Historical bytes
Bangalore has such shades of old and new that it has to be experienced to be understood. On one hand lie the old streets of Chikkapette and Doddapete, established in the sixteenth century by Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bangalore. On the other hand lie the dozens of IT companies that form India's Silicon Valley. The heart of Bangalore dates back to the Vijayanagar empire. Large parts of the city still invoke the days of the Raj with names like Cubbon Park and Wilson Garden. But today's Bangalore displays a strongly cosmopolitan ambience and is known for its pubs serving draught beer and its popularity as a venue for western rock concerts. With its numerous gardens and parks and pleasant climate, Bangalore is known for its tranquility. Yet the IT / BPO boom has led to Bangalore becoming one of India's fastest growing cities. And despite being the state capital of Karnataka, the local administration is struggling to improve the civic infrastructure to meet the needs of its burgeoning population. Thus, Bangalore has many faces to show off — the garden city, the pub capital of India, India's silicon valley — take your pick!
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