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Bangalore
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Mysore |
Coorg |
Mangalore |
Dharmastala
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Udipi |
Hospet |
Belgaum |
Bijapur
| Bidar |
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Area :
366sq.kms.
Languages : Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English
An air-conditioned city the Garden City the Silicon Valley of India
the fastest developing city in the world these are some of the
attributes used to describe this beautiful city. Bangalore regarded
as one India’s most progressive and liberal cities. While it boasts
some pleasant parks and gardens Bangalore is generally busied
traffic-clogged and fairly light on attractions.
Situated at a height of 1000 mts. above sea level it offers a
perpetual holiday atmosphere due to the healthy climate it enjoys
throughout the year.This beautiful city lends its name to the
district of Bangalore to which the city is perceivable the
headquarters India’s sixth largest city the electronics and computer
capital of India. It is growing fast. The old part of the city is to
the south of the City Railway Station. In the Cubbon Park area with
Mahatma Gandhi Road to its east you will find the Tourist office
Government buildings and the bigger hotels.MG Road is very pleasant
to wander round with excellent shops and eating and drinking places.
Bangalore has a population of more than 56 lakhs. Besides kannada
which is the official language of the state Bangaloreans are also
comfortable with English, Hindi, Tamil, Telegu,etc. It is also a
dynamic city. Hindustani Carnatic and fusion music sharing center
stage share out at any one of the innumerable Discos or Pubs or the
Roadside Darshinis for a taste of Bangalore. Karnataka’s booming
capital is in the vanguard of India’s new economy and its gracious
British garrison-town features are being remodeled in the image of
the new mall-loving middle class.
History
The official city of Bangalore was founded by Kempe Gowda a Magadi
Chieftain in 1513-69. Christened ‘Bangalore’, it comprised of a mud
fort and four watchtowers marking the city’s limits Bangalore was
destined to be a cause of hunger and greed for many. Bangalore today
has grown beyond his wildest imagination-a veritable melting pot of
various races cultures and work interests. The high-ground nippiness
of its air the endearing environs and the sheer beauty of its
landscape have fascinated the visitors who come back again and again
to this warm and welcoming city.
Legends of course have another story-Bangalore is said to have
received its name from an old woman who served a dish of boiled
beans to a lost Hoysala King.The ‘town of boiled beans’ has played
its fair share in the course of history.Bangalore first changed
hands in the 18th century after its inception when Hyder Ali and his
son Tipu Sultan ruled the province of Karnataka and made it their
winter capital. The British followed when they officially moved
their headquarters from Srirangapattanam (Tipu’s Capital) to
Bangalore in 1831 after the defeat of Tipu.
The dramatic growth of the city since the early 1950s has
increasingly threatened one feature of its architectural heritage
the colonial style ‘residency’ buildings .The High Court and the
Bangalore Club have survived thus far but many private bungalows
built between 1830 and 1940 have been demolished to make way for
high-rise commercial buildings. Bangalore’s economic vitality began
in the 1960s when the government located key defence and
telecommunications establishments here. It became the science and
technology centre of India and home to many multinational companies.
In some ways the city is a victim of its own success. Rapid
population growth is putting immense strain on the infrastructure
and environment. Today the city flourishes in its computer-crazy
reputation and its cultural and academic ambience.
Places of attraction :-
The Bull Temple:
The Bull Temple (Nandi Temple) at Basavangudi was built in the 16th
century by Kempe Gowda and is worshipped for its Nandi (the sacred
bull) . This is one of Bangalore’s oldest temples. The Holly Bull of
Lord Shiva built in the grand Dravidian style is situated on the
beautiful “Buggle Hill” on the road which derives its name from this
famous temple ‘The Bull Temple Road’. The monolithic Nandi bull is
believed to have grown in size and how nearly 5 mts. measure In
height and 6 mts.In length. It is located near one of the city’s
ancient watchtowers also built by Kempe Gowda. It is made of grey
granite polished with a mixture of groundnut oil and charcoal. To
the northwest of the Nandi temple is the Gavi Gangadhareshwara Cave
Temple which has four monolithic pillars and an image of Agni( God
of Fire). On every Makarsankranti ( 14 Jan) the sun lights up the
deity in the cave through the horns of the great bull.
Kempe Gowda Fort :
Kempe Gowda Fort (1537) on Krishna Rajendra Road was built of
mud in 1537 and was rebuilt in stone who centuries later by Tipu
Sultan. A temple dedicated to ‘Lord Ganapathy’ can also be seen
inside the fort. An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Venkataramana
built 300 years ago in the vicinity.
