5 themes of Geography-Bangalore
By Neha Thippana
Introduction
Karnataka and Bangalore on an India map
Bangalore on an India map
Bangalore- Urban (dark green) and Rural (Light Green) districts
Place
Languages
Bangalore languages comprise of all the languages spoken in the state of Karnataka. The language spoken by the majority of Bangaloreans is Kannad. Apart from Kannad and other regional languages, English is also quite widely spoken in the city, in fact, almost all the younger generation of the city speaks English.
Urbanization
Bangalore, the fastest growing city of India, comprises of a dynamic blend of people, belonging to various religions, castes and communities. With the introduction of information technology in the city, it has assumed an international character. IT professionals not only from various parts of India, but also that of the world, are migrating to the city. This has led to Bangalore becoming more like the melting pot of various cultures.
Population
Bangalore is the third most populated city in India but is the fastest growing city in the whole country. It consists of around 8.426 million people.
Religion
One of the major religions of Bangalore is Hinduism. Apart from that, a number of other religions are also practiced in the city, although the proportion is not too large. People who practice Hinduism go to beautiful temples that are built all over the city.
Art
The city consists of elite bungalows and palaces made thousands of years ago by kings who ruled over this beautiful city. The age-old techniques of carvings and pottery have been passed on from generation to generation and have become more and more extravagant over time.
Climate and Vegetation
Due to it's high elevation, Bangalore has a very tropical climate. It is said to have the best weather in the entire country. Because of the amazing weather the soil is very fertile and vegetation is rich.
Wildlife
Unfortunately, because of the extreme urbanization, spotting wildlife is very rare. However, stray dogs are a huge issue all over India. There are many organizations set to capture and nurse them but the number of stray dogs are way too high.
Famous for:-
Bangalore is known for it's IT companies, beautiful temples and spectacular weather. Although, the biggest tourist attraction is it's beautiful gardens. Bangalore is called the City of Gardens, because of the hundreds of types of flowers that grow here due to the weather.
Movement
The main means of transportation in Bangalore are public buses. A lot of people can't afford to buy cars and driving in the traffic can drive anyone crazy. Buses are cheap and go almost everywhere. Bangalore recently opened up a subway station which is being used by a number of people. It has helped the issue of traffic extensively. Bangalore consists one of the two international airports that exists in the whole state.Trains are another huge mean of transportation if you want to travel in the country. Auto-Rickshaws are another very common vehicle in India, they are much more affordable compared to taxis and are also and easy way to make money for the drivers.
Migration
To escape from the harsh winter climate birds such as the spot-billed pelican, grey wagtail ducks and many more migrate to a lake in Bangalore. Usually, during the breeding season.
Immigration
Due to the fact that Bangalore has such a big IT industry, there is a lot of immigration from all over the world. Bangalore is known as the IT capital of India, and it has lived up to it's name till this day. Bangalore is the first stop for new engineers as there are so many jobs available. Studies say that about 250 people migrate to Bangalore every day and only about 100 leave.
Tourist Attractions
Bangalore attracts tourist because of it's gorgeous gardens and a very famous temple called the Iskcon temple. Thousands of people go there each year to see this mesmerizing temple, the temple is a spiritual retreat, people go and stay in dorms for a few days and think about God. This is called a pilgrimage.
Region
Deccan Plateau:-
Physical similarities:-
The Deccan Plateau is the larges plateau spread over India. It is marked on its western and eastern edges by ghats(natural steps leading down to a river). The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass lying southwards of the oldest river in India(Narmada). The plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards. The plateau has broad, shallow valleys and rounded hills.
Cultural similarities:-
The staple crop in this region is cotton, rice and sugarcane. Rice is a main part of their everyday meal. The languages spoken in this region are also very similar. Two of the main languages spoken here have the same lettering as well. The attire is the exact same in this area. The women wear saris while the men wear dhotis(in the pictures above)
Political similarities:-
Just like America, India has two main political parties; Congress and BJP, all the states inside the Deccan Plateau are Congress dominant.
Economic similarities:-
The economy here is largely agrarian. The economy mostly depends on the monsoon(India has 5 seasons May and April are considered summer and June and July are considered monsoon/rainy season)rains to grow crops. Education is considered a gateway to a better livelihood and therefore is really important in this part of India. Most of the really famous scientists and astronomers come from this region.
Human: Environment Interaction
The Varthur lake is a man-made lake located close to the border of Bangalore. The lake was built thousands of years ago by kings who needed a place to store water. However, because of unplanned urbanization and industrialization, the lake got really polluted and now it is unfit for human consumption and it's filled with sewage.
Manchanabale Dam:-
This dam was built around 50 years ago and it is on the Arkavathy River. It is surrounded by greenery and is a beautiful place to go for a picnic. Although, swimming in these waters is very dangerous from 2006-2011 over 200 people died in quicksand and whirlpools. This water is purified and used as drinking water to the rural district of Bangalore.