Bengaluru (Kannada :Beṅgaḷūruⓘ),formerly calledBangalore, is thecapital and largest city of the southernIndian state ofKarnataka. As per the2011 census, the city had a population of 8.4 million, making it thethird most populous city in India and the most populous inSouth India. The Bengaluru metropolitan area had a population of around 8.5 million, making it thefifth most populous urban agglomeration in the country. It is located near the center of theDeccan Plateau, at a height of 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level. The city is known as India's "Garden City", due to its parks and greenery.
Archaeological artifacts indicate that the human settlement in the region happened as early as 4000BCE. The first mention of the name "Bengalooru" is from an oldKannada stone inscription from 890CE found at theNageshwara Temple. From 350 CE, it was ruled by theWestern Ganga dynasty, and in the early eleventh century, the city became part of theChola empire. In the lateMiddle Ages, the region was part of theHoysala Kingdom and then theVijayanagara Empire. In 1537 CE,Kempe Gowda I, a feudal ruler under the Vijayanagara Empire, established amud fort which is considered the foundation of the modern city of Bengaluru and its oldest areas, orpetes, which still exist. After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, Kempe Gowda declared independence, and the city was expanded by his successors. In 1638 CE, aAdil Shahi army defeated Kempe Gowda III, and the city became ajagir (feudal estate) ofShahaji Bhonsle. TheMughals later captured Bengaluru and sold it toMaharajaChikkadevaraja Wodeyar of theKingdom of Mysore. After the death ofKrishnaraja Wodeyar II in 1759 CE,Hyder Ali seized control of the kingdom of Mysore and with it, the administration of Bengaluru, which passed subsequently to his son,Tipu Sultan.
The city was captured by theBritish East India Company during theAnglo-Mysore Wars, and became part of thePrincely State of Mysore. The administrative control of the city was returned toKrishnaraja Wadiyar III, then Maharaja of Mysore, and the old city developed under the dominions of the Mysore kingdom. In 1809 CE, the British shifted their military garrison to the city and established thecantonment, outside the old city. In the late 19th century CE, the city was essentially composed of two distinct urban settlements, the old pete and the new cantonment. FollowingIndia's independence in 1947, Bengaluru became the capital ofMysore State, and remained the capital when the state wasenlarged and unified in 1956 and subsequently renamed as Karnataka in 1973. The two urban settlements which had developed as independent entities, merged under a single urban administration in 1949. The city was officially known as Bangalore in English till 2006, when the official name was changed to its Kannada name, "Bengaluru".
Bengaluru is one of the fastest-growing metropolises in India. As of 2023[update], the metropolitan area had an estimatedGDP of $359.9 billion, and is one of themost productive metro areas of India. The city is a major center for information technology (IT), and is consistently ranked amongst the world's fastest growing technology hubs. It is widely regarded as the "Silicon Valley of India", as the largest hub and exporter of IT services in the country. Manufacturing is a major contributor to the economy and the city is also home to several state-owned manufacturing companies. Bengaluru also hosts several institutes ofnational importance in higher education.
Etymology
The earliest known reference to the name "Bengalūru" was on a ninth-centuryhero stone orvīra gallu found inBegur. The OldKannada inscription belonging to theWestern Ganga dynasty mentions the place in a battle in 890 CE .[10] However,Kempe Gowda I used the name of a village nearKodigehalli, to name the city as Bengaluru during its foundation in 1537 CE. Bangalore is ananglicised version of the city's Kannada name. The city was also referred to as "Kalyānapura" or "Kalyānapuri" ("Auspicious City") and "Dēvarāyapattana" during the laterVijayanagara period in 16th century CE.[11]
Anapocryphal story states that the twelfth-centuryHoysala kingVeera Ballala II, while on a hunting expedition, lost his way in the forest. Tired and hungry, he came across a poor old woman who served him boiled beans. The grateful king named the place "Benda-Kaal-uru" (literally, "town of boiled beans"), which eventually evolved into "Bengalūru".[11][12]Suryanath Kamath has hypothesised that the name was derived frombenga, the Kannada term forPterocarpus marsupium (also known as the Indian Kino Tree), a species of dry and moistdeciduous trees that grows abundantly in the region.[13] Other theories include that the city was called as "Venkaturu" because of the VenkataRamana temples built by Kempe Gowda, and "Benacha kalluru" because of the abundance ofquartz stones ("benacha kal" in Kannada) in the region.[11]
The region of modern-day Bengaluru was part of several successiveSouth Indian kingdoms. Between the fourth and tenth centuries CE, the region was ruled by theWestern Ganga dynasty, the first dynasty to set up effective control over the region.[20] According toEdgar Thurston, twenty-eight kings ruled Gangavadi from the start of the Common Era until its conquest by theCholas in the early eleventh century CE. The Western Gangas ruled as a sovereign power from 350 to 550 CE, and as feudatories of theChalukyas of Badami, and later theRashtrakutas until the tenth century.[13] The BegurNageshwara Temple was commissioned around 860 CE, during the reign of the Western Ganga King Ereganga Nitimarga I, and extended by his successor Nitimarga II.[21][22] Around 1004 CE, during the reign ofRaja Raja Chola I, the Cholas defeated the Western Gangas under the command of the crown princeRajendra Chola I, and captured the region.[21][23] During this period, the region witnessed the migration of many groups—warriors, administrators, traders, artisans, pastorals, cultivators, and religious personnel from the SouthernTamil speaking regions and other Kannada-speaking parts of the region.[20] The Cholas built manytemples in the region including theChokkanathaswamy temple,Mukthi Natheshwara Temple,Choleshwara Temple, andSomeshwara Temple.[21]
