Bangalore

Bangalore (officially Bengaluru) is the capital of Karnataka at 920 metres, and at 13+ million people India's third-largest city and its IT capital. Founded as a mud fort in 1537 by Kempe Gowda, a feudatory of the Vijayanagara Empire, the city grew under the Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore and Hyder Ali/Tipu Sultan, before becoming a British cantonment in 1809. This double-heritage — Indian princely and British colonial — gives Bangalore its distinct character: colonial avenues and bungalows coexist with Hindu temples and Muslim dargahs. Lalbagh Botanical Garden (240 acres) and Cubbon Park (300 acres) give the city its 'Garden City' identity; MG Road, Brigade Road, and Commercial Street its commercial identity; and Electronic City and Whitefield its IT identity. Beyond these, Bangalore is India's craft beer capital (100+ microbreweries), has a vibrant music and comedy scene, and sits at high enough elevation (920 m) for pleasant weather year-round.