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| Sunday, 4 August 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Bangalore, the Garden City : An enchanting gateway to India by Vimukthi Fernando
From up above, it looked like a clear night sky. A host of stars amidst immense blackness. The welcome, could not be more appropriate, with the wonderful fragrance of jasmine... "Welcome to Bangalore, Welcome to India" says a stocky man with a turban, handing over garlands with hundreds of those sweet smelling flowers... We, a group of journalists from print and electronic media are in Bangalore, courtesy SriLankan Airlines which recently launched a Colombo Bangalore service. An economically and geographically important destination, direct flight service to Bangalore is a watershed in strengthening the bonds between the two cities already united by cultural, educational and economic ties. The service will help promote tourist traffic from Europe to Bangalore via Colombo said sources from SriLankan Airlines. They expect the services to enhance Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism to and from Bangalore. The direct flight service also facilitates the Sri Lankan student population in Bangalore and increases the number of SriLankan Airline destinations in India to six. Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Trichy, Trivandrum are the other destinations.
Why Bangalore? The question loomed large in our minds as we stepped on Bangalore soil. The cool breeze spreading the fragrance of jasmine and soothing our minds gave credence to its popular identity as a 'Garden City', another jewel of India. Bangalore, with its beautiful parks, exquisite buildings, cool climes, fragrant flowers, handsome men and pretty women is indeed the 'Garden City'. Luxury hotels, tennis courts, horse tracks, a range of pubs, and shopping malls add to its allure as does its high reputation for silks, sandal wood souvenirs and handicrafts. Bangalore, the ideal leisure destination! But it isn't just leisure that attracts one to Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. It is the core of the country's software industry, acclaimed as the Silicon Valley of South Asia. This cosmopolitan, rapidly progressing city attracts many a young man and woman from all over India, as well as from other countries, especially from the Asian region due to the many opportunities it offers in higher education. Now, that the IT industry has attracted many national and international companies to Bangalore another attraction is the employment opportunities.
Our visit to the International Tech Park, proved that Bangalore is "the zenith of modern technology in South India". No wonder Bangalore is called the Silicon Valley. Here is a building complex which houses nearly 100 companies. An array of industries using modern technology - be it computer, bio-technology, electronics, aircraft, machine tools or medical supplies. You name it... it is there. High quality products with negligibly low cost on material and expertise, has drawn many companies to establish themselves in Bangalore. All this gives Bangalore a unique cosmopolitan quality. Its population, 65 percent of who are 'migrators' as against 35 percent locals ascertains the fact. Communication, confirms this as well. Four languages are spoken in the city - Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and English. Hindi is also a link language. Besides these, there are many who speak various dialects and foreign languages including Sinhala. A small community of businessmen down Mahatma Gandhi Road and Commercial Street were happy to chat with us in Sinhala, about the times they spent in Sri Lanka, studying, working or holidaying. These are not the only attractions within the city of Bangalore. The architectural beauty of the old buildings such as the Vidhana Soudha the state secretariat, public library, government museum and the court house are places where a visitor should explore. The gardens such as the Lalbagh Gardens and Cubbon Park span across acres, attracting locals as well as visitors. Surrounding the city are more attractions such as the Bannerghata Nature Camp and the popular Whitefield Ashram of Sai Baba. Bannerghata nature camp, provides a place to ease the cares of the urbanised while offering a truly educational experience. The camp is situated 35km away from Bangalore towards the edge of the city, on an elephant corridor, where elephants' movement is seen between the jungles of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the forests of Bandipur and Wynad. Divided into seven segments - the mini zoo, herbivore safari, lion and tiger safari, elephant watering hole, 'Born Free' tiger rehabilitation centre, dinosaur statue park and the nature camp, it offers wonderful opportunities of fun and leisure. Here, the main attraction is the lion and tiger safari. About six big cats are let out to prowl in this wire meshed 10-hectare enclosure. Visitor entry is in vans resembling armed cars, with wire mesh covering all windows and doors. A safe and secure way to watch big cats in their own habitat. The safari and rehabilitation centre is an effort by the state to provide comfortable retirement for those big cats in captivity. The herbivore safari sports many species of the deer family, sloth bear and gour. The nature camp run by Jungle Lodges facilitates a fun outdoor experience to the visitors. There, sleeping in tents under the stars and visiting various wildlife attractions are enjoyed by the busy urbanites of Bangalore. A gateway to India, as it is called - Bangalore facilitates travel to many destinations of India. Mysore is one such city which speaks of the by-gone splendours of Karnataka. The capital of the Maharajahs of yester-years, still sparkling the glories of their wealth and power in the form of the Mysore Palace. It is again a 'garden city' with the famous Brindavan Gardens and its musical fountain and the Summer Gardens of Tipu Sultan. In addition are the wildlife attractions, such as the Nagarhole National Park 75km away from the city. Not to forget the temples - Mysore is dotted by many temples of architectural beauty held in high esteem by devotees. It is also a 'temple city'. No account of Mysore is complete without mentioning Tipu Sultan the legendary 'Tiger of Mysore' who defied British rule and commanded the state for many years. The warrior together with his father Hyder Ali, usurped power from the then Maharajah who used to pay tax to the British. Refusing to pay any more tax Tipu Sultan fought a bitter war for 23 years (1776 to 1799). However, he was defeated and killed in 1799, during his fourth and last, the surprise battle which the British threw upon him. Tipu based himself at Srirangapatna an island fortress, as against the city atmosphere of Mysore. Srirangapatna, a village 16km off Mysore and encircled by river Cauvery was protected by high ramparts and moats in his days. Palaces, temples and mosques were built within this fortress. Though the British destroyed the fortress and Tipu's palace once they won the battle, they preserved the temples, mosque and Tipu's Summer Palace. A two storey mansion built out of wood and decorated with intricate carvings and realms of ethnic painting the Summer Palace was used by the British rulers till the early 1900s. A finely preserved model of Indo-Islamic art and architecture the Summer Palace was built in 1784, to celebrate Tipu's victory over the British in his 3rd battle. It is now turned into a museum, held in awe by locals and enjoyed by foreigners. |
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