Krishnarajapuram

Krishnarajapura derives its name from Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. The origins of this region are deeply intertwined with the British colonial history of South India, dating back to the early 19th century.

In 1799, the British vacated Srirangapatna and moved to Bengaluru, citing the prevalence of diseases such as plague and malaria. However, this reasoning was a mere pretext; the actual motive stemmed from a strategic concern. In 1805, the Vellore Mutiny took place, during which Fateh Hyder, the elder son of Tipu Sultan, launched a rebellion against the British with an army of approximately 200 men. The mutiny resulted in significant British casualties, making them wary of a potential multi-front uprising. They feared that if they lost control over Srirangapatna, Vellore, and Madras (now Chennai) simultaneously, they would become militarily vulnerable. Consequently, in an effort to strengthen their hold, the British shifted their base from Srirangapatna to Bengaluru.

At the time, the British were constructing South India’s largest Civil and Military Cantonment in Bengaluru, and the land for this project had been granted by Maharani Lakshmi Ammani, the grandmother of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. To ensure smooth connectivity between Fort St. George in Madras and the Bengaluru Cantonment, the British sought permission from the young Maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar—who was merely ten years old at the time. Since he was underage, the decision was taken by Maharani Lakshmi Ammani, who astutely recognized that their request indicated a long-term British presence in Bengaluru. She granted permission for the construction of the road, which came to be known as the Old Madras Road, built by the British in 1806.

During the construction of this major highway, the British needed a place to reside, and Krishnarajapura was chosen as their settlement. The area, abundant with fruit-bearing trees, serene lakes, and Bengaluru’s favorable climate, provided a stark contrast to the scorching heat of Madras. Over time, the British found it more comfortable to remain in Krishnarajapura, leading to its transformation into a ‘Mini Madras’—a colonial hub featuring godowns, administrative offices, and other establishments reminiscent of Fort St. George.

A significant aspect of Krishnarajapura’s role in British military strategy was its designation as a Garrison Town—a fortified settlement housing British troops and essential military supplies. The area hosted armories, food godowns, grain storage facilities, and water reservoirs, all of which played a crucial role in sustaining British military operations. Today, few remnants of this colonial past remain, with St. Anthony’s Shrine (Church) in Thambu Chetty Palya (T.C. Palya) named after T.R.A Thumboo Chetty and the Old Madras Road being among the last preserved structures from this period.

With the influx of thousands of British settlers, Krishnarajapura effectively became a British colony. To cater to their culinary needs, they required skilled cooks, referred to in Kannada as ‘Bhattaru’ [ಭಟ್ಟರು - Kannada ]. These cooks were accommodated in a nearby area that came to be known as ‘Bhattarahalli’, meaning ‘The Village of Cooks’, a name that endures to this day. The British remained in Krishnarajapura until 1947, when India gained independence.

Historical records indicate that Krishnarajapura predates British colonization, with its origins tracing back approximately 1,200 years to 750 BCE. In its early history, the region was known as Hosur and was ruled by the Western Gangas for several centuries. However, following the arrival of the British in 1800 and their settlement here, the area was renamed Krishnarajapura in honor of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, marking its modern historical identity.

The foundation and development of Krishnarajapura owe much to the foresight of Maharani Lakshmi Ammani and Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, whose decisions shaped its strategic importance in Bengaluru’s history. The British, recognizing its value, established it as an essential military and logistical hub, ensuring its prominence in the colonial era and beyond.

The Krishnarajapura Assembly Constituency is represented by B.A Basavaraj (Byrathi) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He has been serving as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) since 2013 and was re-elected in the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections, defeating D.K. Mohan of the Indian National Congress (INC) by a significant margin of 24,085 votes.

At the national level, Krishnarajapura falls under the Bengaluru North Lok Sabha Constituency, which is currently represented by Shobha Karandlaje of the BJP. She won the 2024 general elections, to serve as the Member of Parliament (MP) for this region.

Krishnarajapura is located at the junction of Old Madras Road and Outer Ring Road.

The Krishnarajapura metro station is a part of Namma Metro’s Purple Line, significantly improving connectivity to the area. On October 9, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Krishnarajapura – Whitefield metro stretch, completing a crucial link between Whitefield and the central parts of Bengaluru. The PM wrote, "Earlier today, the Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapura Metro Line was inaugurated. This will boost ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of Bengaluru." on X (formerly Twitter). This 13.71 km extension of the Purple Line was built to ease traffic congestion on Old Madras Road (NH 75) and provide seamless connectivity to IT hubs like Whitefield, Mahadevapura, and Kadugodi. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) executed the project, which has become a major relief for daily commuters by reducing travel time and dependence on road transport.

The Krishnarajapura Railway Station (Station Code: KJM) is a key railway junction in Bengaluru, located along the Chennai–Bengaluru railway line under the South Western Railway (SWR) Zone. It is strategically positioned near Old Madras Road (NH 75) and serves as a major transit point for passengers traveling to and from Whitefield, Hoodi, Marathahalli, and other eastern parts of Bengaluru.

Krishnarajapura railway station is well connected to major cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Coimbatore, with several express and superfast trains halting here. The station is part of the Bengaluru–Jolarpettai section, which is an important railway corridor linking Bengaluru to Tamil Nadu and other southern states.

