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Mahalakshmi Layout BBMP Park- Bangalore

Posted by Shriharsha B S - 0 comments

 Mahalakshmi Layout is a suburb in north-west Bengaluru, India. It is surrounded by Rajajinagar, Basaveshwaranagar and Yeshwanthapura. Together with Nandini Layout and Mahalakshmipuram,it is one of the biggest layouts in Bengaluru.The famous temple of Lord Hanuman etched on a single monolith stone signifies this area. True to its name, there is also temple in the name of goddess Mahalakshmi. This area has some of the known people in Bangalore city residing.

It has been attributed with many sobriquets such as "Layout of Hills","Twin Layout" and "Temple Layout". There are around 10 temples within a radius of 200 meters. One of the most popular locations for shooting Kannada movies and TV serials.

In Mahalaksmi layout you can see the many temples like: Prasanna Veeranjaneya temple, Srinivasa temple, Vasavi temple, Ayyappa temple, Panchamukhi Ganapathi temple etc.

BBMP is maintaining a beautiful park beside the Sri Prasanna Veeranjaneya temple. This park is located in Mahalaksmi layout main road. On the other side of park Sri Srinivasa temple is there.

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Photos & Information : Shriharsha B S, Guruprasad Hegde, Shyamsundar Hegde-Sutthona Banni Team

Bugle Rock- Bangalore

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Bugle Rock (Kannada: ಕಹಲೆ Kahale)  is a massive rock in the Basavanagudi area of South Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka. It is an abrupt rise above the ground of peninsular gneiss as the main rock formation and with an assessed age of about 3,000 million years. Bugle Rock has generated wide interest among the scientific community.

Kempe Gowda II (who came to power in 1585), the feudal ruler of Bangalore, is credited with building four watchtowers setting limits for Bangalore's expansion, which included a tower on the Bugle Rock (on the southern boundary) as it commands a panoramic view of Bangalore city. It is said that at sunset a sentry would blow the bugle and hold a torch (Kannada:panju) which was visible from the other three watch towers (one on the southern bank of the Kempambudi tank on the west, the second near Ulsoor Lake in the east and the third tower adjoining Ramana Maharshi Ashram on Bellary Road, namely Mekhri Circle in the north). This was done to inform people that everything was safe at that location and to give a warning bugle call to alert the citizens of any intruders into the city.Most of the rocks on the Bugle Rock, next to the Bull Temple, have hollows, which were once used to light lamps. This landmark spreads over an area of 16 acres (6.5 ha). This rock is contiguous and similar to the rock at Lalbagh tower.
The Geological Survey of India has listed this site,  as "Geological Monuments of India" and has displayed a commemorative plaque in front of the rock tower which states.

The park

Amidst the natural rock formations, a small park with waterfalls and fountains has been developed as one of the green lungs of the garden city of Bangalore, which is frequented visited by children, families and the elderly. The park houses three temples. The densely tree-lined park developed by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Karnataka is considered a “walkers paradise” since over 750 to 1000 visitors (70% of them senior citizens) visit the park every day. One can also hear calls of a number of bats perched on the trees. An amphitheatre, which can accommodate 300 people, has been developed in the precincts of the park. The Hindu temple Dodda Basavana Gudi or Bull Temple, said to be the biggest temple to Nandi (the bull referred to as a sacred Hindu demi-god) in the world, and a Ganesha temple are in the limits of the park. According to an inscription in the Bull Temple, a spring beneath the Nandi is the source of the Vrishabhavathi River, which flows to the west of Bangalore.

During the Third Mysore War, a contingent of the Mysore army, regrouped in this rock area under the leadership of Mir Khammar-ud-din before attacking the British Army.

