Bangalore district General information
Bangalore is a district of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore Urban district came into being in 1986, with the partition of the erstwhile Bangalore district into Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural districts. Bangalore Urban has three main taluks — Bangalore North, Bangalore South and Anekal. The city of Bangalore is situated in the Bangalore Urban district.
Histroy
In the year 1120 AD, the Chola King, Veera Ballalla ruled the Deccan plateau or the South of India. On a hunting trip in the forest he lost his way. After a long search he met an old lady in the forest who offered him shelter for the night and served him baked beans for dinner. To show his gratitude to this lady for having saved his life, the King constructed a town and named it as Benda Kalooru which means Baked Beans. Later in 1537, a local chieftain, Kempe Gowda helped design this town and give it its modern shape. From Benda Kalooru it later on came to be called as Bengaluru. It was during the British rule that Bengaluru became Bangalore due to accent of the English people & their inability to pronounce the word. Bangalore is the great visionary, the respected Kempegowda's dream city. It was he who designed and built Bangalore.
Another great visionary was Kengal Hanumanthaiya who has planned & constructed a great building like VIDHANA SOUDHA. His idea of a double road from Bangalore palace to Sarakki layout remained a dream.
History of Bangalore
Banglore has produced great men like Dr.C.V.Raman who discovered the famous 'Raman Rays' which enabled him to bag the great 'Nobel Prize'. Then there is Sir M Visveswaraiah, Dewan of Mysore, Engineer & Statesman who had been awarded the Bharat Ratna and famous writers and poets who have contributed for kannada literature like :D V Gundappa, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar ( who won the Jnanapitha Award), Shri K Venkatappa (the great painter & sculptor P Kailasam( the renowned theatrist), T S Venkataramaiah, K V Puttappa or Kuvempu, Navaratna Rama Rao, B Seetaramaiah, G P Rajaratnam, K V Iyer are only some of them.
In the area of sports we have Shri M Chinnaswamy, Dr K Thimmappaiah, Mr. C Nagaraj who have all sacrificed a lot to bring out KSCA to present level. Bangalore has produced great cricketers to the country like E A S Prassanna, B S Chandrashekar, G R Vishwanath, Brijesh Patel, Syed Kirmani, B Sudhakar Rao, Roger Binny, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, David Johnson, D Ganesh, Sujit Somasundaram, Sunil Joshi & Rahul Dravid. Then in Tennis , All England Badminton champion - Prakash Padukone, former president of Table Tennis Federation of India- Mr. Kabinipathy, K.Jayanth and Lakshmi Karanth were National Champions. Now we have Mahesh Bhupathi creating waves in the Tennis arena.
In the Police Department we have people like Chandy, Sangliana, Burman, Malukar, Srinivasan, M F Pasha, Subash Bharani, Rama Murthy. In the Legal field, we have Sundarswamy, Nagesh, Padubidri Raghavendra Rao, etc. Other prominent personalities are former corporation commissioner Ravindra, Great Educationalist Narasimhaiah, G P Rajaratnam, Dr D M Nanjundappa & in the athletic field Deanne Syma, Irene Saldanah, Kenneth Powell & sprint queen Ashwini Nachappa.
In the tinsel world the one & only Dr Rajkumar, Puttanna Kanagal, Jnanapith Award winner Girish Karnad, Ananth Nag & his brother Shankar Nag & many more.
Today Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka ranks as one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. Bangalore has a very cool, pleasant climate throughout the year. So it is also called as 'The Air-Conditioned city'. This factor along with the mild, balanced, affectionate, hospitable people of Bangalore called the 'Kannadigas' has attracted people from all over the country as well as the world. So a peaceful city also called as a 'Pensioners paradise' in the 50's is fast transforming into the 'Silicon Valley of India' with almost all Computer related multinationals setting up their Indian head office at Bangalore. Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister termed this as "India's city of the future". Besides there are lot of beautiful and comfortable hotels in the city which will make you feel at home by providing utmost hospitality and food that will instill ever lasting memories in you.