In 1117, theHoysala kingVishnuvardhana defeated the Cholas in the Battle of Talakad in south Karnataka, and extended his rule over the region.[21][24] In the later part of the 13th century CE, Bengaluru was a source of contention between two warring cousins, the Hoysala rulerVeera Ballala III ofHalebidu and Ramanatha, who administered the Hoysala held territory in the southern Tamil speaking regions.[21] Veera Ballala appointed a civic head at Hudi (suburb of the city) to administer the region, and promoted the village to the status of a town. After Veera Ballala's death in 1343, the region came underVijayanagara empire, which saw the rule of four consecutive dynasties –Sangamas (1336–1485),Saluvas (1485–1491),Tuluvas (1491–1565), andAravidu (1565–1646).[25] In the early 16th century CE,Achyuta Deva Raya built a dam across theArkavati river nearHesaraghatta, whose reservoir was used to supply water to the region.[26]
Foundation and early modern history
Bangalore Fort in 1860 CE showing fortifications and barracks. The fort was originally built byKempe Gowda I as a mud fort in 1537 CE.
The city proper was established in 1537 CE byKempe Gowda I, a local governor andchieftain aligned with theVijayanagara Empire under emperorAchyuta Deva Raya. He led a campaign against Gangaraja, whom he defeated and expelled toKanchi, and built aa mud-brick fort at the site, which later became the central part of the modern city of Bengaluru. Kempe Gowda referred to the new town as his "Gandubhūmi" ("Land of Heroes").[27] Within the fort, the town was divided into smaller divisions, each called apētē (Kannada pronunciation:[peːteː]).[28] The town had two main streets—Chikkapētē and Doddapētē, which intersected to form the Doddapētē Square in the heart of the town.[29] Kempe Gowda also built the temple atBasavanagudi, and expanded other temples. He also constructed various tanks such as Kempambudhi, Dharmambudhi, and Sampangi for water storage.[30]Vijayanagara literature refers the city by various names such as "Devarāyanagara" and "Kalyānapura" or "Kalyānapuri" ("auspicious city").[31]
After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1565 CE in theBattle of Talikota, Kempe Gowda declared independence. His successor, Kempe Gowda II, built four towers to mark the boundary of the town.[32] In 1638 CE, aAdil Shahi army led byRanadulla Khan andShahaji Bhonsle (father ofShivaji) defeated Kempe Gowda III, and the region became ajagir (feudal estate) of Shahaji.[30] In 1639 CE, Shahaji ordered the reconstruction of the town and built large fortifications, and new reservoirs to solve the water shortage in the region.[30][31] In 1687 CE,Mughal general Kasim Khan, under orders fromAurangzeb, defeatedEkoji I, the son of Shahaji, and leased the town toChikkadevaraja Wodeyar (1673–1704 CE), the then ruler of theKingdom of Mysore.[30] After the death ofKrishnaraja Wodeyar II in 1759 CE,Hyder Ali, Commander-in-Chief of the Mysore Army, proclaimed himself the ruler of the Mysore kingdom. He built the Delhi and Mysore gates at the northern and southern ends of the city in 1760 CE.[33] The kingdom later passed to Hyder Ali's sonTipu Sultan, and theLal Bagh garden was established around 1760 CE.[34] During the period, the city developed into a commercial and military centre of strategic importance.[31]
The Bengaluru fort was captured byBritish forces underCharles Cornwallis on 21 March 1791 during theThird Anglo-Mysore War and became the centre for British resistance against Tipu Sultan.[36] Following Tipu's death in theFourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799 CE), the Bengaluru pete was incorporated into thePrincely State of Mysore, whose administrative control remained with theMaharaja of Mysore. The city was further developed by the Maharaja of Mysore. TheResidency of Mysore State, established inMysore in 1799 was shifted to Bengaluru in 1804.[37] It was abolished in 1843 before being revived in 1881 and served till theIndian independence in 1947.[37][38] The British found the city as an appropriate place to station itsgarrison and therefore it was moved in 1809 fromSeringapatam toUlsoor, about 6 km (4 mi) northeast of the original pete. A town grew up around the surroundings by absorbing several villages in the area, and came to be known as Bengaluru cantonment. The new centre had its own municipal and administrative apparatus, though technically it was a British enclave within the territory of the princely state ofMysore.[39] Further developments such as the introduction of telegraph connections to other major Indian cities in 1853 and a rail connection toMadras in 1864, contributed to the economic growth of the city.[40]
