The Silicon City has a new name now. From Nov 1 onwards, Bangalore and other 11 cities in Karnataka will be called by their old Kannada names.
So Bangalore becomes Bengaluru, Mysore becomes Mysuru and more. This change comes on Kannada Rajyotsava, a day when Karnataka turns 68.
While the Karnataka government had proposed the move in 2006, the Central government cleared it only this month and a notification to this effect was issued last evening
The names of a total 12 cities and towns have been changed in consonance with their pronunciation in Kannada language.
The Karnataka government had taken the decision to rechristen these cities on the occasion of the golden jubilee of formation of the state of Karnataka on November 1, 2006.
The Centre’s nod came after the Survey of India, ministry of railways, department of posts, ministry of science and technology and Intelligence Bureau gave their no objection and clearance for the change in the nomenclature of the identified cities.
The list further states that Bellary will now be called Ballari, while Belgaum will be renamed as Belagavi, Hubli as Hubballi, Tumkur as Tumakuru, Bijapur as Vijapura, Chikmalgalur as Chikkalmagaluru, Gulbarga as Kalaburagi, Hospet as Hosapete and Shimoga as Shivamogga.