Lal Bagh
About Lal Bagh
Far From City: 8 kms from city center
Cost:
About Lal Bagh
Weather:
Time Required:3 hours
Open Time:6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Cost:Adults: INR 10,
Children: Free
History of Lal Bagh
Referred to as Rose or Cypress Garden up till 1856, this garden was commissioned by Haider Ali in 1760 who was a big admirer of Mughal Gardens and wanted to set up one in his own city as well. He was influenced by his father who used to work for Dilawar Khan, a viceroy of the Mughals and was especially passionate about setting up gardens. The garden is modelled on another one that existed in Sira which was situated 120 km away from Lalbagh. Over the years, many species of rare plants, trees and shrubs were added to Lalbagh and most of these were added by Tipu Sultan himself.The garden area stood at 45 acres in 1874 with major additions done in 1889 (30 acres) and 1891 (94 acres). The foundation of the famous Glass House was laid down in the year 1898 and was further built by John Cameron in the image of London's Crystal Palace.
Layout of the Garden
Spread over an area of 240 acres, Lalbagh is situated in south Bengaluru and is built around a tower built by the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda. The most meticulous part of this garden's construction is perhaps its sophisticated watering system which irrigates over 1,000 species of flora including trees that are over 100 years old. The garden itself is a medley of lawns, flowerbeds, lotus pools and fountains. It also has a rock formation which is believed to be 3,000 million years old.
There are four different entry ways to the gate. The northern gate provides easy access to the Glass House, while the southern gate is often considered to be the main gate as it opens up to the Lalbagh Road. The eastern gate lies close to Jayanagar and the western gate is situated near the Siddapura Circle.
Flowers at Lalbagh
Since its very inception, the caretakers of the garden have ensured a vibrant and flourishing plant variety by continuously adding to its collection. Even in the medieval times, the rulers imported plants from far-flung places like Persia, Cape Town, Kabul, Turkey, Mauritius etc. Exotic species from around the world are curated, introduced, acclimatised and further multiplied resulting in a stock of 1854 species which continues to grow. Some of the exotic plants here include Amherstia Nobilis, Adansonia digitata, Ficus bengalensis var - krishnae, Araucaria Cookie, Bombax Ceiba, and Dillenia Indica among many others. The presence of these plants elevates the beauty of this place to another level, making it one of the most important horticulture hotspots in the country.
Attractions in Lal Bagh
This garden has a lot of points of interest that will keep you engaged for the entire day. Some of these are the Floral Clock installed at the entrance of the park, Tree Fossil which is a carbonised remains of a 20 million year old coniferous tree, Glass House which is a magnificent edifice built out of glass, Deer Paddock, Aviary, Lecture Hall which was used for delivering horticulture lessons in the olden times, Lalbagh House, Lalbagh West Gate Guard Room, The Directorate Building, Lalbagh lake, The Museum which houses a wide variety of artefacts, Pigeon House which is an establishment made for attracting pigeons and other birds, Statue of Sri Chamaraja Wodeyar, Aquarium building which has some very interesting illustrations of underwater life, Kempegowda Tower and Bandstand. The garden also offers courses in post-harvest technology, Ikebana classes, horticulture training, mushroom and Bonsai cultivation.
Flower Shows at Lalbagh
Every year on Republic Day and Independence Day, Flower Shows are held in the premises of Lalbagh. Organised by the Department of Horticulture and Mysore Horticulture Society, it is a beautiful illustration of the flora in the garden and is widely popular among the locals. Flowers such as Cymbidium Flowers, Impatiens, Begonia and Fuchsia can be seen here during this time. In addition to these, the flowers are also arranged in the form of butterflies, which is an endearing sight to behold. A kaleidoscope of delightful blossoms, this event is a sight to sore eyes, and a photographer's delight too!
Best time to visit Lal Bagh
Best time to visit is during the Flower Shows in January and August. Morning or evening hours are ideal for a relaxing outing to this place.
How to Reach Lal Bagh
Located in the southern part of the city, Lal bagh Gardens can be easily reached by the local means of transport such as buses and auto rickshaws. You can hire cabs to this place as well.
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Best Restaurants Nearby
Restaurants near this place include Shyvan Restaurant, Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, Nandhini Restaurant, Bangalore Belly and Naidu Military Hotel where you can have a quaint meal.
Tips
1. Pedestrians can enter the flower show from any of the 4 gates.2. You can buy the tickets to the flower show online at official website.3. There are cloak rooms at each entrance of the Lalbagh Botanical Garden.
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