Capital of Karnataka

Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka. Bengaluru is known as the silicon valley of India. In the Ease of Living Index 2020, Bengaluru was ranked as the most liveable city with a population of over a million. This article will shed more light on the vibrant state of Karnataka, and Bengaluru.

Bengaluru – A Very Important City in India

• Bengaluru is the largest city in India.
• Bengaluru is the third most populous city of India and the 5th most populous urban agglomeration of India.
• Kempe Gowda was the founder of Bengaluru city. He was a feudal ruler under the Vijayanagara empire.
• The earliest reference to the name Bengaluru was found in a ninth-century Western Ganga dynasty stone inscription on a “vira gallu”.
• On 1st November 2006, the state government of Karnataka decided to officially change the name of Bangalore to Bengaluru. In October 2014, the Government of India accepted this request and changed the name from Bangalore to Bengaluru.
• As per the 2011 census, the Hindus comprised the majority of the population of Bengaluru.
• The official language of Bengaluru is Kannada.
• Bengaluru is a major hub for education in India.

Bengaluru – Economy, Education

• Bengaluru is considered the silicon valley of India as it is the IT capital of India. Many of the Indian IT companies are headquartered in Bengaluru.
• The economy of Bengaluru is driven by industries such as the information technology industry, biotechnology industry, manufacturing industry, automobile industry, electronics industry, telecommunications industry, etc.
• The fastest-growing major metropolis in India is Bengaluru.
• Bengaluru is the centre of many defence and aerospace organisations in India.

Karnataka – A Brief Overview

• The state of Karnataka was formed on 1st November 1956, after the implementation of the “States Reorganisation Act.”
• Originally, Karnataka was known as the state of Mysore. In 1973, the state of Mysore was renamed Karnataka.
• The states bordering Karnataka are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Goa.
• The Arabian sea is to the west of Karnataka.
• Area-wise, Karnataka is the 6th largest state in India and by population, Karnataka is the eighth largest state.
• Karnataka has 31 districts.
• Kannada is the official language of Karnataka and it is the most widely spoken language in Karnataka. The other languages spoken in Karnataka are Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Konkani, Tulu, Kodava, and Beary.
• In some villages of Karnataka, Sanskrit is the primary language.
• Karnataka has a very high literacy rate.
• Karnataka is a major hub for education and research in India. Many of the premier research institutions and top educational institutions in India are located in Karnataka.

Karnataka – One State Many Worlds, Different Geographical regions

Karnataka is divided into 3 main geographical regions. They are the Bayaluseeme region comprising the plains of the Deccan plateau, the hilly Malenadu region consisting of Western Ghats, and the coastal region of Tulu Nadu and Karavali.

• Karnataka has 5 national parks – Kudremukh, Nagarhole, Bannerghatta, Bandipur, and Anshi.
• Karnataka has 27 wildlife sanctuaries, out of these seven are bird sanctuaries.
• Around 12% of Karnataka’s geographical area is covered with forests.
• 10% of India’s tiger population and 25% of India’s elephant population is found in the forests of Karnataka.
• The other wild animals found in Karnataka are sloth bear, sambar deer, gaur, leopard, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox, etc.
• Lotus is the state flower, sandalwood is the state tree, and the elephant is the state animal of Karnataka.
• Indian roller is the state bird of Karnataka.

Karnataka – Tourism

• The state of Karnataka was ranked as the 4th most popular tourist destination in India.
• Karnataka is known for its beautiful beaches, temples, monuments, forests, scenic hill ranges, etc.
• There are UNESCO World Heritage sites in Karnataka.