GeoOracle #119: Bengaluru

10 October 2026 · City · Difficulty 3 of 5

How it opened

I wake to the whisper of wind through countless gardens, perched high on a plateau where emerald meets sky.

The five clues

  1. 01A million shades of green compose my identity, earned through careful cultivation and natural splendor.
  2. 02I sit at 900 meters above sea level on the Deccan Plateau in India's southern reaches.
  3. 03Founded in 1537, I became the capital and largest city of Karnataka state.
  4. 04I rank as the third most populous city in my nation and the fifth largest metropolitan area, yet I'm beloved for my parks and verdant spaces.
  5. 05With 12.3 million people in my metropolitan area, I'm known as India's 'Garden City' due to my remarkable greenery.

The answer

Bengaluru

India · Asia

About this place

This thriving South Indian metropolis has transformed from a 16th-century settlement into a modern powerhouse, all while maintaining its reputation as a verdant oasis. Perched high on the Deccan Plateau, it has grown into India's third-largest city and a symbol of the nation's technological and urban advancement. Yet despite its scale and population of over 8 million residents within the city proper, it remains cherished for the parks and gardens that earned it the poetic title of India's 'Garden City'.

Geography

Bengaluru is located in southern India, in Asia, and serves as the capital of the state of Karnataka. The city sits near the southern end of the Deccan Plateau, at an elevation of about 900 meters above sea level. This plateau setting places it on higher ground than much of the surrounding region, giving it a setting distinct from the lower-lying areas typical of much of the subcontinent.

History

Bengaluru was founded in 1537, an event that marked the beginning of its growth into a major urban center. Over time it developed into the largest city in Karnataka and the most populous city in southern India, expanding into a metropolitan area that now ranks among the country's largest urban agglomerations. Its long history as a settlement on the Deccan Plateau helped shape it into the sprawling city it is today.

Notable features

Bengaluru is widely known as India's Garden City, celebrated for its parks and abundant greenery. As of the 2011 census its population stood at 8.4 million, making it the most populous city in southern India and the third most populous in the country overall. The wider metropolitan area holds around 8.5 million people, ranking fifth among India's urban agglomerations. As capital of Karnataka, Bengaluru remains a prominent cultural and administrative center within the region.

Fact sheet

Country
India
Continent
Asia
Coordinates
12.979, 77.591
Population
12,327,000
Founded
1537

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