BANGALORE

Knowing Bangalore

‘Bengaluru’, the official name of Bangalore, is the capital city of Karnataka state. This city with a population of approximately 7 million people is also proudly nicknamed as the ‘Garden City ‘of India or Floriculture capital. It is one of the most modern, liberal and fast paced cities of our nation.

This urban city is famous for its gardens, old world charm seen in many historical sites and buildings and yet it offers visitors a panoramic view to the modern world!

Bangalore is fast emerging as a major hub for information technology and related fields. This ‘silicon valley’ of India is home to numerous multinational IT giants, thereby marking it presence on the global map.

Bangalore is synonymous with a pulsating, progressive pub culture, high fashions, superb golf courses, race-tracks, and is a sure stop for music artists to hold concerts. This city is a favourite with both national as well as international music icons to conduct their mega shows. It is an absolute fun place to be in. There is always some social activity going on, be it  in the famous art galleries, museums, theatre groups conducting stage plays, ‘shop till you drop’ mega shopping malls, sprawling green gardens with glass-houses or simply spend a lazy afternoon window shopping along the famous MG Road, Brigade Road, or Commercial Street and slurp up a yummy ice-cream in the bargain!

Another plus point adding to the charm of Bangalore is the favourable, pleasant climate almost all year round.

History

The earliest documented records show that Bangalore existed around 1537. It is widely believed that once Kempe Gowda- I popularly acknowledged to being the founder of modern Bangalore built a fort and hence established it as a province of the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire.

According to history, Kempe Gowda- I (1510-1570) once while hunting in the forests, lost his way. He was fatigued and hungry when an old woman he chanced upon offered him some boiled beans. As a token of his gratitude and appreciation, he named that area as Bengaluru, meaning ‘Town of boiled beans’. It is here that he built a mud fortress which later developed into the Bangalore of the present age. This fortress was also called ‘gandu bhoomi’ or ‘Land of Heroes’. Kempe Gowda planned his city such that it was divided into different areas of importance. His successor, Kempe Gowda II further developed the city by constructing temples, tanks, and four watch towers demarcating the four corners or boundaries of  city.
The four watch towers built then in Bangalore still exist till date and can be seen in (1) Lal Bagh, (2) near Kempambudhi tank, (3) near Ulsoor Lake, and (4) near Mekhri Circle.  

During the British occupation of India, Bangalore became an important city in South India. This part of the city presently known as ‘Old Bangalore’ comprises of the City market area, Majestic Bus Stand, and City Railway Station. A newer, modern Bangalore soon emerged and flourished with the migration of people from other states. Crores of rupees worth of commerce was conducted and currently Bangalore does approximately US$60.5 billion in business.

Geography

Bangalore is located on the Deccan Plateau, in the South-Eastern part of Karnataka state. It is situated approximately 3018 ft above sea-level. This city shares its borders with other districts such as Tumkur, Kolar, Mandya, and Chamarajnagar. It’s neighbouring state is Tamil Nadu

Transportation

Bangalore is well connected to the rest of India and international destinations by air, train, and other public means of transport such as local and intercity bus operators. Taxis and auto rickshaws are also popular modes of travel.

Air Travel:

Bangalore has an international airport with various airlines such as Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Air France, Thai Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines and Air India plying the skies. Newer flights are being added regularly to cater to the ever increasing demand. To make air travel as smooth as ever, a new international airport at par with other international airports will be made operational at Devanahalli around April 2008.

Almost all domestic carriers fly in and out of Bangalore city. These airlines cater to different budgets and classes of people. ATM, money changing booths, coffee shops, shopping arcade and post office are some of the facilities provided at the airport terminals.

Train Services:

Bangalore is well connected to different destinations all across India. It has 3 computerized railway stations.
1) Bangalore City railway station: Located in the city area, close to Majestic bus stand.   This is the main station. All trains, both local and long distance ply back and forth from here.
2) Yeswantpur railway station: It is close to the city railway station but only a limited number of trains come here. However this station is fast developing to cater to growing needs.
3) Cantonment railway station: This station is centrally located. It is situated in the near proximity of MG Road. Only a select few trains come to this station.