The station also facilitates suburban railway connectivity, with MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) and DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) trains running between Bengaluru City, Whitefield, Bangarpet, and Malur. Additionally, with the opening of the Baiyappanahalli–Krishnarajapura metro stretch, the station now enjoys better last-mile connectivity to the Bengaluru Metro, further improving travel convenience for commuters.

Krishnarajapura is strategically located in the eastern part of Bengaluru, serving as a major transit hub that connects key areas of the city. It is well-linked through multiple entry and exit points, making it an essential junction for commuters traveling between Bengaluru’s central, northern, and eastern regions.

1. From the South (Silk Board / Marathahalli via Outer Ring Road - ORR):
   • Vehicles from Silk Board, HSR Layout, and Marathahalli travel via the Outer Ring Road (ORR), passing through Doddanekkundi, Mahadevapura, and Tin Factory before entering Krishnarajapura.
   • The Tin Factory junction is a crucial point where the ORR meets Old Madras Road, leading straight into Krishnarajapura.
2. From the North (Hebbala Flyover via ORR or Ramamurthy Nagar Shortcut):
   • Vehicles from Hebbala, Yelahanka, and the northern regions approach Krishnarajapura through two main routes:
     • Via ORR, passing through Nagawara, Manyata Tech Park, Hennur, and Kalyan Nagar, reaching Ramamurthy Nagar and Tin Factory and entering Krishnarajapura. This is one of the most frequently used routes by office commuters heading towards IT Companies in Hebbala and IT corridors.
     • Alternatively, commuters can take a shortcut from Hebbala Flyover, bypassing the ORR, and reach Ramamurthy Nagar Signal, then through ITI Layout and Krishnarajapura.
3. From the East (Whitefield via Old Madras Road / Katamnallur Junction to TC Palya and Krishnarajapura):
   • Traffic from Whitefield, Kadugodi, and Hoskote enters Krishnarajapura via Old Madras Road, passing through Katamnallur Junction, Avalahalli, and TC Palya, eventually merging into Krishnarajapura.
   • This route is crucial for heavy vehicle movement and long-distance travelers coming from Kolar, Andhra Pradesh and Chennai via NH 75.
4. From the West (Baiyappanahalli / Indiranagar via Old Madras Road):
   • Vehicles from MG Road, Ulsoor, Suranjandas Road / CV Raman Nagar and Indiranagar travel via Old Madras Road, passing through Baiyappanahalli, NGEF, and Tin Factory, directly entering Krishnarajapura.

Reports claim that there are more than 41 undesigned conflict points (paths where moving objects intersect, well designed conflict points use Traffic Signals, Road Paints and Geometry to keep things safe) from one end of the Krishnarajapura bridge to the other. There isnt enough space for buses to stop at Tin Factory signal so these buses stop at the middle of the road, so this gradually creates a conflict points. The ORR and Old Madras Road merge and diverge multiple times without signals, and this creates conflict between huge fast moving vehicles. Due to this, the area is not pedestrian friendly forcing people to take shortcuts to cross roads from one end to the other. There's even a suggestion that due to one more metro line and suburban railway station coming here soon, so if the Krishnarajapura bridge wasn't there there could have been a neater cross section and passing of ORR and newer metro lines directly via Ramamurthy Nagara connecting Banasawadi. So as for Krishnarajapura, instead of one single conflict point, it now looks like this, a complex maze of criss-crossing roads which could have been betterly planned, and these reasons are commonly put forward on why people always get stuck at Krishnarajapura.

The name "Krishnarajapura" is often misinterpreted and incorrectly abbreviated as "Krishnarajapuram" or "KR Puram," with an unnecessary extra 'm' at the end. Such acronyms or alterations not only distort the original name but also lead to inconsistencies in official and public references. Over time, repeated use of these incorrect forms can cause confusion and dilute the identity of the area, making it essential to uphold the correct nomenclature in all communications.

The Krishnarajapura Cable Bridge, also known as the KR Pura Hanging Bridge, is a cable-stayed bridge located in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is also called, "The Grand Gateway of Old Madras Road". It was constructed to ease traffic congestion on Old Madras Road (NH 75) and improve connectivity between Whitefield and other parts of the city. The bridge was built by Afcons for IRCON and was completed in 2003 during the tenure of S. M. Krishna, the then Chief Minister of Karnataka (1999–2004). It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The project was executed under the supervision of South Western Railway (SWR). Spanning approximately 230 meters, with a 180-meter cable-stayed section, it remains an iconic structure in Bengaluru. However, over time, the bridge has faced criticism for traffic congestion issues due to certain design constraints. Despite this, it received the "Most Outstanding National Bridge" award in 2009 from the Indian Institution of Bridge Engineers, recognizing its engineering excellence.

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  Krishnarajapura's Hanging Cable Bridge
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  Image Src: Bengawalk-YouTube

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[1] Krishnarajapura had a population of 187,453. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Krishnarajapura has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 71%. In Krishnarajapura, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

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  Cable stayed Bridge on Old Madras Road(NH-4), above Krishnarajapura Railway Station
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  Krishnarajapura Outer Ring Road (ORR) fly over

  Media related to Krishnarajapura at Wikimedia Commons