and is still a prominent
mosque in the city,
sometimes holding up to
10,000 worshippers at a
time.
St Mark's Cathedral
1 MG Road, Tel: 2221
3633
A prime historical
address from Bangalore's
Cant era, St. Mark's
Cathedral stands regally
at 1, MG Road. Its 200-
year-old life is rife with
historical gems. The
cathedral was built
exclusively for the British
Army posted in Bangalore
as far back as 1808. Built
in the style of 17 th century
English churches, and
modelled after St Paul's
Cathedral, this cream-
coloured cathedral's
dome infuses the city's
skyline with a touch of
old-world drama. High
Roman arches, exquisite
stained glasswork, and
intricately carved
woodwork make the
church among
Bangalore's best-kept
heritage buildings.
There's more — the
cathedral houses one of
the biggest church bells
down south and a must-
see German pipe organ.
Go to St. Mark's to
witness a chapter of the
British Empire's rule in
Bangalore. For instance,
the brass tablets on the
wall offer touching
tributes from the city's
colonial days, including
one of an English officer
who was drowned in the
Cauvery after saving an
Indian workman's life.
St. Patrick's Church
15-K, Brigade Road, Tel:
2559 9863
There is more than a
sprinkling of 19 th century
British churches in and
around the erstwhile
p 24
whats around?
South Parade (present
MG Road). The rose-pink
St. Patrick's Church, with
its tall twin belfries
beckon from a distance as
you make your way
through Residency Road.
This church was not built
for the British, but the
Irish soldiers posted in
Cantonment Bangalore.
Built by a military
chaplain in 1844, its best
features include a sloping
Mangalore-tile roof,
fluted pedestals and
circular ventilators with
floral grazing. The church
is a prominent centre of
worship in the city.
St Mary's Basilica
Shivajinagar, Opp Russel
Market, Tel: 2286 5434
One of the oldest
churches in Bangalore,
the legendary St. Mary's
Basilica is a spot of calm
in the otherwise chaotic
Shivajinagar. Located
across Russell Market
Square, the basilica had
humble beginnings as a
small chapel set up by a
travelling Frenchman
Abbe Dubois. The chapel
was transformed into an
ornate Gothic church by
Rev LF Kleiner in 1874.
The baroque structure
displays vaulting arches,
stained glass windows
from Paris and
Corinithian capitals with
a profusion of bunched
grapes. However, more
than its architectural
razzle-dazzle, it's the
powerful faith that this
church invokes, which
gives the basilica its
special reputation.
Shrouded in mysterious
lore, it is believed that the
St. Mary here possesses
miraculous powers of
healing. The story goes
that prayers to at the
basilica once quelled a
plague epidemic that
struck the city. Even
today, belief in the
powers of the St. Mary of
Shivajinagar is
overwhelming. Come
September, thousands of
believers flock to the
basilica for an annual
feast, dressed in
customary orange.
Ulsoor Lake
Ulsoor
Once upon a time,
Bangalore was a city of
lakes. Although most of
these have been lost in
the quest for urban
development, the Ulsoor
Lake still stands as
testament to the city's
lake legacy. Spread over a
three-kilometre radius,
the origins of the Ulsoor
Lake (or Halasur Lake as
it was formerly known)
go back to the reign of
Kempegowda II, a 16 th
century chieftain of
Bangalore. But the lake in
its current form was built
by British Commissioner,
Sir Lewin Bentham
Bowring. Speckled with
tiny islands, the
picturesque Ulsoor Lake
has been cleaned up from
time to time. Boat rides
are offered here. There's a
walkway around the lake,
which is a favourite with
walkers and joggers. The
lake is best-visited in the
wee hours of the
morning. Just across
from Ulsoor Lake is the
Gurudwara Sri Guru
Singh Sabha.
Sankey Boat Club
Sankey Tank
Another major lake in
Bangalore from the late
19 th century, the Sankey
Tank was constructed by
Col Richard Hieram
Sankey to provide water
to Malleswaram, a suburb
in west Bangalore. While
the 500-year-old
manmade water body has
been intrinsic to the
ecology of Bangalore, it is
also a tourist spot where
you pedal and motor boat
rides can be had across its
greenish-blue expanse.
There's a park built
around the lake, making
this space green and well-
oxygenated.
STREETS AND
MARKETS
Brigade Road
If you are in Bangalore, a
visit to Brigade Road is a
must in your itinerary. It
is one of the biggest
commercial centres in
Bangalore. This busy
shopping street is one of
the favourite hang outs
among Bangaloreans. The
street is lined up with
shops, restaurants and