Even though senior citizens here feel that the city has lost its old world charm, but for a new entrant the city does mesmerize with its beautiful gardens all over & rows of flowering trees of jacaranda, may flowers & hundreds of other species like Sampige which has the honour of having a road named after it.
That is Bangalore for the unaware. This is just a glimpse of this wonderful city & each one discovers more for himself once he is here enthralled in the beauty of the place which is modern but historic , beautiful with a tinge of ugliness, which is quiet yet buzzing with people & traffic. Do visit this place once in your lifetime to know what it is.
Geography and Demography
Area 2,190 sq. kms.
Geographical Location Latitudinal parallels: 12 degree 8' N,
Longitudinal meridians: 77 degree 37' E
Altitude 3000ft. above sea level
Population 65.2 lakhs (6.52 million)
Literacy 83.91 %
Density 2978.6 per sq. km.
Language Kannada,English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil are widely spoken and understood.
Temperature Highest Maximum of 33 degree C
Lowest Minimum of 14 degree C
Climate March to May (warmest months)
December to January (coldest months)
June to September(rainy - southwest monsoon)
November to December (rainy - northeast monsoon)
Rainfall - Actual 1,060 mms
Major Industries
Aircraft, Earthmoving, Watches, Garments, Silk, Machine Tools, Handicrafts, Computer Software, Computer Hardware, Electronics, Telecommunications, Instrumentation & Information Technology, Educational Institutions, Steel, Coffee.
Wild Life Sancturies
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, encompassing six contiguous wildlife sanctuaries, spans the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Created to protect the extraordinary biodiversity of the last surviving tracts of tropical evergreen and deciduous forests of the Western Ghats. It includes the area over which the notorious sandalwood smuggler and bandit, Veerappan, holds sway. This reserve, along with the adjacent Mudumalai Sanctuary forms one of the most important migratory corridors for animals such as the Asian elephant and the Indian bison. These parks are within convenient reach of Bangalore.
The Ranganthittoo Bird Sanctuary
Covers 540sq km ( 209sq miles) of riverine islands in the middle of the Kaveri river and attracts a large number of water birds during the nesting season, especially from June to November.
Bandipur
Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1931 by the then Maharaja of Mysore. It has many Chausingha and is also a project for Tiger Reserve. It spreads over 875sq km (338 sqmiles).
The BRT Wild Life Sanctuary
East of the Nilgiri iosphere Reserve, is a corridor between the western and eastern Ghats. Covering an area of 540 sq km (209 sq miles), it supports a variety of birdlife including storkes.
The Nagarhole Wild Life Sanctuary
Profusion of Rivers and swampy grass lands keep it green all year. Established in 1983, the park has 645 sq km ( 249sq miles) of deciduous vegetation. Its wildlife includes the bonnet macaque.
The Kabini Reservoir
Separating Bandipur from Nagrbole, offers fineviews. The Kabini river lodge nearby is an excellent place for sighting wildlife and a good place to stay.
The drive from Bangalore to Mudumalai runs over wellmaintained State highways. The first stretch between Bangalore and Mysore is a reasonably smooth run. Once you cross the towns of Ramanagaram and Chennapatna, the drive goes through avenues of bougainvillaea which form natural archways. If you are thirsty, you can stop at any of the coconut vendors lining the road.
Passing through Mysore is a honk - and - crawl affair till the city limits. Beyond Nanjangud, for about 20 km, the road is a narrow concrete strip with shoulders of tar. You need to be very careful on this road as the tar has eroded, leaving huge potholes. There may be times when you will be forced to go onto the tar shoulders to avoid oncoming traffic. Remember, utmost care should be taken then to avoid damage to the underbody.
Once the road enters the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary limit, it is almost straight with dense forest on both sides. Seven - and - a half kilomtres after the Bandipur reception centre, the road crosses over into Tamil Nadu and the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
The scenery along the road is varied with a clutter of small towns on the outskirts of Bangalore. These give way to light forests and fields till Mysore. If you have time with you, a stop at the fantastic Mysore Palace is worth the extra hour to get to Mudumalai.
The accommodation and hotels for Mudumalai are on the road that runs from the reception center to Masinagudi. Though there is a sign warning that the road is very steep and that you will have to strain your car much with the kind of cars that we have today, it is redundant.
