About Bangalore
The city of Bangalore is India’s third largest city and the state capital of Karnataka, known for being a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis at the helm of the country’s IT-boom. Bangalore is a shopper’s haven overrun with big malls and shopping districts, as well as a food lover’s paradise with one of the highest concentrations of places to eat in the continent. Spotted with parks and natural lakes, Bangalore is alternately known as ‘The Garden City of India.’ Recently voted as the most livable metro in the country, Bangalore is known as‘Pensioner’s Paradise’ on the one hand and as ‘Start-up City,’ on the other, attracting youth from across the world with its trending markets and rapid availability of jobs. With Bangalore’s ever-doubling IT infrastructure, it is often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India.
Another aspect of Bangalore is soaked in the history of bygone, ancient cultures. Bangalore has been peopled for up to 3000 years, bearing megalithic monuments that treasure its rich past. Bangalore, as we know it today, was established in 1537 by KempeGowda I, who constructed a well-planned city within an oval mud fort in the area that is today known as City Market. Gradually, Bangalore grew into a commercial center and a chief part of the silk industry. Over successive centuries the Marathas, Mughals, Wodeyars and the Mysore Sultanate, all did their bit to develop the city further. In 1809 the British set up a cantonment in Bangalore, drawn by its pleasant weather and central location.
The earliest recorded usage of the name Bengaluru is found in today’s ‘Old Bangalore,’ in a 9th century temple. According to legend, King ViraBallala was once lost in the jungles that once overran these parts. He was wandering, tired and hungry, when an old woman revived him with her hospitality and a plate of boiled beans. Out of gratitude the King consequently named the area ‘Benda KaaluUru’ (Town of Boiled Beans). It was only in 1831, when the British seized Mysore from the ruling Wodeyars that the capital was shifted to Bangalore. The anglicization of Bengaluru turned it into Bangalore until it was recently reverted back to its original.
Although Bangalore is not a popular tourist destination, there are many sites worth taking a tour of. The legislative House of Karnataka, VidhanaSoudha, is one of the Chief attractions of Bangalore. It was built during the 1950s using granite in a neo-Dravidian style of architecture. Other places of historical interest include the Bangalore Palace, constructed by the Mysore Maharajahs and Tipu Sultan’s Palace, built around 1790 as Tipu’s summer retreat.
A tour of Bangalore must also include Lalbagh Botanical Gardens- built by Hyder Ali in 1760, and the Bannerghatta National Park- a 25,000-acre zoological park one and a half hours away from Bangalore City. Educational tours of Bangalore may include the Vishweshwaraiah Industrial and Technological Museum, the State Archaeological Museum, the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, the Venkatappa Art Gallery and the Karnataka ChitrakalaParishad. Religious tours of Bangalore cover the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi, the Maha Bodhi Society Temple- a replica of the Bodh Gaya Stupa, the ISCKON temple, the Maruthi Temple, the GaviGangadeshwara Cave Temple as well as many other temples, mosques and churches of historic significance.
Due to an average elevation of 920 meters above the sea level, Bangalore enjoys a cool climate throughout the year. Although summers can get hot with dry heat waves, it seldom exceeds 35 degrees Celsius and hovers around a mean temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.
About Bagalkot
Book online bus tickets to Bagalkot By Sanjana Travels
Sanjana Travels takes you to the Bagalkot district is an administrative district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The district headquarters is located in the town of Bagalkot. The district is located in northern Karnataka and borders Belgaum, Gadag, Koppal, Raichur and Bijapur. The new Bagalkot district was carved out of Bijapur in 1997 via Government of Karnataka directive Notification RD 42 LRD 87 Part III. The bifurcated Bagalkot district consists of six taluks — Badami, Bagalkot, Bilagi, Hunugund, Jamakhandi and Mudhol. Historically, Bagalkot was the capital of the Chalukyan Empire of South India under Pulakesi I, who conquered the district in 550 CE. Bagalkot's Badami taluk remained the seat of the throne of the Chalukyas from 550 CE — 753 CE, when Chalukya king Kirtivarman II was overthrown by the Rashtrakutas. The 12th century social reformist Basavanna, known for his crusade against caste exploitation was born in Koodalasangama, a town in the taluk of Hungund.
Remnants of Chalukyan art and architecture are important tourist attractions in Bagalkot. Pattadakal has many UNESCO World Heritage temples built by Vikramaditya II, while Aihole, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River, is an important temple town with over 140 temples belonging to both the early and later Chalukya times. The cave temples of Badami Cave Temples and the Jain temples of Rashtrakutas at Lokapura and Bilgi are also famous. Cottage industries occupy a predominant position in Bagalkot. The district is popular for its silk and handloom industries. Ghataprabha River, Malaprabha River and Krishna River flow through the district. Koodalasangama lies at the point of confluence of rivers Krishna and Malaprabha. Like most districts in India, Bagalkot is headed by a Deputy Commissioner, with various Tahalsidars heading individual taluks in the district.
Tourism in Bagalkot
1) Badami
Badami Cave Temples, Badami taluk remained the seat of the throne of the Chalukyas from 550 CE - 753 CE, when Chalukya king Kirtivarman II was overthrown by the Rashtrakutas.
2) Pattadakal
Pattadakal has many UNESCO World Heritage temples built by Vikramaditya II. Mallikarjuna temple and Kashi Vishwanatha temple at Pattadakal, North Karnataka.Mallikarjuna temple in dravidian style and Kashi Vishwanatha temple in nagara style at Pattadakal, built 740 CE.
3) Aihole
Aihole, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River, is an important temple town with over 140 temples belonging to both the early and later Chalukya times.
Durga temple at Aihole
4) Kudalasangama
Kudalasangama, where Basavanna's samadhi is located.
The 12th century social reformist Basavanna, known for his crusade against caste exploitation was born in Basavana Bagewadi. Kudala Sangama in Bagalkot district, North Karnataka
5) Mahakuta Mahakuta group of temples
The Mahakuteshwara temple dedicated to Shiva, is built in the Dravidian style.
Naganath Temple, located in a forest on the way to Mahakuta, it is one of the early Chalukya temples dedicated to Shiva. Mahakuta, once a great center of shaiva cult, Mahakuta is a beautiful place surrounded by hills. Mahakutesvara temple and Sangamesvara temple, Mahakuta.
6) Banashankari
A famous fair and festival is held here during January, February.
Here the temple is dedicated to Banashankari or Shakambari a form of Parvati is located at Cholachagud popularly called Banashankari.
7) Mudhol
Birth Place of Poet Kavi Chakravarti Ranna.
The Principality of Mudhol was one of the 9-gun princely states of British India.
Mudol is famous for a breed of dog known as the 'Mudhol Hound.
Sanjana Travels takes you to the Bagalkot and makes the journey comfortable.