Travellers must ensure they board their trains from the right stations since some of the trains do not stop at all the 3 railway stations. Tickets can be booked at the stations, through travel agents or through online booking (http://www.irctc.co.in/ ).

Train travel is relatively cheap with different classes including AC coaches to suit the various budgets. The train timings are displayed at the stations and are often printed in leading newspaper dailies. For added convenience, travel enquiries can be made through telephone number 139.

Taking a bus ride:

Buses operated by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) are the common means of public transportation. Tickets are issued upon boarding these buses according to the destinations. BMTC also provides an option of a bus pass at a discounted fare to frequent commuters. BMTC also ply air-conditioned Volvo buses connecting Bangalore to all major cities and towns. Tickets for these buses can be availed at the bus stand or booked through any registered travel agent.

Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT):

This is an ambitious project embarked upon by the Karnataka Government ear-marked for completion around 2011. Bangalore Metro as it is referred to, will ease congestions and bottle necks often experienced along the main roads. MRT has proven quite successful in other metros in India and the same is expected in Bangalore too.

Auto rickshaws:

These black and yellow three wheeler vehicles are very convenient to travel in as they are small and quite fast. They can be navigated through traffic, making it very popular among the public. Fares are shown on a digital meter according to the distance travelled upon.
The reading starts from a minimum pre-fixed fare.

Taxis:

The ‘Citi Taxis ‘as they are commonly referred to are generally parked at taxi stands at all major points in the city. They are metered and more expensive than the auto rickshaws. Pre-paid taxi services are available at the airport, railway stations, all hotels and other places of tourist interest.
 

Places of attraction

The urban landscape of Bangalore consists of numerous remarkable buildings which reflect upon the history and tradition of a by-gone era. The contemporary architecture of Bangalore consisting of sky scrappers and ground scrappers reflect upon the modern and post modern trends in world architecture.

KSTDC operates daily sightseeing tours around the city. There are numerous places of interest in Bangalore which are a visual treat to the eye. They are: 

Vidhana Soudha :
 
The legislative House of Karnataka State, this imposing, granite building was conceptualized by Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, the then Chief Minister of the state.  Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone for this building on 13th July 1951.
 
The Vidhana Soudha has four floors above and one floor at the basement level. It encompasses an area of 60 acres. It is the largest Legislative building in India. Its eastern facade has a porch with 12 tall granite columns. One of the main attractions of this building is the flight of stairs at the entrance with 45 steps, with a breadth of  more than 200 feet .Upon entering, the central dome, which is 60 feet in diameter, resembles the national emblem.

The building was completed in 1956 at a cost of rupees 1.84 crores. This architectural marvel is illuminated on Sundays and on public holidays.

Vikasa Soudha :

The south block of Vidhana Soudha, was constructed at an approximate cost of Rupees 148 crores and was inaugurated by the then chief minister S.M.Krishna on 5th February, 2004.  

Seshadari Iyer Memorial is a landmark building constructed of red sand stone in Cubbon Park. The Bangalore High Court, public library, a children's play area complete with a toy train, and other recreational activities are all available here.

Bangalore Palace : 

This spell binding building leaves one awe-struck. It conjures up an image of a fairy tale story and you get drawn back into a bygone era of colourful durbars, horse-chariots, elephants, valiant soldiers and romantic love stories!
It was constructed by Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar of the Mysore royalty in 1887 at a cost of Rupees one lakh. This sprawling palace is located in the heart of the city and is approximately 45,000 sq ft. in area. It is spread over 430 acres! The design for this architectural marvel was conceived when the Maharaja visited the Windsor Castle in Britain and was smitten  with it’s appearance. He was so inspired by it that he wished for a similar looking palace in Bangalore and hence the elevations were replicated to a great extent. A grand entrance doorway leads you to breathtaking interiors.

The interiors of the palace are largely designed in wood with heavy intricate carvings and other spectacular paintings, inlay works, floral motifs, and cornices. The entire palace is built in the Tudor style of architecture. It has beautiful, well maintained lawns with a colourful array of flowers worth seeing.