There is actually more to do at the places to stay than in the park itself. Consider yourself lucky if you see bison and deer. Should you happen to see a tiger, take a quick look around for the saint who performed the miracle to make it appear.
Tourist Place
The Bangalore Palace & Fort
Bangalore Palace The Bangalore Fort was built by Kempe Gowda and expanded by Tippu Sultan. Within its walls is the well preserved 16th century Ganapathi Temple.
The Bangalore Palace was built by a Wodeyar king in 1887 on the 400 acre space. Inspired by the Windsor castle, this palace was built in the Tudor style, complete with Gothic windows, foiled windows, battlements and turrets resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam, this summer palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for its carving and paintings.
In June 2005 Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar decided to open the palace to the public to meet its Rs 20 lakh annual upkeep costs. The special attraction is a gallery of nearly a thousand historical photos, including those of viceroys, maharajas and other famous personalities inside and exquisite carvings and paintings.
Entry Fee Structure: Indian Citizens (Adult: Rs 100, Children: Rs 50), Foreign Toursits: (Adult: Rs 200, Children: Rs 100), Video Recording: Rs 1,000, Photography: Rs 500. Visiting Hous: 10 AM to 6 PM (Sunday Holiday). Phone: +91-80-2336 0818, 2331 5789
Lal Bagh
Hyder Ali laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden today houses over 1000 species of flora which include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. The Glass House, modelled along London's Crystal Palace, is the center of attraction in this 2400 acre park. Bi-annual flower shows attracting participants from all over India is held in the Glass House. In July, 2003 it was decided that the Department of Horticulture and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) would jointly take up the development of Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens.
ISKCON
Situated on Chord Road, it is a must visit temple in Bangalore. It stands over a small hill and is a very clean and well maintained temple. Akshaya Patra program sponsored by the temple is very popular.
The Bull Temple
This temple, built by Kempe Gowda, houses the magnificent stone statue of the sacred bull, Nandi. It stands over 15 feet tall and is over 20 feet long . In Nov/Dec every year, when the groundnuts have been harvested, a groundnut fair is held near the temple. The first groundnuts are offered by the farmers to the sacred bull.
The Gangadhareshware Temple
Known for its four monolithic pillars and rare idol of Agni, the God of fire,this temple was built by Kempe Gowda. A unique phenomena is witnessed here on Jan 13/14th every year when the rays of the setting sun enter through the window, pass between the horns of the Nandi and shine on the Shivalingam.
The Dharmaraja Temple
Located at Nazarethpet in the suburbs of Bangalore, this temple is the starting point of the annual Karaga procession. The revered idols of this temple are the Shri Dharmaraja Swamy, hero of the Mahabharata and Lord Krishna.
Dargah Hazarath Tawakkal Mastan
This Muslim shrine,located in Cottonpet, a suburban locality, is associated with the Hindu Karaga festival too. The procession annually visits the Dargah of this Sufi saint, Tawakkal Mastan. His tomb attracts both Muslim and non-Muslim pilgrims.
Jumma Masjid
The Jumma Masjid is probably the oldest mosque in the city. It is an imposing structure with tall ornamented granite pillars adorning the elevated prayer hall. Scores of devote Muslim worshippers throng this masjid during the annual festivals of the Muslims. It is located in the busy market area of Bangalore, K.R.Market.
Ravindra Kalakshetra
The Kalakshetra, built to commemorate Rabindranath Tagore's centenary, promotes cultural activity in the city. It has a superb theatre and houses the Cultural Akademi Offices. Next to it is the Gothic styled Puttannachetty Town Hall whose huge auditorium can easily accommodate over 1500 persons.
St. Mary's Church
Established by a French missionary Abbe Dubois in 1811, St.Mary's church is the only church in Karnataka state to be elevated to the status of a minor Basilica. Every September, The Virgin Mary's festival is celebrated with a procession that attracts people of all faiths. The church is situated near the Shivaji Nagar Bus Terminal.
