Bengaluru was planned in the 16th century by the pioneer Kempe Gowda I, who was a chieftain of the Vijayanagara Empire. Imitating Hampi, he envisaged a town that led to the emergence of today’s localities such as Avenue Road, Nagarthpet, Chikpet and so on. He was also instrumental in the construction of many forts, temples, tanks, and lakes. With the setting up of the Bengaluru Pete, Bengaluru city came into existence as is known today.

His grandson, Kempe Gowda II too made some contributions to the planning of the new city by erecting four towers to demarcate the limits of the Pete. These towers which were sited at the corners of the city were geometrically placed on an ‘X’ ray intersection with the Dharmarayaswamy temple gopuram, and all these structures were created by people who knew how to plan. Although some historians think that there should be more such towers, today only four large towers are known.

The locations of the Kempe Gowda towers are as follows: The locations of the Kempe Gowda towers are as follows:

1. Lalbagh Tower (South East Tower): Positioned on a hillock of many decades of age, this tower can be seen as soon as one enters the arch of Lalbagh and has excellent features of a granite fragmented staircase and floor.

2. Gavipura Tower (South West Tower): There is this tower situated behind the Bandi Mahakali temple adjacent to the dry Kempabudhi Lake and surrounded by trees and rocks. A close park that has a pen that accommodates deer enhances its features.

3. Mekhri Circle Tower (North West Tower): This tower is situated close to the Ramana Maharishi Park is visible from Bellary Road. It does have a somewhat different façade but it is easily recognizable through a small park located next to it.

4. Ulsoor Tower (North East Tower): This tower is not easily accessible being located inside Madras Sappers campus though it can be seen from Ulsoor Lake or the road in front of it.

All have been restored but do not look very historical and are painted in yellow and white respectively which are colors of modern towers. Notably, each tower is located near a lake or tank, reflecting the city's original water-bound layout, although the lakes have since shrunk.