Honour to distinguished people

The outer wall of an old water tank in the confines of the Bugle Rock park has murals of famous people of Bangalore and Karnataka: Kempe Gowda I (1513–1569), the ruler of Bangalore and Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya (1860–1962), the engineer statesman and the builder of modern Karnataka, behind the statue of D V Gundappa, (1887–1975) popularly known as DVG, the Kannada litterateur, philosopher erected in 2002–03 to honour him. It is said that Bugle Rock was the place where D.V. Gundappa used to meet Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, journalist P.R. Ramaiya (of Tainadu newspaper fame, one of the founders of Kannada journalism and the first MLA from the area after independence), artist A.N. Subbarao (founder of Kalamandira which used to be in Gandhi Bazar), lawyers M.P. Somashekhara Rao and Nittoor Srinivasa Rau (who later became the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court) and several other noted people like Prof. V.T. Srinivasan, founder and principal of Vijaya College, Bangalore.

The park has been named in honour of T.R. Shamanna, a humanitarian and local politician. It has been spruced up with landscaping with rocky steps. An impressive entrance has been sculpted with rock pillars and by adding murals on the unused outer wall of the water tank with engravings of the faces of eminent people.

Fruit bats

In the Bugle Rock park, in a study carried out by bat biologists, fruit bats (Pteropus giganteus) (also called Indian Flying-fox, listed as least-threatened in the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996) have been recorded in roost trees (Ficus sp., Mangifera indica (mango fruit tree), Samanea saman (rain tree), Eucalyptus sp., Glaycindia sp.), and also in Gulmohar (Delonix regia) and jackfruit tree ((Artocarpus heterophyllus) in the garden, tree groups and protected areas with a roost size of 650–710. The roost trees, about 20–25 and generally 30–40 feet (9.1–12.2 m) tall, are in the central area of the park and are 50–60 years old. The area is maintained by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). The farmland, before roost, is stated to be undisturbed and ancient. The study has observed that there is need to conserve urban roosts of bats. It is recorded that the Police Commissionerate on Infantry Road, Bangalore has geared to preserve bats, which have nested in the trees in the Commiserate for many years.

Transportation

City bus routes: 36, 43, 45 from Majestic/Market, 3 from Jayanagar, 34, 37 from Shivajinagar, T-12 from Yeshvantapur RMC.

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Courtesy: Wikipedia

Lal Bagh-Bangalore

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Lal Bagh or Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, meaning The Red Garden in English, is a well known botanical garden in southern Bangalore, India. The garden was originally commissioned by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, and later finished by his son Tipu Sultan. It has a famous glass house which hosts an annual flower show. Lal Bagh houses India's largest collection of tropical plants, has an aquarium and a lake, and is one of the main tourist attractions in Bangalore.

History


Hyder Ali commissioned the building of this garden in 1760 but his son, Tipu Sultan, completed it. Hyder Ali decided to create this garden on the lines of the Mughal Gardens that were gaining popularity during his time. Hyder Ali laid out these famous botanical gardens and his son added horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries. Hyder Ali deployed people from Thigala Community who were extremely good in gardening. The Lal Bagh Gardens were commissioned by the 18th century and over the years it acquired India's first lawn-clock and the subcontinent's largest collection of rare plants.

In 1874, Lal bagh had an area of 45 acres (180,000 m2). In 1889, 30 acres were added to the eastern side, followed by 13 acres in 1891 including the rock with Kempegowda tower and 94 acres more in 1894 on the eastern side just below the rock bringing it to a total of 188 acres (760,000 m2). The foundation stone for the Glass House, modelled on London's Crystal Palace was laid on 30 November '1898?' by Prince Albert Victor and was built by James Cameron, the then superintendent of Lalbagh.

Overview


Lal Bagh is a 240-acre (971,000 sq.m. - almost 1 km².) garden and is located in south Bangalore. It holds a number of flower shows, especially on the Republic Day (26 January). The garden has over 1,000 species of flora. The garden also has trees that are over 100 years old.

The garden surrounds one of the towers erected by the founder of Bangalore, Kempe Gowda. The park has some rare species of plants brought from Persia, Afghanistan and France. With an intricate watering system for irrigation, this garden is aesthetically designed, with lawns, flowerbeds, lotus pools and fountains. Most of the centuries old trees are labelled for easy identification. The Lal Bagh Rock, one of the oldest rock formations on earth, dating back to 3,000 million years, is another attraction that attracts the crowds.
Basis for modelling of Lal Bagh Gardens
The Lal Bagh Gardens are based on the design of the Mughal Gardens that once stood at Sira, at a distance of 120 km from Bengaluru on the main NH4 at Tumkur District in Karnataka. This is amply supported by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) and other historical records. At that time, Sira was the headquarters of the strategically important southernmost Mughal "suba" (province) of the Deccan before the British Raj.

