25 FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT BANGALORE

In 2017, JLL’s City Momentum Index (CMI) report ranked Bengaluru as the fastest-growing city in the world, outstripping even Silicon Valley, the world’s technological nucleus. The last few years have seen the evolution of Bengaluru from being the Garden City of India to a growing corporate hub and a preferred investment destination. But even as the city’s landscape changes, Bengaluru’s roots remain firmly grounded in its original identity. This city has a long and colourful history, from the days of the Chola Empire to the colonial rulers, which ultimately settled in Bengaluru. These historical influences converge perfectly with the modern aspects of the city, creating a unique identity that is undeniably Bengaluru.

As Bengaluru becomes one of the most significant metropolitan cities in the country, it has come under almost everyone’s radar. But how much do you know about this city? Here are 25 unknown facts about Bengaluru that you might have yet to hear about.

1. Winston Churchill owes Rs. 13 to the Bangalore Club

The Bangalore Club is Bengaluru’s oldest and most prestigious club, founded in 1868. To mark its 125th anniversary, the club released a book which showed a ledger entry specifying that one of the most iconic Prime Ministers of the UK, Winston Churchill, owes the club a total of Rs. 13 in the form of several unpaid bills.

2. Bengaluru invented the Rava Idli

Rava idli is a popular fixture in almost any South Indian restaurant today, but few know where it originated. Contrary to popular belief, Rava Idli wasn’t invented in Tamil Nadu but in Bengaluru. During the Second World War, rice, the most essential component in idlis, was in short supply. To cater to the never-ending demand for Idlis, MTR ingeniously thought of using semolina instead of rice, giving birth to the Rava Idli.

3. It was the first city to receive electricity

Bengaluru’s reputation as India’s most technologically advanced city might go back over a hundred years ago. 1906, when hydroelectric power was introduced in India, the first city to be electrified was not Delhi or Mumbai, but Bengaluru! A plant in Shivanasamudra provided electricity to Bengaluru for the first time, and a building located in City Market was chosen to be the first to receive electricity.

4. The city inspired Malgudi Days

India’s most beloved series, Malgudi Days, has roots in Bengaluru. R.K. Narayan, the creator of the series, combined the names of two of the oldest localities in the city, Malleshwaram and Basavanagudi, to come up with the unique name ‘Malgudi’. Readers of the series might find it hard to imagine Swami and his friends running around.

5. There are competing stories about its etymology

One of the unknown facts about Bengaluru that has always been debated is how it got its name. One of the theories is that it was initially called Bengalval-uru, which translates to ‘city of guards’ in the local dialect. Another story is that the Hoysala ruler Veera Ballala was once served boiled beans in the city and began to call it Benda-Kaal-uru (land of boiled beans) after that.

6. It has the oldest army regiments in India

Bengaluru was one of the most essential cantonments in India and has several reputed regiments dating back centuries. Madras Sappers, formally known as the Madras Engineering Group, was first formed in the 1770s. The regiment is still active today and instrumental in maintaining Ulsoor Lake.

7. It is home to the highest number of pubs in Asia

Thousands of companies might be opening up in Bengaluru, but that doesn’t mean the city is all about work and no play. Bengaluru has the highest number of pubs in Asia and the most exciting nightlife of any city in India. It also has many microbreweries opening up, offering the dedicated pub crowd unique craft beers.

8. It is also the Biotech capital

Bengaluru is the IT centre of India, but that’s only some of what it’s known for. This city also has the highest number of biotechnology companies in the country. Almost 47% of the biotech companies in India are located in Bengaluru. This also includes Biocon, the largest biotech company in India.

9. Freedom Park once used to be a jail

In what might be one of the most ironic facts about Bengaluru, Freedom Park was once the location of the Central Jail. The British built it during the Independence movement to imprison the freedom fighters.

10. A rich cultural diversity & a cosmopolitan crowd

Bengaluru city is welcoming & resides with people from across India. Reports show that the number of Kannadigas in Bengaluru today is 41% of the population. The remaining consists of Tamilians (25%), Telugites (14%), Keralites (10%), European (8%) and Others (6%). This shows that Bengaluru is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in India.

11. The beautiful weather is due to its elevation

One of the most significant parts of living in Bengaluru is the incredible weather you can enjoy all year round. This was also why the British preferred Bengaluru to other cities in India. This weather is because it is located at 920m above sea level. To put this into perspective, Dehradun is 437m above sea level. Few other metropolitan cities in India can boast of the same pleasant climate. 

To explore this vibrant city and discover serene getaways from the hustle and bustle, check out our guide on Weekend Getaways from Bangalore.

12. Lalbagh is home to an ancient rock formation

The beautiful Lalbagh park is home to some of the country’s oldest and most beautiful rock formations. These rocks protrude from the surface, looking like little hills. The Geological Survey of India discovered that one of these rocks dates back around 2.5 to 3.4 billion years ago. It has also been declared a national geological monument and is one of the best spots in Bengaluru.

