Located in the southern part of the Indian sub-continent and with an area of 2,190 sq km, Bangalore is the administrative, cultural, commercial and industrial centre of the state of Karnataka. With 6.5 million inhabitants, the city enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year. Its tree-lined streets and abundant greenery have led to it being named the "Garden City" of India. Since the 1980s, Bangalore has seen a major technology boom. It is also now being dubbed as the "Silicon Valley" of India.