OverView of Basavangudi

Basavanagudi is a commercial and residential locality in the Indian city of Bangalore, now renamed as Bengaluru and henceforth will be referred as the same.  The name "Basavanagudi" evolved and it refers to a “Bull Temple” that is located here.  It is a monolith statue of the Nandi Bull.  Basava in Kannada, the local language, means Bull and Gudi means temple.  Hence, the name evolved as Basavanagudi.

This locality houses numerous old and beautiful temples, elite institutions, busy marketplaces, parks lushed with green trees, tiny lakes and awesome restaurants.  It is one of the oldest areas in Bengaluru.  Till a decade ago, this neighborhood was a homeland for Kannada speaking scholarly Brahmin families and other high ranked personalities.  This serene place had many wide roads lined up with shady trees and huge mansions and European styled bungalows.  Today, this green lush neighborhood has almost become a concrete jungle and completely crammed with economic refugees who have migrated plenteously from other states of India.  This unadulterated serene residential paradise has become a hectic hub for business communities today.

The Fort, built by Tipu Sultan in the late-18th century to fend off the enemy troops during the Anglo-Mysore War, this architectural wonder was originally built by Bengaluru’s famous architect Kempe Gowda in 1537.  The Islamic-style arches on the exterior walls are later additions to the original mud fort.  Exquisite carvings of religious deities and the Ganapathy temple located inside are simply beautiful.

Sajjan Rao circle, another interesting place that encircles mesmerizing temples, marriage halls, and fast food hangouts, which are customarily opened until midnight.  Once upon a time, this place was labeled as “The Gold Mine", as people from one particular community, who lived in this locality for decades, would always decorate and cover their body with gold ornaments.

The Ramakrishna Ashram located on Bull Temple Road and the Sringeri Peetha Matha are other places one can visit to spend time in spiritual practices and to have tranquil moments.

Gandhi Bazaar still continues to be a busy marketplace, crowded with innumerable shops and street hawkers.  It is an absolute delight to visit this marketplace during festive seasons as all the shops are packed with bargain hunters and all the roads leading to this marketplace are decorated with vibrant banners and colorful lights.  Interestingly, decades old mammoth trees that are still left unchopped by the local municipal corporation, continue to shelter many species of birds.

Vidyarthi Bhavan, a quaint little restaurant located in the heart of Gandhi bazaar makes the best Masala Dosa in the world.  The aroma wafting through the air is a good enough indication that you are in the vicinity of this gastronomic heaven.  This awesome restaurant is perennially jam-packed and still the most sought after hotel in the town.  Among the other eateries, Dwaraka, Kamat, Janata Hotel, SLV, Kottureshwara Benne Dose Hotel, and Upahara Darshini are extremely popular hangouts.

Dodda Ganeshana Gudi has the biggest stone statue of Lord Ganesh in the world.  Ganesha statue is carved on a rock measuring 18 feet by 14 feet surface area.  The Bugle Rock is a beautiful garden behind the temple and is home to a Poet corner too.

Karanji Anjaneya (Hanuman) Temple is one of the oldest temples of Bengaluru. This temple was supposed to be southern entrance to Bengaluru city (southern tower built by Kempe Gowda is near by to this temple) on the banks of Karaji Lake (which no longer exists).

At a close proximity, another interesting temple named Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple is located.  This temple has a three tier structure built underground and carved entirely out of granite monolith.  Dedicated to god Shiva, the temple experiences a great phenomenon on the 14th or 15th January every year - a beam of light passes through the horns of the bull Nandi located on ground level, and illuminates the idol of god Shiva inside the cave underground.

Basavanagudi also is a host to many cultural organizations like GIPA (Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs, founded by D.V. Gundappa) IIWC (Indian Institute of World Culture, founded by B.P Wadia).  United Lodge of Theosophists is situated on M.N. Krishna Rao Road which runs diagonally from Lalbagh West Gate to B.S. Madhava Rao Circle.

Lalbagh Gardens is the oldest garden in Bengaluru that extends from Basavanagudi and runs up to Jayanagar in the south and Shanthi Nagar in the East.  It is believed to have been started by the famous ruler Hyder Ali (c. 1722 - 1782) and maintained by his son Tipu Sultan (November 20, 1750 CE, Devanahalli – May 4, 1799 CE, Srirangapatna).  Lalbagh continues to be maintained by the Department of Horticulture of Government of Karnataka as a comprehensive Botanical garden.  There are trees still thriving that are supposed to have been planted by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, more than 250 years ago.  Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Krishnarao Park are flooded with people, right from the early mornings that include joggers, walkers, doing exercises from all walks of life and of all ages.

This neighborhood houses several drama and movie theaters, recreation halls, playing grounds, premier clubs, hospitals, and nursing homes, educational institutions, bakeries, IT companies, shopping malls, government libraries, petrol bunks, fast food hangouts, and a controversial fly-over near the national college.

Places to visit:

1.         Bull Temple.

2.         Sri Sri Uttaradimath.

3.         Shankar Math.

4.         Lalbagh Botanical Garden.

5.         Gayana Samaja, a cultural hub

6.         Carnegie Hall or Kennedy Center.

7.         Gangadhareswara Temple.

8.         Yediyur Lake.

Eatry

You will get the best IDLI's and Dosas here in Bengaluru;

1.         Vidyarthi Bhawan (Gandhi Bazaar)

2.         Brahmin's Coffee Bar (Shankarpuram)

3.         Modern Tiffin Center (DVG Road)

Reputed Educational Institutions in & around

1.         BMSCE

2.         Mahila Seva Samaj

3.         BMS College for Women

4.         National High School

5.         National College

6.         Bangalore Higher Secondary School

7.         VET School

8.         BMS College of Engineering

9.         Acharya Patashaala.

10.       Bangalore Institute of Technology.

11.       Vijaya College.

12.       V.V. Puram College.

13.       Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College.

14.       Vasavi Vidya Nikethan.

15.       Surana College.

16.       The Home School.

17.       Sri Kumaran Children's Home.

18.       B.B.U.L Jain Vidyalaya.

19.       Auden Public School

Accessibility

    Approx 7 km from City Railway Station.

    Airport is 22 km away.

Areas Under Basavanagudi

    NR Colony

     Bairasandra

     Yediyur

     Hanumanthanagar