How to see Bangalore like a Local

Visiting Bangalore on holiday as a tourist is one thing, but really seeing and understanding Bangalore as a local may be a bit different. To get a true perspective of Bangalore as an outsider who wants to experience the local life, it may be the expatriate living in Bangalore who is the best resource.

Bangalore is nicknamed the Silicon Valley of India and is now officially known as Bengalooru. It is the most westernized city in India, having become an industrial powerhouse. The city has a well-developed infrastructure when compared to other cities in India, but it is still under a great deal of development as it tries to keep up with it status as a leading industrial centre.


Beyond the chaos that is part of any growing city development, Bangalore is truly one of the most attractive cities in India. It has a reputation as the garden city because of its great year-round weather, tree-flanked avenues, and stunning parks. In and among the new and magnificent city buildings and beautiful gardens there remains the authentic traditions of Bangalore, the back street markets, and fascinating culture. In fact, the city is a base for the most high tech industries in the country, attracting people from all over the world and creating a blend of cultures and backgrounds.

The city of Bangalore has successfully combined its new technological and industrial accomplishments with its rich cultural heritage. The blend of modern culture with traditions has made this city one of the most happening in the country. While parts of the city are gaining the status of an IT Capital, other parts of the city there exists a revival of age old traditional art forms. The Bangalore culture now reflects the fusion of the new and the old from its arts and crafts to its theatre. Bangalore now has a cosmopolitan character that does not exist in most other cities in India. Here are some areas of the cultural heritage of the officially named Bangaluru (Bengalooru).

History

There is quite an interesting history attached to the city of Bangalore from its name to its status as the IT Capital of the country. The Bangalore name is actually an anglicized version of Bengalooru, which is a Kannad term. The city is known to be founded by Kempe Gowda, a feudal lord. Throughout its history Bangalore was ruled by various empires, the Sultans, and kingdoms, but it only began to develop into a modern city while under British rule. India gained its independence in 1947 and Bangalore became the capital of Karnataka. The development of the city from that point on was large-scale, allowing it to grow dramatically. Around the year 2000 information technology was introduced to the city, leading to its development as the IT Capital of India. In addition to being referred to as the IT Capital, it is also known as India's Silicon Valley, The Pub City of India, and The Fashion Capital of India.In 2006 the city of Bangalore gave reverence to its origins by being renamed as Bengalooru, though it is still commonly called Bangalore.

Arts and Crafts

The impressive temples and elite bungalows of the city are a testimony to the city's beautiful arts and crafts heritage. Exuding beauty beyond description, the interiors of the structures are adorned with arts and crafts of wood, metal, and stone. From generation to generation the age old arts and crafts of the city have been passed down, being perfected along the way. The crafts people of Bangalore are versed in wood carving, ivory carving, stone carving, sandalwood craft, doll making, metal ware, and Mysore paintings. Wood carving follows age old techniques including the carving, the inlay work, coating, painting, and the like.


The craftsmanship is exquisite, making the entire state of Karnataka and its wonderful forest reserves well known for the art of wood carving. The ivory carving is very popular and is formed most into images of Gods and Goddesses. The stone carvers of the state of Karnataka have won many national and international awards. The sandalwood craft is best known for images of Lord Krishna, but also for items like combs, trays, jewel boxes, lampshades, and other decorative articles. Channapatna(wooden puppets)are the most famous dolls in Bangalore, but leather puppets are also common. The metal ware has been coming out of the Bangalore for a very long time, mostly consisting of ornamental jugs, candlesticks, plates, penholders, and the like. The Mysore paintings of Bangalore are famous, dating back to when Ajanta caves were carved. There is actually a school in the city that is dedicated to this traditional form of painting.

Sport

Anyone spending time in Bangalore will soon discover daily life includes a bit of sport. Sport in the city reflects the old and the modern elements that have characterized the city thus far. There is a rich history of different sports played across India, but the city of Bangalore is known for producing talented sports people from a wide range of sports including cricket, football, tennis, badminton, hockey, horse racing, and poker.


Proof of the importance and popularity of sports in the city is exemplified by the modern sports facilities. The combination of high profile sports professional coming out of Bangalore and the modern venues have elevated sports even more in the consciousness of the people. In addition, efforts by individual professional players like Aditya Agarwal have helped take their respective sports to new levels. The faces of the most revered sports icons can be seen regularly in television ads and on posters, giving proof to their importance and the importance of sport to the culture of Bangalore.

Religious and National Festivals

Religious and national festivals have are an important element in Bangalore. The wide range of festivals is a reflection of the rich mix of people who inhabit Bangalore, exhibiting different religions and cultural backgrounds. There are traditional Hindu festivals, but also Christian and Muslim festivals, as well as many secular Western celebrations that can be found on the holiday calendar of daily life in the city. These examples show just how closely related the diversity of population is to the culture of Bangalore. To see the city as a local can only be accomplished by understanding the rich and diverse heritage that is Bengalooru.