Tipu’s Summer Palace (1789):
To the south was started by Haider Ali and completed by his son Tipu
Sultan in 1789. It is now a fascinating museum which houses a number
of artifacts which proclaim Tipu’s bravery and his deftness in
warfare dating back to Tipu’s era. His modest palace in notable for
its elegant teak pillars sculpted walls and carved ceilings. The
Wodeyars added the Venkataramaswami Temple at the entrance of the
palace later in the 18th century.
Bangalore Palace:
It is a unique replica of theWindsor Castle built by the Wodeyar
rulers in the 18th century complete with granite turrets towers and
battlements. The grounds are massive and include a formal garden.
Lalbagh Botanical Gardens:
It does back to 1760. During Hyder Ali’s era his son Tipu added a
wealth of plants and trees from many countries in this 240-acre
landscape. The name ‘Lalbagh’ reasons with the teeming red roses in
the garden. This collection has grown to over 1800 species to date.
The Glass House holds exhibitions and flower shows. There are major
flower displays here in the week preceding Republic day and the week
before Independence Day.
Cubbon Park:
Located in the cantonment and sprawls across 300 acres this scruffy
Park is one of the main ‘lungs’ of the city. It was laid out by Lt.
General Sir Mark Cubbon in 1863. On its fringes are the superbly
restored neoclassic High Court the grand Public library two
municipal museum and a dull acquarium.
The Government Museum :
The Government Museum one of the oldest in India was established in
1886 and houses a collection of stone carvings, pottery, weapons,
Paintings, and some good pieces from Halebid. It has 18 galleries
and exhibits Nelithic finds the Indus Valley and Mohenjodaro.
Venkattappa Art Gallery next door displays works of the Karnataka
painters.
The Visvesvaraya Technological and Industrial Museum :
The Visvesvaraya Technological and Industrial Museum is usually full
of school children pressing buttons on exhibits that reflect India’s
technological progress.Attractive models are displayed here
depicting the industrial and technological developments of India. It
comes under the management of the ‘Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research New Delhi.
Vidhan Soudha :
It is located in the north west of Cubbon Park and is one of the
most impressive State Legislative Houses and Secretariats in the
country. Based on a Neo-Dravidian style of architecture this massive
granite complex was built in1957. The door of the cabinet room is
made of pure sandalwood. The wonderful dome can be seen on all
working days with the permission of the Under Secretary.
Ulsoor Lake:
This is a pretty picnic spot. It is located towards north-east of
the city. Boating facilities are available. There is also a modern
public swimming pool.
Karnataka Folk Museum:
The Karnataka Janapada Trust manages this museum where many rare
masks artifacts and costumes are displayed. It also boasts of an
impressive collection of folk music and videos of folk dances.It is
located at Kumara Park West Sheshadripuram.
Jawahar BAL Bhavan:
A children’s theatre an amusement park and a toy train are the main
attractions here. It is closed on Mondays and second Tuesdays of the
month.
Bugle Rock:
This rock stands as a mute witness to the bygone era of the founder
of Bangalore when it served as the watchtower and in case of any
attack a bugle call from here alerted the inhabitants of the twon.
Jawahar Nehru Planetarium:
The sky theatre with a dome of fifteen metres in diameter attracts
all the amateur astronomers and the commoners to this Planetarium.
It was founded in 1989 to commemorate the birth centenary of
Jawaharlal Nehru the First Prime Minister of India.
Musical Fountain:
Another attraction opposite the planetarium is the musical fountain
and its dancing waters.
Thavakkal Mastan Saab Dargah :
This Durgah of the Sufi saint Thavakkal Mastan is associated with
Karaga festival as the procession always stops here to pay respects
before it proceeds to the temple of Dharmarayan a true symbol of the
unity that exists amongst the people of different faiths.
St.May’s Basilica Church:
Abbe Dubois a French missionary built a small chapel in 1818 and
later Rev.Kleiner transformed this into a huge Gothic Style church
in 1882 which is decorated with stained glass from Europe. Pope John
Paul 1V gave the Church the status of a Basilica in 1973 through a
papal order. Situated in Shivajinagar it is the oldest church in
Bangalore. It is believed that it was built in the 16th century but
it was transfigured into the present shape in 1832. It is also known
as the church of’Our Lady of Health’. An annual festival is
celebrated in September marked by the grand procession of Virgin
Mary followed by thousands of devotees. |
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