So could have cried the Ancient
Mariner, ‘Flowers, flowers everywhere!’ It was a sea of colours, beautiful
beyond compare. Lal Bagh has come alive with animals made of pure roses,
standing tall, elephants, giraffe, peacock and butterflies.
The glass house itself was a riot of
colours. The four corners of it had mounts of colios and begonias with variegated
leaves. In the centre stood the Gol Gumbaz, fully covered with red and white
roses.
An archaeological marvel, God Gumbaz
is the mausoleum of Sultan Mohammed Adil Shah, who ruled Bijapur in the 17th
century. It has a huge circular dome, of 44 meters’ diameter, comparable to
that of St. Peter’s Basilica of Vatican City, and it rests on eight
intersecting arches. Bijapur lies in the State of Karnataka. 
The Horticultural Society, which
undertakes these laborious labour of love twice a year, once in January to
commemorate the Republic day and the other one in August, to coincide with the
Independence Day, has well-chosen the Gol Gumbaz as the central piece of
attraction this January.
Lal Bagh itself is a place of
interesting history. Translated as Red Garden in English, Lal Bagh, has a
chequered history. It was originally commissioned by Hyder Ali, the Ruler of
Mysore and was completed by his son Tipu Sultan in 1760, with 40 acres of land.
It was designed on the model of Mughal Garden, especially the one in Sira and
was later developed into a huge botanical garden by the local leaders and
later by the British.
The Glass House which lies in the centre
of Lal Bagh was constructed in 1898, by the then Superintendent John Cameron, based
on the model of London’s Crystal Palace.
The other name associated with Lal
Bagh is Krumbiegel, a German Botanist, who devoted his life to bring in exotic
plants to the garden. He was requested by Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the then ruler of
Mysore, to take over the affairs of Lal Bagh as its Superintendent, which he
did in 1908 and worked there till 1915. He continued to live in Bangalore and
when he died in 1956, he was buried in Bangalore itself.
However, it is the name, Marigowda, that
steals the show. M.H. Marigowda took charge as the Superintendent of
Horticulture in 1951 and worked hard to make horticulture thrive in Karnataka.
A separate Department of Horticulture was created in 1963 and he became its
first Director.
During his tenure, he created 357
farms and nurseries throughout the State of Karnataka and elevated Horticulture
as the most important activity, next only to Agriculture in the State. His foresightedness
and tireless work have contributed to Karnataka being known as the Horticulture
State of India.
Right now, Lal Bagh has 240 acres and
lies right in the middle of the ever-burgeoning city Bangalore, providing it
with the much-needed lung space, amidst the ever-growing traffic pollution in
the city. It has around 1854 species of plants from all over the world.
A major attraction inside the garden
is the Lal Bagh Rock, some 3000-million-year-old ancient rock formation. People
of Bangalore and visitors hang around the rock, relax sitting on it in the
evenings, munching peanuts or anything else which the local vendors sell them. Any
tension created by modern lifestyle just evaporates there.
Atop this rock another historically important
object is found, the Kempe Gowda Tower. It is one of the four towers erected
by the founder of Bangalore town and a local ruler, Kempe Gowda, to earmark the
southern boundary of his jurisdiction.
Well, many more interesting features
are found within the 240 acres of the Garden, including a lake and Japanese
Garden. So, when you are in Bangalore next time, do not miss looking for Lal
Bagh and all its special features. It will leave you mesmerized, I am sure.
Be Bangaloooored!
No comments:
Post a Comment