Page 520 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

518  SOUTHWESTERN INDIA

Exploring Old Bengaluru conceived as a venue for
horticultural shows. Surrounded
In spite of rapid development, vestiges of the city’s historic past by champaka trees and pencil
are still found in the streets of Old Bengaluru, south of the city cedars, the Glass House has
centre. In contrast to the relentless modernization of the rest played host to several visiting
of Bengaluru, this area contains monuments from the period dignitaries. A biannual Flower
Show is still held here.
of the Gowdas to that of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, and bears The entrance to the park is
witness to the city’s history from the 16th to the 19th centuries. marked by an equestrian statue
of Chamaraja Wodeyar of Mysore.
P Tipu Sultan’s Summer from the Haider Ali– Another popular attraction is the
Palace and Fort Tipu regime. surreal Floral Clock, surrounded
Albert Victor Rd. Tel (080) The Venkataramana­ by Snow White and the seven
2670 6836. Open 8am– swamy Temple, dwarfs; this was a gift from
5:30pm daily. & nearby, dates from Hindustan Machine Tools.
Within the original the early 18th cen­
citadel, a mud­brick tury and was built by  Gavi Gangadhareshvara
fort built by Kempe the Wodeyar kings. Temple
Gowda in 1537, lies Dahlia bloom, W of Lalbagh. Open daily.
Tipu Sultan’s Palace, Lalbagh Y Lalbagh _ Makar Sankranti (Jan).
dating from about Lalbagh Rd. Tel (080) 2657 One of Bengaluru’s oldest temples,
1790. Made mostly out of 0181. Open daily. & free 6–9am & Gavi Gangadhareshvara was built
wood with finely embellished 6:30–7:30pm daily. 0 _ Flower inside a natural cave in
balconies, pillars and arches, Show (Jan & Aug). Gavipuram by Kempe Gowda in
this two­storeyed structure, a Regarded as one of the most the 16th century. Legend has it
replica of the Daria Daulat Bagh richly diverse botanical gardens that Kempe Gowda built this
in Srirangapattana (see pp520– in South Asia, Lalbagh, in the temple in gratitude after being
21), served as a summer retreat southern part of the city, was laid released from his five­year
of Tipu Sultan. He endearingly out by Haider Ali in 1740. Spread imprisonment by Rama Raya.
called it Rashk­e­Jannat, or the over 97 ha (240 acres) of parkland, Highlights include granite
“Envy of Heaven”. Although many of its tropical and subtropical pillars, two of which support
now dilapi­dated, it is still a plants were brought here by huge discs representing the sun
hauntingly atmo spheric place Haider Ali’s son, Tipu Sultan. Later, and the moon, while the other
retaining the original elegant John Cameron, the Gardens’ two are topped by a Nandi
teak pillars. Superintendent in the 1870s, and a trident. Devotees gather
The palace housed the imported several more rare species here during the Makar Sankranti
public administrative offices from Kew Gardens in London. festival to witness a unique
from 1831, until they were Cameron was also responsible phenomenon – the evening
shifted to the Attara Kacheri for initiating work on Lalbagh’s sun’s rays passing between
in 1868 (see p516). It now has famous Glass House, modelled Nandi’s horns and falling on
a museum with artifacts on London’s Crystal Palace and the linga inside the cave.

The spacious 19th-century Glass House at Lalbagh, with its intricate cast-iron frame
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp701–702 and pp716–17

518-519_EW_India.indd 518 26/04/17 11:48 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm