Bangalore, India

Population: 10,960,871 (2023 estimate)

Area: 187 square miles (484 square kilometers)

Founded: 1537

Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka and the center of an urban area with a population of more than twenty million people by the early 2020s. It is the fourth-largest city and fourth-largest urban area in India and is projected to continue to grow. In 2006 it officially became known as Bengaluru, as it has been known since in the native Kannada language. Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India because it is home to a large percentage of the country's millions of information technology (IT) professionals and the site of many headquarters of India’s major technology companies, as well as the Indian headquarters of many international corporations. Other important industries that boost the economy include pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Nearly 40 percent of the population are transplants from other areas of India or other countries.

Landscape

Bangalore is in southern India on the Deccan Plateau, and at 3,064 feet (934 meters) above sea level, is the major Indian city at the highest elevation. The plateau is largely open country with gently sloping valleys. The city and surrounding area are dotted with lakes, and a minor river, Vrishabhavathi, runs through the southern portion of the city. The river is heavily polluted by sewage. The rapid growth of Bangalore through the twentieth and into the twenty-first century outpaced the water supply, and the city is forced to divert fresh water from the Cauvery River, which is 60 miles (97 kilometers) to the west and at a lower elevation. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the state government began considering another river, the Sharavathi, about 180 miles (290 kilometers) to the northwest, as an additional water source to meet the needs of the fastest-growing city in India.

Bangalore’s climate is tropical yet comfortable all year round. The average annual temperature is about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius). The warmest month is April, which averages about 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). December, the coldest month, averages about 69 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). Annual rainfall is about 33 inches (831 millimeters), with most rain falling in summer. The driest month is January, which typically sees a trace of precipitation, while September is the wettest month with an average of about 7 inches (182 millimeters) of rainfall.

People

In 2023, Bangalore's estimated population was 10,960,871 people. The city is located at the juncture of three cultures: the Kennadu-, Telugu-, and Tamil-speaking people. However, Bangalore owes its phenomenal growth to an influx of workers drawn to the IT industry and as such boasts one of the world’s most highly educated workforces. The most common language, Kannada, is spoken by 38 percent of the population, with another 28 percent speaking Tamil. Telagu (17 percent), Urdu (13 percent), Malayalam (3 percent), and Hindi (2.5 percent) are also spoken.

The major religion is Hinduism, with about 80 percent claiming adherence to the faith, and many famous and historic Hindu temples are located in the city. About 13 percent of the population reports following Islam, while about 5.25 percent describe themselves as Christians.

The population skews male, with a ratio of 932 females to every 1,000 males in the city. Though the ratio is slightly better in rural areas, a shortage of women is an ongoing concern for many families.

Literacy is high, at about 87.8 percent. Male literacy at 91 percent is higher than female literacy, which lags at 84 percent. Bangalore is home to a number of institutes of higher learning, including Bangalore Medical College, Brindavan Engineering College, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, and the Indian Institute of Science–Bangalore. Many private universities opened in the early twentieth century.

Economy

The economy of modern Bangalore is a blend of science and technology. The numerous universities educate a wealth of engineers and entrepreneurs, while many others are drawn to the city by the possibilities of the high-tech hub. IT industries as well as venture capitalists contribute to the city’s reputation and economy. Bangalore’s infrastructure and government investments draw companies to relocate to the city, which results in the relocation of more engineers and scientists. Many entrepreneurs come to Bangalore to launch their startups. International companies such as Microsoft, Texas Instruments, and Uber also operate in the city.

In addition to high-tech industries, the area is known for its agriculture. Major crops include millet, oilseed, rice, and maize, as well as coconut and such fruits and vegetables as bananas and mangos. Chilies and a range of spices are also grown around Bangalore. Sheep and cattle graze on farmland at the city’s fringes. An important industry is the growth of mulberry to feed silk worms, which are important to the textile industry. Bangalore’s carpet industry has long been regarded as producing durable products, and modern exports include cotton textiles and ready-made garments. Other exports are machinery, equipment, aircraft machine tools, fruits and vegetables, flowers, telephones, motor tools, transmission equipment, and dairy products. Sandalwood products and incense sticks are among other products made in Bangalore. The city and surrounding areas contain a large number of quarries where granite is hewn for export.

Transportation systems have been critical to Bangalore’s continued growth. The city lies on the main north-south national highway that traverses central India. Major roads link it with the cities of Mumbai and Chennai. The city is also a regional rail hub, with lines coming from all directions. Outside the city proper, the Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru serviced 16.2 million passengers and 411,550 tonnes (453,660 short tons) of cargo between 2021 and 2022.

Landmarks

Bangalore has many historical landmarks. A Tudor-inspired estate surrounds Bangalore Palace, which was built in 1887 by King Chamaraja Wadiyar. Now open to the public, it is known for its Tudor and Scottish Gothic architecture. Many of the interior features were imported from Britain. The granite palace includes fortified towers, turreted parapets, and Roman arches. The focal point of the interior courtyard is a fountain that was a gift from a member of the Spanish royal family. The art collection housed in the palace includes nineteenth- and twentieth-century paintings. The grounds of the palace are groomed and open to visitors and are popular wedding spots.

Located in the city’s old fort area, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace was begun in 1781 and completed a decade later. The palace’s name, Rash e Zannat, means “envy of heavens.” Constructed of teak wood, stone, mortar, and plaster, the palace has been open to the public since 2005. Carved wooden pillars support the second floor. The architecture is typical of indo-Islamic work. Nearby are the Lord Ganesha Temple, which was built in 1790, and an art gallery.

Bangalore boasts numerous green spaces, including formal parklands. Lalbagh Botanical Garden dates back to the eighteenth century and features an extensive Glass House conservatory building. Cubbon Park boasts a lake and an adjacent garden. It also is home to an aquarium and a library.

The National Cricket Academy of India is located at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The site hosts domestic and international cricket matches. Other international sporting events hosted in the city include tennis matches and soccer. The Bangalore Rugby Club is a local favorite.

Fun World Amusement Park offers rides typical of such venues as well as water slides. It also has Snow City, a snow and ice park with a snow castle, a mountain, and other features. Snow tubes and rafts offer excitement, while a light show caps off the night. The snow is described as eco-friendly, and visitors can borrow winter gear, including gloves and jackets, for their stay.

History

Habitation of the site of Bangalore dates to at least 890 CE, although burial sites nearby date to the Iron Age. In early history, the area was part of various South Indian kingdoms. The Western Ganga Dynasty of Karnataka controlled the area from the fourth through tenth centuries. After many changes in leadership, the Cholas defeated the Western Gangas and held the city until 1117, when they were overthrown and expelled by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysalas.

Modern Bangalore grew from an established settlement around a mud fort that was built by local Vijayanagara chief Kempe Gowda I in 1537 and reconstructed in 1761 of stone. His son built four watchtowers, which remained standing in the twenty-first century. The settlement saw many changes of leadership after the Vijayanagara Empire fell in 1565; however, later the city was divided between Kannadigas and Tamil people. The city became part of the Kingdom of Mysore in the late seventeenth century. It was an economic center and a hub for trade with foreign nations.

The British were making inroads from the coast during the late eighteenth century. The Mysorean Army held off attacks through three wars. However, during the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–2), British troops took the fort in Bangalore and established a British stronghold there. They built the Military Cantonment, a city-state near the city’s oldest section. The 5-square-mile (13-square-kilometer) military base was later settled by Europeans and missionaries. As of 2020, this area was home to many government buildings.

Britain ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1858 until 1947, when India and Pakistan gained independence. The British administration had its headquarters in Bangalore from 1831–1881. Bangalore’s textile manufacturing was boosted starting with a cotton boom during the 1860s. Spinning and weaving mills were established to process the raw fiber. Britain continued to maintain administrative and military facilities in the city until Indian independence. It was the capital of the new state, Mysore, which was renamed Karnataka in 1973.

In the middle of the twentieth century, India was primarily an agricultural and a manufacturing country known for low-cost land and labor. After independence, the government dedicated funds to public-sector projects, such as telecommunications and defense, including in Bangalore. The city was already known as a center for science and technology, having been the first Indian city to install electric street lights in 1905 and being the home of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) since the 1940s. With greater investment by the government, manufacturing companies took note. Many, including the National Aerospace Laboratories and the Indian Telephone Industries, moved their headquarters to Bangalore.

With such prominent companies, the city drew engineers and scientists, launching the IT boom of the early twenty-first century. This captured the interest of new companies developing robotics for manufacturing. Further investments in infrastructure to support these newcomers made Bangalore an increasingly attractive site for other businesses, and some global companies such as Amazon and Infosys relocated their headquarters from other cities.

The next stage of growth evolved as entrepreneurs and startup businesses sought to launch or scale up and set up their offices in Bangalore. The city’s tech hub reputation also inspired attendant businesses, such as cafés, restaurants, nightclubs, and other destinations. In 2016 the federal government lent further support to entrepreneurs with a new program, Startup India, to offer assistance such as funding, talent acquisition, and tax benefits. The state government offered aid with the 2015 Karnataka Startup Policy, which offered funds to stimulate growth. In 2022 the government approved a new installment of the Startup Policy, which would provide financial support for tech businesses in Bangalore from 2022 to 2027.

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