Tourism and eco-development


Lal Bagh remains open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. throughout the year. For the benefit of joggers, tourists and fitness enthusiasts, entry is free from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At other times, a fee of Rs.10/- is charged. Entry for school children and the disabled is free all day.

Flower shows are conducted every year to educate people about the variety of flora and develop public interest in plant conservation and cultivation.

The government of Karnataka organizes "Janapada Jaatre" in Lal Bagh on the second and fourth weekends (both Saturday and Sunday) of every month. Janapada Jaatre, which translates to Folk Fair, features folk dance, music and plays performed by troupes from all parts of Karnataka. The show mainly depicts the cultural folklore of Karnataka, the traditional costumes and musical instruments.

A geological monument for the peninsular gneiss formation is also a tourist attraction at the gardens. This monument has been designated by the Geological Survey of India on the Lal Bagh hill which is made up of 3,000 million-year-old peninsular gneissic rocks. One of the four cardinal towers erected by Kemepgowda II, also a major tourist attraction, is seen above this hillock. This tower gives the full view of Bangalore from the top.

Connectivity

Lal Bagh is well connected by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses from Kempegowda Bus Station/Shivaji Nagar. All buses towards Jayanagar/Banashankari areas pass through one of the four gates of Lal Bagh.

The Western Gate

Lal Bagh has four gates. The western gate is situated near Siddapur Circle.One can enter this gate and enjoy the silvan atmosphere of the garden. Outside, touching the compound gate, is Krumbigal Road. The other side of the road touches the compound wall of R.V.School. The National College, Rashtraya Vidyalaya, Chikkamavalli and Doddamavalli are nearby. The other side of the road goes to 'Krishna Rao road', where you can see The Indian Institute of World Culture, a beautiful library and a fine auditorium, which hosts a programme every week. Farther south, Model House street and the Yediyur Terminus are the main points.

The Eastern Gate

This is a wide road and is an ideal place for parking vehicles. If you happen to come from the Ashoka Pillar side, Jayanagar is close by.

The Southern Gate

Also referred to as the main gate. This gate is near Lalbagh Road and next to MTR.

The Northern Gate

This is a fairly wide and big road. If you go straight, the Glass House is visible. Many important functions, exhibitions, workshops and other programmes in Lal Bagh are hosted here from time to time. This is the main exit as well.

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Photos: Shriharsha.B.S & Wikipedia
Information Courtesy: Wikipedia

Cubbon Park-Bangalore

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 Cubbon Park (Kannada: ಕಬ್ಬನ್ ಪಾರ್ಕ್) is a landmark 'lung' area of the Bangalore city, located (12.97°N 77.6°E) within the heart of city in the Central Administrative Area. Originally created in 1870, when Major General Richard Sankey was the then British Chief Engineer of Mysore state, it covered an area of 100 acres (0.40 km2) and subsequent expansion has taken place and the area reported now is about 300 acres (1.2 km2). It has a rich recorded history of abundant flora and fauna plantations coupled with numerous impressive and aesthetically located buildings and statues of famous personages, in its precincts. 

This public park was first named as “Meade’s Park” after Sir John Meade, the acting Commissioner of Mysore in 1870 and subsequently renamed as Cubbon Park after the longest serving commissioner of the time, Sir Mark Cubbon. To commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar’s rule in Mysore State, in the year 1927, the park was again renamed as "Sri. Chamarajendra Park", in memory of the 19th Century ruler of the state Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar (1868 – 94) during whose rule the park came into existence. The landscaping in the park creatively integrates natural rock outcrops with thickets of trees, massive bamboos, with grassy expanse and flowerbeds and the monuments within its limits, regulated by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Karnataka. The predominantly green area of the park has many motorable roads, and the well laid out walking paths running through the park are frequented by early morning walkers and the naturalists who study plants in the tranquil natural environment.

