TRAVELOGUE

TRAVELOGUE

HISTORICAL BUILDINGS OF BANGALORE

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As per historical records, Bangalore dates back to thousands of years, before the Common Era, and hence, it is believed to be one of the oldest places in Karnataka. However, the current settlement of Bangalore was founded by Kempe Gowda, a ruler under the Vijayanagar Empire, during the early 16th century. Since then, this beautiful city has been flourishing swiftly. Historically, Bangalore may not have been in the centre of things like New Delhi or even Madras. But that doesn’t mean that the city has nothing to show off to visitors.

From modern amenities to natural sites and archaeological wonders and historical monuments, it has everything to allure all kinds of travellers. The city’s central district is dotted with centuries-old buildings like St.Andrew’s Church, Town Hall, Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, Government Museum, Vidhana Soudha, High Court etc.

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ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

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St.Andrew’s Church is a presbyterian church, around 200 years old located on Cubbon road, Bangalore. Initially known as St. Andrew’s Kirk, it was a church of Scotland church till 1959 when it became part of the Karnataka Central Diocese of the Church of South India. The church is named after Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The church was consecrated in memory of Mary Elizabeth McGoun wife of Col.

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he church building has a gothic structure, with a height of 43 ft., length of 105 ft., and width of 57 ft. Stained glass covers all the windows and the large gable. The pulpit is made of teak wood, and is richly carved, in sync with the church architecture. The brick coloured, pure gothic structure was designed by R C Dobbs and Major Sankey.

A r c h i t e c t u r a l l y, S t .

Andrew’s Church has many similarities with the main block of the Central College, Bangalore with its Gothic style characterisized

by steeping roof of Mangalore tiles, a row of decorative ridge-tiles on the top, turreted parapets and and gables, iron crested towers, intricately done plaster motifs, railings of cast iron, and plasters and parilions rising from the wing.

The church was built to accomodate 500 people.

The tower was originally intended to be a steeple having a height of 90ft., nave to the wall plates under the roof trusses was 34 ft., and the side aisles were 23 ft.

Brickwork, plastering and chunam (lime) was used in the construction.

Ample ventilation and light was made possible by including clerestory windows of the nave, and main and circular windows on the side aisles.

St.Andrew’s Church, along with three other St. Andrew’s Churches in India were being governed by the Colonial and Continental Committee of the Church of Scotland.

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There is a 25 ft. stained glass above the altar, fusing 15 panels into one, created by Scottish artist Alex Ballantine and his assistant Gardiner, in 1897.

At the base, the Old Testament characters of Abraham, Moses, King David and Prophet Isaiah are painted. The top apostles of Christ- St.Andrew, St.Peter, St.Paul and St.John are painted.

Above this, there is the burning bush which is the symbol of the Church of Kirk, alpha and omega symbol on the right(signifying begining and the end). On the very top is painted Jesus Christ.

St.Andrew’s known as the St. Andrew’s Kirk followed the Scottish customs, such as western music, classical Scottish square dancing, Burn’s night etc.

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GOVERNMENT MUSEUM

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The Government Museum of Bangalore counts amongst the oldest museums in India. Located at the Kasturba Gandhi Road.

Colonel Sankey designed its main building and got it constructed in 1876. Established in 1865

by L.B.Bowring and is now an Archaeological Museum and has a rare collection of archaeological and geological artifacts including old jewellery, sculpture,coins and inscriptions. It is also home to the Halmidi inscription, the earliest Kannada inscription ever found (450 AD).With items dating back to the Stone Age and Iron Age, this museum is considered as a treasure trove of rare coins, statuaries, portraits and equipments.

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overnment Museum encompasses two exhibition grounds, which are additionally divided into eighteen galleries which incorporate several sections covering statues, regular history, geological items, arts, music and numismatics. The first floor is a fountain of art and objects made of ceramic, terracotta and copper plates with writings dispensed by kingsaa. Besides, it also houses fabrics, antique weapons and a fortification of Tippu Sultan. The second floor treasures several old musical tools along with paintings of Deccan, Mughal and Persian people. It also houses Tanjore style structures, Buddha statues, war processions, store captions and various dancing statues.

