Bangalore is often referred to as India's Silicon Valley. The country’s third most populous city lies in the highlands of the Deccan Plateau. It is often called the Garden City because of its tree-lined streets and pleasant climate. Bangalore, once known for its green pastures and fertile farmland, is not only the centre of information technology but also home to famous educational and research institutions. Almost half of India's IT industry, worth about 50 billion dollars, resides in Bangalore. Many top national and international corporations have their headquarters  here.
Bangalore's rise to an IT hub began in the 1980s when firms started discovering its potential. Several engineering colleges opened up in the following decade. The first foreign company to open offices in Bangalore was Texas Instruments. Today about 250 software companies have their headquarters in Bangalore, including India's high tech giants like Infosys and Wipro. Four out of five of the world’s top IT service companies are based in India.