Vidyaranyapura situated in the northern part of Bangalore is named after Vidyaranya, the Kannada poet, patron saint and high priest to Harihara Raya I and Bukka Raya I, founders of the Vijayanagar Empire. Vidyaranyapura was formed around the late 1970s. Legend has it that it may have been a battlefield at some point in time. This from the fact that it is situated next to a place called Dandina Kodigehalli ('Dandina' in Kannada means a Cantonment or Military Camp).

It has many residential layouts formed for the employees by the various public and private sector units located in the vicinity – BEL Layout, HMT, NTI, AMS Layout, Balaji Layout, Defence Colony and Srinidhi layout to name a few.

Vidyaranyapura is a well planned township, and to its west is the sprawling campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK. It is rich in flora with a variety of trees and plants which were planted by the Forest Department during its conversion into a locality. The native tree is predominantly the Eucalyptus which covers a large part of this region. The area has a higher elevation compared to the rest of the city. Vidyaranyapura - Dodda Bettahalli is highest peak in Bangalore.

The Vidyaranyapura main road has and leads to many places like playground, shopping malls, temples, bus depot, post office and police station. There are more than 500 shops on this road, making it a commercial centre. It also has about 40 perpendicular cross and sub-main roads. Vidyaranyapura leads to, in and around towns like Adityanagar, Sahakarnagara and Yelahanka.

The Durga Parameswari temple is a famous temple in Vidyaranyapura. The Suvarna Jubilee Park is visited in the morning by morning walkers and children play cricket and basketball in the evening.

Police Station:

• Police Control Room – 100 / 103
• Police Inspector Vidyaranyapura Police Station, 22942528
• Police Inspector Soladevanhalli Police Station, 22942529
• Police Inspector Gangammannagudi Police Station, 22942530

Fire Service:

• Fire -101
• Central Fire Control Room & Ambulance 2942999 / 2251786

Ambulance:

• AROGYA KAVACHA: 108

List of Schools

MES Kishore Kendra, Primary School

MES B.R Subbarao P.U college(a part of MYSORE EDUCATION SOCIETY)

Oriental English School, AMS Layout

Devamata English School, Defence Layout

Nisarga Kala Niketana (Opp. Sri RaviShankar Vidyamandira)- Provides 'Glass Etching, Glass Painting Classes' in First Floor - During Weekend Training Program

Sampoorna Basketball School, Nanjappa Layout III Phase, Vidyaranyapura-98860 20145

Little Lilly's English School, Near Ganesha Temple

Regency Public School, AMS Layout

Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir, Vidyaranyapura,Bangalore

Riverdale Public School Opp. Reliance Fresh, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore.

List of Colleges

Hospitals & Nursing Homes

Ketham's hospital ( No Ambulance )

Krithika Hospital ( No Ambulance )

Soukya Hospital ( No Ambulance)

Mangala Gowri Clinic

Vijaya Clinic

Benakha Dental Care Centre