Once called ‘pensioners paradise,’ Bangalore today is India’s bustling science and technology centre. Capital of Karnataka state, among the city’s attractions are an 18th century palace next to an ornate ancient temple; botanical gardens housing India’s largest collections of tropical plants; an imposing state secretariat in neo-Dravidian style built by convicts; exuberant retail and entertainment centres and interesting pubs. Home to numerous multinational organizations, Bangalore is the site of Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s ‘Art of Living’ foundation with its programs on yoga, meditation, and stress elimination.