ALL IN A NAME

Bangalore to Bengaluru
Earliest mention of Bengaluru is on a 9th century rock edict found in Begur, on city outskirts. Inscription dates back to Ganga dynasty and refers to a battle fought in Bengavaluru, meaning city of guards, in 890 CE, according to historians. Other historians attribute the name to Benga trees (or Indian Kino tree), abundant in the region.The more popular story, though, is of how Veera Ballala, a Hoysala king of 12th century, came hunting here. The hungry king entered the hut of a poor woman. She offered him boiled beans and the king promptly gave her place a name: Benda kaalu ooru (town of boiled beans). It evolved into Bengaluru and later Bangalore during the Raj.
Belgaum to Belagavi
Belgaum was earlier called Velu Grama or Venu Grama (Sanskrit name for bamboo village) for its abundance of flora. Over time, it changed to Belagavi and later Belgaum. The entire saga of renaming of cities started with the issue of renaming Belgaum to Belagavi, as the Karnataka government wanted to assert its hold over the city in the wake of a long-standing border dispute with neighbouring Maharashtra. Belagavi is also called Kundanagari, after its famous sweet dish Kunda, made from milk, sugar and spices. The city is also known as the sugar bowl of Karnataka.
Mysore to Mysuru
The city of palaces is said to have derived its name from the half-buffalo, half-man demon Mahishasura, who was killed by the city’s presiding deity, Chamundeshwari. The goddess is enshrined on a hillock in Mysore. The city was called Mahishru, a name still used by members of the royal family. The name, over time, transformed to Mysuru and Mysore later. In 2011, the government of India cleared hurdles to change the colonial name of Mysore to Mysuru but the formalities never got over.
Mangalore to Mangaluru
The first reference to Mangalore came from Pandyan king Chettian, who ruled the coastal region during 715 CE. He referred to the town as Mangalapuram. The popular version is that it evolved from the presiding deity Mangaladevi, whose temple is located here. As per mythology, Mangaladevi, a princess from Kerala, was married off to Matsyendranath, a yogi and proponent of the Nath tradition here. After her death, a temple was built in her honour and the city got its name. Mangalore, historians say, is a Portuguese corruption of the word. The city is also called Kudla, meaning junction in local Tulu and refers to convergence of the Netravati and Gurupura rivers.
Gulbarga to Kalaburagi
This town got its name from its rocky terrain. Kallu in Kannada means stone, and Kalburi altered to Gulbarga during the colonial rule. Another version attributes it to the Persian influence: Gul means flower and Barga, garden. It is said that a fort in Gulbarga is built like a rose garden and that in olden days, the town had many houses with flower gardens. Hence the name Gulbarga meaning a town of flowers and petals.
The history of the district dates back to 6th century AD when Rashtrakuta dynasty kinds gained control over the area.
Hubli to Hubballi
Better known as Chhota Mumbai, the name Hubballi means flowering creeper in Kannada. Locals proudly say the town had creepers in abundance that Hubballi shortened to Hubli during colonial rule. The name is also said to have derived from Eleya Purvada Halli’ or ‘Purballi’ which grew as a commercial centre and became famous for the cotton and iron trade during Vijayanagara Empire.
The commercial town, targeted by the Marathas, Mughals and then British, is also known as Gandu Mettida Naadu, for its ability to fight back during invasion. It has also produced several freedom fighters.
Shimoga to Shivamogga
This colourful town got its name from buds of flowers meant as offering to Lord Shiva, or the nose of the lord himself, as moga in Kannada means face. Then there is the Durvasa legend. The sage is believed to have kept a pot of boiling herbs, sweet to taste. When some cowherds tasted it, they name the place as Sihi (meaning sweet) Moge (meaning pot), which later became Shimoga. This “gateway of Malnad” has history of an independent identity. In 16th century, it came under the rule of Keladi Nayaka and reaching its pinnacle under Shivappa Nayaka.
Chikmagalur to Chikkamagaluru
This town in south-western Karnataka is known for its famous mountains. Its literal translation in Kannada is younger daughter’s town. It is said that Rukmangada, the then chief of Sakrepatna, gave this town as dowry when he married off his younger daughter. Interestingly there is another town in the district called Hiremagalur, meaning elder daughter’s town. An old inscription found in the district said these two towns were also called Kiriya-mugali (small town) and Piriya-mugali (big town) and later changed to Chikkamagaluru and Hiremagaluru. Chikmagalur is the colonial name.
Bellary from Ballari
Bellary, originally called Ballari, derives its name from the word Balari, a name for the local goddess Durugamma, worshipped for over centuries and in whose name folkore is legion. Historically, the town has been known by many names including Kuntala Desha, Sindavadi-nadu and Nolambavadi-nadu.
Another legend goes that the town is named after Balla (a cup used to measure grains). Few merchants taking this route several decades ago could not find a linga (of Shiva) to offer prayers. So they put the balla upside down as it takes the shape of linga and offered prayers. There is a temple called Balleshwara here, that locals say got distorted to Malleswara. Another legend says Lord Indra killed a demon Balla and hence the name.
Bijapur to Vijapura or Vijayapura
The origin of Vijapura comes from the reign of the Chalukyas who have built this town during the 10th century. They called it Vijayapura or the City of Victory; from which comes its present name Bijapur. However, the town experienced a great burst of architectural activity under the Adil Shahi dynasty later. There is also a reference to another fruity origin of the name. This comes from pomegranate. “Beejpur” means replete with seeds in Sanskrit.
Hospet to Hosapete
The city built by Krishna Deva Raya in 1520 AD, one of the great rulers of the Vijayanagara empire, in memory of his mother Nagalambika, was originally called Nagalapura. However, for the masses it was a new town built, which meant “Hosa Pete” in Kannada. And the name gradually transformed into shorter and crisper Hospet. When it was built, the town had a special gate inviting travellers from Goa and the west coast to enter the city.
Tumkur to Tumakuru
The town, 60 km away from the state capital, takes its name after Tummeguru or Tumbe Ooru. Tumbe is a kind of flower found in abundance here. There is another reference too, that of Tamate Ooru, a folk musical instrument indigenous to this town. Another legend says the name came from Tumaki, a special kind of drum used by guards in olden days to alert soldiers in the event of danger.