In the late 19th century CE, Bengaluru was essentially composed of two cities, with the pete, whose residents were predominantlyKannadigas and the cantonment created by the British, whose residents were predominantlyTamils andEnglish people.[41][42] Throughout the 19th century, the Cantonment, which was known as the Civil and Military Station of Bangalore, gradually expanded and acquired a distinct cultural and political salience. It had a large military presence and a cosmopolitan civilian population that came from outside the state of Mysore.[41] The British developed the infrastructure of the city, widened roads, and established new settlements. The city was divided into eight wards in 1862, and was expanding. The first exclusive residential area was established inChamarajpet in 1892, and a new wholesale market was established in Tharagupet in 1895.[43] The city was hit by aplague epidemic in 1898 that claimed nearly 3,500 lives. The crisis caused by the outbreak led to the improvement in sanitation facilities, and establishment of new communication lines to co-ordinate anti-plague operations. Regulations for building new houses with proper sanitation facilities came into effect, a health officer was appointed, and the city was divided into four wards for better co-ordination.[44][45] New extensions inMalleswaram andBasavanagudi were developed in the north and south of the pētē.[46]
In 1906, Bengaluru became one of the first cities in India to have electricity.[47] In 1912, theBangalore torpedo, an offensive explosive weapon widely used inWorld War I andWorld War II, was devised in Bengaluru byBritish army officer Captain McClintock of theMadras Sappers and Miners.[48] Bengaluru's reputation as the "Garden City of India" began in 1927 with thesilver jubilee celebrations of the rule ofKrishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Several projects such as the construction of parks, public buildings and hospitals were instituted to improve the city.[49] Bengaluru played an important role during theIndian independence movement.Mahatma Gandhi visited the city in 1927 and 1934 and addressed public meetings here.[18] In 1926, thelabour unrest inBinny Mills due to demand by textile workers for payment of bonus resulted inlathi charging and police firing, resulting in the death of four workers, and several injuries.[50] In July 1928, there were notablecommunal disturbances in Bengaluru, like when aGanesh idol was removed from a school compound in the Sultanpet area of Bengaluru.[51] In 1940, the first flight between Bengaluru andMumbai took off, which placed the city on India's urban map.[52]
After India's independence in August 1947, Bengaluru remained in the newly carvedMysore State of which the Maharaja of Mysore was theRajapramukh (appointed governor).[53] The "City Improvement Trust" was formed in 1945, and in 1949, the "City" and the "Cantonment" merged to form theBengaluru City Corporation.[54] TheGovernment of Karnataka later constituted theBangalore Development Authority in 1976 to coordinate the activities of these two bodies.[55] Public sector employment and education provided opportunities for Kannadigas from the rest of the state to migrate to the city. Bengaluru experienced rapid growth in the decades 1941–51 and 1971–81, which saw the arrival of many immigrants from northern Karnataka. By 1961, Bengaluru had become the sixth-largest city in India, with a population of 1,207,000.[31] In the following decades, Bengaluru's manufacturing base continued to expand with the establishment of various public and private companies.|[56]
Aerial view ofUB City, a business district in Bengaluru, 2019
By the 1980s, urbanisation had spilled over the current boundaries, and in 1986, theBangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority, was established to co-ordinate the development of the entire region as a single unit.[55] On 8 February 1981, amajor fire broke out at Venus Circus in Bengaluru, where more than 92 people died, the majority of them children.[57] Bengaluru experienced a growth in its real estate market in the 1980s and 1990s, spurred by capital investors from other parts of the country who converted Bengaluru's large plots and colonialbungalows into multi-storied apartments.[58] Since the late 1980s, many information technology companies were set up in the city and by the end of the 20th century, Bengaluru had established itself as theSilicon Valley of India.[31] The population has increased significantly due to migration from other parts for work, and the city has become the third most populous city in 2011.[59][60] During the 21st century, Bengaluru has had major terrorist attacks in2008,2010, and2013.[61][62][63]
The soil in the city consist of redlaterite and red, fineloamy toclayey soils.[69] The vegetation in the eastern and northern parts consists of scrubs interspersed with various water bodies, and the southern hilly region consists of scrubs and forests.[70] The city had a forest cover of 68.3% in the early 1970s, which reduced to less than 15% in the 2010s.[71] Trees are frequently felled to pave way for infrastructure development.[72][73] Though the city has been classified as a part of the seismic zone II (a stable zone), it has experiencedearthquakes of magnitude as high as 4.5 on theRichter scale.[74]
There are no major rivers run in the city, though six rivers arise at theNandi Hills, about 60 km (37 mi) to the north.[64][75] TheVrishabhavathi, a tributary ofArkavathi flows through the city. Arkavathi,Dakshina Pinakini and its tributary Chinnar, and Suvarnamukhi rivers water the fringes of the city.[64][76] Most of these rivers are polluted, and depleted due to sewage from the city.[77][78]Kaveri runs towards the southwest of the city, the water from which is used to cater to majority of the water requirements of the city.[79] The city has a considerable number of freshwater lakes andwater tanks, most of which are seasonal and rain-fed.[64] The city had 265 lakes in the 1960s, which shrunk to 98 by the late 2010s, and most of the city's lakes are polluted.[70][80][81][82] The government began revival and conservation efforts in 2020.[83] Groundwater occurs insilty tosandy layers of thealluvial sediments, and are extracted through open wells.[64]
