Yelahanka – Birth Place of KempeGowda

Yelahanka is an area in Bangalore with a rich heritage and has a history of more than 500 years. It is one of the oldest townships in Karnataka and was part of the Vijayanagara Empire. The founder of Bangalore KempeGowda I, was born in Yelahanka. He was the Chieftain and feudatory of the area during the reign of King Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara. Chieftain Kempegowda who built Bangalore fort and the Yelahanka Town in 1537 AD, transferred his capital from Yelahanka to Bangalore after Bangalore city was built. In the rule of Gangas and Cholas, Yelahanka was called Ilaipakka. By the time Hoysalas came to rule the name changed to Elahakka. As time passed Elahakka was replaced by the existing name Yelahanka.

The story goes that one day Kempe Gowda went westward from Yelahanka with his Minister Veeranna and Advisor Gidde Gowda in search of game and arrived near a village called Shivasamudra (near Hesaraghatta) some 10 miles (16 km) from Yelahanka. While relaxing under a tree he conceived the idea of building a suitable city which would be his future capital. The city he planned was to have a fort, a cantonment, water reservoirs, temples and people of all trades and professions to live in it. He got the necessary Imperial permission of the Vijayanagara Emperor, Achyuta Deva Raya (Dasarahalli record dated 1532) and built the Bangalore fort and the town in 1537 A D. His capital was then transferred from Yelahanka to the new Bangalore.

                                                           
Yelahanka has a city area of 38.88 km². If you are someone with keen interest in history, then Yelahanks can actually offer you with a lot of food for thought. The area has innumerable temples and some of them are considered to be built some 400 years ago. It was primarily a residential area in the northern periphery of Bangalore city at one point of time. But things have changed considerably since then. The Bengaluru International Airport which is just 20 km North of Yelahanka, near Devanahalli town, is the reson behind this sudden change.

As of 2001 India census, Yelahanka had a population of 93,263. Males constituted 54% of the population and females 46%. The literacy rate was 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 80%, and female literacy was 68%. Eleven percent of the population were under 6 years of age. As per the estimates, the population of Yelahanka has risen to about 3,00,000 in 2011. 

Yelahanka is at a height of about 915 metres (3000 feet) above mean sea level. Due to its higher altitude from mean sea level, it is lush green and has pleasant weather year round. The summer season lasts from March to mid-May, with a temperature in the range 20-35 degrees Celsius. At the end of May, the monsoon season starts and lasts until the end of October. There are about 45 inches of rain annually. Yelahanka is served by both South west as well as South east monsoon. Winters are mild and last from November to February, with a temperature in the range 14-24 degrees Celsius.