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The museum has a model of Srirangapatna, the fort of Tipu Sultan. There is a slab in the museum from Tipu’s times that has 12 persian couplets.

The museum also showcases various old musical instruments. A Tanjore style framework of 64 Narayanas is a unique piece there.The priced collections of the Museum include the earliest Kannada inscription- the Halmidi inscription, Begur inscription, Aatakur inscriptional slabs are found in this

The museum was established according to neoclassical architectural style. The museum has two entrances and is characterised by Corinthian pillars, circular archways, slanted waves and noticeable sloping bulwark walls. The rich collection of the museum comprises of ancient coins and art, along with relics from the Indus valley civilisation, especially Mohenjodaro, Halebid and Vijayanagar.

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SESHADRI IYER MEMORIAL

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he architect of this building was Richard Sankey, the chief Engineer of Mysore State. The central portion of this building is constructed higher than its side structures to give it an elevated look. The carved pediment under the roof is inspired by classical Greek Architecture. The Tuscan and Corinthian columns adore its entrance. The Memorial Hall is a classic European style building supported by Tuscan columns is built in 1915.

This building has Jack arch roof architecture that uses imported metal rods and angles. In the Jackarch style the arches are formed in the roof itself, supported by strong centering.This building has Jack arch

roof architecture that uses imported metal roads and angles.The Library is entered through two porticoes at each end of the front, has a lovely rose garden at its frontage decorates and enhances the building.

The Greco-Roman front appearance changes to apsidal at the back; apsidal like the Durga Temple of Aihole.Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall has typical red color liked by British at that time. The building has typical red color liked by British at that time.

Located at Cubbon Park in the central administrative area, it is a cream location in the area. It was built in memory of the Dewan of Mysore State, K. Seshadri Iyer from 1883 to 1901.This monument in Bangalore is home to a luxurious library which offers literary classics that are not found anywhere else in India. It is one of the Bangalore’s most coveted tourist spots of historical eminence, it is a replete with a picturesque and colorful garden. It is renowned for its unique style of architecture generally tops the lists of places to visit in Bangalore.

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The Sheshadri Iyer memorial hall was constructed in 1908 as a ceremonial hall, but it was converted to Public Library in 1914. In the beginning, the verandahs of the hall were open and so one can enter from any side. Popular belief is that monkey menace forced people to rethink about the concept of open verandahs. Later the open verandahs were closed and the building started to be used as a library.

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HIGH COURT

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he High Court is located in a building called as Attara Kacheri.

It is a two-storied building of stone and brick, painted red, in the Graeco-Roman style of architecture - a structure of vast expanse with Ionic porticoes at the center and at the two ends of the elevation. it serves as the perfect contrast to the white columned building of Vidhana Soudha.

The construction of the High Court was supervised by Rao Bahadur Arcot Narayanaswami Mudaliar and completed in the year 1868. On the ceiling of its Central Hall is a Portrait of Sir Mark Cubbon, Commissioner of Mysore from 1834 to 1861.

Behind the building is a statue of him

by Baron Marochetti.

The Karnataka High Court is the High Court of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located in Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka. The High Court functions out of a red brick building known as Attara Kacheri(meaning Eighteen offices of state government like revenue secretariat were shifted to it.It is in front of Vidhana Soudha, which is the seat of the legislature of Karnataka. The Karnataka High Court is currently functional in Bangalore, Hubli-Dharwad and Gulbarga. the Attara Kacheri is a beautiful 19th century stone structure. One of the major attractions of the Attara Kacheri is its Gothic Style of architecture.

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It was earlier named as Old Public Offices and got its name of Attara Kacheri when the eighteen departments in the general and revenue secretariat of the Mysore Government were shifted here from their crowded premises in Tipu Sultan’s summer palace. The construction was taken up in 1864 and completed in 1868.this building is one of the signature attarction or landmark of Bangalore.

There was a proposal to demolish this building in 1982 but in the public interest litigation (PIL) it is not only allowed to exist but also thoroughly renovated and strengthened.

Due to shortage of accommodation for the increased number of Court halls and to accommodate the various departments within the High Court, the construction work of the new building exactly similar in size and architecture was undertaken under the supervision of Justice N Venkatachalaa.

NAMMA BENGALURU