Tourists visiting this Park in the city of Bangalore have nicknamed the city itself as 'Garden City'.

The importance of the Park to the city's environment is best stated by two Urban Architects who have won the national competition to design 'Freedom Park.'

Access

The Park is accessible from M.G. Road, Kasturba road, Hudson Circle and Ambedkar Veedhi (Road). The motorable roads which run through the park are allowed for light motor vehicles only. All locations of the park are accessible through walking paths. The Park is open to the public at all times but the roads are closed for traffic from 5 A.M to 8 A.M every day.

Botanical assets

Indigenous and exotic botanical species found in the park are about 68 genera and 96 species with a total of around 6000 plants/trees. Indigenous species found in the park are: artocarpus, cassia fistula, ficus, polyalthias etc., and exotic species such as araucaria, bamboo, castanospermum australe, grevillea robusta, millettia, peltophorum, schinus molle, swietenia mahagoni, tabebuia. sp etc.

Amongst the ornamental and flowering exotic trees lining the roads in the park are the Grevillea robusta (silver oak)—the first oaks introduced to Bangalore from Australiaand the delonix or the gulmohar tree (bright red flowers with long petals) along the Cubbon road in the park, which is a widely cultivated tropical ornamental tree around the world.

Avenues

The avenue of araucarias along with canna beds on either sides of the road from the Central Public Library to Hudson circle, avenue of Swieteninas in the Northern side of the park, the Java fig avenue along the road leading to the Government Museum, polyalthia avenue along the road from Queen’s statue to King Edward statue and the chestnut tree avenue from the Chamarajendra statue to Siddalingaiah circle are testimony to the botanical richness of the park. From the Attara Kacheri towards the East, terrace garden developed on a gradient provides a beautiful sight.Other attractions at the Park are the Ringwood circle, lotus pond and bamboo grove nook.

Historical buildings and monuments integral to the park

The formal gardens, from the central hall of the original Attara Kacheri (means 18 government offices) now the Karnataka High Court, extends along the ceal promenade developed symmetrically with avenues, to the Museum building. Another impressive artistic structure in Iyer Hall, which houses the Central Library with a rose garden as a frontage. Other buildings located within or at the periphery of the park are 1) the Indira Priyadarshini Children’s Library, 2) the Venkatappa Art Gallery, 3) the Aquarium (stated to be the second largest in India), 4) the YMCA, 5) Yuvanika — the State Youth Centre, 6) Century Club, 7) Press Club, 8) Jawahar Bal Bhavan, 9) Tennis Pavilion, 10) the Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall and 11) the Ottawa Chatter.


A bandstand, in an octagonal shape made with cast-iron, was built in the early part of the 1900s. Before India’s Independence, the British Royal Air Force used to play western band music at the band stand every Saturday evening. An attraction for children is the well planned children's amusement park as part of Jawahar Bal Bhavan, which has the toy train, Puttani Express that runs (0.75 miles or 1.2 km) within the Park, the Doll museum and a boating facility. A 20 million year old fossilized tree — a gift from the Geological Survey of India, is also reported at the park.

Memorials in the form of marble statues in honour of Queen Victoria (installed in 1906), King Edward VII (installed in 1919), Major General Sir Mark Cubbon, Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar (installed in 1927) and Sir K. Sheshadri Iyer (installed (in 1913) are seen located in front of the historical buildings within the park.

Attara Kacheri


Attara Kacheri, built in 1864 A.D during British rule, is a stone structure in an intense red hue, a two storied building with Corinthian columns in Gothic Style of architecture and is located at the entrance to the Park. The Public offices (Secretariat of the Government of Karnataka) were located here from 1868 AD to 1956 AD, which were later moved to the Vidhana Soudha, opposite to it. The building now accommodates the Karnataka High Court. In the Central Hall a portrait of Sir Mark Cubbon decorates the ceiling. An equestrian statue of Cubbon by Baron Marochetti is located at the back of the building.