Climate
Bengaluru has atropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classificationAw) with distinctwet anddry seasons. Due to its high elevation, Bengaluru usually enjoys a more moderate climate throughout the year, although occasionalheat waves can make summer somewhat uncomfortable.[84] The dry season extends from December to February followed by the summer season from March to May. Themonsoon brings most of the rainfall from June to September, followed by a post-monsoon season in October and November.[64] April is the hottest month with an average high of 34.1 °C (93.4 °F), and January is the coolest month with an average low temperature of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F).[85] The highest temperature ever recorded in Bengaluru was 39.2 °C (103 °F), recorded 24 April 2016, corresponding withthe strong El Niño in that year.[86] The lowest ever recorded is 7.8 °C (46 °F) in January 1884.[87][88] Winter temperatures rarely drop below 14 °C (57 °F), and summer temperatures seldom exceed 36 °C (97 °F).[64] Bengaluru receives rainfall from both the northeast and the southwestmonsoons, and the wettest months is September, followed by October and August.[85] The summer heat is moderated by fairly frequentthunderstorms, which occasionally cause power outages and local flooding, such as in 2022.[89][90][91] Most of the rainfall occurs during the late afternoon or evening and rain before noon is infrequent.[92] The heaviest rainfall recorded in a 24-hour period is 179 mm (7 in) recorded on 1 October 1997.[93]
Climate data for Bengaluru (1991–2020, extremes 1901–present)
As per the2011 census, Bengaluru had a population of 8,443,675, which made it the thirdmost populous city in India, and the largest inSouth India.[59] The urban agglomeration was home to 8,499,399 people, and was thefifth most populous urban agglomeration in India.[5][103] As per a 2016 estimate, the urban agglomeration had a population of about 10.45 million.[104] The city was amongst the fastest growing cities in the last two decades, with the population increasing substantially due to migration from rest of the country.[59][105] About 13.2% of the population belonged toscheduled castes, andscheduled tribes.[106] Residents of Bengaluru are referred to as "Bangaloreans" inEnglish,[107]Bengaloorinavaru inKannada,[108][109] andBanglori inHindi orUrdu.[110]
There are about 597 slums in the city, housing roughly 16% of the city's population.[111][112] The city had agini index of 0.64, indicating significantinequality.[106][113] Various studies have also indicated various inequalities in the infrastructure development across different parts of the city, and other urbanisation problems such as mass displacements, proliferation of slums, and public health crisis due to water shortage and sewage problems in poor and working-class neighbourhoods.[114] In theEase of Living Index 2020 published by theMinistry of Housing & Urban Affairs, the city was ranked the most livable Indian city with a population of over a million.[115]
The city is governed by theBruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP, "Greater Bengaluru Municipal Corporation"). The Bangalore Municipal Board was established on 27 March 1862, with a separate board formed later to manage the cantonment area of the city. In 1881, these were organized into Bangalore city municipality and Bangalore civil and military station municipality respectively. The two municipalities were merged in 1949, into a single municipal corporation with 70 members. In 2007, BBMP was established by merging theBangalore Mahanagara Palike, with seven neighbouring city municipal councils, one town municipal council and 111 village panchayats around the city.[116] The Bengaluru corporation covers an area 741 km2 (286 sq mi), divided into ten zones covering223 wards.[2][117] The corporation is headed by amayor, elected by thecouncillors, who are elected through apopular vote by the residents.[116][118] The municipal commissioner is responsible for daily administration.[119]
TheBangalore Development Authority (BDA) was established in 1976, and is the nodal agency responsible for the planning and development of the city.[120] The BBMP works in conjunction with the BDA and the Agenda for Bangalore's Infrastructure and Development Task Force (ABIDe) to design and implement civic and infrastructural projects in the city.[116][121] TheBangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority, established in 1985, is responsible for the planning of the metropolitan region.[67] As the capital of the state of Karntaka, the city houses the state executive andlegislative headquarters in theVidhana Soudha,[122] state ministries atVikasa Soudha,[123][124] and the residence of theGovernor atRaj Bhavan.[125]
Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru is the highestjudicial authority in the state, and manages a series of sub-ordinate civil and criminal courts.[126][127] TheBengaluru City Police (BCP) is the primary law enforcement agency in the city and is headed by acommissioner of police.[128] The city is divided into eight zones, each of which is headed by anassistant commissioner.[129] There are separate crime, intelligence, and administration wings of the police.[130] The police also operate special and armed units.[131] As of February 2024[update], the city police consisted of 18,308 civilian police working across 113 police stations, and 6,999 armed reserve personnel. The city had 191 cops per hundred thousand people, well below theUnited Nations standard of 673.[132]Bengaluru City Traffic Police (BCTP) is responsible for the traffic management in the city.[133] The traffic police operates 48 stations across three zones, each of which is headed by a joint commissioner.[130][134] As of 2021[update], the crime rate in the city was 27.2 per hundred thousand people.[135] TheBangalore Central Prison located at Parappana Agrahara, was established in 1997, and is the major prison in the city.[136][137]
