The city of Bangalore is India’s third largest city and the state capital of Karnataka, known for being a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis at the helm of the country’s IT-boom. Bangalore is a shopper’s haven overrun with big malls and shopping districts, as well as a food lover’s paradise with one of the highest concentrations of places to eat in the continent. Spotted with parks and natural lakes, Bangalore is alternately known as ‘The Garden City of India.’ Recently voted as the most livable metro in the country, Bangalore is known as‘Pensioner’s Paradise’ on the one hand and as ‘Start-up City,’ on the other, attracting youth from across the world with its trending markets and rapid availability of jobs. With Bangalore’s ever-doubling IT infrastructure, it is often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India.
Another aspect of Bangalore is soaked in the history of bygone, ancient cultures. Bangalore has been peopled for up to 3000 years, bearing megalithic monuments that treasure its rich past. Bangalore, as we know it today, was established in 1537 by KempeGowda I, who constructed a well-planned city within an oval mud fort in the area that is today known as City Market. Gradually, Bangalore grew into a commercial center and a chief part of the silk industry. Over successive centuries the Marathas, Mughals, Wodeyars and the Mysore Sultanate, all did their bit to develop the city further. In 1809 the British set up a cantonment in Bangalore, drawn by its pleasant weather and central location.
The earliest recorded usage of the name Bengaluru is found in today’s ‘Old Bangalore,’ in a 9th century temple. According to legend, King ViraBallala was once lost in the jungles that once overran these parts. He was wandering, tired and hungry, when an old woman revived him with her hospitality and a plate of boiled beans. Out of gratitude the King consequently named the area ‘Benda KaaluUru’ (Town of Boiled Beans). It was only in 1831, when the British seized Mysore from the ruling Wodeyars that the capital was shifted to Bangalore. The anglicization of Bengaluru turned it into Bangalore until it was recently reverted back to its original.
Although Bangalore is not a popular tourist destination, there are many sites worth taking a tour of. The legislative House of Karnataka, VidhanaSoudha, is one of the Chief attractions of Bangalore. It was built during the 1950s using granite in a neo-Dravidian style of architecture. Other places of historical interest include the Bangalore Palace, constructed by the Mysore Maharajahs and Tipu Sultan’s Palace, built around 1790 as Tipu’s summer retreat.
A tour of Bangalore must also include Lalbagh Botanical Gardens- built by Hyder Ali in 1760, and the Bannerghatta National Park- a 25,000-acre zoological park one and a half hours away from Bangalore City. Educational tours of Bangalore may include the Vishweshwaraiah Industrial and Technological Museum, the State Archaeological Museum, the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, the Venkatappa Art Gallery and the Karnataka ChitrakalaParishad. Religious tours of Bangalore cover the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi, the Maha Bodhi Society Temple- a replica of the Bodh Gaya Stupa, the ISCKON temple, the Maruthi Temple, the GaviGangadeshwara Cave Temple as well as many other temples, mosques and churches of historic significance.
Due to an average elevation of 920 meters above the sea level, Bangalore enjoys a cool climate throughout the year. Although summers can get hot with dry heat waves, it seldom exceeds 35 degrees Celsius and hovers around a mean temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.
SEABIRD TOURISTS takes you to the Gokarna is a village in the Uttara Kannada district of the Karnataka state, India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage centre as well as a tourist destination in India. Gokarna is a temple town and is referred to in a number of Hindu historical literature pieces. The main deity is Lord Mahabhaleshwara, a form of Hindu god Shiva. Around the town lie a number of beaches and these serve as a major attraction for travellers.
Gokarna is also famous for its beautiful beaches and landscapes. The main beaches in Gokarna are the Gokarna beach, Kudle Beach, Om Beach, Half moon Beach and Paradise Beach (also known as Full moon). The Gokarna beach forms the coast of the town while the other four beaches lie to the south of Gokarna. Kudle and Om are around 6 km from Gokarna town along a muddy hill; they are accessible by rickshaw or foot. Half moon and Paradise are beyond Om beach and are accessible only by foot or boat. Om beach is named so because it is shaped like the auspicious symbol. Om beach is the only naturally Om shaped beach. Two other beaches - Paradise and Half Moon - are smaller and remote beaches.