Museum

The State Archeological Museum, one of the oldest in India, built in 1876 by Colonel Sankey, located within the Park, is similar in design to the Attara Kacheri in its architectural style and hue. While the original collection in the museum belonged to Benjamin L. Rice of the Mysore Gazetteer, antiquities from Mohenjodaro period are on display in the Museum. Exhibits in the Museum include specimens of Vijaynagar and Halebid architecture, ancient coins and stone inscriptions as old as 5000 years.

Seshadri Iyer memorial hall

Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, built in 1915 AD in a classic European style with Tuscan and Carinthian columns, in honour of Sir K.Seshadri Iyer who was Dewan of Mysore State from 1883 to 1901, is an impressive red building with gables. It houses the Seshadri Memorial library. The memorial building is ensconced in the middle of the park, framed by the greenery of the park and with a beautiful frontage of the rose garden. The Library has an area of 300 km² and functions as the Apex of the Karnataka Public Libraries system, which is governed by State Library Authority.In the year 2000 AD, the Library was awarded the Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation Award for the best state central library in India in recognition of its outstanding contribution to meritorious services rendered in the spread of knowledge and gearing up of library movement in the city of Bangalore in particular and in the state of Karnataka in general. The library has presently a collection of 2.65 lakh books and also a Braille section.

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Courtesy: Wikipedia

Dodda Alada Mara-Bangalore Rural District

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The Doda Alada Mara (also spelled Dodda Alada Mara), literally translated to Big Banyan Tree, is a giant Banyan tree located in the village of Ramohalli, near kengeri approximately 60 kilometers west of the city of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. This single plant covers 3 acres (12,000 m2) and is one of the largest of its kind. It is said to be at least 400 years old.

A few years back, the main root of the tree succumbed to natural disease, and thus the tree looks like many different trees now.


Courtesy: Wikipedia

Indira Gandhi Glass House Garden-Hubli (Dharwad District)

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Hubli (Kannada: ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ ), also called Hubballi, is a major city in the state of Karnataka of India.

Indira Gandhi Glass House Garden is a public garden with recreational amenities maintained by city municipality. It houses a large glass building resembling a similar structure in Lalbagh of Bengaluru.

Indira Glass House is renovated into more beautiful park. The entry fee of Rs.10/- for elders and Rs.5/- for children is collected. But when you go on walking all around,it feels its more worthy. There is a small train to get on and behold the park. The most beautiful thing to be watched is the musical fountain that is arranged every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and on Governmental Holidays without any extra charge.

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Photos: Naveen Hagaragi-Belgaum (Suthhona Banni Team)
Information Courtesy: Wikipedia

Pilikula Nisargadhama-(Dakshina Kannada)

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Pilikula Nisargadhama is picnic spot / hangout at Vamanjoor near Mangalore in Karnataka

About Pilikula Lake


Pilikula literally means Tiger's lake. In olden days, tigers used to come to this lake to drink water. Henceforth, this lake came to be known as Pilikula.

The Mangalore City Corporation has developed this area and it has now become the hot spot for people who are looking for scenic beauty & peace. Pilikula has a huge lake & beautifully laid gardens encircling the entire lake. One can see swans & ducks moving around in the lake & sometimes they even move into the gardens. Boating facilities are available in the lake. One can either use pedaling boats (mostly preferred by couples) or bigger boats carry about 10 to 15 persons.

Botanical Garden, Zoo & Theme park


On the other side of the road, there is a huge botanical garden comprised of a variety of trees & a zoo featuring several wild animals. The speciality of this zoo is that the wild animals are not kept in cages. They are in the open. However, there are partitions like wide trenches or wire mesh, in order to avoid direct contact with visitors.

There is also a variety of snakes & birds in the zoo

Manasa Water Park

Adjacent to this, there is a Manasa Water Park which is similar to the Water Kingdom in Mumbai.

Transport

City buses(Route no. 3) are available to this area. However, it would be better to have your own vehicle if you want to visit all 3 areas.

Golf Course

The Pilikula Golf Course is set in an area of 35 acres. Currently only nine fairways and nine browns, with a total yardage of about 2800 yards, have been laid traversing the hills and the dales.

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Photos: Chethan.K-Mangalore
Information Courtesy: Wikipedia