Students in a Yoga pose 2003-2004

The Friends World South Asia Center is located in the busy city of Bangalore, India.  Set in a quiet enclave, the city's restaurants, cyber places, supermarkets and hospitals are a stone's throw away.  Easily accessible by autorickshaw, taxi, or bus, it is also close to the two mail rail stations out of the city.

Bangalore is a popular and rapidly growing city of South India.  Behind the city's modern appearance lies a glorious past with its traditional and colonial trappings.  Bangalore, which is the capital of the state of  Karnataka, is situated in the southeast quadrant of the state, at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level with  a very pleasant climate.  The name 'Bangalore' is from an indigenous word, which means the 'town of boiled beans.'

The city's strategic position and climate attracted the British, who set up their subsidiary forces in an area which came to be referred to as Cantonment.  To the British, Bangalore was a  'little bit of England in India.'  The fact that a large number of people here speak English points to strong colonial influence, as well as old colonial bungalows and old street names such as Infantry Road, Brigade Road, and Cavalry Road. You might come upon an 'old timer' clad in his suit complete with vest, solar topi and cane, staring with disgust at the more modern youngsters.  Once in a while, if you are lucky, you will even see the old 'Mysore' turban bobbing along in the crowd.

Many find South Asian culture to be extremely complex and bewildering.  Students who plan to study in South Asia should prepare themselves both mentally and emotionally before arriving here.  This can be done in a number of different ways.  We strongly recommend visiting and acquainting yourself with Indian localities in the cities where you live.  Please do seek out people who have visited South Asia, and India in particular, as more than merely short-term tourists, and ask them about their experiences both good and bad.