Namma Bengaluru
We are grateful to God for planting us in the city of Bengaluru. Bangalore, officially the Bengaluru, is the capital of the Indian state Karnataka. Bengaluru is the fourth most populous city and the 5th most populous urban area in India. Discover our city from a missional point of view.
- India’s Garden City
- India’s Silicon Valley
- The most livable Indian city with a population of over a million
Location
Bengalure is located at an altitude of 3000ft (900m) on the Deccan Plateau. (12°58′44″N 77°35′30″E)
Area: 741 km2
Demography and Diversity
Population
13,607,000 (2023)1 Bengaluru is India’s fourth most populous city.
Ethnic Groups
There are as many as 443 ethnic groups (speaking 47 languages) represented in Bengaluru. View or download the full list of ethnic groups, their languages, and religions. You may also download printable Prayer Cards.
Religions
According to the 2011 census of India, 79% of Bangalore’s population is Hindu, a little less than the national average. Muslims comprise 13.9% of the population, roughly the same as their national average. Christians and Jains account for 5.4% and 1.0% of the population, respectively, double that of their national averages.
Languages
Percentages Based on 2001 Census
- Kannada – 41.54
- Tamil – 18.43
- Telugu – 15.47
- Urdu – 12.90
- Hindi – 3.41
- Malayalam – 2.95
- Marathi – 2.22
- Konkani – 0.71
- Others – 3.18
Migration
According to the 2011 census, out of 10 people in Bengaluru, four are migrants. Since 42.12% of Bengaluru’s population originate from outside the district or the state, after Mumbai, Bengaluru has the second-largest migrant population in India.
Challenges
The “most livable city” faces a number of challenges including xenophobia, water shortage, heavy traffic, crowding, air pollution, lack of waste management, etc.
Christian Heritage of Bangalore
Bengaluru boasts of a rich Christian heritage. It is known as the Jerusalem of India. There are dozens of high quality Christian schools, colleges, seminaries, medical colleges and hospitals in and around the city. Several Christian organizations are based in Bengaluru.
Bangalore had a unique role to play in the arrival and formation of the Pentecostal movement in India. Pastor Robert Cook was stationed in Bangalore until 1921 before he left for Kerala. The Southern Asia Bible College of the Assemblies of God was established in 1951.
Christian Organizations
Bible Society of India: Since 1811, the Bible Society has been an integral part of Bengaluru.
Asia Theological Association India: The India HQ of ATA, an accrediting body for theological seminaries is in Bengaluru.
Theological Seminaries and Libraries
- Center for Global Leadership Development (SABC)
- South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS)
- United Theological College
- Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram
- Asia Evangelical College and Seminary
- ACTS Academy of Higher Education
Christian Camps/Conference Sites
- The Fishermen Trust: Outdoor programs for youth to foster experiential learning.
- Child Focus India: VBS Curriculum and training
- Breakthrough: A Christian company offering team-building services
- CEO Center
Christian Hospitals
- St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences is one of the three prominent Christian medical colleges in India.
- The Bangalore Baptist Hospital
