Marathahalli: Uncovering the Hidden Maratha History Behind Bengaluru's IT Hub

• Marathahalli, a prominent Bengaluru locality, was once a small village known as 'Marathara Halli' or 'village of the Marathas'.
• The name originated from Maratha forces stationed in the area during the 17th and 18th centuries, along a key route connecting Bengaluru to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
• Support settlements grew around these temporary camps, eventually becoming permanent villages identified by the Maratha presence.
• Despite the IT boom erasing visible historical traces, the name Marathahalli endured, preserving centuries of memory.
• This pattern of historical names outlasting original contexts is common across Bengaluru, seen in places like Yelahanka, Ulsoor, and Shivajinagar.

Why It Matters: Marathahalli's name reveals its past as a Maratha village, a hidden history beneath modern Bengaluru.