Living in Bangalore

In the year 1537, Kempe Gowda built as the nucleus of his new city of Bangalore, a mud fort, with eight gates which lent their names to different areas: Ulsoor Gate, Kengiri Gate etc. Inside the fortress walls, the city grew into a bustling commercial area, dividing into pets or localities where one trade dominated each area. To this day these areas bear their countries' old names, such as Chickpet (little town), Doddapet (big town), Taragupet (grain market), Halipet (cotton market) etc.

In 1687, the Mughals captured Bangalore from the Bijapur Sultanate and gave it on lease to King Chikkadevaraya Wadiyar of Mysore, eventually selling the city to the Mysore rulers for a paltry five hundres thousand Rupees! The 19th century saw Bangalore grow from a mere military station to a flourishing administrative center and a prime residential locality with an aura of graciousness that sets it apart from other cantonments. It was separated from the old town, which had the fort as its nucleus, by a strip of open land about a mile-and-a-half wide. Mysore State acceded to the union in 1947 and the then Maharajah, Sri Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar, nephew of his predecessor, became Rajpramukh (governor). When the Indian states were reorganized on a linguistic basis by the States Reorganization Act of 1956, a new Mysore State (renamed Karnataka in 1973) was formed to unite the Kannada-speaking areas of the country and Bangalore remained the state capital.

Climate

Bangalore is endowed by nature with a very salubrious and equable climate. The mean temperature in the warmest month (April) is 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) and in the coldest month (January) is 20.4 °C (68.8 °F). The temperature during the day rarely exceeds 34 °C (93 °F) in summer (April and May) and seldom falls below 15.5 °C (60 °F) on winter nights (December, January and February). The atmosphere is neither very humid nor very dry. The mean values of the relative humidity in the wettest (September) and driest (January) months are 76 and 63 percent respectively.
The period from June to September considered the "Season" in Bangalore.

Rainfall

Bangalore receives the benefit of the South west and North East monsoons. The average annual rainfall is 87 centimeters. October and November are rainy months but the downpour during these months is only about 17 cms. December to March is practically dry.

Population

The increase in population of Bangalore is very rapid since 1955. From 1 million in 1955, it went up to 2 million in 1970 and it is estimated to have crossed 55 million today.

The main languages spoken are Kannada 31%, Tamil 27%, Telugu 17%, Hindustani/Urdu 15%.

Electricity

Supply of electricity for industrial use is made at 400 volts, 50 cycles, 3 phase (4 wire system), while of domestic use it is supplied at 230 volts, 50 cycles, single phase.

Bangalore had made rapid progress in industrial development. There are many large, medium and small-scale industrial concerns in and around Bangalore. The number of electronic equipment manufacturing units are growing. The Information Technology Park at White Field, 16 km from Bangalore, is being jointly developed by Singapore Information Technology Investments Private Ltd., Tata Industries and Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board. The Park provides office space and residential apartments. Garments manufacture is another important industry developing in Bangalore. The industrial growth in and around Bangalore has naturally catalysed the commercial activity.

The Bangalore Transport Service (B.T.S.), buses and a limited number of 'pushpak' special buses ply on different routes intersecting the city. Suburban bus service connects the city with a number of villages and towns situated at short distances from the city. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus service connects many towns within and outside the state.

A good number of private buses operate from Kalasipalyam Bus Stand near the City Market and also from Dhanvantry Raod (Tank Bund Road) near the Bangalore Bus station. The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, 10/4, Kasturba Road, Bangalore - 1 (Phone 22212901), conducts tours to places of interest in Karnataka. Several authorised travel agencies also arrange conducted tours and Bangalore sightseeing trips. Taxies and auto rickshaw are available for quick and easy transport within the city.

Cultural Activities

Bangalore is an important centre for cultural, religious and social activities. Some institutions periodical exhibitions, recitals, drama, music and dance performances, lectures, symposia, and group discussions that entertain and educate. Some of the daily programmes appear 'In the City To-day' in Deccan Herald, Indian Express, The Hindu, The Times of India and some Kannada dailies.

Progressive Bangalore

Bangalore, the fifth largest city in India, has been classified as 'A' class city. The growth of the city has been phenomenal in recent years, largely due to unprecedented industrial progress with the establishment of many large, medium and small scale industries and technical and professional institutions of national importance.

Places of Interest

There are a number of tourist attractions to visit in and around the city of Bangalore. Of historical, religious and contemporary interests, these tourists spots are easily accessible and worth a visit. The Vidhan Soudha makes the major attraction in Bangalore. The building is a massive neo-Dravidian architecture presently functioning as the state legislative assembly. The Cubbon Park in the heart of the city, Lal Bagh (famous for the blooming red roses), and the Bangalore Palace are some of the other must see attractions of this garden city. The Venkatappa Art Gallery houses about 600 paintings on display. The Tipu's Palace and the adjoining fort are fine examples of Indo-Islamic architecture that also offer a glimpse into the Mughal lifestyle of the day. Among the religious places, the ISKCON Temple, Shiva Statue, and the Bull Temple are worth visiting. Besides, one can also visit the Aquarium, which is the second largest in the country, as well as the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium.