Quick answerBengaluru is a city in India, with 8,443,675 people inside the city limits in 2011. The wider metropolitan area had about 8.5 million people in 2011. It is best known for the Information technology ('Silicon Valley of India'), the Garden City and the Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Its official language is Hindi and English, and its currency is the Indian rupee.
Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka and the third most populous city in India, with 8,443,675 residents in 2011. It stands on the Deccan Plateau about 900 metres above sea level and is known as the 'Silicon Valley of India' and the 'Garden City'.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 8,443,675 (2011) |
| Population (metro) | 8,499,399 (2011) · Bengaluru urban agglomeration, Census of India 2011 |
| Elevation | 920 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Kolkata |
| Language | Hindi, English |
| Currency | Indian rupee (INR, ₹) |
| Coordinates | 12.9789° N, 77.5917° E |
Overview
Bengaluru is the capital and largest city of Karnataka, in southern India. In the 2011 census it had 8,443,675 residents, making it the third most populous city in India and the most populous in South India. Its urban area had 8,499,399 people that year. The city stands on the southern Deccan Plateau, at an altitude of about 900 metres, which gives it a milder climate than most Indian cities.
The city was founded in 1537 and grew under the Mysore rulers and the British, who built a cantonment beside the old town. It was known as Bangalore until 1 November 2014, when its name was officially changed to Bengaluru. Its parks and tree-lined avenues earned it the nickname ‘Garden City’.
Since the 1990s Bengaluru has become the centre of India's information-technology industry — the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ — and one of the world's fastest-growing technology hubs. Its best-known sights are the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of Karnataka's government, the Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Bangalore Palace.
What Bengaluru is known for
- Information technology ('Silicon Valley of India')
- Garden City
- Lalbagh Botanical Garden
- Vidhana Soudha
Landmarks
- Vidhana Soudha
- Lalbagh Botanical Garden
- Bangalore Palace
- Cubbon Park
- Bull Temple
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bengaluru?
Bengaluru had 8,443,675 residents in the 2011 census, making it the third most populous city in India and the most populous in South India. Its urban area had 8,499,399 people that year. No newer census has been held since 2011, so these are still the latest official city figures.
Where is Bengaluru and what is it known for?
Bengaluru is in southern India, in Karnataka, on the Deccan Plateau about 900 metres above sea level. It is known as the 'Silicon Valley of India' for its information-technology industry, and as the 'Garden City' for its parks. Its coordinates are 12.98° N, 77.59° E.
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Keep exploring
- India — the country Bengaluru is in
- Mumbai — another city in India
- Chennai — another city in India
- New Delhi — another city in India
- Mahatma Gandhi — Indian politics figure
- All cities in India
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.