Politics
Vikasa Soudha which houses multiple state ministries
Apart from theKannadigas native to the region,Tamils,Telugus andDeccanis, form a significant population of the city.[152][153][154] In the 16th century, Tamil speakers, who also spoke Kannada, settled in the region for business.[155] Telugus came to the city on invitation of the Mysore royalty.[156] Since the late 20th century, there has been a steady migration of people from other states for study and work.[157] About 90% of the migrants came from the South Indian states, with the number of migrants from other parts of India increasing over the last few decades of the 20th century. Majority of the migration from non-South Indians states includedMaharashtrians,Punjabis,Rajasthanis,Gujaratis,Bengalis, and fromUttar Pradesh.[60] Migrant communities from within the state includeTuluvas andKonkanis of coastal Karnataka, andKodavas from the state'sKodagu district.[152] The city also had anAnglo-Indian population of about 10,000 people in 2006.[158]
Kannada is the official language of the government.[164] As per the 2011 census, Kannada is the mother tongue of 42.1% of the city's population with 3,574,226 speakers, followed byTamil (1,388,305)Telugu (1,166,338),Urdu (1,104,124),Hindi (476,673),Malayalam (268,780), andMarathi (174,451). Other languages with a sizeable numbers of speakers includeKonkani,Bengali,Marwari,Tulu,Odia,Gujarati,Kodagu,Punjabi,Lambadi,Sindhi andNepali.[163]Bengaluru Kannada is the local dialect of Kannada spoken in the region.[165][166]English is widely spoken bywhite-collar workers and is the principal business language.[164][167] With a diverse population speaking multiple languages, the city has often seen controversies and issues with respect to the usage of English and other vernacular languages. In 2023, the government mandated the usage of Kannada in the sign boards of all businesses, which led to protests.[168][169] There have also been court cases, protests, and diverse public opinion on the usage of different languages in the city.[170][171]
Bengaluru is a major centre ofIndian classical music and dance.[172] The cultural scene features a diverse set of music concerts, dance performances and plays. Performances ofCarnatic andHindustani music, and dance forms likeBharat Natyam,Kuchipudi,Kathakali,Kathak, andOdissi are popular in the city.[173]Yakshagana, a theatre art indigenous to coastal Karnataka is often played in town halls.[174] The two main music seasons include April–May duringRam Navami, and September–October duringDusshera, when majority of the music activities are organised by various cultural organisations.[173] Rock music is popular in the urban parts of the city, and the city has its own subgenre of rock, "Bangalore Rock", an amalgamation ofclassic rock,hard rock andheavy metal, and somejazz andblues.[175] The city is home to several Indian bands, and is referred to as "Pub Capital of India" and the "Rock/Metal Capital of India" because of its underground music scene.[176]
Several art galleries including the government-establishedNational Gallery of Modern Art emerged in the 1990s.[177] TheKarnataka Chitrakala Parishath showcases a collection of painting, sculptures, and various other forms of art.[178][179] The Indian Cartoon Gallery organised by theIndian Institute of Cartoonists, conducts periodic cartoon exhibitions.[180] "Art Bangalore" is an internationalart festival, held annually in the city since 2010.[181]Kannada Sahitya Parishat is a nonprofit organisation headquartered in Bengaluru that promotes the Kannada language and literature.[182] The "Bangalore Literature Festival" is an annual literary event organised since 2012.[183]Karnataka Rajyotsava, which marks the formation ofKarnataka state on 1 November 1956, is celebrated on the same day annually and is a public holiday in the city.[184][185] Bengaluru is a major center of theKannada film industry, which released 224 Kannada feature films in 2018.[186] Art theatres that stages English and Kannada language plays in the city includeChowdiah Memorial Hall,Ranga Shankara, andRavindra Kalakshetra.[187][188]British Council, Alliance Française de Bangalore, and Max Müller Bhavan also organise foreign language plays including those of drama companies that tour India.[189][190]
Cuisine
Bengaluru's social and economic diversity is reflected in its cuisine.[191] The city has diverse food options including South Indian, North Indian,Chinese, and western fast food.[192]Udupi cuisine restaurants are popular and serve predominantly vegetarian, regional cuisine.[193] The city has manyvegan restaurants, and vegan advocacy groups, and has been named as India's most vegan-friendly city byPETA India.[194][195]
Bengaluru is a major center for information technology (IT), and is consistently ranked amongst the world's fastest growing technology hubs.[210][211] It is widely regarded as the "Silicon Valley of India", as the largest IT hub of the country.[212][213][214] The IT export from the city is estimated to be valued at $64 billion in 2024, and the city contributes to more than one third of India's total IT exports.[215][216] The IT industry in the city is divided into various business clusters andspecial economic zones such asElectronic City,International Tech Park,Software Technology Park,Bagmane Tech Park,Global Village Tech Park,World Trade Center, andManyata Embassy Business Park amongst others.[217] The growth of IT industry has resulted in the migration of people from all over the country, which has resulted in the demand for improvement in the city's infrastructure and presented the city with other challenges.[210][218] The industry has been blamed for not favouring local employment development, increased land values, and closure of small enterprises.[219] The resistance from the city for further investments required to develop infrastructure, has forced some of the new and expanding businesses elsewhere.[220]
