- Afreen Hussain & Rashmi Shetty
KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE BY STANDING TALL
Bangalore Fort
Krishna Rajendra road,
New Tharagupet, Bengaluru-560002
(Walkable distance from KR market metro station)
Entry fee- Free
Timings- 8:30am - 5:30pm
A stone carving inside the fort depicting Tipu Sultan fighting a tiger which earned him the title "Tiger of Mysore".
Encompassed by the crowded KR market is the remains of this magnificent fort which was built by Kempe Gowda I (the founder of the city Bengaluru and also a chieftain of the Vijayanagara empire) in 1537 as a mud fort. The area around the fort was established as Bengaluru Pete. The mud fort was later substituted by a stone fort in 1761 by Hyder Ali (ruler of the kingdom of Mysore-1766). Tipu Sultan, the son of Hyder Ali further improved the condition of the fort in the late 18th century. The fort's Delhi gate, two bastions are the primary remains in today’s time after the British army captured the fort and started dismantling it.
Inside the fort is a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha which is opened everyday at 6:30am and closed soon after the daily prayers are offered. A closer look at the frieze which is on the temple roof consists of 'Gandaberunda'[two-headed bird] which is the official state emblem of Karnataka.
Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace
Tippu Sultan palace road,
Chamrajpet, Bengaluru-560018
(Adjacent to Bangalore Medical College campus)
Entry fee- 25 rupees
Timings- 8:30am - 5:30pm
The construction of this beautiful summer palace was started by Hyder Ali in the year 1781 which was completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791. It was used as a meeting spot in the summer season by both the men and the women of the royal family. The palace was constructed by using teak wood which was imported from France and it consists of pillars, numerous arches and balconies. The rooms in the ground floor have been converted to a small museum which showcase paintings and weapons of that time. This is a relatively lesser known monument of Bangalore which is worth a visit for it’s intriguing Indo-Islamic architecture and design.
Attara Kacheri - High court of Karnataka
Doctor Ambedkar Veedhi road,
Opposite to Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru-560001
(Walkable from Vidhana Soudha metro station)
Entry fee- Free
Timings- 10am - 5pm (Closed on Sunday)
Photography inside the gate is strictly prohibited.
Attara Kacheri literally translates to eighteen offices and was built long after the death of Tipu Sultan currently housing the High court of Karnataka. It was built in the 19th century based on a red stone structure. The most fascinating part about the building is it's Gothic styled architecture. It was built in a Greco-Roman theme by then chief engineer Richard Hiram Sankey.
The high court also consists of a museum inside it’s building where the history of the court is kept alive through objects and artefacts.
Dargah Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Shah Saharwardi R.A
Akkipet main road,
OTC road, Chickpete, Upparpet,
Cottonpet, Bengaluru-560053
(Walkable distance from Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Metro/ bus station)
No entry fee
Timings- 5am – 11pm
Visitors/Devotees bring metal locks and threads which they tie to grills and windows in the dargah. It is believed that all wishes and prayers are fulfilled upon doing so.
Mavalli, Bengaluru-560002
(Walkable from Lal Bagh metro station)
Entry fee- 25 rupees
Timings- 9am - 6pm
Lal Bagh
In the narrow lane of OTC road (Old Taluk Catchery road) is situated the 250-year-old holy shrine of the Sufi Saint Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Baba who along with his two brothers, Hazrat Tipu Mastan and Hazrat Manik Mastan had come to Bengaluru from Iran. This famous dargah is visited by people of all religions. As the legend goes, the brothers used to work as daily wage labourers in the construction of Bangalore fort under the reign of Hyder Ali who wanted to replace the mud fort by a stone fort. Everyday after work, they would not take their wages, this surprised Hyder Ali, he then sent one of his soldiers to follow them. Upon following, the soldier witnessed their bodies lying separately in parts, Hyder Ali was informed about this mystical phenomenon, which made him realize that they weren’t ordinary men and that they were saints. One interesting fact is that the Karaga festival is incomplete without the Karaga carrier from Sri Dharmaraya Swamy temple making a visit to the dargah and taking the Saint's blessings before starting the procession.
