Doing business
Rebranded with it’s pre-colonial name of Bengaluru (‘Town of Boiled Beans’) in 2006, Bangalore (as most people still call it) is India’s science and technology capital. Apart from meeting times being regarded as flexible, you won’t find too many surprises. Though it’ll probably be sweltering outside, bear in mind that most meetings will take place in air conditioned comfort so dress accordingly. The Asian preference for evading saying an outright ‘no’ will be very much in evidence here. Local contacts, as ever, will be invaluable.

Cool hotel
The Leela Palace Kempinksi (www.theleela.com/bangalore) offers luxury on a monumental scale and is one of the city's most talked about hotels. The weekend brunch and spa are the stuff of legend in this town, and the scale of the hotel keeps prices on the manageable end of five-star with doubles starting at £144.

Hip restaurant
Koshy’s Bar & Restaurant on St Mark’s Road has an old school charm beloved by locals and expats alike. The various options at the Leela Palace (www.theleela.com) are great places to impress, with Zen taking the plaudits as one of India’s most expensive restaurants.

Happening bar
The city has no shortage of happening bars catering to the new money in town, but for a unique experience see if your hosts can get you a drink at the Bangalore Club (www.bangaloreclub.com). One of the city’s last great colonial institutions, it’s just the place to get a taste of the old city.

Getting there
Kingfisher Airlines flies daily direct from Heathrow to Bengaluru International Airport, as does British Airways, with flights starting from around £690 including taxes and charges. Be aware of fare fluctuations over the next few months affecting prices – book as early as possible to secure the best fares. Cheaper flights are available via other Indian and Middle Eastern hubs. Jet Airways offers flights through Mumbai for under £500.

Getting downtown
The shiny new Bengaluru International Airport (www.bengaluruairport.com; IATA code: BLR) opened in May, but the accompanying high-speed rail link is going to take a few years more. In the meantime a pre-paid taxi is the best option and won’t cost more than £5.

The details
Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka State in India’s south, and subject to the monsoon during the British summer, with rainfall peaking in August. The coolest time to visit is November to February. The region is five and a half hours ahead of GMT. There are 85 Indian Rupees to the pound.

Must-see sights
Bangalore isn’t big on sights, but a guided walk around the Bengaluru Palace, still home to the Wodeyar dynasty, will give you an insight into the luxury lifestyle of the city’s first family. For an earthier experience, the City Market is an intense, sprawling commercial area well worth exploring during some spare time.

The Carbon cost
A return flight from London to Bangalore will cover 17,566km and emit 1.9 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The Carbon Neutral Company from £16.15

INSIDER'S TIP
“A great value-for-money hotel is Laika on Richmond Road, a converted town house which offers wonderful rooms and facilities at a reasonable price. A favourite restaurant is Dhalia, located on Church Street. Reflecting the cosmopolitan nature
of the city, it's a sushi restaurant with great food and good prices.”
Ashish Sawhney, uniglobe travel india

Compiled by Tom Hall on behalf of Lonely Planet. www.lonelyplanet.com

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