Indian Institute Of Science (IISc)
Also known as the Tata Institute, is one of the country's finest research institutions, specializing in advanced science and engineering studies.
Gandhi Bhavan
The Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, housed in the Gandhi Bhavan, houses a comprehensive picture gallery and other exhibits of Gandhiji which depict the life and times of Gandhiji. The Bhavan is open on weekdays(10:30 Am to 5:00 PM).
Innovative Film City
Finally Bangalore has something on the lines of Universal Studios (not at that scale though). Get to see yourself how they shoot a movie and enjoy some fun rides! The Film City is on Mysore Road.
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium was founded by the Bangalore City Corporation in 1989. It is located on Sir.T Chowdaiah Road. Since 1992, it is managed by the Bangalore Association for Science Education (BASE). BASE is devoted to dissemination of science among the public and the student community. On the premises there are the Science Centre and a Science Park. The Planetarium has a 15.0 meters diameter dome with a seating capacity of 210.
Ulsoor lake
A picturesque lake with several tree-shaded islands in it, is an ideal picnic spot. You can go boating or go for a swim in the nearby swimming pool that is part of the recreational complex near the lake. You can also go to the nearby Gurdhwar, the largest Sikh shrine in Bangalore...More
Vidhana Soudha
This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon park, is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door of the Cabinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building. The Vidhana Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight worth viewing. The building is open for visitors only after 3 PM.
The Bangalore Race Course
The Bangalore Race Course is one of the finest in India, with racing events almost all year round (May to June and Nov to Mar). Some of the biggest field stakes in the country can be witnessed here.
Tipu's Palace
Built in 1791, this beautiful two-storeyed ornate wooden structure with exquisitely carved pillars, arches and balconies was one of Tipu's favourite summer retreats.
Hesaragatta
25 Kms away, Hesaragatta is an interesting picnic spot offering water sports to the adventurous. Boating and wind-surfing is the major attraction. It also has a dairy & horticulture farm where you can picnic.
Ramohalli
Ramohalli, located 28 Kms west is a popular picnic spot. A major attraction at Ramohalli is the 400 year old giant Banyan tree which sprawls over an incredible 3 acres.
Muthyalamaduvu
Also known as the Pearl Valley, Muthyalamaduvu is 40 Kms away. The beautiful cascading water falls surrounded by verdant settings provide an ideal picnic getaway.
Ramanagaram
Rock-climbers and adventure seekers need look no further. 49 Kms south-west from Bangalore, Ramanagaram, provides the ideal location with landscaped rock faces. Another major attraction at Ramanagaram is the silk cocoon marketing centre. One of the most famous Hindi movies Sholay was shot in Ramanagaram.
Janapada Loka
Sprawling across 15 acres, Janapada Loka or "Folk-culture World" is a world of simplicity and art.Janapada Loka, a subsidiary of the Karnataka Janapada Parishath, is dedicated to preserve and promote folk art and culture. The complex has an art gallery, an open-air theatre, a studio and a museum. Janapada Loka is located near Ramanagaram and is 53 Kms away from Bangalore.
Channapatna
A bustling town, 60 kms south-west from Bangalore, Channapatna is famous for its eye-catching lacquer ware and hand-crafted wooden toys. It is also a major silk centre of Karnataka.
Mekedatu
Gushing waters, imposing landscapes, and untouched picnic spots is what Mekedatu is all about. The Cauvery river squeezing through a narrow gorge before traversing its south-bound terrain is a breathtaking sight .It is 98 Kms south of Bangalore.
Nandi Hills
One of the popular retreats of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, Nandi Hills offers breathtaking getaway of the weary tourist. Tipu's Drop, a 600m high cliff face provides a magnificent panoramic view of the beautiful terrain. Nandi Hills is 60 Kms north of Bangalore.
Other attractions are Tipu's Drop, Yoga Nandishvara Temple, a beautiful Chola temple, Dravidian-style Bhoganandishvara temple and Muddenahalli, hometown of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, architect of modern Karnataka at the base of the hill.
In March 2005 the Toursim department decided to make Nandi Hills a popular destination by introducing a 5-star hotel, ropeway and para-sailing facility.