Kolar Gold Fields - Interesting Facts

Interesting Facts

• The first hydroelectric project in South India was built in 1902 to provide electricity for the gold fields.

Indian Activist, Bezawada Wilson founders and National Convenor of the Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA)is from Kolar Gold Fields

• • Kolar Gold Fields was the second city in India to get electricity after Darjeeling, from Shivanasamudra Hydro electric project in Mandya District, Karnataka, India.
• People from as far as Kolar could see the lights of this once prosperous city
• KGF was known as "Little England" by the British, due to its more temperate weather and a landscape more similar to Britain's. It also had a sizable Anglo-Indian Population who worked in the various mines in different capacities.
• The city is on the Deccan Plateau of central and south India, about 3000 feet above sea level
• The Champion Reefs mine was the second deepest underground mine in the world when it was operational reached a depth of 3200mts.
• Silicosis, a form of pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, was first identified in KGF
• Longest passenger train in the world is "Swarna Express" going from KGF to Bangalore.
• National Institute of Miners Health had its headquarters in KGF
• One can see the old British bungalows and buildings even today in good shape in KGF.

In the year 1902 the suburb of Robertson pet was established.

• The mines were taken over by the Government of mysore in 1956.
• The mines were taken over by the Government of India in 1962.
• S. Manjunath, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) manager who was murdered for exposing corruption hailed from KGF.
• KGF played a major part in the prosperity of the British Empire
• 'Vijay Shree' awardee K.M. Divakaran is from KGF.
• Shram Shri Award by Govt of India -V.Natarajan of Bharat Earth Movers Ltd
• The brilliant Indian artist John Wilkins was born here.
• The particle experiments at Kolar Gold Fields, performed by a collaboration of particle physicists from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, Osaka City University, Japan and Durham University, UK recorded the first cosmic ray neutrino interaction in an underground laboratory in Gifford's Shaft of Champion Reefs Mines in 1965.
• KGF also has the distinction of having a golf course started by the British dating back to 1885 and affiliated to Indian Golf Union
• KGF is the birthplace of Magsaysay Awardee Jockin Arputham, the founder and president of the National Slum Dwellers Federation (India)
• KGF club is the most sought after club because of its affiliation with other national and international clubs.
• Lavelle road in Bangalore is named after Michael Lavelle, the Irish soldier who made his money in the Kolar Gold Fields.