13. The Victoria Hospital was named in honour of Queen Victoria

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign, the Maharani regent of Mysore laid the foundation stone of the Victoria Hospital on 22 June 1897. Operating since 1900, the hospital is one of the oldest and most respected hospitals in Bengaluru, even today, a century after it first started.

14. Bengaluru’s airport was the most unique in the world

One of the unknown facts about Bengaluru that most of us might have missed is that the old Bengaluru Airport was the only airport in the world where commercial and defence flights operated from the same strip. However, commercial flights have moved to the newly constructed Kempegowda International Airport. Today, the old HAL airport is used for military flights, test planes and smaller chartered flights for VVIPs.

15. The Bangalore Torpedo was created here

The Bangalore Torpedo was a deadly explosive used worldwide during the First and Second World Wars. The explosion can clear up an area of around 4 metres. The Madras Sappers unit first invented it under Capt.’s orders. McClintock. The use of Bangalore Torpedos has also been featured in several movies, such as Saving Private Ryan.

16. Shivanasamudram Dam is Asia’s first hydroelectric power station

The Shivanasamudram Dam, located on the banks of the River Kaveri, is the single largest piped water source in Bengaluru. It is also the site of South Asia’s first-ever hydroelectric power station. It was first proposed around 120 years back in 1902 by the then-king of Mysore. Several old temples are near the dam, suggesting that this area was home to an ancient settlement.

17. Bengaluru has the highest number of IT companies

In what isn’t one of the most surprising facts about Bengaluru, it has the highest number of software companies compared to any other city in India. A 2016 report showed that Bengaluru had 212 IT companies while Hyderabad was next with 108. However, this number has increased as more companies have opened their offices in Bengaluru. This city has rightly been dubbed the Silicon Valley of India. Many of these IT companies are located in Hebbal, near Sterling Pointe.

18. It is home to the Bugle Rock

The Bugle Rock is a massive, unique rock formation in Bengaluru’s Basavanagudi area. It was the location of one of Kempe Gowda’s four towers, each of which marked the city’s boundaries. The Bugle Rock got its name from the daily ritual, where a sentry guard would shine a torch that could be seen from the other four towers and blow a bugle. This tower exists today, and visitors can enjoy a beautiful city view.

19. The Mughals once invaded Bengaluru

The Mughals were known for capturing almost every kingdom in North India, but few know they also made their way down South. Fifty years after the Marathas overthrew the Vijayanagara Empire and ruled Bengaluru, the Mughals invaded and captured the city. Instead of ruling it, they sold Bengaluru to the Mysore Kingdom. It remained with the Mysore royal family until the British captured it in 1799.

20. Bengaluru was always at the heart of globalisation

Everyone knows Bengaluru is one of India’s most cosmopolitan and globalised cities today, so people move to Bangalore. But this identity Bengaluru has developed might go back several millennia. In what is today Yeshwantpur and HAL, coins were discovered dating back to 27 BCE belonging to Roman emperors like Augustus and Tiberius. This suggests that Bengaluru was involved in global trade even centuries ago.

21. Bengaluru became the ‘Garden City of India’ in 1927

The fact that Bengaluru is one of the greenest metropolitan cities in India today is no accident. In 1927, to commemorate the silver jubilee of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, many parks were constructed in every part of Bengaluru to beautify the city. Due to his efforts, Bengaluru has become one of the best cities.

22. The city paid a unique tribute to cartoons

One of the most exciting facts about Bengaluru is that it is one of the best cities for artists to gain recognition. Bengaluru opened a cartoon gallery for the first time in India to exhibit the best cartoon illustrations. The exhibition was conducted by the Indian Institute of Cartoonists, headquartered in Bengaluru, to bring the art of cartooning to light.

23. Kempegowda bus stand used to be a lake

The site on which the Kempegowda bus terminus currently stands has a long history. It was first an artificial lake created during Kempegowda’s reign to collect water from multiple sources into one large reservoir. Later, the lake dried up, becoming a popular local socialised spot. In 1931, Jawaharlal Nehru even conducted a rally here and hoisted the flag.

24. It has the longest bus route in India

The country’s longest bus route extends from Bangalore to Jodhpur in Rajasthan. This journey takes 36 hours to cover a distance of 1935 km. If the wanderlust bug has infected you, this is an unforgettable experience you should never miss out on. The vast changes in landscape and culture as you travel from one city to another can be seen up close throughout this bus trip.

25. It might have played a massive role in the drawing of the map

According to some sources, the first-ever map of India was drawn using Trinity Church on MG Road as the starting point. Even a stone here exists today, which is believed to be the exact point from where the map was drawn.

The city of Bengaluru has a distinct and charming identity that sets it apart from any other place in India. Ever since our inception, Sterling Developers has strived to reflect this personality of Bengaluru in each of our residential projects. Our beautiful homes in Bengaluru are situated in the most famous localities of the city. They embody the qualities of green living and community life synonymous with Bengaluru.