With a history spanning several hundred years under Hindu, Mughal and English rulers, their influence is evident in the many interesting and sometimes quaint monuments scattered around Bangalore that add so much character and atmosphere to the city. However the cityscape appears to be changing fueled by private sector investment leading to the construction of modern day metal and glass monuments in the form of high tech architecture that is increasing in size and variety.
Only when the surreal experience of seeing a replica of a well known English Tudor castle in the middle of a bustling Indian city wears off, can the architectural anomaly that is the Bangalore Palace, complete with turrets, arches, battlements, all in mellow brick tones, be appreciated. It is was started in 1862 by a Reverend Garret, a principal of a high school bought by the Maharajah of Mysore in 1887 and completed in 1944. This is not surprising considering the interior and exterior details of the palace that include a ball room, a durbar hall, stained glass windows, painted ceilings, a grand staircase, mouldings, cornices and elegant woodwork. With a built up area of 45,000 sq feet, it was originally in a vast open area that set it off to its best advantage. Now the much smaller grounds are a popular venue for cultural performances and concerts.
Among the more recent structures, but a monument nevertheless due to size and cultural importance, is Vidhana Soudha, the state legislature, the largest secretariat in India. Constructed between 1951 and 1956, it is built entirely of granite in the Dravidian style, its design and embellishments influenced by South Indias many temples. During its construction a huge work force of labourers and artisans were employed. The four storied structure, with a central dome and impressive entrance covers a floor area of 550,505 sq feet and rises to a height of 150 feet.
The original secretariat building, now the High Court of Karnataka is an impressive two storied building built in the classical Greco-Roman style of architecture by the British during the period 1864 to 1868; the stone and brick building is painted a distinctive red colour and stands out from the surrounding landscape.
Another distinctive building is the State Archaeological Museum, one of the oldest museums in India. Its core building was built in 1876 in the classical Greco-Roman style and later adhered to this design. It is also painted in red in keeping with the other public buildings of that time.
A similar building in style and colour, this time with a gabled roof is the memorial to Sheshadri Iyer, Dewan of Mysore from 1883 to 1901, which was turned into a library in 1915. Located in the middle of Cubbon Park at the end of a long avenue, it is framed by the greenery of the park and has a rose garden in front. The library holds about 2.65 lakh books, some rare and out of print and includes a Braille section.
A monument of the Mughal era is the fort and palace of Tipu Sultan located in the busy market area. The fort originally built by Chikkadeva Raya which was demolished and re-built by the father and son duo Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. Only parts of the wall and one of the gates remain, with a plaque marking the place where the British General Cornwallis breached the wall in 1791. In the fort are the remains of the summer palace of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. A two storied elegant structure is to be seen entirely in teak wood with beautifully carved pillars, walls, ceilings, arches and balconies.
Also in the same area is the Jumma Masjid, the oldest mosque in the city, distinguished by its tall granite pillars and distinctive architectural style.
Bangalore has its fair share of religious monuments. Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, a rock cut temple built around the 9th century is one of these. Kempe Gowda, founder of Bangalore is supposed to have renovated it. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple houses a unique statue of Agni, the god of fire. There is also a fine image of Ganapathy with twelve hands at the main entrance and four monolith pillars in the courtyard. Thousands of devotees visit this temple every January for the Makar Sankranti when a ray of sunlight falls on the lingam in the sanctum after passing through the horns of Nandi the bull, Sivas vehicle.
A monument built in more recent times is the 65 foot high statue of Shiva on Airport Road. The four handed statue is white in colour and shows Shiva in a sitting posture. The tree covered site is sensitively landscaped to provide an appropriate background to the statue. When floodlit at night it is indeed an imposing sight.
Many of Bangalores monuments are living monuments in that they are still being used by the public to enact day to day administration, hold public gatherings, as law courts, libraries, as places of worship and as museums. The best way to preserve these monuments, which are an integral part of the citys history and culture, is to use them.
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