The Fields of Gold Invites You

If I had been asked to write about my favourite Indian city a few years ago I would have, with my naive enthusiasm, gone on a rampage about Bangalore, Mysore, Delhi, Lucknow, or even Kolkata. All of which cities are impressive and unmatched in their splendour.

But now, my heart refuses to dwell on any of this havens when my own Little England spreads before me silent in its appeal, elegant in its appearance, and resplendent in its aura. It has all the makings of a city and I would be doing it a great dishonour if I would neglect it to glorify any other city.

Kolar Gold Fields nicknamed Little England by the Britishers them selves, like a small emerald embedded in the shadows of dazzling pearls in a solitaire, is a nearly 200 year old mining town that has all the points in the check list to call it a city ticked except for its population and greater luxuries.

It has expanded ever since to the minimum requirement of a city's diameter, has its own municipal corporation, is well equipped to meet its needs with infrastructure and technology, and is well connected to the best of all the three states that cradle it.

But alas! Like Pluto in our Solar System, my hometown is doomed to oblivion by the glitter and greatness of its surrounding cities, and declined of its city status courtesy the woes bereaving it and its dim and dark  appearance.

A small land hidden nudged amidst a cluster of enticing mountains, intersecting state borders and beautiful cities. From picturesque scenery to the latest in fashion and trends, you ask it and KGF has it.

What DRIVES this city, is its people. Lovely people with simple living and high thinking. You will find us most acceptable to changes, and adjustments.

Early morning everyday even before dawn you will find youths and adults daring the morning mist and darkness to catch their train to Bangalore and other cities to reach their workplace. World class engineers, doctors, teachers, dancers, musicians, actors, authors, artists, sportspersons, businessmen and talented craftsmen have emerged from this city and are now thriving in their field of work across the globe.

The education, healthcare and fulfillment of social obligations are top class too. And, that's not all. Such exquisite flora and fauna reside in its jungles, and not to mention the variety of migratory birds that visit through different seasons of the year. A large plethora of tourists flock here only for its wealth of natural beauty and the remnants of the second largest gold mining of Asia.

Whenever there is any problem in infrastructure or otherwise you will find us working toward its solution, but also adjusting to the situation admirably and without much fuss or ado about it.

And we are so welcoming of the changing trends, that you will find us in toe with any other city any given day, but never on the excess side. Suffice it to say, we have found the balance between modern outlook and traditional attires, and carry it with grace.

If we speak of its DESIGN, I have rarely seen a more beautifully planned or well designed city than KGF. Its railway lines is one of the oldest in India engineered by the great genius Sir M. Vishweshvaraiya on the behest of the Britishers who started the formal and large scale gold mining here.

Converting this dense jungle into a habitable township, it is clear even today that a lot of planning and execution by the Britishers went in to making this township.
It's trace still remains giving this city a historical touch.

You only have to step out into the bus station, and you will find everything you need in The Square from jewellery and house decors to hospitals and police station. The railway too is merely a mile away from the main town, and the roads are smooth and straight throughout.

Residential areas and commercial avenues are separated by the main road and the town takes on more modern outlook with every progressing year.

As to its CONNECT, you will have no scruples whatever. From high speed internet to far spread commercial trade, KGF lacks in nothing. Just 100kms away from Bangalore and half the distance from Gudiyattam, and Kuppam, luxuries and benefits that cannot be found here are practically only at arms length from us.

From sightseeing, educational trips to business excursions, we have access practically to everything. KGF is also the main commercial hub of the district with the nearby towns and villages reaching out to it to meet their needs and amenities.

You can find more about this amazing city from this link: http://www.wikipedia.co.in/kolar-gold-fields/

To read my earlier post about KGF follow the link below: Little England in India

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Little England in India

The local folk lore has it that long, long ago K.G.F was once a very large, dense jungle. There was so much abundance of gold here back then, that it were found in lumps near the foot of trees and the tribal people dwelling here back then used to pluck them up like fruit and used it for personal use and trade.

One day, a soldier of the then ruler (probably one from the Gupta dynasty) passed by its thickets and noticing such riches informed his king, and thus began the earliest mining operation that was to change hands over course of centuries and provide wealth and livelihood to countless for more than 2000 years since then.

Welcome to my home-town of folk lore and rich history- Kolar Gold Fields.

(the image of the main road leading into the town taken on my mobile phone).

Situated near the south-east border of Karnataka in India, 100 kilometers from the state capital Bangalore, it is a small sleepy suburb surrounded by picturesque landscapes and enriched with a surprising blend of cultures and languages. It perfectly reflects the world-famous slogan entire India prides itself in- "Unity in diversity".

You can learn all of its history and geography in its wikipedia page from the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolar_Gold_Fields

It was known by many names prior to the mining lease going into the hands of the british John Taylor and Sons company in 1880, which was then given its present name. The township was later built in the year 1902 with many british officers, engineers and skilled workers settling here with their family.

With the administration designing the entire township in resemblance to the city of London back home and coupled with the soft- warm weather and lush greenery, it was nicknamed Little England.

A title K.G.F still resonates with humble pride. It still has salvaged its original design-plan, many of the buildings and structures and a love for society and fashion in its people that seems to be inherited by its early settlers. (I'm sorry I couldn't gather enough pictures to show along).

It still has broad roads that might have not so long ago bustled with traffic and people, beautiful spread of greenery and fauna which still attracts nature lovers, abandoned and adapted buildings that still hold promise of golden future if handled rightly, a mines which was once the second largest in Asia,  now in a state of stale slowly waiting its death yet hoping for a new lease of life.

(the file- image of the workers working in the mines, as taken from the facebook page "KGF- the little england") and a mount of cyanide-dump (from the mines) which was built with centuries of mining. It is now almost 30feet tall and occupies nearly 10% of the land area (images below).

*note: the image of the interior view of the cyanide-dump was taken from the facebook page "KGF- the little england", The image of the frontal view of the cyanide-dump was taken by me in my mobile phone.