Bengaluru is also a major hub for Indian biotechnology-related industry, which was valued at nearly $25 billion in 2021–22.[221][222] The city is home to more than 40 biotech companies, and is termed as the "Biotech capital of India".[223][224] The city is a major export center for agricultural produce includingfruits, andpoultry.[225] Major crops includerice,maize,ragi,horse gram,oil seeds,coconuts, and fruits such asmango,papaya,banana,grapes, andpomegranate. Flowers such asroses are grown commercially.[203] TheRail Wheel Factory at Yelahanka is a major supplier of wheels and axles forIndian Railways.[226] State owned corporationsBEML andBharat Electronics are headquartered in the city, and manufacture aerospace components, power equipment, trainsets, armored vehicles, and electronics for both civilian and defence requirements.[203][227]
Infrastructure
Water supply
The city draws majority of the water requirement from theKaveri River.
Water supply is provided by theBangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), which was established in 1964.[228] The city receives an average of 800 million liters of water per day from rainfall.[229] In the 16th century, Kempe Gowda constructed lakes such as the Kempambudhi Kere to store the rain water.[230] As of 2021[update], the city had a daily water demand of 2100 million liters, of which 1,450 million liters is catered to by the corporation. While the city drew water from theArkavathy River earlier, the increasing demands led to the establishment of the Cauvery water supply scheme in 1964. Majority of the water supply to the city is drawn from theKaveri, with the amount of water drawn increasing from 135 million liters in 1974 to 1,450 million liters per day in 2014.[231] A 2015 report indicated that one-third of theslum clearance projects lacked basic water service connections, 60% of slum dwellers lacked complete water supply lines and used a shared water supply.[232] The city does face water shortages, especially during summer and in years with low rainfall.[233]
Waste management and pollution
Waste collection and management is done by the city corporation. Pollution regulation and issuance of waste management guidelines is carried out by theKarnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), which comes under the aegis ofCentral Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and is headquartered in the city.[234][235] As of 2022, Bengaluru produced around 6000 metric tonnes ofsolid waste per day.[236] The wastes are segregated, compacted, and transported to any of the three garbage processing plants in Bingipura,Mavallipura, orKudlu.[237] As per a 2024 study, the three garbage processing plants were found to be violating environmental regulations, and emitted high levels ofparticulate matter, causing damage to the local environment and increasing the pollution levels of the city.[238] As of 2024[update], the corporation operated seven wet waste processing plants, 13 biomethane generation plants, and a land fill.[239] The corporation earlier operated three more landfill sites atMavallipura,Mandur, andDoddaballapura, which were closed after complaints from local residents, and reports of diseases due to unsanitary conditions.[240] In 2024, the government identified four new locations for the construction of new landfill sites.[241] As part of the waste management guidelines, the government of Karnataka has authorised specific companies to managebiomedical ande-wastes in the city.[242] However, a report in October 2024 indicated that some of these companies were not disposing of the wastes in the prescribed manner, and are involved in re-selling.[243]
The city has considerable pollution due to vehicle and industrial exhausts, and unscientific waste disposal.[244][245] The pollution level varies across localities, with higher concentrations ofparticulate matter reported in industrial and high traffic zones. Arandom sampling of theair quality index (AQI) of twenty stations within the city suggested heavy to severe air pollution around areas of high traffic.[246] While the average air quality was at acceptable levels, thePM 2.5 levels exceeded the 60 μg/m3 threshold set by the CPCB in certain areas.[247] A evaluation of Bengaluru's physical, biological and socioeconomic parameters indicated that the city's air quality andnoise pollution were poor.[248]
Power
In 1905, Bengaluru was among the first cities to have electric power.[249] The city was powered byhydro power generated by thehydroelectric plant inShivanasamudra.[47] Electricity in the city is regulated through theBangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM).[250] The power consumption has steadily increased over the last decade and in 2022–23, the city had a peak demand of 3,632MW.[251][252] As of March 2024[update], the city had a daily power requirement of about 157 millionkWh, and consumed nearly 40% of the power in the state.[253] The city draws power from the state grid, which receives power from a mixture offossil fuels andrenewable sources.[254] In 2024, BESCOM initiated the process of moving overhead lines to underground in the city.[255]
