Showing posts with label Climate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Climate. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Silicon Valley of India - BANGALORE | Overview | Technology | Weather | Population | Airport | Places to Visit | Food


Overview
Bangalore or Bangaluru as it is officially called is India's 3rd most populated city having over 10 million people and is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is mega city but a very secular and one of it's kind with over 1000 temples 400 mosques, 100 christian churches, 40 Jain Derasars, 3 Siikh Gurudwaras, 2 Buddhist Viharas and 1 Jain fire temple inside its boundaries. No religion, cast or community is ever a minority in this perfect blend of a city.
Often called the 'Silicon Valley of India' is the largest IT exporter and holds the title of one of the most highly educated workforce in the World. Bangalore is home of India's leading IT and technology driven organisation, major names being ISRO, Infosys, Wipro and HAL. Also, Numerous state-owned aerospace and defence organisations, such as Bharat Electronics, Hindustan Aeronautics and National Aerospace Laboratories are located in the city and also is the home of Kanada film industry. Many prestigious educational institutions are also accounted under Bangalore like Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore) (IIMB), International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIITB), National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore, National Institute of Design, Bangalore (NID R&D Campus), National Law School of India University (NLSIU) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS)

Weather
 
Bangalore has a tropical savanna climate which implies that every month of the year here reaches a low of 18 degrees and a dry climate with dry months having less than 2.5 inches of rain.
The overall clime is balances and comfortable with 7.8 degrees. The yearly average of lowest is 15.1 degrees and as high up to 35 degrees. Though due to the height of the city, it gets affected with several different monsoons and gets a average rainfall of 35 - 40 inches. The heaviest rainfall ever recorded was 7 inches of rain in just 1 hour.
Hazards are same as any other mega-city of the country, Pollution and deforestation. Though a number of measures are taken but the huge demand of electricity and population always becomes a deterrent.

Public Transportation
Bangalore is a tech driven city and that shows why a mega-city like that just has 3 major ways of transportation. The common and majority population prefers electronic taxi facilities OLA, Uber and Meru Cabs. 
The main ways are - 
1. Namma Metro - Started with just a 7 kilometre stretch of Rapid Transit Metro system now expanded to 73 kilometre and still expanding. A very advance and fast method of travelling.   
2. Railways - Bangalore does not connect the near suburbs like other mega cities but has long haul routes and has four major railway station  Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station, Bangalore Cantonment railway station, Yeshwantapur junction and Krishnarajapuram railway station.
3. BMTC Busses -  Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has a fleet of 6918 buses runs air-conditioned luxury buses on major routes, and also operates shuttle services from various parts of the city to Kempegowda International Airport. The BMTC also has a mobile app that provides real-time location of a bus using the GPS of the user's mobile device 
The overseas travellers have the Kempegowda International Airport which is located 25 kilometres from the city centre having domestic as well as international flights.

Places to Visit
Bangalore is not so famous for it's tourism, but it's never nothing. Bangalore has a few historical sites and some green spots which can add some relaxation to a techies day.
Here is my list of places you can visit in Bangalore - 
1. Bangalore Palace - Previously owned by Rev. J. Garrett, the first principal of the Central High School which is now famous as the central college was personalised by Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar himself.
2. Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace - The summer residence of the Mysorean ruler Tipu Sultan, is a physical masterpiece showcasing Indo-Islamic architecture. It is there since 1791.
3. Lalbagh Botanical Garden - A initiative by Hyder Ali himself, it is a very old botanical garden which has trees and unique plant species planted by Ali's son Tip Sultan in the later years.
4. Bangalore Fort - Built by the founder of the city itself, Kempe Gowda startedd it as a mud fort in 1537 and later was turned into stone by Hyder ali and subsequently enhanced by his son Tipu Sultan in the 1800s.
5. Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum -Large number of historically relevant technological and scientific exhibits in a family friendly environment. Nearby the Chinna Swamy Statdium so can have a drive by over there also.

Food
Bangalore just like the attractions has the issue that they are in a service driven environment and does not have a speciality cuisine.
But due to their geographical advantage of being in the South India, you can experience some authentic and inexpensive South Indian cuisine.
Here is my list of 'GO FOR' dishes in Bangalore - 
1. Bhaji with Filter Kaapi - The best evening hang out or a after-work treat. Filter Coffee with potato or onion fillets.
2. Rolls and Kebabs - Best Indian fast food alternative handy for the masses of the city.
3. Idlis, Dosas and Vadas - A typical south Indian breakfast item you can find anywhere in Bangalore.
4. Obbattu - A very local delicacy which is made out of dal, jaggery, cardamom powder, flour, and rava.  
5. Gobhi Manchurian - A north Indian dish favoured and transformed to fit the taste of the masses of Bangalore.

