Bangalore

Bangalore is the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, located on the elevated plateau of the Deccan region. The city occupies a high ridge dividing the drainage basins of the Arkavathi and South Pennar rivers. Built lakes and water tanks historically provided water storage across the undulating topography.

The settlement took shape in 1537 when local chieftain Kempe Gowda built a mud fort and established commercial markets divided by occupational trades. The town passed through Maratha and Mughal hands before the Mughals leased it to the Kingdom of Mysore in the late 17th century. A British military cantonment opened in the early 19th century, creating tree-lined avenues and civil administrative quarters separate from the older walled town. Following Indian independence, the city became the capital of the newly reorganized state of Mysore in 1956, which later adopted the name Karnataka.

As the administrative capital of Karnataka, Bangalore houses the state legislature, the high court, and executive ministries. Information technology, telecommunications, and aerospace engineering drive the regional economy. State enterprises Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited produce aviation equipment, radar systems, and defense electronics. Global software corporations Infosys and Wipro maintain extensive corporate headquarters campuses, while biotechnology laboratories, precision machine tool manufacturers, and satellite development facilities operate research plants across dedicated industrial parks.

Civic landmarks include the legislative seat of Vidhana Soudha, built of granite in the Neo-Dravidian architectural style with imposing porticos and carved stone pillars. Public parklands border central avenues, led by the expansive grounds of Cubbon Park and the plant collections of Lalbagh Botanical Garden, which features a Victorian-inspired iron and glass pavilion. Scientific discovery and higher education center on the Indian Institute of Science, founded in the early 20th century to advance postgraduate research in physics, chemistry, and aerospace engineering.