Bengaluru (Bangalore) — capital of Karnataka and India’s technology hub
Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) is Karnataka’s capital, an elevated city known for its mild climate, parks, aerospace and IT industries, prominent research institutions and a large, diverse population.
Overview
Bengaluru, often still called Bangalore in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka in southern India. Perched on the Deccan Plateau at a relatively high elevation, the city combines a long history with rapid modern growth. It functions as a major administrative centre and one of the country’s principal economic engines, widely recognised for its information technology companies, research organisations and green spaces.
Image gallery
10 Images
Geography and character
The city sits roughly 900–1,000 metres above sea level, which moderates its tropical climate and gives Bengaluru milder temperatures than many Indian lowland cities. Urban neighbourhoods range from historic market districts and colonial-era cantonments to contemporary high-tech parks and new residential suburbs. Bengaluru is also known for its public gardens and tree-lined avenues, which contribute to nicknames such as the "Garden City." 
History and development
Bengaluru’s recorded history stretches back several centuries. It grew from a regional settlement and was consolidated by local chieftains before becoming an important administrative and military centre under various rulers. British colonial presence established a cantonment that influenced the city’s layout. After Indian independence, Bengaluru expanded rapidly—especially from the late 20th century—when government policy and private investment spurred science, aerospace and, later, information technology industries. 
Economy, research and institutions
The city is a major hub for software services, startups and corporate research, earning it the informal label "Silicon Valley of India." It also hosts important aerospace and defence research laboratories and manufacturing units. Several nationally and internationally respected institutions are based in or around Bengaluru:
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc) — advanced scientific research and higher education
- National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and other aerospace centres
- Research and development facilities for public and private technology firms
- Numerous IT parks and startup incubators that attract domestic and global investment
Culture, parks and everyday life
Bengaluru hosts a mix of languages and traditions, with Kannada as the principal regional language and large communities speaking Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil and others. The city’s cultural life blends traditional festivals and performing arts with contemporary music, food scenes and nightlife. Public parks such as Lalbagh and Cubbon Park are important recreational spaces.
Transport, growth and challenges
Transport infrastructure includes an international airport, a growing metro system, major railway junctions and a network of arterial roads. Rapid population and economic growth have created urban challenges: traffic congestion, water supply and infrastructure strain are persistent issues that city planners and governments continue to address. At the same time, Bengaluru’s technology-driven economy fuels ongoing expansion and attracts domestic migration.
Notable facts and distinctions
Bengaluru stands out for its concentration of software exporters, research institutions and startup activity. Its elevation and green spaces give it a reputation for a pleasant climate compared with many Indian cities. As a dynamic metropolitan area, it plays a central role in India’s contemporary science, technology and innovation landscape while retaining visible layers of historical and cultural identity.
Geography and climate
Bengaluru is located in the Deccan Tableland, in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, at an altitude of about 900 meters. As a result, mild temperatures prevail despite the tropical location at about 13 degrees north latitude - in winter the temperature drops to about 15 degrees Celsius at night, in summer it can rise to 37 degrees Celsius during the day. The monsoon rains last from May to October.
| Bengaluru | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Climate diagram | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monthly average temperatures and precipitation for Bengaluru
Source: WMO; wetterkontor.de | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The largest body of water is Lake Bellandur.
History
Bengaluru was probably founded in 1537 by Kempe Gowda I (1510 to 1570). Kempe Gowda is said to have chosen the name Bengaluru for this new city because his mother and wife came from a settlement of that name that still exists today as Halebengaluru (Old Bengaluru) near Bengaluru. According to another version, an old woman in the 10th century gave cooked beans to King Veeraballa to eat when he was lost in the forest. Out of gratitude, he is said to have thereafter named the place Benda Kaluru, the "City of Boiled Beans".
The British under Charles Cornwallis captured the city in 1799 in a battle with Tipu Sultan and anglicized the name to "Bangalore".
In 1898, Bangalore was hit by a plague epidemic that claimed a large number of victims. As a result, sanitation and health services were modernized and regulations for sanitation were enacted in the construction of new houses. In 1900, the Victoria Hospital was opened.
After 1900, Bangalore expanded rapidly. By 1950, the districts of Basavanagudi, Malleshwaram, Kalasipalyam, Gandhinagar and Jayanagar had come into being.
Until 1949 Bangalore was an important garrison town of the British, of which street names like Brigade Road or Residency Road still bear witness today.
In 2006, the Karnataka state government decided to change the anglicized spelling of "Bangalore" to "Bengaluru" according to the Kannada form. The Government of India approved this decision in 2014.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Bengaluru (Bangalore) — capital of Karnataka and India’s technology hub Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/10509