The construction of Lal Bagh was ordered by Hyder Ali in 1760 but it was later completed by his son Tipu Sultan. Lal Bagh flourished as Tipu Sultan imported several trees and plants from numerous countries. It is now a botanical garden which hosts two flower shows in the weeks of Independence day (15th August) as well Republic day ( 26th January). Along with a vast variety of flora, with over 1000 species of plants, it also houses several species of birds and other wildlife. The Lal Bagh rock, one of the oldest rock formations on Earth and the Lawn clock, Kempe Gowda watchtower, Glass house are also major attractions.
A must go for all nature lovers!
Vidhana Soudha
Dr. Ambedkar Veedhi,
Sampangi Rama Nagara,
Bengaluru 560001
Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
(Closed on Saturdays and Sundays and on public holidays)
Public is not allowed inside without permission.
Then Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru along with then Chief Minister Kyasamballi Chengaluraya Reddy initiated the establishment and the construction of a monument on 13 July 1951. Then Chief Minister of Karnataka Kengal Hanumanthaiah wanted to rebuild Attara Kacheri (currently the High Court of Karnataka) with an Indian touch to it, but this instead lead to the building of Vidhana Soudha in the year 1956 right opposite to Attara Kacheri. It symbolizes the legislative sovereignty of the people of the country. It is the largest Legislative building of India. It has eight pillars and six smaller domes. This place boasts of eight floors, with four floors above the ground floor and an equal number underground with three hundred and sixty rooms and fifteen conference halls.
Bangalore Palace
Palace Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru – 560052
Owner: H.H Pramoda Devi Wadiyar
Timings: 10:00 am to 5:30 am
Bangalore Palace was the summer residence of Maharajas of Mysore. The palace holds resemblance to the medieval castles that were built in Normandy and England. It was built by Rev. Garrett, the first Principal of the Central High School in Bengaluru, in Tudor-style architecture to give Europe feel, it was bought by Chamarajendra Wodeyar in the year 1873. They have guided tours, they give a mobile device with ear phones you can choose the language you are comfortable with. Full audio tour takes about 45 minutes and you are supposed to return the device in an hour.
The entrance fee is about ₹230 for Indians and ₹460 for Foreign tourists and they also charge extra for cameras.
Mayo Hall
Mg road, FM Cariappa Colony,
Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru 560001
Timings: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm,
Closed on Sundays
This deep red building in MG road houses the City Civil Court. It was inaugurated by the British Resident on 6 June 1883. It is a government building, built to honor the memory of Lord Mayo. It is now home to numerous departments of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. It is adjacent to the Public Utility Building. At one time, it used to offer a panoramic view of adjacent places such as the Bangalore race course, Parade grounds, Brigade grounds, and the Ulsoor Lake. The building was originally white in colour with a matt finish, it was converted to a Pompeian Red to look in concert with the High Court of Karnataka.
St. Mark's Cathedral Church
1, MG Road, Shanthala Nagar,
Shivaji Nagar, Bengaluru 560001
Timings: 8 am to 1 pm, 4pm to 9 pm.
The church was opened for worship in the 1812. It is named after St Mark who is believed to be the first gospel writer. In 1923, the church was ruined by fire caused by a short circuit. The church became a part of the Church of South India in 1947. It celebrated its 200 years bicentenary in the year 2007-08.
There are so many marks of the two centuries history at this church one of them are the stained glass windows.
The stained glass window.
Sree Chokkanathaswamy Temple
5th Cross Road,
Village Domlur, opposite Sony World,
Bengaluru 560071
Timings: 6:00 am – 11:00 am, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
It is one amongst the oldest temples of Bengaluru. The temple has been renovated several times. Chokkanatha is another name for Lord Shiva. But this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it was built during the reign of Chola dynasty in the 10th century and it has Chola style of architecture. Vishnu’s dashavatharas can be seen in one of the pillars. The idols of Lord Vishnu, goddesses Sridevi and Bhudevi in the Garbhagriha are made of saligram stone brought from Nepal’s Gandaki River.