Places to See also.
1)Murudeshwara 85 km from Gokarna 2)Idagunji 65 km from Gokanra. 3)Yana 55 km away from Gokarna and 32 km from Kumta. 4) Bhookailas (1958 film).
About Gokarna Tourism.
Go-karna, means 'cow's ears' in Sanskrit. According to legends, Lord Shiva emerged from a cow's ear and so the name. It is located at the meeting point of the two rivers Gangavali and Agnashini, which is shaped like an ear. Gokarna is a town of paradox - a holy center contrasted by it being a popular beach destination. A place said to have been the center for India's ancient Ganja culture, it is known today, for being a holy city, housing the famous Shiva temple where you can find the Aatma Lingam enshrined. Gokarna is one of the seven muktisalas or pilgrimage centers of Karnataka, and has been venerated even by the Nayanmar saints in their Tamil hymns.
Sightseeing around Gokarna.
On the religious exploration, visit the Mahabaleshvara Temple, nestled in the Western Ghats and housing the 1500-year-old deity. The temple's west end has the Mahabaleshwar enshrined, from where you could have a look at the shivalingam which is 6 feet tall, viewable only once in 40 years during the performance of a ceremony. Otherwise you are allowed only a glimpse of the top of the lingam.
Gokarna is situated on the west coast on India, south of Goa. Go-karna literally means "cow's ear" in Hindi and Sanskrit. This name is believed to have been derived from mythological legend, in which Lord Shiva emerges from an ear of a cow. This village is formed in between two rivers, which flow together and form a landmass shaped like a cow's ear.
It is very rich in olden culture and tribal area with full of nature love.
This place is famous for religious Hindu rituals, as well as it's wonderful (and not so secluded anymore) beaches. These beaches are separated by cliffs. There are four main beaches Kudle beach, Om beach, Halfmoon beach, and Paradise beach.
A small town on banks of Arabian sea, Gokarna, literally meaning Cow’s Ear, is a temple town in the Uttara Kannada district of the Karnataka. As per Hindu mythology, Cow has a special religious place as Mother Earth. It is believed that Lord Rudra (another name for Shiva) was sent to Patalaloka by Brahma (the creator) to undergo penance. He eventually emerged from the ear of a cow named Prithvi synonym for the Mother Earth and hence the name of Gokarna. Thus this place served Rudra as a womb and so, this place is also known as Rudra Yoni and Adi Gokarna. Gokarna is placed at the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers Gangavali and Aghanashini, a natural picturesque scene anybody can never forget.
Gokarna is town of contrasts as it is a temple town and also a holiday destination. Gokarana is a famous pilgrimage centre as well as a tourist attraction for those who want to explore the cultural heritage and beauty of India. Gokarna finds its reference in a number of Hindu historical literature.
Gokarna is acclaimed as Mukti Stala, the place where Hindus come to perform their obsequies, after the death of a close relative. Gokarna is also mentioned in the Shrimad Bhagawat Purana as being the home of the two brothers Gokarna and Dhundhakari.
Around the town lie a number of beaches sefving as a major attraction for travelers. This coastline is surrounded by natural beauty of five beaches (Gokarna beach, Kudle beach, Om beach, Half moon beach and Paradise beach) and hills alongside, the traveler can choose his favorites for himself. This is not a place to hurry. One should just drift up the coast, enjoying the scenic beauty of this coastal area and marvelous cultural heritage of India.
Gokarna is full of coconut and palm trees, blue seas and clean sands. It is an attractive town with two main streets with shops and traditional tile roofed brick houses.
SEABIRD TOURISTS takes you to the Gokarana and makes the journey comfortable.