Tipu Sultan's Palace :
 
It was first constructed by Kempe Gowda around 1790. Later Tipu Sultan modified and enlarged it.  It was built as the summer retreat for Tipu. The two storied structure is chiseled mostly out of teakwood with ornate balconies, pillars and grand arches. Extensive engravings in Arabic styles adorn the walls and ceilings.

The awesome palace is also referred to as the ‘Abode of Peace”. After the demise of Tipu Sultan, the palace was taken over by the British and utilized as their Secretariat.

The Government Museum :

This treasure-trove of history and culture is one of the oldest established museums. It was built in 1886. It has beautiful Corinthian pillars and houses valuable objects, artifacts and other pieces of interest such as the typical south Indian mode of attire adorned with fine jewellery, various sculptures, philately, old coins of different dynasties etc. The Venkatappa Art Gallery houses invaluable painting and other artistic works of the famous artist K.Venkattappa.
 Visiting hours are from 1000 hours to 1700 hours on all days except Wednesday.

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium : 

The Planetarium was constructed in 1989. This state of the art structure has a dome 15 metres in diameter and has a seating capacity of 225 persons. The purpose of the planetarium is to create more awareness in astrophysics and astronomy. It is a regular picnic spot for educational institutions. The purpose of the tour is to inculcate the importance of science and it’s influence on mankind.

Daily two shows at 1500 hours and 1630 hours are conducted, except on Mondays.
 
Bull Temple : 

The Bull temple in Bangalore is located atop the Nandi Hills. ‘Nandi’is the mount of Lord Shiva and it is enshrined within a temple located in Basavanguddi.  This temple in Bangalore attracts thousands of devotees as well as tourists. It is also popularly referred to as Nandi Temple. It is one of the oldest temples in India. 

The temple was built by Kempe Gowda in the 16th century. The Nandi Bull is black in colour and is carved out of a single granite rock.  According to popular belief, the feet of this 4.5 meters tall and six meters long monolithic bull is the originating source of the river Vishva Bharti. The Bull Temple is famous for the typical Dravidian style of architecture. An annual temple festival is held during the months of November/December, commemorating the harvest season of groundnuts called Kadalekayi Parishe in local dialect. Non Hindus are not permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum area of the religious temple.

Dodda Ganapatti Temple :
 
This temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, son of Lord Shiva. It has a huge monolithic statue of Ganapati, which attracts thousands of devotees every day. History records cite that Kempe Gowda ordered his court sculptors to carve this huge idol from a single granite boulder. It measures 18 feet in height and 16 feet in width!

Temple festivals are conducted annually with breathtaking illuminations, amidst chanting of religious verses. The specialty of this particular idol statue is that it is decorated with different things every week. In particular is the butter coating ritual for which nearly 100 kgs are utilized to completely coat the idol! When it is time to change the dressing of the statue, the entire butter is removed and distributed among the devotees.

Iskcon Temple :

The Iskcon Temple, built in memoriam of A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He was the founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ‘ISKCON’. They are a denomination of the Gaudiya Vaishnava faith, believers in the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita and Bhagvad Puranas.
Iskcon devotees lead a simple life following the basic philosophy that all human life is gifted to a living entity just so that the entity can experience his inner, spiritual being and attain fulfillment.

Iskcon is involved in many charitable endeavors one of which is ‘cow protection’. In India, cows are considered sacred according to the Hindu beliefs. Iskcon has many cattle farms where these animals are bred and nurtured. 

Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens :

This lush green piece of heaven on Earth was commissioned by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore in 1760. The well laid out garden was completed by his son, Tipu Sultan along the lines of the famous Mugal Gardens in Delhi. Lal Bagh is spread over 240 acres and is filled with  flowers and foliage in a myriad colours and hues!
Lal Bagh has within it the famous glass houses, herb gardens, nurseries, splendid water fountains and cascades, avenues lined with different trees and millions of flowers from all parts of the globe. Rare and unique plants procured from distant lands such as Persia, Afghanistan and France are displayed. The garden also has trees that are over a century old. India’s very first ‘lawn clock’ is located here. The garden is aesthetically designed encompassing one of the towers erected by Kempe Gowda, founder of Bangalore. Another attraction in the gardens is the Lal Bagh Rock, which is one of the oldest rock formations on Earth.
On Republic Day (26th Jan), an impressive flower show is organized which is a visual treat to the eye. The gardens get crowded with nature enthusiasts enjoying the scenic beauty.

Cubbon Park :

This park is located in the heart of the city, amidst the hustle and bustle of the commercial centres where trade and commerce takes place. Cubbon Park was designed by Sir Richard Sankey in 1864 and named in honour of Commissioner Sir Mark Cubbon. This tree filled park is very close to MG Road and extends over an area of 334 acres. It is very close to the Visveswariah Industrial & Technological Museum. The Sheshadri Iyer Memorial which houses the public library is also located within the Cubbon Park. It is filled with thousands of trees offering relief to the city dweller. There are toy train rides, even a pond. There are jogging tracks for the health enthusiasts and open stages for concerts. Numerous statues of various rulers are erected across the vast park.

An aquarium with an array of beautiful fish is also located in Cubbon Park. It is open to public from 10 am to 5.15 pm on all days except Mondays and every second Tuesday of the month. 

Lumbini Gardens :
 
This is a fairly new tourist destination in Garden City. It is near the Hebbal flyover and is by the lake front of Lake Nagarvara. The park conducts boat rides, and the wave pool is a major crowd puller. The children enjoy the gardens which have various amusement activities. 

Wonder La Amusement park :

It is India's biggest amusement and water theme park. This park being very new has the latest in terms of different exciting rides. It is located in the outskirts of the city off Mysore Road. This amusement park is a runaway hit with both the senior citizens as well as the youngsters.
Wonder La maintains the highest standards in hygiene and follow stringent regulations concerning safety and precautions.

Ulsoor Lake :

This water body within the city is quite interesting. It has several little islands scattered within it. These islands are grassy and cool with many trees. Pedal and row boats are provided by the KSTDC at Rupees 120.00 per hour. The lake is surrounded by grassy parks & walkways. There is a recreational centre with a swimming pool close to the lake.
Timings: Open on all days including Sundays between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm.

Weather and Climatic conditions

This hi-tech city enjoys a pleasant and comfortable climate all year round. The summer months have varying temperatures between a maximum of 36 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 20 degrees Celsius while in winter, the temperature ranges anywhere between 27 to 17 degrees Celsius. The evenings and nights get fairly chilly, hence warm clothing could be required.  

Feb  –   May  - Hottest months
June –  Aug  - Windy (south-west monsoon)
Sept –  Nov   - Rainy months
Dec  –   Feb  - Coldest months 

                                        
Food

From gourmet to way side dhabbas, watering holes for the thirsty, there is every possible type of cuisine to tickle one’s palette! All the star hotels have multi-cuisine speciality restaurants. For people who like to binge on fast foods, popular international burger and pizza chains are available. Bangalore has hundreds of eating-out places which serve local south Indian fare like dosas, Idillis, vada sambhar, pooris, bisi bele bath, pulaos etc. Their famed Tiffin rooms are full most of the time since the food there is reasonably priced and they have their outlets all over the city!

The local cuisine is spicy but not overtly hot. Rice is the staple food of the kannadigas. Tamarind rice (puliyogare), Lime rice (Chithranna), Ragi balls, Mysore bondas are some of the common delicacies.

People who like to indulge in western or continental food, cafés like Barista, De Lekkerbek, and Espressophilia offer a wide menu.

Bangalore is known across India as the Pub City. There are numerous pubs with live music, discos etc to let your hair down. The only   setback is that they shut down shutters by 11.30 pm, following the laws of the land. Some of the really well known pubs are Guzzlers Inn on Brigade Road, Jockey Club at the Taj Residency, on MG Road, Purple Haze on Residency Road, The Polo Club at the Hotel Oberois,MG Road, The Pub World, Residency Road, TGI Friday’s, Airport Road. These pubs serve multi-cuisine food as well.

