Bangalore

Bangalore (Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) (pronounced /'{{IPA|bɛŋgəɫurʊ}}/ in Kannada and /'{{IPA|bæŋgəlʊɹ}}/ in English) is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is India's third largest city and India's fifth largest metropolitan area, with a 2001 population of about 6.5 million {{inote|indias largest city|http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1124669604&men=gcis&lng=en&gln=xx&dat=32&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&pt=c&va=&geo=-104}} {{inote|india's largest MA|http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1124669609&men=gcis&lng=en&gln=xx&dat=32&geo=-104&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&va=&pt=a}}

History

Pottery dating back to 4000 BCE and silver coins of Roman emperors, Augustus, Tyberius and Claudius have been excavated in and around present-day Bangalore district, but have not revealed much about its inhabitants.

Related Topics:
4000 BCE - Silver - Roman emperors - Augustus - Tyberius - Claudius

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The inscription stone found near Begur reveals, that the district was part of the Ganga kingdom of Gangavadi until 1004 and was known as 'Benga-val-oru' or City of Guards in Telugu. The Cholas of Tamil Nadu captured the city in 1015 AD and collected taxes through the local chieftans until 1116. The district came under the rule of Hoysala kingdom of Vira Ballala Raya II until the establishment of the Vijayanagara empire in 1336. Kempe Gowda I (1510 - 1570), who migrated from Kancheepuram back to Bangalore due to a personal fued with the chief of Kancheepuram established the city of Bangalore under the Vijayanagar empire. The document describing the city as he conceptualised it, written in Jelugu the commonly spoken language of this region, is still preserved. This language is still spoken in the villages of Bangalore, Yelahanka, Devanhalli, Doddaballapur, Hoskote, Anekal and Hosur districts.

Related Topics:
1004 - Cholas - Tamil Nadu - 1116 - Vijayanagara empire - 1336 - Kempe Gowda I - 1510 - 1570 - Kancheepuram

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The reign of Bangalore changed hands several times. It was captured by the Maratha chief Shahji Bhonsle working for Adil Shahi the sultans of Bijapur in 1638. It was then conquered by the Mughals in 1686. The Mughals leased it to the Mysore ruler Chikkadevaraya in 1689. Later Haider Ali captured Bangalore in 1759. The British under Lord Cornwallis conquered the place in 1799 after defeating Tipu Sultan and gave it back to the Mysore King.

Related Topics:
Maratha - Bhonsle - Adil Shahi - Sultan - Bijapur - 1638 - Mughals - 1686 - Mysore - 1689 - Haider Ali - 1759 - Cornwallis - 1799 - Tipu Sultan

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Plague

Bangalore was hit by a plague epidemic in 1898. The epidemic took a huge toll and many of the temples were built during this time. Many of these temples are called "Maramma" temples after the plague deity. It is believed that this epidemic helped in the development of Bangalore and improvements in sanitation and health facilities helped in modernizing Bangalore. A plague officer was appointed and the city was divided into four wards.

Related Topics:
Plague - Epidemic - Deity

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City planning

Telephone lines were laid to help coordinate anti-plague operations. Regulations for building new houses with proper facilities of sanitation came into effect. A health officer was appointed in 1898 and the Victoria Hospital was inaugurated in 1900 by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy. In 1906, Bangalore became the first city in Asia to have electricity, powered by the hydroelectic plant situated in Shivanasamudra.

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The plague of 1898 also led to the expansion of Bangalore. Basavanagudi (named after the Basaveshwara Temple or the Bull Temple in the Sunkenahalli village) and Malleshwaram (named after the Kadu Malleshwara Temple in the old Mallapura village) were created during this time. Kalasipalyam (near the old fort) and Gandhinagar were created between 1921-1931. Kumara Park came into existence in 1947 and Jayanagar in 1948.

Related Topics:
1921 - 1931 - Jayanagar - 1948

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Bangalore is a former cantonment and Civil and Military Station after 1881 and has roads named according to military conventions such as Artillery Road, Brigade Road, CMH Road, Infantry Road and Cavalry Road. The South Parade (presently Mahatma Gandhi Road) was to the south of the Parade Ground. The cantonment area was administered by a Resident and his quarters was called the Residency and hence the Residency Road. In around 1883, three extensions were added to the Municipal area of the Cantonment, namely, Richmond Town, followed by Benson Town and Cleveland Town.

Related Topics:
Cantonment - 1881 - Artillery - Infantry - Cavalry - Mahatma Gandhi

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Today the sprawling metropolitan region of Bangalore extends from Peenya Industrial Area in the West to Indiranagar and Whitefield, India in the East; from Yelahanka Town in the North, to J.P. Nagar in the South.

Related Topics:
Indiranagar - Whitefield, India

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Bangalore was never planned to be the boomtown metropolis it is now. Rather, it was viewed traditionally as a place of retreat, also called a 'Pensioner's Paradise'. This lack of planning, coupled with government corruption, has led to its current infrastructure problems.

Related Topics:
Government corruption - Infrastructure problems

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