Nadaprabhu Hiriya Kempe Gowda known as Kempe Gowda established the city of Bengaluru in 1537 as the capital of his erstwhile kingdom. He is considered to be the founder of Bengaluru which is currently the capital of Karnataka.
He was a son of Kempananje Gowda who ruled Yelahankanadu for over 70 years and Kempe Gowda was born in Yelahanka in 1510 AD. He visualized a city with man-made lakes, temples, and marketplaces and gave shape to his dream by building an oval with two main streets, Chikkapete running from East to West and Doddapete running from North to South.
It was also his idea of forming several markets catering to different trades and professions around the mud fort. Post which the existence of areas like Akkipete (for rice merchants), Balepete (for bangle vendors), Upparpete (for traders in salt), Aralepete, present Cottonpete (for cotton traders), Kumbarapete (for pottery makers), Kurbarapete (for sheep traders), Ganigarapete (for oil traders), and Nagarthpete (for gold traders).
Being a patron of arts and learning, Kempe Gowda is said to have brought skilled artisans and craftsmen from far to settle in his new city and contribute to making it a thriving cultural center.
He received his initial education at a Gurukula in Aivarukandapura a small village near the present Hessaraghatta for nine years. At that time he mastered statecraft and martial skills.
Kempe Gowda kept expanding his frontiers during his 56-year rule and he passed away in 1569.
