CSIR-CIMAP Research Center at Bangalore (then CIMPO, South Zonal Centre) was established in the year 1959. Since its inception, the center has been working as a CIMAP Field Station on diverse aspects of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) and instrumental in field trials for the research that is being carried out at CSIR-CIMAP Headquarters and other centers, due to its favorable location as an important agro-climatic zone. Genetic improvement and Agrotechnology development of MAPs especially in lemongrass, citronella, palmarosa, geranium, patchouli, rosemary, tulsi, vetiver, coleus, davana, eucalyptus, periwinkle, artemisia, satawar, kalmegh; production of Quality Planting Materials (QPMs); DNA Banking, Biodiversity characterization and Conservation of wild MAPs of Western Ghats are few major activities of the Center. Later, the center has added newer dimension and is working with strong Research and Development programs on Computational Biology, Plant Virology, and Biotechnology. Besides these, promotion of MAPs cultivation in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh through extension programme like training and demonstration; establishing Biovillage programmes for various crops and transfer of improved agro-technologies of MAPs with the sole focus on farmers and the user industries are some other activities of the Center.