 Here is a video on Bangalore by TGF - The Guiding Factor 


Please also check my other articles with the following links - 
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Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Monday, September 16, 2019

The City of Joy - KOLKATA | Overview | Weather | Newspaper | Food | Places to Visit | Trams | Metro


Overview
Kolkata or formerly known as Calcutta is a metropolitan city in the eastern part of India and is the oldest port of all eastern India and also is the capital of the state of West Bengal. It was the former capital of India in the colonial rule till the year 1911. The city of joy is the seventh most populated city of India with 14.5 million people residing the 205 km large city including all the suburbs. A GDP of $150 million, Kolkata is the third most productive metropolitan of India after Delhi and Mumbai. 
The 'Cultural Capital of India' has a vibe to it. Trams and horse chariots give you the feel of old times and on the other hand architectural wonders like "THE 42" and "TATA Steel Building" give you the hint of modernisation. Also is the home of one of the oldest and most linguistically advance newspaper, 'The Statesman' which is being printed since 1875.  
An over all blend of Culture, Development, Heritage and Life packed inside a city called KOLKATA. 

Geography & Weather
Divided into 4 parts, the city's geography is structured into - 
1. North Kolkata
2. Central Kolkata
3. South Kolkata
4. East Kolkata 
The weather of the coastal city is subjected to the 'Tropical Wet and Dry Climate' which means that the average temperature falls below 18 degrees celsius and has an average yearly rainfall of 60 - 80 inches.
The temperature varies from season to season - 
1. Summers - From March to June are in the low to moderate 30s and are humid with temperature max up-to 40 degrees.
2. Winters - The temperature drops to 9 - 11 degrees and the coldest month has a temperature of as low as 5 degrees.
The Major environmental issues are increase in the pollution with respirable suspended particulate matter levels going higher and higher.

Public Transportation
Kolkata has India's oldest and one of the most advance transportation systems of India. When travelling inside Koklata you have basically 5 modes of transport with a few other small scale methods. They being - 
1. Metro Railways - Kolkata metro is India's oldest underground transit system operational since 1984 and is used by large mass of Kolkata.
2. Buses - The nerves of Kolkata. The whole city is covered with bus routes and is the most used means of transport of Kolkata. Special and unique bus codes are there for different routes and the charges and next to nothing.
3. Taxis - The iconic 'HM Ambassador' taxis a very integral part of Kolkata's transportation systems. With time these are also being equipped with AC facilities.
4. The Railway Network - Kolkata has mainly 4 railway stations, namely - Howrah, Sealdah, Chittpur and Shalimar. These railway stations operate long haul trains as well as local trains from nearby rural and sub-urban railway stations.
5. Trams - The oldest mode of local transport since 1880. A heritage venture still operated by the Calcutta Tram Company. Tough a very unreliable and slow mode but still is in the heart of Kolkata.   
Other than this, if travelling outstation or overseas, flight and waterway are both available in Kolkata - 
1. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport - One of India's most developed airports and in the north-east side of Kolkata.
2. The Port of Kolkata - Established in 1870, one of India's major and one of the oldest ports. 

 Places to Visit

When you are in Kolkata use this part as a travel guide to chose places to visit. Yeah, don't forget to google it as well as this list will be updated overtime. 
For now, here are my top picks for Kolkata travel - 
1. Victoria Memorial - Marble built and an elegant piece of architecture opened in 1921 during the colonial rule. Now converted into a museum.
2. Princep Ghat - having the view of the Vidyasagar Setu it is a park like area near the ghat of ganga buily in 1841.   
3. Howrah Bridge - Another architecture masterpiece. A 2300 foot cantilever bridge opened in 1943.
4. Park Street - A hipsters paradise, park street is a thoroughfare with world class brands. First Starbucks of India and First Hard Rock Cafe are some of the main visitors point.   
5. Indian Museum - Found in 1814, it is a museum with archaeology, art, anthropology and geology sections. Mummies and Mammoth fossil are some of the most notable artefacts.
  
Food 
Kolkata is known for it's sweet dishes but there is a lot more to experience when you are finally in the 'City of Joy'. The list will be updated with time but right now these are my 'must try' list - 
1. Macher Jhol - It is a dish which every bengali eats without fail. A fish curry made in many different ways but eaten with plain rice.
2. Rossogulla - The famous white rossogulla which is very difficult to pronounce properly. A must eat.
3. Misti Doi - A preparation of curd which is sweetened while the curd sits.
4. Puchkas - Also knowon as Gol Gappe in some part of the country is prepared a bit differently here and is worth a shot.
5. kathi Rolls - A very popular fast food all over Kolkata made with chicken mainly but veg variant is also available.   

 Here is a video on Kolkata by West Bengal Tourism.
Please also check my other articles with the following links - 
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Location: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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