History & City Info.
I n 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 lakh 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<198> (80.8F)
and in the coldest month (January) is 20.4<198>C(68.8F). The
temperature during the day rarely exceeds 34<198>C(93F) in
summer (April and May) and seldom falls below 15.5<198>C (60F 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.
Early morning mist of
fog occurs between October to February but mainly in December
and January. An important feature which influences the climate
of Bangalore is the low cloud which covers almost the entire sky
during greater part of the day from June to September. The
morning hours in these months, with overcast skies, little or no
rain and a fresh breeze with temperature of the order of
21<198>C to 25<198>C (70<198>F to 77<198>F) are the most
pleasant in the year. 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 10
lakhs in 1955, it went up to 20 lakhs in 1970 and it is
estimated to have crossed 55 lakhs today.
City
Administration
The
administration of the city vests with the corporation of the
city of Bangalore which was constituted under the city of
Bangalore Corporation Act LXIX of 1949.
Languages Spoken
The main
languages spoken are Kannada 31%, Tamil 27%, Telugu 17%,
Hindustani/Urdu 15%, other languages 10%.
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.
Industries
Bangalore had
made rapid progress in industrial development. There are many
large, medium and small-scale industrial concerns in and around
Bangalore, Producing a variety of items. The number of
electronic equipement manufacturing units has gone up. 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.
Transport
The Bangalore
Transport Service (B.T.S.) busses 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
2212901)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.
Milk Supply
Milk supply
in Bangalore is supplemented by the Bangalore Diary, situated on
the Hosur Road, through retail selling agencies and automatic
milk vending machines installed in most parts of the city. It is
managed by the Federation of Bangalore city and Rural Districts
Co-operative Milk Producers Union.
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.
Every Friday evenings (6:30 p.m.) cultural programmes are
arranged 'Yuvanika' State Youth Centre Nrupathubga Road,
Bangalore - 1, phone no. 2214911
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. The industrial
development at Hosur in Tamil Nadu near Bangalore and suburban areas
has also contributed to the growth of Bangalore. In order to ease
the pressure of traffic around the City Market area, a 2.5 km long
flyover at a cost of Rs. 94 crores has been constructed. This
flyover will connect the Town Hall (N.R.Circle) with Sirsi Circle on
Mysore Road.
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