This hip and happening city also has some famous ice cream parlours, just to chill out. They are: Indulge, at the Forum Mall, Koromangala, Baskin Robins, Sankey Road, Lakeview Milk Bar, MG Road, Dasprakash Ice Creams, Mysore Road

Language

The local lingo is Kannada but Bangalore being a potpourri of mixed cultures, various other languages is also spoken. The most common languages used besides Kannada are Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu and English.

People

Bangalore conjures up an image of a fast paced, hip, hi-tech city yet also restful and peaceful. Due to this attribute, people from all over India migrate towards Bangalore either seeking greener pastures or a serene, contented retired life. ‘Bangaloreans’ are well known for their friendly, welcoming nature.

A fusion of Indian and western cultures enhances the charm of Bangalore city and makes it an exciting place to live in. This haven caters to varied likes and tastes and offers innumerable opportunities.

Bangalore is home to some of the most outstanding personalities who have contributed greatly in making ‘India Shinning’. Stalwarts of industry like Azim Premji (net worth $14.8 billion) heads Wipro Technologies, N.R.Narayana Murthy (net worth $1.69 billion) co-founded Infosys, beer baron Vijay Mallaya (net worth $1.6 billion) owns United Breweries which is the world’s second largest spirit group.

In the medical & health care sector, Dr.H.Sudarshan received accolades by winning the ‘Right Livelihood’award and ‘Padma Sri’ for the work he did with the Soliga Tribe of Biligirirangam. Dr.Devi Prasad Shetty is a very well known cardiac surgeon.

In scientific matters, Sir M.Visvesvarayya, great engineer, & statesman and Dr.K.Kasturirangan, astrophysicist, & former chairman of ISRO and member of the Rajya Sabha have played an important role in the progress of India.

Writers, authors, Jnanpith awardees like Dr.U.R.Anantha Murty, playwright Girish Karnad, Anita Nair, Kiran Mazumdar, founder of Biocon, Captain G.R.Gopinath- managing director of Air Deccan, Sporting greats like badminton ace Prakash Padukone, former cricket captain of India (2005-07) Rahul Dravid, Asian swimming champ Nisha Millet, entertainers like Dr.Rajkumar, actor, and Lara Dutta –Miss Universe, 2000 are some of the more prominent personalities from Bangalore. Shankuthala Devi known as the ‘Human Computer’ for her mind boggling speed & accuracy with numbers is also from this city.

Accommodation

Due to a spurt in the development of Bangalore in recent years, the hospitality industry has been booming. Different types of accommodation are available to suit every possible budget and need. The local authorities have left no stone unturned to ensure quality care and service to the traveller. Many budget hotels, serviced apartments, bed ‘n’ breakfasts, mid priced and luxury hotels are there.
Some of the budget/economy hotels (Rs.1000 – 3000) are:-

Ashraya International Hotel – Infantry Road. Tel:  91-80-22261921
Church Street Inn – Church Street Tel: 91-80- 30577190
Ginger Hotels – Whitefield. Tel: 91-80- 66663333

Medium (Rs.3000 – 6000) hotels:

Oasis Spa & Resort – Doddaballapur Main Road, Rajankunte. Tel: 91-80-28468892-96
The Atria – Palace road. Tel: 91-80-22205205
The Eagleton Golf Resort – 29th km, Bangalore-Mysore Highway, Bidadi 
Tel: 26764403/405/974

Luxury (above Rs.6000.) hotels:

Grand Ashok – Kumara Krupa, High Grounds – 91-80-222694362
Le Meridien – Sankey Road – Tel: 91-80-22262233
Royal Orchid – Golf Avenue – Tel: 91-80-25205566
Taj Residency – MG Road – Tel: 91-80-25584444
The Oberoi – MG Road – Tel: 91-80-25585858
Windsor Manor ITC – Sankey Road –Tel: 91-80-22269898