| Kalasipalya | |
| Settlement Type: | Neighbourhood |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Karnataka |
| Subdivision Type2: | Metro |
| Subdivision Name2: | Bangalore |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Kannada |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 560002 |
| Official Name: | Kalāsipāḷya |
Kalasipalya is a locality in the central part of Bangalore, Karnataka, India, and one of the older and most congested places in the city.[1] The locality is home to landmarks such as Bangalore Fort and Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace. The area is known for its high traffic congestion and unhygienic conditions of roads.
Kalasipalya is said to have been created in the latter half of the 18th century during Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan's rule over Bangalore during which period the city was expanded. The expansion to the east of the fort came to be known as Kalasipalya; kalasi means "tent-pitchers and organizers of military camps" and palya means an area of land ruled by a chieftain.[2]
The area has become a transport hub in recent years, with the Kalasipalya Bus Station serving thousands of intra-city and outstation buses, and an estimated 800,000 passengers per day.[3] Apart from the state-run KSRTC and BMTC buses, hundreds of private buses to southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu originate at the station.[4] The station was said to have been constructed in the 1920s.[5] The bus station is infamous for its garbage dumping, open urinals and muddy ground.[6] In 2016, it was announced that the BMTC would replace the existing bus station, which was plagued by craters and filth, with a new terminal at a cost of 60 crore and ready for operation in two years.[7] [3]
In June 2017, the K. R. Market station of Namma Metro's Green Line was opened for operation. The station serves the Kalasipalya area and was labelled as the "gateway to Pete areas".[8] Apart from the fort and the palace, the station is surrounded by Bangalore Medical College, Victoria Hospital, Vanivilas Hospital, Minto Eye Hospital, Kalasipalya Bus Station and K. R. Market.[9]
Kalasipalya is also a market hub with K. R. Market located in the area and the Pete area located in close proximity. The locality is said to have been of religious importance to Hindus and Muslims who believed it to be the place where saints walked.[4] The Kote Venkataramana Temple and the Kote Jalakantheshwara temple are situated on the Krishnarajendra Road in Kalasipalya.