PLACES TO SEE
Vikasa Soudha Ambedkar Veedhi, Next to
Vidhana Soudha The Vidhana Soudha has recently cloned itself and its more modernist version sits to the south of the original. The ' Vikasa Soudha ' was added as an extension as recently as 2005. This southern block houses more offices of the secretariat and is fitted with the latest amenities, while the structure of the building stays true to the original. The Vikasa Soudha is built in the same Neo-Dravidian style as its predecessor. Although it is not quite in the same majestic league as the Vidhana Soudha, this twin-building does add double the drama to the landscape.
Attara Kacheri Vidhana Veedhi, Cubbon Park
Just across the road from the Vidhana Soudha, sits a dramatic, bright red structure which houses Karnataka ' s State th
High Court. This 19 century brick and stone building originally housed the public offices of the British colonial government in Bangalore. In fact, ' Attara Kacheri ' literally translates to ' eighteen offices ', the number of departments that worked out of here. Built in the Graeco-Roman style with graceful Corinthian columns and dark-green wrought iron grillwork, the construction of this two-storied, terracottahued building was supervised by Commissioner Lewing Bowring, and was completed in 1868. An annexe was added on in 1995, which faithfully followed the original style of architecture. Watch out for the statue of Lord Cubbon astride his horse at the front of the Kacheri. Do stop by at the Sheshadri Memorial Hall in the
Vidhana Soudha Ambedkar Veedhi The Vidhana Soudha ' s onion-shaped dome rises majestically over the rest of Bangalore ' s skyline. Housing the offices of the State Legislature and the Government Secretariat, the Vidhana Soudha is also something of an architectural landmark. This neo-Dravidian edifice, built in 1956, is a fusion of four distinctive architectural prototypes – Dravidian, Rajasthani, Chola and Indo- Saracenic. The gleaming structure created with locallyquarried granite was built during the regime of Kengal Hanumanthaiah, chief minister of the former Mysore State. As you wander around the imposing Vidhana Soudha and take in its larger than life dimensions – the towering domes, massive pillars, Rajasthani-style ' jharokhas ' or balconies, archways and the grand stairway – do pay attention to the minutiae as well. The ornately carved frieze panels, pillars and doors are peppered with geometrical designs and floral motifs, reminiscent of the Hoysala sculptures in Halebid and Belur. As you take your gaze right to the top, you can also spy the national emblem of the Sarnath lion crowning the dome. While the Vidhana Soudha ' s exteriors are open to the public, access to the inside of the building is restricted. Go here on Sunday evenings when a lit-up Vidhana Soudha makes for an elegant visual spectacle.
vicinity. Housing the City Central Library, this flame-red heritage building is similar to the Attara Kacheri in its architectural sensibilities.
Bangalore Palace
Palace Road, Tel: 2331 5789 This Tudor-style castle sprawls across 400 acres of the Palace Grounds and offers an interesting peek into the life of royal Wodeyars, the dynasty that ruled Mysore from 1399 to 1947. The Bangalore Palace draws inspiration from the Windsor Castle in England and lavishly replicates it, from looming fortified towers and turreted parapets to Gothic windows and sweeping arches. The embellishments in the form of floral motifs, fluorescent ceramic tiles, wooden carvings and painted ceilings are highly ornate. The palace is steeped in luxury as seen in the elaborately done-up Durbar Hall, the lacquered furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl and the rare Greek and Dutch paintings that hang on the walls. The origins of the palace go back to 1884 when it was bought by the Maharaja of Mysore, Chamaraja Wodeyar. Today, the palace is owned by the current descendant of the royal Wodeyar clan, Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, who is also credited with renovating it. Don ' t skip the palace ' s public gallery which displays royal family portraits and historic photographs. The picturesque palace grounds are also a popular venue for cultural shows and private parties.
Tipu ' s Palace Albert Victor Road, City Market In the midst of the chaos and din of City Market stands an th
18 century monument – Tipu Sultan ' s Palace – a looming Indo-Islamic structure. Littleknown and little-visited, this palace served as the administrative seat of Tipu Sultan ' s kingdom, where the ' Tiger of Mysore '( as he was titled) retreated for the summer. It was Nawab Hyder Ali who started building the palace in 1781 and Tipu Sultan completed its construction in 1791. Like all the other Tipu Sultan palaces, this one is simple and elegant, and made of wood and stone. What is interesting about this monument is that it gives the illusion of being singlestoreyed, while actually spreading across two floors. The façade of the palace is replete with pillars— 160 fluted, wooden pillars to be precise, with some of them reaching all the way up to the upper storey. Cusped arches and brackets spring off these columns. The ground floor houses a museum of sorts, featuring interesting trivia about the statesman-king, Tipu Sultan. Paintings of the palace by British artist Robert Holmes are on display. The palace is poorly maintained, so you will have to use your imagination to view the palace in its former glory.
Cubbon Park
Accessible from MG Road, Kastruba Road and Hudson Circle, Tel: 2286 7440, Open all day Bangalore ' s legendary Cubbon Park can be described as three hundred acres of bewitching greenery in the middle of the traffic-ridden city. The park ' s eco-system consists of jade lawns, indigenous flora and fauna, blossoming trees and thick bamboo groves. Responsible for giving Bangalore its famed sobriquet of ' Garden City ', Cubbon Park was laid out in 1864 by Sir Richard Sankey( the chief engineer of the Mysore state) and was named after British Commissioner Lord Mark p 12 whats around?