Your experience begins when you arrive in Bangalore by air, road, rail from Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras or other important Indian Cities and towns. Ranked among the fastest growing cities in South Asia, Bangalore is one of India's most attractive and enjoyable cities. Blessed with a salubrious climate and dotted with beautiful parks, avenues and buildings which have earned it the sobriquet "Garden City", it is truly cosmopolitan in nature and popular for horse racing, golf, tennis, luxury hotels and palate-tickling cuisine.
The bazaars and shopping malls offer a fine selection of silks, sandal wood souvenirs, handicrafts and fragrant incense sticks. Communication is very simple in this city where people can converse in English, Kannada and Hindi with equal ease.
Bangalore was first known as 'Benguluru'. The earliest reference to the name Benguluru was found in a 9th century Ganga inscription on herostone. This inscription was found in Begur and Benguluru is referred to as a place in which a battle was fought. Most scholars believe that the name has a floral origin and is derived from the tree 'Benga', also known as the Indian Kino.
According to one of the stories associated with it, in the year 1120 AD, the Chola King, Veera Ballalla ruled the Deccan plateau or the South of India. On a hunting trip to the forest, he lost his way. Famished and exasperated, after a long search, he met an old lady in the forest who offered him
shelter for the night and served him baked beans for dinner. To show his gratitude to this lady for having helped him out, the King constructed a town and named it as 'Benda Kalooru', which means 'Baked Beans'.
The place that was referred to as 'Benguluru' in the Ganga inscription was originally a hamlet and is found even today in a place called Kodigehalli, which is not too far away from Hebbal. Today however, this hamlet is called 'Halebenguluru' or 'Old Bangalore'. It is believed that when Kempe Gowda I built the new capital in 1537 AD, he used a more anglicised version of the name Benguluru and called the town Bangalore. Kempegowda- I's mother and wife both belonged to the township that is known as Halebenguluru today.
Vidhana Soudha :
This imposing edifice built almost entirely of dressed Bangalore granite is a tribute to temple architecture. Housing the Legislative Chambers of the state government, this 46 meter high seat of the government is Bangalore's best known landmark. This is one of Bangalore's most important buildings. Mr. Kengal Hanumanthaiah the then chief minister of Mysore decided to construct the Vidhana Soudha entirely along Indian style of architecture. There are four domes on all the four corners. The main entrance is overshadowed by the four headed lion,the symbol of Indian sovereignty. It houses 22 departments and 300 rooms.
Cubbon Park :In 1864, Lord Cubbon, the then viceroy of India, laid out 300 acres of verdant tranquility. Today, it remains anoasis of greenery in the heart of modern Bangalore. This beautiful park is the haunt of the seeker of pleasure and tranquillity and is highly popular with walkers, joggers and nature lovers. Situated close to the High Court is the State Central Library, worth a visit for its rare treasure of books and building has the "pompeian red" colour and architectural style of stone and fluted pillars, with walls finished in lime plaster. Apart from its rich flora, Cubbon Park houses a number of institutions of significance like the Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall, Ottawa Chatter, Museum, Century Club and the Press Club.
Bangalore Palace : The Bangalore Palace in the heart of the city is a unique edifice inspired by Windsor castle and built in the Tudor style in 1880 at the cost of Rs 1 million. A built-up area of around 45,000 sq. ft., this 110 year old monument is a popular tourist attraction. Built by the Wodeyar King it is surrounded by a garden all around, almost giving it a fairytale setting.
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