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Bengaluru, the capital of the southern state of Karnataka, is the third most populous city in India. From the birthing of India’s most loved snacks to the city with the largest number of Nobel Prize nominees, it is truly a place of wonders. Take a look at this comprehensive roundup of 15 incredible facts about Bengaluru.
It is said that during World War II, there was a shortage of rice, the Mavalli Tiffin Room chain of restaurants came up with an innovate idea of using rava as a substitute to rice in idli – the popular South Indian dish.. Thus, began the story of the rava idli. Today regarded as the healthier variant of the popular rice idli’s. Savor this and other Kannada delights by signing up for a food tour in the Cleartrip app.
The high altitude explains Bengaluru’s lovely weather that her residents experience (and boast about) all year round.It is located 3,020 feet above mean sea level, on the Deccan plateau in Southern India, owing to which, the city experiences pleasant summers and romantic, chilly winters.
Bengaluru is home to over twenty-five lakes, which not only provide water to the city, but also offer peace, quiet, and entertainment. The notable ones include Madiwala, Hebbal, and Ulsoor lakes. These lend themselves to a vast ecosystem of flora and fauna, comprising of lilies, pheasant-tailed jacana, weaverbirds, kingfishers and ferns, among others. You can make your way to these lakes to enjoy some kayaking by signing up with the Cleartip app.
Yes! Believe it or not, Bengaluru is the inspiration for R.K. Narayan’s fictional town of Malgudi, where our beloved Swami and his friends are up to all kinds of antics. According to many literary fans, the name for the fictional city is inspired by two neighborhoods in Bengaluru, old Malleswaram and Basavanagudi.
Contrary to popular belief, Mumbai and Delhi were not the first cities to make this monumental transition. Bengaluru was the first city to be electrified in India, way back in 1905. This task was completed with the help of a hydroelectric power plant at Shivanasamudra, on the banks of the river Kaveri.
This natural rock formation that sprung up over 3, 000 million years ago continues to dumbfound scientists and fill them with awe. It juts out from a flat piece of land, and is spread over sixteen acres. Bugle rock is a humongous rock with a garden and a watchtower built by Kempe Gowda, the founder of the city. Visitors to the watchtower will be treated to panoramic views of the city.
Bengaluru is the focal point for the IT industry in India. Several prominent multinational companies have established their business hubs here, resulting in the influx of a lot of IT engineers and expats in the city. In fact, Americans coined the term ‘Bangalored’ for when someone got fired because their job was outsourced to an IT office in Bengaluru.
In recent times, numerous boho and stylish flea markets have sprung up in Bengaluru. Some are hosted for just a season, some just for a weekend, and the items sold range from home products and food to stylish clothes and accessories. A couple of prominent ones to watch out for are Sunday Soul Santhe, Kitsch Mandi, and Second To None.
Bengaluru is one of the most congested cities in the world. Lack of proper management of infrastructure, long waits in traffic signals, and numerous one-way streets add to the traffic snarls inthe city. During peak hours, it takeshours to drive from the airport into the city. Of course, no one can forget the yellow and green coloured rickshaws that are just about everywhere.
A testament to the amalgamation of different cultures and faiths in Bengaluru are the numerous mosques, churches, and temples in the city. It has the highest concentration of places of worship for all three faiths in India. Anyone with a fascination for mythology should visit the Chokkanathaswamy Temple, while history fans can learn about the origins of St. Mary’s Basilica, and architecture buffs can appreciate the Islamic architecture of the Masjid-E-Khadria.
Adding to the city’s illustriousness is the fact that Bengaluru has produced the maximum number of scientists who have been considered for the Nobel Prize. CV Raman was one such scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930 by introducing the world to the Raman Effect.
Bangalore doesn’t just attract foreign equity, it is also the birthplace of several startups. It is no longer a city that only outsources talent. Easy availability of trained professionals and a pouring in of large amounts of venture capital have made it the hub of the youngest company founders in India. You will be surprised to know that Bengaluru has served as a nursery for roughly 14,000 to 19000 startups, some of which are your favorite apps, like Flipkart and Coupondunia!
This is not the name of a natural phenomenon, but of a highly dangerous explosive mainly used in the battle field. Bangalore torpedoes have been used by several armies around the world, as well as in both world wars. It is used in the line of fire to clear paths up to a distance of four meters. It was first produced under the leadership of Captain McClintock of the British Indian Army unit- Madras Sappers and Miners, in Bengaluru.
The fact that Bengaluru is regarded as the IT capital or ‘Silicon Valley’ of India should come as no surprise, considering the number of engineers it churns out. The city houses afew hundred engineering colleges, which are affiliated to Bengaluru University. Of course, many of these have sprung up to cater to the growing demand for engineering.
The Madras Sappers, part of the engineering corps of the Indian army, are one of the oldest regiments in India. They are headquartered in Bengaluru and are credited with the creation of the famous Bangalore Torpedo explosive.
With so many incredible facts about just one city, you can be sure that a trip to Bengaluru will be nothing short of wonderful.