Before we start talking about BAngalore we willsay a few words about the home of Bangalore,its umbrella, namely Kanataka. Karnataka is a state in Southern India. It is best known for its software industry and now biotechnology. As you see Bangalore is part of Karnataka. Consequently, what may be found in Karnataka may be found in Bangalore. For example, Bangalore is a seat of the software moghuls of India.
Bangalore has an interesting history. It was first known as 'Benguluru'. The earliest reference to the name Benguluru was found in a 9th century Ganga inscription on hero stone. 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 deep in 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'. Since that time until our days Bangalore is known as Bangalore city of baked beans.
Nowadays Bangalore is known as the garden city, the silicon valley of the east, and the fifth largest city of India and the capital city of the state of Karnataka.
A bustling industrial city, it is never too hot in Bangalore to dissuade one from a walk in the sun nor is it ever too cold to perpetuate the discomfort of a North Indian winter. This salubrious weather is God's gift and the verdant environs of the city are effectively protecting it. Bangalore is green. It is not just a speck of carefully cultivated patch of verdure one finds in the major cities of India. Bangalore has tree-lined avenues à la California, numerous parks and sprawling golf courses.
In Bangalore you will meet people of different religions. It is a cosmopolitan metro. Though natives of the state are largely Hindus, there is a sizeable Christian and Muslim population too. There is a very small population of marwaris, gujaratis, jainis, konkanis and parsis that have made Bangalore their home.
What languages will you hear in Bangalore? The native language of Karnataka is Kannada. The population of Karnataka is predominantly Kannada speaking as Kannada also is the state's official language. English is also very widely spoken here. So are Hindi, Konkani, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.
Karnataka is rich in art and crafts and most of it is freely available in the various shopping malls in Bangalore city. The famous crafts of the state include bidri work, sandalwood artifacts, and Lambani jewellery. Karnataka is also famous for its fragrant incense sticks or agarbattis.
Bangalore is a city where all the major festivals are celebrated with pomp and splendor. Diwali, Christmas, Dassara, Ramadan, Id are all celebrated with gaiety by people of all faiths. One of the regional festivals celebrated is the Karaga festival. This festival falls in the months of March / April. Karaga is an earthen pot embodying Shakti and is taken out in a night procession for more than 12 miles before being immersed in the Sampangi tank. In November Kadalekaye Parishe is celebrated; in this the local farmers worship at the Bull temple and is also known as the Peanut festival. Decide what festival you would like to see and take part in when you are in Bangalore and plan your trip beforehand.