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Bangalore
The heart of India's technology boom

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Published: Tuesday 03 June 2008

What's so special about Bangalore?
Dubbed India's Silicon Valley and still the offshore outsourcing destination all others must measure up to, Bangalore is at the very heart of India's technology boom.

All the big tech companies are represented in the southern Indian conurbation - mainly in gleaming US-style campuses at the vast, sprawling Electronics City high-tech business park just outside the city. Many multinationals, such as Tesco, have also set up their own IT outposts here to take advantage of the relatively cheap pool of highly skilled technology graduates.

But Bangalore's dominant position is under threat because of physical infrastructure issues, the rising cost of labour and cheaper alternatives in other smaller Indian cities - such as Pune - and also further afield, from Malaysia and the Philippines.

Specifically, the traffic is a nightmare in this former Garden City and it can take more than two hours to commute from the centre of Bangalore to Electronics City at peak times.

Tech Hotspots judge Mark Kobayashi-Hillary, author of Outsourcing to India, sums up Bangalore as: "Traffic gridlock, an airport with no road, but still of immense importance in India as the main cluster for talent and finance in IT."

Key tech companies Everyone - the Indian majors, including Infosys and Wipro, have their main headquarters and campuses here along with many of the western IT, outsourcing and consulting companies. Several captive IT operations are here also, including the likes of Tesco's Hindustan Service Centre.

Key institutions Bangalore's Indian Institute of Science, which has more than 2,000 PhD students studying for research degrees.

Local salaries Anywhere between $5,600 and $7,500 per year for an entry-level software engineer.

Famous faces Wipro chief Azim Premji, one of the richest men in India and worth $17bn, according to Forbes.

Population 6.5 million.

iPod cost $183 Source: CommSec, Apple.

Time zone GMT +5 hours 30 minutes.

Voltage and plugs 220V.

How to get there Bangalore's long-awaited, long-delayed and much needed new $288m international airport at Devanahalli on the outskirts of the city opened last month, although getting to and from it could be a problem as the new road connecting the city isn't yet complete. Bengalaru International Airport will replace the city's HAL airport. British Airways started running direct flights to Bangalore from London Heathrow in 2005. Most other carriers go via Mumbai.

Watch out for The traffic. Bangalore's physical infrastructure hasn't kept pace with the phenomenal growth of its high-tech industry and the often gridlocked roads are creaking under the strain. It remains to be seen if the various flyovers and underpasses under construction will alleviate the transport pressure.

Places to stay, eat or drink The beautiful Leela Palace hotel is the place to stay if you can afford it or expense it. Bangalore nightlife is also famous, known as 'pub city', with an increasing number of modern swanky bars catering for the affluent young IT and BPO workers, such as the 13th Floor - which as the name suggests is on the 13th floor of a skyscraper - and Vaayu. Most pubs, however, close at the unusually early time of 11.30pm. For shopping try the Forum Mall on Hosur Road, home to several designer stores.

What you might not know The city was officially renamed Bengalaru by the state government in 2006 - reverting to its pre-colonial name - but most people still call it Bangalore.