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Bangalore
- the capital of the Indian province Karnataka - is almost 500 years
old. It is truly a cosmopolitan city with all amenities for
modern life. Bangalore has a lot to offer to the tourist -
modern marvels, historic buildings, monuments, bazaars, parks,
cinema and theatre. Bangalore is a shopper's paradise -
traditional silks, coffee, jewellery and handicrafts are on sale.
It is a very clean and green city, better known as the "Garden
City".
NAME OF BANGALORE :
The Hoysala ruler of the tenth century, King Vira Ballala, was lost
in a dense forest on a hunting expedition. He took refuge in a
lonely hut of an old woman. The woman gave him a meal of benda
kalu (boiled beans). The next day the king found his way back
home and told everyone of his adventure. When a village sprung
up in the area, it became known as the town of "benda kalu",
which was further abglicized to Bangalore.
Anothertheory for Bangalore's name is that ruler Kempe Gowda wanted
to burn down the forest to build a town. Bangalore got its
name from the "town of the burnt forest" or "benda
kaduru".
HISTORY OF BANGALORE : In 1537, Kempa Gowda, built as the
nucleus of his new city of Bangalore, a mud fort, with eight gates
and temples. In 1687, the Mughals captured Bangalore from the
Bijapur Sultanate and gave it on lease to King Chikkadevaraya
Wadiyar of Mysore. In the 19 th century Bangalore passed on to
the hands of the British. 1947, 15 August - Independence Day,
India - Bangalore gained independence from the British.
PLACES OF INTEREST:
VIDHAN SOUDHA : Built entirely from Bangalore granite stands
the Legislative Chambers of the State Government and offices of
administration.
CURBON PARK : Situated at the heart of the city, sprawling
over 300 acres f land, laid in 1864, by Cubbon, and then
Commissioner of Mysore State. The park is well known for its
red Gothic structures of State Central Library and High Court.
The Library has a rich collection of rare books.
BAL BHAVAN : A fun place for kiddies. It enfolds to them
the mysteries of the ocean.
THE FORT AND TIPU SULTAN'S PALACE : Originally a mud and brick
building built by Kempegowda and rebuilt by Hyder Ali and his son
Tipu Sultan in the eighteenth century. Nearly in ruins it
stands as a silent testimony to the struggle of Tipu Sultan against
British domination. Tipu Sultan's palace is near to the Fort
and is now a museum.
LAL BAGH GARDENS : A botanical garden. Laid out by Hyder
Ali and his son Tipu Sultan more than 200 years ago. Rare
trees and plants were brought from Persia, Afghanistan, France and
other far away countries. Flower shows are held in the garden
twice a year. Lal Bagh also has a deer park, rose garden and a
unique flower clock.
THE BULL TEMPLE : Image of Nandi the celestial Bull is carved
on granite and an excellent example of Dravidian architecture.
SRI GURU GANGADHARESHWARA TEMPLE : It's a unique example of
engineering, technical, art, sculpture, architectural and
astronomical skills of our ancient sculptures. This is
revealed on the 14 / 15 of January, every year when a ray of
sunlight passes through the horns of the stone bull outside the
temple and luminates the idol inside. There is a well
preserved granite moon and sun disc and enormous stone umbrellas.
TALAKAD : Now buried in the sand, an ancient town and pilgrim
centre, located at the bank of the Cauvery. The Dravidian
style Vaidyeshwara temple is now only visible. Once in 12
years during Panchalinga Darshan, the sleeping town awakes.
DODDA ALADA MARA : Also known as Ramohalli, a beautiful place,
and a fine picnic spot. There is a huge 400 years old Banyan
tree, spreading over 3 acres, a botanical wonder.
BANNERGHATA : A haven for wild life lovers. This
national park has lions, tigers, crocodile and snake farm.
BUGLE ROCK : A mammoth rock 3000 years old attracting world
wide geological interest.
ATTARA KATERCHI : Literally meaning "eighteen
courts", it was built in 1867 to house the secretariat.
Today it houses the High Court and several other courts.
JAWAHAR BALA BHAVAN : An amusement park full of funky rides
for kiddies.
GOVERNMENT MUSEUM : There are sections on natural history,
geology, art, sculpture and numismatics. There are ancient
relics of the Indus Valley Civilization, prehistoric finds of the
Neolithic period, South Indian jewellery, relics of Tipu Sultan's
palace.
VISVEWARAYA INDUSTRIAL & TECHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM : It has
several rooms each devoted to one discipline or aspect of
technology.
CHITRAKALA PARISHAT : A treasure house of Karnataka's
classical art, it has a collection of rare traditional paintings and
puppets of rustic charm.
DHARMARAJA TEMPLE : Famous for the images of Dharmaraja Swami
- the hero of the epic Mahabharata, and the other of Lord Krishna.
VENKATARAMANASWAMY TEMPLE : A temple with the best features of
Dravidian Temple Art.
SOMESWARA TEMPLE : An ancient Chola structure that was
renovated and expanded.
HANUMANTHARAYANAGUDDA TEMPLE : Modern Hindu temple. Has
a concrete statue of Rama and Hanumana locked in embrace.
LAKHSMIDEVI SHRINE : The fort would crumble down whenever it
was being built. The idea of human sacrifice was turned down
by the builder Kempe Gowda. Gowda's daughter-in-law however
sacrificed herself without letting anyone now. The temple was
constructed in her memory.
ANNAMMA TEMPLE : Seven superbly carved deities are enshrined
in a row of small niches in the sanctum of this temple.
RAGANATHASWAMI TEMPLE : A very ancient temple.
KADUMALLESWARA TEMPLE : An enchanting Siva Temple.
ST.MARY'S CATHEDRAL : Built in Gothic style in 1882 by French
missionary.
CHURCHES : St.Mark's Church and St.John's Church are
handsomely built.
ST. MARK'S CATHEDRAL : A 1926 structure with a row of Roamn
arches and a grand dome.
JUMMA MASJID : The city's oldest mosque.
DARGAH HAZARAT : The tomb of Sufi Saint Tawakkhal Mastan.
JAMI MASJID : Ancient mosque.
IBRAHIM SHAH SAHEB'S MOSQUE : A mosque of great charm and
splendour.
PARASHWANATHSWAMI JAIN TEMPLE : Breath taking architecture
with the ceiling hall decorated with coloured glass work. The
main idol shows the Jain Saint Parashwanatha in religious pose.
GURUDWARA : A masterpiece with beautiful marble work.
ULSOOR TANK : Located in the old cantonment area, the tank has
several buildings on its banks that were once part of British army
life.
CENTRAL COLLEGE : A huge Gothic style structure built in 1866
to house the city's earliest college.
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE : India's premier science
institute whose almini list reads like a Who's Who of Indian
scientists.
MAHARAJA'S BANGALORE PALACE : A fairly close imitation of
Windsor Castle.
GANDHI BHAVAN : An introduction to the Gandhian way of life
provided by film shows, books and lectures.
HALLS : The Daly Memorial Hall, Mayo Hall and Puttanachetty
Hall are interesting blends of Indian and European architecture.
Our
thanks to Pallavi from India for this article.
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