Halasuru (Kannada: ಹಲಸುರು pronounced [ˈhələsuːru]), formerly known as Ulsoor, is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the Indian city of Bangalore. It is located in east Bangalore, and begins roughly near the eastern terminus of MG Road. It is renowned for its numerous temples and rather narrow streets.
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History and Name
The village of Halasuru is said to have been gifted to Kempe Gowda I (1513-1569), the founder of Bangalore, by the Vijayanagar emperors. The Ulsoor Lake was built by his successor, Kempe Gowda II, and is the only surviving tank built by the Gowda kings in Bangalore. The first British military station was set up in Halasuru in 1807[1].
There used to be a jackfruit orchard near the Ulsoor Lake, and the Kannada name for jackfruit being ‘Halasina Hannu’ (Kannada: ಹಲಸಿನ ಹಣ್ಣು), the area came to be known as Halasuru. During the British rule, the name was anglicised to 'Ulsoor', but in 2004, the neighbourhood was officially renamed 'Halasuru'. As of 2006, almost all signs in the area have been changed to reflect the name change.
Temples
There are several old temples in Halasuru, which are scattered throughout the area. The oldest temple is the Halasuru Someshwara Temple, built by the Hoysalas between the 12th and 13th centuries CE[2]. It was renovated and beautified by the Kempe Gowda I and II in the 16th century and is a mixture of Hoysala, Chola and Vijayanagara architecture.
The SUBRAMANYA TEMPLE in Halasuru (Ulsoor) which is more than 800 years old, is also a prominent temple .
Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha
The largest Sikh shrine in Bangalore, the Sri Guru Singh Sabha, is situated on the banks of the picturesque Ulsoor Lake. The sprawling white building on the edges of the lake, is indeed a well known place on the City’s landscape. Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara at Ulsoor was built in 1943 by A G Russell and was inaugurated in 1945. “While the Jollys and the Sahani families were the main forces behind the construction of the Gurudwara, all the community members and the Kohli and Chandoks families financed it under the leadership of Ahulwalia. It was only later in 1975, that the first floor of the Gurudwara was built. The monument is known for its splendid structure - it has added to the beauty of the area and Kensington Road where it is situated, which is also popularly known as Gurudwara Road. Being the biggest Gurudwara in City, a huge gathering of Sikhs come here on Wednesdays for prayer and the ‘langar’ on Sundays. All the devotees are offered free meals on Sundays, in what is known as the ‘Langar Sewa’. Around 500 people visit the Gurudwara on Sunday mornings, while more than 1,000 people visit in the afternoons and have their meal.
Other Attractions
The Ulsoor Lake is a major tourist attraction and there are boats available for hire that ferry people to the tiny islands that dot the lake.
Some of the main thoroughfares in Ulsoor are CMH Road, Cambridge Road, Halasuru Road and Old Madras Road. CMH Road has several fashion outlets and supermarkets and is the main shopping area for the residents of Halasuru and the neighbouring Indiranagar.
MG Road, arguably the most well-known road in Bangalore, is a short walk from Halasuru.
Famous landmarks
ulsoor lake, someshwara temple, sai baba temple, lourdes church, subramanya temple,
Bangalore Metro Rail
There are two proposed Bangalore Metro Rail stations that will be located in Halasuru:
- Ulsoor (Located on Old Madras Road, at the end closer to MG Road)
- CMH Road
Notes
- ^ "The birth of a cosmopolitan city" The Hindu. 22 Mar. 2005
- ^ "Home to all faiths" The Hindu. 29 Aug. 2002
See also
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