Bengaluru Palace - The Remnants of a Bygone Era

Bengaluru Palace, a palace located in the city of Bengaluru, India, was built to look like a smaller replica of the Windsor Castle in England. Anyone who sees the Bengaluru Palace is bound to fall in love with it. Once you get over the initial shock of finding Tudor architecture surrounded by Indian urban scenery, it's quite an intriguing place worth exploring. It was built by Rev. Garrett, who was the first Principal of the Central High School in Bengaluru, now known as Central College.

The construction of the palace was started in 1862 and completed in 1944. In 1884, it was bought by the Maharaja of Mysore, Chamaraja Wodeyar. Now owned by the current scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikanta Datta Narsimharaja Wadiyar, the palace has recently undergone a renovation.

It was built by Chamaraja Wodeyar, Maharaja of Mysore in 1887. The Palace flaunts turreted parapets, battlements, fortified towers and arches. At that time it coated about Rs One lakh to construct it. The land cost Rs 10 lakh.

Castle in London, and along similar lines he built this palace in Tudor style. The palace was earlier surrounded by beautiful gardens in the midst of a vast open area, which have reduced considerably today.

Spread over an area of about 430 acres, the Palace is famous for its elegantly carved woodwork. It is right in the heart of the city. With a built-up area of around 45,000 sq. ft., this 120 year old monument is a popular tourist attraction. It is surrounded by a garden all around, almost giving it a fairytale setting.

The structure has fortified towers complete with Gothic windows, battlements and turrets. This palace is largely constructed of wood, and is famous for its carving and paintings. An exquisite door panel at the entrance leads to grand settings inside.

Reverend Garret originally owned the land, on which the palace stands today. Located between Jayamahal and Sadashivanagar areas, the palace ground has become a venue for various exhibitions, concerts and cultural programs. The palace is truly an architectural splendour. The interiors have breathtaking floral motifs, cornices, mouldings and relief paintings on its ceilings. However, entry to the palace is restricted.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

Ground information

Location: Bengaluru

Establishment: 1969

Capacity: 55,000

Owner: Government of Karnataka

Operator: Karnataka State Cricket Association

International information

First Test: 22 Nov - 27 Nov 1974: India v England

Last Test: 9 Oct - 13 Oct 2010: India v Australia

First ODI: 26 Sep 1982: India v Sri Lanka

Last ODI: 27 Feb 2011: India v England

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, is one of the cricket stadiums of India. Flanked by the picturesque Cubbon Park, Queen's Road, Cubbon and uptown MG Road, this four decade old stadium is situated in the heart of the city of Bengaluru. Formerly known as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) stadium, the ground was later rechristened in tribute to Mr. M. Chinnaswamy, who had served the KSCA for four decades and was also president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1977-1980. This stadium with a seating capacity of 55,000 not only regularly hosts Test cricket, One Day Internationals (ODI) and other First-class cricket matches, but also other musical and cultural events. The stadium is also the home ground of the Karnataka state cricket team and the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru. It is owned by the Government of Karnataka and has been leased out to the KSCA for a period of 99 years.

The Lalbagh Botanical Garden

The Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bengaluru is the royal origin and was started initially as a private garden in an area of 40 acres by Hyder Ali, one of the most famous rulers of old Mysore in 1760. Initially this is designed in Mughal style, on the model of an extensive garden at Sira in Tumkur near Bengaluru. Tipu Sultan son of Hyder Ali developed the garden further and subsequently by the British and Indian doyens of horticulture by extension of area and addition of a number of plant species.

For the development of the garden, the Superintendents have made noteworthy contributors. Major Waugh, Dr. Wallich, William Munroe, Sir Mark Cubbon, Dr. Cleghorn, William New, A. Blck, John Cameron, Krumbeigal, Rao Bahadur H.C. Javaraya, K. Nanjappa and Dr. M.H. Marigowda, are the Superintendents of the garden.

The Directorate is housed amidst the splendid environs of the botanical garden. Lalbagh was given the status of a Government Botanical Garden in 1856, and since then, it has been an internationally renowned centre for scientific study of plants and botanical artwork and also conservation of plants. Lalbagh is currently under the aegis of the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. Formal and informal styles dominate the garden in perfect harmony, which is a testimony to the beauty of nature. Today, the garden is a lush green paradise with an area of 240 acres in the heart of the city.

Events

In the month of January and August biannual flower shows are organized on the occasion of the Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations respectively. This is a fantastic opportunity for flower lovers to enjoy the Lalbagh Flower show .The center of attraction is always so creative and mesmerizes all visitors, such as a 40 feet “Qutub Minar” built with over 2,00,000 roses...a must visit if you are around!!

Glass House

The Glass House is the most famous of the many artistic structures in Lalbagh. In the necklace of Bengaluru's gardens, Lalbagh is a pendant and in the centre of this pendant is the glass house in the form of a diamond. Today, as the jewel of Lalbagh, it is the centre stage for holding the famous biannual flower shows.

The Glass House of Lalbagh was constructed in the year 1890 on the model of Crystal Palace of London. There is a stunning resemblance between Bengaluru in India and London in England, as many structures in Bengaluru city have been modeled upon the structures in London. In year 1936 Crystal Palace accidentally caught fire and was burnt down. Thus, the glory of the great structure ‘CRYSTAL PALACE’ ended. Only its model remained with ‘The Glass House’ in Lalbagh, Bengaluru. Hence, it may not be wrong to call the Glass House of Lalbagh as the Crystal Palace of India.