Bangalore

Highlights: Hi-tech life.

Dates: Feb 2000

Travelogue: This area will be linked to live dispatches when available.

A little background: Bangalore has earned the name the "Silicon Valley of India" by being the center of hi-tech learning, IT companies, and dot coms. India is the largest exporter of software after the USA, and produces twice as many IT professionals than the US (60K to USA's 30K).

The place itself is growing ever more crowded, traffic congested, and polluted, but is high enough (over 900m) to enjoy a pleasant climate. It is also rather more westernized than most Indian cities, which, they say, can be a nice change after a few weeks roughing it in the country and small villages.

I've made a lot of contacts in Bangalore via the Internet, including the developers of kamat.com, the nicest culture magazine about India on the web. They are a couple who are using very low tech methods to produce the materials for this site, which they send to their son and daughter-in-law in the United States to publish. You can read more about them in Dispatches.

I've also been in contact with IndiaInfo.com, whose founder I will meet while I'm in Bangalore. I'll tour the facilities and interview him, and they've been kind enough to let me use their leased lines to upload to this website. They've got a excellent article, by the way, on the Enfield.

Women in technology will also be in focus as I have several interviews with women who are creating technology and women who are using technology. I have been invited by a housewife to tour her world of home and friends and cybercafes. Keep an eye on the What's New section for more news.

Near Bangalore is a hill station called Nandi Hill. I'll probably stop there overnight from the Chennai and five elements temples area before entering the big city, to relax before all my reporting responsiblities. See you there!

GO BACK TO DESTINATION

TOP OF PAGE