Bangalore
Bangalore or Bengaluru as it is now known is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India’s third most populated city.
Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its preeminent position as the nation’s leading IT hub. Bangalore is home to some of the most well-recognized colleges and research institutions in India. Numerous public sector heavy industries, software companies, aerospace, telecommunications, and defence organizations are located in and around the city. A demographically diverse city, Bangalore is a major economic center and the fastest growing major metropolis in India.
The earliest records of a place named ‘Bengaluru’ were found in a 9th century temple in an area that is now known as ‘Old Bangalore.’
The year 1831 marked a major turning point for the city. Claiming misrule by the king Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, the British took control of the Mysore Kingdom and, possibly due to the city’s mild climate, moved the administrative capital to Bangalore.
With an estimated population of 5.30 million (2009), the cosmopolitan nature of the city has resulted in the migration of people from other states to Bangalore. There are very few yellow-top taxis in the city, mostly around the airport area, but tourist taxis are easily available from agencies, hotels and taxi stands. Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation maintains a fleet of cars for hire. The city also runs an efficient metered autorickshaws system, which is the most preferred mode of transport here.
Places of interest
Cubbon Park
One of the most visited tourist sites of Bangalore, over 300 acre of this wooded and beflowered park were laid out in the heart of the cantonment in 1864. Since then fairy fountains, an august bandstand and a wealth of statuary have been added. But the most important aspect of Cubbon Park is its newer buildings that have brought it cultural wealth. It has some of the most beautifully laid out gardens, thanks to the ever pleasant weather of the city.
Lalbagh Garden
Another important place of visit in Bangalore is the Lalbagh gardens. Hyder Ali laid out these famous botanical garden and his son added more value to it by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden today has over 1000 species of flora. The Glass House, modeled on London’s Crystal Palace, is the center of attraction in this 2400-acre park. This exotic place forms a perfect place for leisure, cool and chill evening for the Bangalorians.
Vidhana Soudha
This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon Park is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door of the Cabinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building, which becomes beautiful of a when it is lit with myriad lights in the evening.
ISKCON Temple
Sri Sri Radha Krishna Chandra Temple is accredited for having the ISKCON’s largest temple complex in the world. Being made by the Iskcon Sect, the magnificent shrine is commonly known as ISKCON Temple. Located on west of Chord Road in Bangalore, the colossal shrine sprawls on seven-acres of ‘Hare Krishna Hill’.
The huge shrine was started under the global project of ISKCON to memorialize the birthday of its founder, Sri Prabhupada.
The ornamental arches and illuminated water jets escort to the richly decorated Rajagopuram (main shrine). The main shrine comprises the stunningly beautiful idols of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. A remarkable feature of this place is the ceiling of the main hall which is festooned with wonderful paintings by the Russian painters.
The splendid structure of the temple is worth-seeing because the celestial grandeur cannot be bounded in words. Lush green gardens in the campus appear mesmerizing to the onlooker. Iskcon Temple can be reached easily by taking regular buses, local vehicles or by hiring taxis from the city of Bangalore.
Other places of interest include
Due to its high elevation, Bangalore usually enjoys salubrious climate throughout the year, although heat waves can make things very uncomfortable in the summer.
Know more about Bangalore – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalore
