Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka, southern state of Indian. Located on the Mysore Plateau in southwestern Karnataka, Bangalore has an estimated metropolitan population of 8.4 million (2011), making it India’s third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area. Though historical references to the city predate 900 CE, a written history of continuous settlement exists only from 1537, when Kempe Gowda I, whom many regard as the architect of modern Bangalore, built a mud fort in the city and established it as a province of the Vijayanagara Empire.
On December 11, 2005, the government of Karnataka announced that it had accepted the proposal by Jnanpith Award winner UR Ananthamurthy to rename Bangalore to its Kannada name, Bengaluru. (A number of other Indian cities have enacted similar name changes.) The new name was expected to be effective from November 1, 2006. However, after changes in the political leadership of the state government, it is unclear whether the proposed name change will be implemented within the time frame.
During the British Raj, Bangalore developed as a center for colonial rule in South India. The establishment of the Bangalore Cantonment brought in large numbers of migrant Tamil, Telugu and North Indian workers for developing and maintaining the infrastructure of the cantonment.
After India gained independence in 1947, Bangalore evolved into a manufacturing hub for public sector heavy industries—particularly aerospace, space and defence. The establishment and success of high technology firms in Bangalore after the liberalisation of India’s economy has led to the growth of India’s information technology industry. Bangalore is referred to as the Silicon Valley of India and accounts for 35 percent of India’s software exports. Home to prestigious colleges and research institutions, the city has the second-highest literacy rate among the metropolitan cities in the nation. However, as a large and growing metropolis in the developing world, Bangalore continues to struggle with problems such as air pollution and traffic congestion.
- Area: 2,190 sq.kms.
- Geographical Location: Latitudinal parallels: 12 degree 8′ N, Longitudinal meridians: 77 degree 37′ E
- Altitude: 3000ft. above sea level
- 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
- 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
- State Karnataka
- STD Code + 080
- ISD Code + 91
Reaching the city:
Bangalore Airport is 13km east of the city station. Regular flights operate from Bangalore to Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Panaji, Kochi etc. Bangalore has direct international flights to Sharjah, Muscat and Singapore.
Bangalore is well connected to the rest of the country both by metre gauge and broad gauge rail services. It is an important railway station on the southern railway net work.
Approximate Distance By Road: Bangalore is located at the junction of National Highways 47 and 48 which well connect it to all part of the country with roads. All neighbouring state road transport corporations, from Kerala , Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Maharashtra and Goa, connect the city with their respective states. In addition the Karnataka state Transport Corporation also runs reciprocal services to all part of the state as well as inter-state.
The city bus service is efficient and economical but is usable only during non-peak hours. The other common modes of transport in the city are metered auto-rickshaws and tourist taxis. KSTDC maintains a fleet of cars for hire.City Taxi are available on hire as well.