Bollarum has a unique story about its name. When the British were laying out the railway line through this town, an officer asked a person what was the name of the place to set up a station there. The person was an ardent worshipper of Rama but he couldn't speak English, so he greeted the gentleman by saying "Bolo Ram" which eventually became Bollarum, spelled in different variations.

Located in Bollarum is an important building of historical importance, now an Officer's mess diagonally opposite to the church and Ayyappa Temple, opposite to St. Anns Provincilate. When Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the first Defence Minister, came to Hyderabad along with the Indian army to annex Hyderabad state to the independent Indian Republic, he stayed in this building and negotiated with the Nizam.

Bollarum was also visited by Queen Elizabeth. The Holy trinity Church built in European style in the year 1847 by a member of British Royal family (Queen Victoria), which is why Queen Elizabeth visited this church and attended a service on her Wedding Anniversary when she visited to India in 1980s.

Geographically, a part of Bolaram is in Hyderabad district and while another is in Ranga Reddy District. In the past, more than half of the area used to be agricultural, but the farms have been transformed into residential and commercial areas.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Bollaram had a population of 13,305. Males constitute 58% of the population and females 42%. Bollaram has an average literacy rate of 58%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 68% and female literacy of 43%. 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The majority of the population is Hindu. But one can find people of many religions living in harmony., including Jain, and also there are couple of mosques, and a Gurdwara. Most of the population are employees and work in Railways, Industries, defence, offices, etc.

Economy

Macha Bollarum market is an old vegetable market where the villagers get their produce/vegetable in train and sell it in this market, which lies next to the railway station. It has a big bazaar named Sadar Bazaar which has many textile, jewelry, general shops and Money lending shops.

Education

Bollarum is an educational hubs of Hyderabad with many popular schools and colleges like the prestigious Valerian Grammar School, St. Anne's Girl School, The City High School and a few Post Graduate Colleges like Navabharathi College of P.G Studies. Also, an international college of business and commerce.

Culture

Bollarum is a popular place for Hindu temples like Ayyappa temple which is one of the oldest Ayappa temples in Andhra Pradesh was built in 1970's the first temple in Hyderabad. Muthyalamma temple is the oldest, and where every weekend is like a carnival with huge crowd. Navagraha & Lord Shiva is famous for celebration of Ugadi & Shri Ram Navami which comes every year in the month of March or April. Mahankali Temple is known for Mela celebration every year in July. Hanuman Temple, Sai baba temple, Lord Shri Ram, Ganesh Ji, Bhulakshmamma Temple are other temples.

Bollarum is home to a very big Church built in European style (Holy Trinity Church), built in 1847 by a member of British Royal family (Queen Victoria), which is why Queen Elizabeth visited this church and attended a service on her Wedding Anniversary when she visited to India in 1980s.

Important landmarks

Some important landmarks are:

• Rashtrapati Nilayam - It also houses the Rastrapati Nilayam, the equivalent of Rashtrapati Bhavan in new Delhi. This serves as the house/office of the president during his yearly sojourn to south of India. During the President's Southern sojourn, this building literally converts into the president's office.
• Holy Trinity Church (www.htcbolarum.org)chg - very big Church built in European style (Holy Trinity Church), built in 1847 by a member of British Royal family
• Chateau (Winston Churchill's Home) - The Chateau, close to the Valerian Grammar School, one of the old and famous schools in the area, housed Winston Churchill during his early days as a British army Captain during the Raj (British) empire.
• Valerian Grammar School (Estd. 1961)- Is the oldest convent school in the locality with many distinguished Alumni.
• Sadhana Mandhir School is also one of the oldest landmarks in Bollarum. It was a soap factory before. During Freedom struggle Acharya Vinoba Bhave stayed in Sadhana Mandhir for a few days on his Journey of the famous BhooDhaan Yagna.
• The City High School, {Estd.1982}[www.thecityhighschool.com] in Ratna-Surya Colony was the catalyst which helped develop the entire area and contributed to the educational needs of people.
• Rythu Bazaar - The new farmers vegetable market.
• LRMG Jr College(Earlier Zilla Parishad High School) - One of the oldest colleges in the city of Hyderabad. It was constructed in the year 1926. It has a huge and magnificent building with a big auditorium.
• RSI Club: The Rajender Singhji Institute is again a club for defence personnel only. It also has a huge Olympic sized swimming pool very close to it.
• Bolarum Library, close to Lakadwala cross roads is also a very old landmark of Bolarum.
• St. Ann's Provincilate, Ayyapa Temple, St. Ann's Girls school all on the same road stretch.

Neghbouhoods

Bollarum's major localities include: Doveton Bazar, Chintal Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Kalasiguda, Risala Bazar, Poineer Bazar, Burton Guda and Macha Bollarum (which is separated from the others mentioned by a railway track that has a meter gauge line and a broad gauge line).

Transport

Bollarum has a MMTS local train station, hence more and more people are opting to live in this locality.The state-owned APSRTC runs the city bus service, connecting to all the major parts of the city.It is 10km from Secunderabad Central Railway Station and 12km from Begumpet Airport & 41km from New International Airport at Shamshabad.

References