Explore Rajajinagar ward of Bengaluru , named after Sri Rajagopalachari

Rajajinagar is one of the most prominent and populous wards in Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka. It is located in the western part of the city and covers an area of 12.4 square kilometers. Rajajinagar is a hub of industrial, commercial, educational, and cultural activities. It is also a place of historical and religious significance. In this article, we will explore the various aspects of Rajajinagar, such as how it got its name, what it is popularly known for, its historic significance, some of the popular layouts in this ward, spots of interest in this area, and things for must experience in this area

• How it got its name
  • Rajajinagar is named after C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor-General of India, who visited the area in 1954 and laid the foundation stone for the industrial estate.
  • Rajajinagar was initially a refugee settlement for people who migrated from parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh during the Madras Presidency.
  • Rajajinagar was developed as a planned residential and industrial area by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) in the 1960s and 1970s.
• What is it popularly known for
  • Rajajinagar is popularly known for its industrial estate, which houses many small and medium scale industries, such as engineering, textiles, chemicals, plastics, and food processing.
  • Rajajinagar is also known for its educational institutions, such as National Public School, Seshadripuram College, National Law School of India University, and Basaveshwara Medical College.
  • Rajajinagar is also known for its cultural and religious diversity, as it has many temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras. Some of the famous temples are ISKCON Temple, Sri Ayyappa Temple, Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, and Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple.
• Historic significance
  • Rajajinagar has a historic significance as it was one of the first areas in Bangalore to have underground drainage and water supply systems.
  • Rajajinagar also witnessed some of the major political and social movements in Karnataka, such as the Gokak agitation, the Kannada language movement, and the anti-emergency protests.
  • Rajajinagar also has some heritage buildings and monuments, such as the Freedom Fighters Park, the Basaveshwara Circle, and the Dr. Rajkumar Memorial.
   

 

• Some of the popular layouts in this ward
  • Rajajinagar has many layouts or sub-localities, such as Basaveshwaranagar, Mahalakshmi Layout, West of Chord Road, Prakashnagar, Shivanagar, Agrahara Dasarahalli, and Kurubarahalli.
  • Some of the popular layouts in this ward are:
    • Basaveshwaranagar: It is a residential and commercial area that has many parks, shopping complexes, hospitals, and schools. It is named after Basaveshwara, a 12th-century social reformer and philosopher.
    • Mahalakshmi Layout: It is a residential area that has many apartments, villas, and independent houses. It is named after Mahalakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.
    • West of Chord Road: It is a mixed-use area that has many industries, offices, hotels, restaurants, and malls. It is named after the chord road that connects Tumkur Road and Mysore Road.
• Spots of Interest in this area
  • Rajajinagar has many spots of interest that attract tourists and locals alike. Some of them are:
    • ISKCON Temple: It is a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. It is one of the largest ISKCON temples in the world and has a museum, a cultural center, a restaurant, and a guest house.
    • Dr. Rajkumar Memorial: It is a memorial dedicated to Dr. Rajkumar, a legendary Kannada actor and singer. It has a museum that displays his personal belongings, awards, costumes, and photographs. It also has a statue of Dr. Rajkumar and a musical fountain.
    • Freedom Fighters Park: It is a park that commemorates the freedom fighters who fought against the British rule. It has statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, and others. It also has a children’s play area and a jogging track.
• Things for must experience in this area
  • Rajajinagar has many things for must experience that will make your visit memorable. Some of them are:
    • Shopping at Orion Mall: Orion Mall is one of the largest malls in Bangalore that has more than 200 stores selling various brands of clothing, accessories, electronics, books, and more. It also has a multiplex cinema, a food court, a bowling alley, a gaming zone, and an artificial lake.
    • Eating at Halli Mane: Halli Mane is one of the most popular restaurants in Rajajinagar that serves authentic Karnataka cuisine. It offers dishes like ragi mudde (finger millet balls), saaru (soup), palya (vegetable curry), chutney (spicy dip), holige (sweet flatbread), and more.
    • Visiting the Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple: Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bangalore that dates back to the 16th century. It is dedicated to Lord Dharmaraya, a form of Lord Panduranga. It is famous for its annual Karaga festival, which is a procession of a decorated pot carried by a priest dressed as a woman.