For any student, no matter what major, India could be one of the most important countries in which to study abroad. With a blossoming middle class leading the way to an increased economy, and with more middle and high school students in honors programs than all U.S. students combined, India is poised to become one of the great world powers. And one of the most interesting cities within this important country is Bangalore. 

Located on the beautiful Deccan Plateau, and serving as the capital of Karnataka, which is one of four southern India states, Bangalore is the fifth largest metropolitan area in the world. This juxtaposition of picturesque natural scenery and more than 6.5 million residents makes Bangalore a unique location to experience, and it also presents some truly one-of-a-kind opportunities for study abroad students.

Business and finance students should consider Bangalore an essential destination, so they can study how its economic system works so efficiently. The city's per capita income is the highest in all of India, and Bangalore is the country's fourth largest (and fastest-growing) market. Environmentalists will find the city ideal as well. It is, after all, often referred to as the "Garden City of India," and students can study at the University of Agricultural Sciences. The city is packed with spectacular parks and plant life, and is also home to numerous lakes, although many are man-made.

Scientists, engineers and doctors-to-be will find some of the best schools in the world for their trades, including the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering, Dayanandasagar College of Engineering, BMS College of Engineering, MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, People's Education Society Institute of Technology, Bangalore Institute of Technology, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, the Indian Institute of Science, the National Centre for Biological Sciences and Bangalore Medical College. And for those aforementioned business majors, there is the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

Culture in Bangalore
Students will get to immerse themselves in the lively and interesting culture of Bangalore, where women dress in vibrant colors and uniquely Indian dishes fill the palette. Students will also get the opportunity to witness the foundations of Hinduism.

India is the world's leading producer of motion pictures, more so than even Hollywood, and the region around Bangalore puts out almost 100 movies a year. Cricket is by far the most popular sport, with the various matches drawing hundreds of thousands of avid spectators. The city also hosts more concerts than any other in the country. Bangalore is a hot spot for nightclubs and bars, and you will often hear it referred to as the "Pub capital of India."

The History of Bangalore
The earliest reference to the city - then called Bengalooru - was found inscribed in a stone from the 9th century. It began as a district for the Ganga Dynasty, and in the early 1000s became a large town for the Hoysala Empire. The Vijayanagara Empire then took over, and the ruler built a temple, and turned the area into a fort, with two main streets running through it. Control of the area later changed hands multiple times, and ultimately ended up in the hands of the Mughals, who sold the land to a group known as Mysore in the early 1700s. Under this rule, the area grew into a city, and telegraph and rail connections were added just after the middle of the 19th century.

The city continued to expand from there, and in 1961 became the sixth largest city in India. The software boom hit in the mid-1990s, and Bangalore never looked back, becoming the beautiful and sprawling metropolis that students can explore today. Its abundance of culture, architecture, nature and quality learning make it an ideal destination for any dedicated student.

Resources -

Virtual Bangalore - Bangalore on the Net: http://www.virtualbangalore.com
Online Bangalore: http://www.onlinebangalore.com
Bangalore's Best: http://www.bangalorebest.com
Bangalore Wiki: http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangalore
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: http://www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: http://www.iie.org/NSEP