In the early 19th century, healthcare services were provided by local physicians. In 1834, English doctors were appointed, to take care ofvaccination, and control the spread ofepidemics. The first public clinic was established in Bangalore Fort in 1835, and a small hospital was added in 1839 in Pete area. In 1846, a large hospital was opened, with aleper colony added in 1845, and amental hospital in 1850.[256][257] TheVictoria Hospital was inaugurated in 1900.[45] As of 2024[update], the Bengaluru corporation managed one major general hospital, six referral hospitals, 26 maternity homes, and 230 outpatient clinics.[258][259] There are many private clinics, and tertiary care hospitals in the city.[260] The city has been growing as a center ofmedical tourism due to the availability of more than 50 tertiary care hospitals.[261] Vaccination such aspolio vaccine is administered by the corporation on behalf of the government.[262]
Sanitation facilities are provided by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.[228] The underground drainage and sewerage disposal system was introduced in 1922. As of 2024[update], about 1,400 million liters of waste water is generated daily, which flows through a network of nearly 8,387 km (5,211 mi) of sewage pipes to any of the 33 sewage treatment plants.[231] Encroachment, and damages to the sewerage system, has resulted in wastewater entering the lakes, and polluting the water sources.[231][263] As of 2024[update], the corporation operated 401public toilets and 17 community toilets across the city.[239]
Communication
Bengaluru General Post Office was established in 1800.
The first post office in the city was established in 1800.[264] Postal services are provided by the government ownedIndia Post, which operated 247 post offices across four zones in 2024.[265][266] In 1853,telegraph was introduced for long-distance communication and about 538 km (334 mi) of telegraph lines existed in the city by 1856.[256]Telephone services were introduced in 1928.[249] In the early 1990s,STPI provided wiredinternet services for offices, andVSNL started providingdial up connections for individual homes in the city.[267][268] Bengaluru has a high internet usage and is amongst the top cities in India in terms of internet penetration.[269]
The firstprinting press in Bengaluru was established in 1840 by theWesleyan Christian Mission.[273][274] Around 1860, the English newspaperBangalore Herald and Kannada newspaperMysore Vrittanta Bodhini started circulation in Bengaluru.[256][249] P. R. Ramayya established the Bangalore Press in 1927 and launched the Kannada newspaperTayi Nadu and English newspaperDaily News later.[275] Bengaluru has several newspapers and magazines published in various languages including Kannada, English, Urdu, and Tamil.[276] As of 2022[update], the major dailies with a circulation of more than 100,000 copies per day includeThe Times of India,Vijaya Karnataka,Prajavani, andVijayavani.[277] Several local newspapers, and periodicals also bring out editions from the city.[278] Local online news sites likeExplocity provide local news updates.[279]
A 140 m (460 ft) high television tower was commissioned in 1985.
The government runDoordarshan broadcasts terrestrial andsatellite television channels from its Bengaluru centre set up on 1 November 1981. A production centre was established in the Doordarshan's Bengaluru office in 1983, thereby allowing the introduction of a news program in Kannada on 19 November 1983.[286] A 140 m (460 ft) high television tower was commissioned on 1 March 1985 for the broadcast of television programmes.[287] Doordarshan launchedDD Chandana, a Kannada satellite channel, on 15 August 1990.[286][288] In September 1991,Star TV was the first private satellite channel to be launched in the city.[289] Since the late 2000s,Direct To Home (DTH) services became available in Bengaluru.[290]
As of 2024[update], Bengaluru does not have a suburban railway network. The first line ofBengaluru Suburban Railway is expected to be operational in 2026.[310]Namma Metro is arapid transit rail system in the city that was opened in 2011, and was the first operational metro inSouth India.[311][312] As of 2024[update], the metro system consists two operational lines stretching 76.95 km (47.81 mi), and is thesecond-longest operational metro network in India.[313][314] Three more lines are under construction as a part of expansion.[315][316]
Road
Outer Ring Road, one of the peripheral ring roads in the city
Intra-citybus services is handled by theBengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), which was established in 1997.[331] As of 2024[update], BMTC operates 57,667 daily trips on 5,766 routes with a fleet of 6,340 buses. There are 48 bus stations, and 50 depots for intra-city bus services.[332] BMTC introduced air-conditioned buses in 2005, which operate on major routes and as shuttle services from various parts of the city to airport.[333] It also operates a fleet of more than 1,100 electric vehicles.[332] Apart from single journey tickets, BMTC issues various passes for frequent users.[334] Inter-city bus transport is handled by theKarnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), owned by the Government of Karnataka. KSRTC operates various classes of services connecting other major cities in Karnataka, and other neighboring states.[335] The major bus stations in the city includeKempegowda Bus Station,Shantinagar Bus Station, andMysuru Road Bus Station.[336][337] The other means of road transport in the city include vans,auto rickshaws, on-call metered taxis and tourist taxis.[338][339]
