishva Bharti originates at the foot of the statue. Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum The museum is a tribute to the brilliance of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, one of the architects of modern Karnataka. Highlights of the museum include 5 galleries, namely Engine Hall, Electronic Technology Gallery, Kimbe Paper Metals Gallery, Popular Science Gallery and Children's' Science Gallery. The museum even has an airplane and a steam engine on display in its compound. Some of the exhibits are interactive too!. Lal Bagh Gardens The rulers of this region in the 18th century, Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, laid out a paradise-like garden, which sprawled over 240 acres. The garden was graced with rare trees from Persia, Afghanistan and France. This expanse of greenery is now one of India's most beautiful botanical gardens. At the heart of the gardens is situated the Glass House, whose design was inspired by the Crystal Palace in London. Flower shows are held here every January and August. Nandi Hills This is a well-known tourist spot, 60 km from Bangalore on the road to Devanahalli. Tipu's Drop is a spot that affords dramatic views of the valley below. Legend has it that Tipu let captured soldiers plunge to their deaths from this precipice. . The best time to visit Nandi Hills is between July and February. Shiva Statue This 65-foot high statue depicts Lord Shiva seated in Lotus position with a the backdrop of Mount Kailash with the river Ganga flowing from his matted locks. The statue is lit at night and looks looks really majestic. Sri Gavi Gangadhar-Eshwara Temple This is a cave temple, which can lay claim to being both an architectural and scientific marvel. On Makara Sankranthi day during January every year, a ray of sunlight passes precisely through the horns of the stone bull outside the temple and illuminates the deity, the Shiva Linga, inside the cave. Other Attractions The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Aquarium, ISKCON Temple Complex and Ulsoor Lake are popular attractions in the city. The Bangalore Palace, built in the Tudor style by the Wodeyar King in 1880, the Fort and Tipu Sultan's 18th century Palace are delights for those historically inclined. Festivals Dussehra, celebrated for 10 days is the primary festival of Bangalore. Makara Sankaranthi during January and Deepavali during Oct.-Nov.