Every city has its own historic lore to tell. Every city is an extension of yesteryear’s wreck and an atrophy of past. As a city moves into the future, somewhere in the backdrop, the gone by days silently wave their hands to remind us of the elapsed time. It might be in the form of stories, written documents or as beautifully as in the shape of an architectural cult. When we say architecture, we are talking about the colonial and historical monuments. Bengaluru from the time of being called as Benda Kalooru to Bangalore and Bengaluru has a rich history aback to tell. If there are any signs which remind us of the city’s past then they are monuments, right? Today, we are here with such historical and heritage monuments of Bengaluru. Come, let’s get into the books of history and know a little more about them.
Colonial and Historical Monuments of Bengaluru
Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall
Constructed in Red Brick and Mortar, Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall is Karnataka’s Central library. It was set up in 1915 and today it houses 2.65 lakh + books from 0830 – 1900. Being one of the iconic buildings of Bengaluru, it is located in Cubbon Park and was built in the memory of Dewan of Mysore, Shri Sheshadri Iyer. If we have to talk about its architecture then it was built in a circular classic European style with a time-honored vogue to it. It will be closed on Mondays but on other days, it is a beautiful place to visit and spend some quality time. Seshadri Iyer memorial hall in a way is a true pride of Bengaluru.
The Bull Temple
Basavanagudi gets its name from this Bull temple which was built in 1537 by Kempe Gowda under the Vijayanagara empire. Here you can see the monolith Nandi (Bull) placed on a plinth in the temple shrine. It is said that this is the largest Nandi Idol you can see in the world whose height and length are 15 ft and 20 ft approximately. In the premises of the temple, you can see a tower (vimana) over the shrine which was constructed in the early 20th century.
Mayo Hall
Mayo Hall is a two-story structure located in the central part of the city. It is known for its ornate furniture and architecture built to honor the memory of Lord Mayo, the 4th viceroy of India. Being one of the historical places to stop by, Mayo hall offers a panoramic view of the city’s parade ground, ulsoor lake on one side and on the south, you see Bangalore Race Course and Brigade Grounds. It is a Government building that houses several departments of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. On the upper floor, there is Kempegowda Museum which was established in 2011 and ground floor is dedicated to the Municipal office.
Dharmaraya Swamy temple (Tower)
This is one of the oldest temples of the city dedicated to Pratham Pandava, Shri Dharmaraya. Among the four towers built by Kempegowda, Dharmaraya temple is known as the Vimanagopura (Kalasa), a center point of the city. The temple is known for its famous Karaga which is celebrated in the honor of Mother Goddess Draupadi as a triumph of good over evil.
Bangalore fort
There’s a lot of history associated with the iconic Bangalore fort. Started as a mud fort in 1537 by Kempe Gowda 1 was replaced with a stone fort in 1761 by Haider Ali. In 1791, the British attacks and captures the fort in the siege of Bangalore during the third Anglo Mysore War (1790-1792). Today, the two bastions and the Delhi Gate on Krishnarajendra road are the primary remains of the fort.
Bangalore Palace
Bangalore palace area was owned originally by Rev J.Garret, the first principal of the Central High School (Central college). Later on, the place was purchased by the British Guardians using the funds of Maharaja Chamarajendra Wodeyar X. It is said that the construction of the palace was started in 1874 and got completed by 1878. The palace has a floor area of about 45,000 sq ft and was built in Tudor style architecture with fortified towers, battlements, and turrets.
In the ground floor, there is an open courtyard covered fluorescent blue ceramic tiles with a ballroom for holding private parties. In the first floor, one can see a Durbar Hall and it can be reached by a decorated staircase. The interiors of the palace are adorned by beautiful wall paintings of mid 19th century coupled with a few Greek and Dutch paintings.
Attara Kacheri
Karnataka High Court functions out of a red brick building known as Attara Kacheri. It is the seat of the legislature in Karnataka and is currently functional in Bangalore, the state’s capital city. The history of Attara Kacheri dates back to 1884 under the rule of Maharaja of Mysore, Shri Chamarajendra Wodeyar. It was a time when the chief court of Mysore was reconstituted with three other courts; the court of District Judges, the Bangalore court of small causes and Munsiff courts. In 1930, it got renamed to High Court of Mysore and in 1973, it got its present name of “High Court of Karnataka”.
Vidhana Soudha
Vidhana Soudha is an iconic building of Karnataka located in its capital city, Bengaluru. It is a seat of the state legislature of Karnataka and a ballpark for political discussions and assemblies. The foundation stone for Vidhana Soudha was laid in 1951 and in 1952, the construction of this building began and it got completed in 1956.
Continue Reading – 10 Facts About Vidhana Soudha
Tipu Sultan Summer Palace
You find The Palace in the center of the city. The building dates back to two centuries. The completion happened in 1791. You want the recent location. It is near Bengaluru medical college, Chamrajpet.
Recommended: 12 Historical Facts About Bengaluru
Devanahalli Fort
Devanahalli fort has an important mention in the history of Bangalore. It was originally built by Malla Baire Gowda in 1501. It was there in the hands of descendants until the mid-eighteenth century before it was attacked by Nanajarajaiah, the then Dalawai of Mysore. Later on, it was captured by Hyder Ali and subsequently went into the hands of Tipu Sultan. It is located on the side of National Highway 7, near the Bengaluru Airport. There are a lot of temples inside the fort and indeed a beautiful place to stop by.
So, this was about some of the important monuments of Bengaluru. If we have missed any places then please let us know in the comments below.
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