Motor vehicles were introduced in Bengaluru in 1903.[340] As of March 2022[update], an average of 1,530 vehicles were registered daily inRegional Transport Offices (RTOs) in the city.[341][342] As of 2023[update], the city had nearly ten million vehicles including 7.5 million two-wheelers.[343] The rapid growth of vehicles and unplanned nature of growth has created several administrative problems relating totraffic congestion and infrastructure, resulting in massive trafficgridlocks. The flyovers and one-way traffic systems introduced to address the concerns, were only moderately successful.[344] The city also has considerable air pollution due to vehicle exhaust, and a 2016 study found that over 36% of diesel vehicles operating in the city exceeded the standard limit for emissions.[244][345]
Bengaluru is a major educational hub and home to some of the premium educational institutions in the country.[346] The city has a 90.33% literacy rate and ranks second among the major Indian metropolitan city centres.[347] As per the2011 national census, Bengaluru urban had a literacy rate of around 87.7%.[348][349] Until the early 19th century, education in Bengaluru was mainly run by religious leaders and restricted to students of that religion.[350] In 1841, two native language schools were established by a London mission, and in 1842,Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar established the firstEnglish School under the Wesleyan mission, which expanded to five schools by 1954. In 1857, a public education department was established, and the education was formulated as per the Indian educational policy at the time.[256][249] TheBangalore Military School was established in 1945.[351]
An English school established by London mission in 1869
Bengaluru has a mix of public and private schools with the public school system managed by the school education department of Government of Karnataka.[352][353] Public schools run by the Bengaluru Corporation are all affiliated with the Karnataka Board of Secondary Education, while private schools may be affiliated with either of Karnataka Board of Secondary Education,Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE),Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ICSE) orNational Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).[354] As of 2024[update], there are 142 public schools run by the Bengaluru Corporation.[355] The city also has a significant number ofinternational schools due to cater to expats and people employed in the technology sector.[356] School education starts with two years of Kindergarten from age three onwards and then follows the Indian10+2 plan, ten years of school and two years ofpre-university course orhigher secondary education. After completing their secondary education, students either attend apre-university course or continue an equivalent high school course in one of three streams –arts,commerce orscience – in various combinations.[357] Alternatively, students can enrol in diploma courses and upon completing the required coursework, students enroll in general or professional degrees in universities through lateral entry.[358][359]
Cubbon Park, established in 1870, is a large park in the center of the city.
Bengaluru is known as the "Garden City of India" because of its greenery.[370][371] In May 2012,Lonely Planet listed the city as one of the world's top ten cities to visit.[372] As of 2024, Bengaluru has 1,288 public parks maintained by the corporation.[373] TheLal Bagh was established in the 1760s, and was later expanded into a 240 acres (97 ha) botanical garden in the 19th century. It incorporates a hillock made ofgneiss, formed billions of years ago, and is a declared national geological monument. The garden has a watch tower built in the 16th century by Kempe Gowda, a glass house built in 1889 on the model ofThe Crystal Palace in London, oldhero stones, and houses many exotic species of plants.[374] Abiannual flowershow is held at the gardens during the weeks of India'sRepublic Day andIndependence Day.[375][376]
Elgin Talkies, built in 1896, was the first theatre in Bengaluru.[381] In the later half of the 20th century, the city had 149 single screens, most of them situated along the Kempegowda Road near theKempegowda Bus Station.[382] In the 21st century, large multiplexes with multiple screens began replacing the single screen theaters, and the city is now home to a large number of multiplexes.[383][384] Stage plays and dramas of different genres and languages are enacted in theatres across the city.[385][386]
Bengaluru has consulates of France,[435]Germany,[436] Israel,[437] and Japan,[438] and a virtual consulate of the United States.[439] The city also hosts a British deputy High Commission,[440] and honorary consulates of Finland,[441] Ireland,[442] Maldives,[443] Peru,[444] and Switzerland.[445] Canada has a trade office in the city.[446]
Bengaluru has asister city relationship with the following cities:
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^Roy, Ananya; Ong, Aihwa (2011). "Speculating on the Next World City".Worlding Cities: Asian Experiments and the Art of Being Global. Vol. 42 (illustrated ed.). John Wiley & Sons.ISBN978-1-4443-4678-7.
^Gayer, Laurent; Jaffrelot, Christophe (2012).Muslims in Indian Cities: Trajectories of Marginalisation (illustrated ed.). Hurst Publishers. p. 290.ISBN978-1-84904-176-8.
^Brown, Keith; Ogilvie, Sarah (2010).Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World (revised ed.).Elsevier. p. 577.ISBN978-0-080-87775-4.
^Lindsay, Jennifer (2006).Between Tongues: Translation And/of/in Performance in Asia (illustrated, reprint, annotated ed.). NUS Press. p. 52.ISBN978-9-971-69339-8.
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