We’ve previously discussed how certain countries got their names. Far too often, these names come from mythology or historical events. Naturally, local legends, folktales, and misinterpretations abound when it comes to the naming of cities themselves.
Here are 10 tales of how cities in Asia ended up being called what they are today.
10 Yerevan Armenia
As we’ve mentioned in a previous list, Armenia is known for having local legends deeply rooted in Biblical tales. Its old name—Hayk—meant “The Land of Noah’s great-great-grandson, Hayk,” who settled in those lands. Similarly, the country’s capital, Yerevan, considers its name to be derived from the well-known Biblical story of Noah’s flood.
In the Bible, God unleashed a Great Flood to destroy the wickedness of the world. For many days aboard the Ark, Noah could see only the flood waters in all directions. Eventually, he sent out a dove which returned with an olive branch, taken as a symbol of peace.[amazon asin=B00N71YJQU&template=*lrc ad (right)]
Noah beheld before him a mountain—Mount Ararat—a sight that so relieved him that he exclaimed “Yerevats!” (“Behold! It has appeared!”). Thus, Noah’s joy upon seeing Mount Ararat eventually came to be known as Yerevan, a beautiful city where the legendary mountain looms in the distance.
9 Kandahar Afghanistan
Legends tell of an ancient kingdom known as Gandhara, the territory of which is now part of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. The kingdom is believed to have later evolved from “Gandhara” to “Kandahar.”
Ultimately though, the most well-known origin of the city’s name is that of its founder, Alexander the Great. Alexander had many cities and settlements constructed bearing his name—this one, founded in 330 B.C., was known as “Alexandria in Arachosia.” The locals ended up simplifying the name as “Kandahar.”
Temples in the city bore ancient inscriptions in Greek and Aramaic, including those written by Emperor Ashoka. It may seem fitting, considering that Kandahar has been known in history as the site of many great battles (most recently in the war against the Taliban), that its name was derived from one of the greatest conquerors to have lived.
8 Bangalore & HyderabadIndia
The rich and beautiful culture of India has given the world many great tales ingrained in local lore, many of which have given rise to the very names of their cities and states. For instance, Kashmir, a disputed region characterized by rugged, mountainous terrain, is believed to have been one vast lake thousands of years ago.
As the story goes, the ancestors of Kashmir’s Hindu population lived beside the vast lake where a demon known as Jalodbhava terrorized them. Since Jalodbhava was invincible while in the water, they could not hope to defeat him until the arrival of the ancient sage Kashyap. The sage beseeched Vishnu who pierced the side of a mountain, creating a deep gorge which completely drained the lake. Jalodbhava, now on dry land, lost his invincibility and was annihilated by the gods. Thus, the new area became known as “the abode of Kashyap“—or “Kashyap Mar”—later simplified as “Kashmir.”
As for city names, Bangalore, despite being India’s high-tech “Silicon Valley,” derives its name from an old folktale involving beans. Legends tell us of a king who had lost his way while out hunting. Hungry from his journey, the king encountered an old woman who served him boiled beans. Thus, the king named the area “Bendakalooru” (literally “boiled beans“). In the 18th century, the name was anglicized as “Bangalore” by the British Raj.
Meanwhile, romance bloomed in Bhagnagar, where a Muslim ruler founded the city and named it after his beloved Bhagmati, a Hindu dancing girl. When Bhagmati converted to Islam, she became known as “Hyder Mahal,” so the city was renamed “Hyderabad” in her honor.
