How Bangalore Got  Its Name

 

As from  6.5 million in 2001 population of Bangalore has grown by 46.7% to touch a whopping figure of 9.5 million in 2011 it is one of the  Fastest Growing   Cities of the World  and as such it would only be in the fitness of things to go into as to how it has  got its name.

It is quite common to find theories, stories, etc, behind the names of villages, cities, countries, etc.   Bangalore  also is not immune  from this norm.  Hence you  find  various theories floating around as to how Bangalore has got its name also.

Various Theories

According to one  Formidable  Story, in the  12th century  Chola King Veera Bhallala had ruled Deccan Plateau.   In  1120  while on a hunting trip to  Yelahanka Region, the King had lost his way inside the forest.  Confused, tired and hungry  he had found a poor old woman in the jungle  who having felt pity upon him   offered him shelter  for night and served him with boiled beans for dinner as she had nothing else to offer  except  that.  However pleased with her noble gesture and in gratitude to her magnanimous actions he constructed a town and called it ‘Benda Kalu Ooru’ which are Kannada Language Terms  and they  mean ‘Place of Boiled Beans’.  Though the story is popular it lacks credible  evidence in support in the realm of history .

Historical Proof  proudly proclaims that  the name ‘Bengalooru’ had been recorded  on a ‘Hero Stone’ at Nageshwara Temple Premises at  Begur on the outskirts of Bangalore in as back as the year 890 A.D. thereby repudiating the Story of  King Bhallala as  Stone Inscription had happened  very much  before  King Ballala had taken birth.

Another Theory states that in  one of his  hunting expeditions Kempa Gowda , the Chieftain of Vijayanagar Empire of South India was surprised to notice a hare chasing his dog.  So he felt that it was a place of  heroes  and therefore he named it  ‘ Heroic Place’ or ‘Gandu Bhoomi’.

Pivotal Roles of Kempa Gowdas

Kempa Gowdas had played pivotal roles in the development of Bangalore.

Kempa  Gowda I known as the Founder of Modern Bangalore had a Grand Vision to build a New City for himself, inspired by Hampi, the then Capital of Vijayanagar Empire.  King Achutaraya,  the Ruler of Vijayanagar  had approved his Ambitious  Plan and funded his Venure of Vision and Far-Sightedness. 

In 1517  Gowda I built  a Fort of mud brick and later built Small Towns of Chickpet,  Cottonpet, etc, within the Fort Areas,  which  are now Commercial Centres of present day Bangalore.

Four Watch Towers

It was his grandson Kempa Gowda II  who built Four Watch Towers, ‘The Kempa Gowda Towers’ or ‘Gopuras’ in Four Corners of City  to  limit the growth of Bengaluru which are :

Ulsoor,  Mekhri  Circle, Lal Bagh and Gavipura.

British anglicized Bengalooru to Bangalore which has been renamed ‘Bengalooru’  or ‘Bengaluru’ with effect from November 1, 2006 by the Government of Karnataka.

How To Reach

By Air

The Nearest Airport, Bangalore International Airport, 40 km

By Rail

The Nearest Railway Station, Bangalore City Railway Station located in the heart of city

By Road

It has excellent network of roads.

Kempa  Gowda or Majestic Bus Stand is located opposite to  City Railway Station.

Davis   Akkara