top of page

Our Recent Posts

Archive

Tags






Links

Bangalore Mirror 2014 A  walk to remember 


There’s a lot for history buffs to discover at this sprawling 125-year-old property

Shivani Kagti


'It’s a slightly cloudy September evening as we meander through the 20-acres of vast green spaces, featuring centuries-old trees, in the heart of what’s fast becoming a concrete city. We are at hotel Taj West End, with a glass of champagne in hand, to experience 125-year-old history. The Art of Afternoon Tea is in progress — it is basically your evening cuppa in vintage colonial style: complete with dainty sandwiches, scones and bite-sized pastries and a guided heritage walk showcasing the colonial beginnings within the premise.


Highlights from the heritage walk:


A 166-year-old rain tree


Our first stop is an expansive rain tree which is older than the property and has been around since 1848. “The base of the tree is so wide that six-seven people have to stand around the trunk and join hands to cover its expanse,” says our guide for the evening and senior horticulturist SLV Prasad, adding that it’s the second oldest rain tree in Karnataka. Apart from this tree, which incidentally, is home to several eagles, are the four stubby Cycad trees at the entrance which are about 150 years old.


Colonial & gothic styles


Under the canopy of the substantial rain tree stands the second oldest structure on the property, which is referred to as the 1905 block. Built in typical colonial style, a point of interest are the teakwood windows, which follow two patterns — colonial and gothic styles (with the more accentuated arch). Apparently, the windows were built in two different styles to divide the load more evenly across the structure apart from the visual appeal factor. With the windows partitioned into two (another typical design element at the time), wooden ventilators or slats are attached to each window which can be adjusted from the inside. On a cool day, like most days in Bangalore, there’s no need for fans if the slats are opened. As we walk the marble-tiled corridors, it’s easy to imagine a cigar-toting Winston Churchill, one of many famous visitors, treading the same path when he was here as a war journalist. “We even have a rare smiling photograph of the former British PM standing next to an elephant at the grounds here,” adds Prasad.


A touch of Italy


As we cross several more patches of green — particularly stunning are an aquatic garden and tall tamarind trees — hidden amongst the foliage one spies the oldest structure here. Started in 1887 as the Bronson’s West End, this building was originally a 10-bedded inn. Later, the owners, a British couple by the name of Bronson, took over a second building that belonged to the Secretary of the Race Club and then a third building which belonged to the Grenadier Guards, an elite regiment that was stationed in Bangalore at the time. Located in the heart of the current premises, it now houses a spa but the exterior has been preserved to retain the old world charm. At the entrance, there’s a patch of Italian mosaic tiles that has been preserved from the time of the Bronsons. Incidentally, the original structure was built by an Italian architect.


The wisdom of monkey tops


At a time, when we are fast losing most of our colonial hang-ups and heritage, including some beautiful Victorian style bungalows, it has becoming increasingly rare to spot some of the inherently charming features of this type of architecture — tiled roofs, distinctive gables, dormers, monkey-tops, trelliswork and intricately carved fasciae. Prasad explains how the monkey-tops (the triangular arches with a steeple on top) were originally built to keep marauding monkeys away. “The uneven and angular structure made it difficult for the monkeys to grab hold of anything or sit,” says Prasad. As we troop through the heritage bungalow, navigating a 100-year-old rosewood staircase, we chance upon several brass chandeliers that have been here since the early 1900s. Two pairs of 60 to 70-year-old hand-painted door frames (now gracing the walls), intricately hand-drawn maps of peninsular India, an unusual Tanjore painting and a pair of Ming vases — all dating back to the colonial era — are casually strewn across the hallways.


A royal heritage


Taking a breather from the architectural tour, we are led to another spacious garden, the 11,000 square feet Prince of Wales lawn, named after the royal personage when he visited in 1962. As we take in the gulmohar, pine and rain trees that populate the park, it’s easy to visualise Dame Peggy Ashcroft, sitting on a cane chair here reading a book or two, while filming for David Lean’s A Passage to India. Adjacent to the gardens, is the Muneshwara temple which was part of the original plot. Not wanting to hurt local sentiments, the temple was kept as it is. “A few years ago, during a storm, a tree fell upon the temple. The tree broke but the temple was more or less intact,” adds our guide. Behind the lawns, is a herb garden and nursery. Don’t be surprised to run into a stray turkey or guinea fowl while surveying the area.


A lost art


At the end of the tour we are led back to where we started and there in one corner is a reminder of another lost art — letter writing. Standing proudly on one side of the porch is a first-generation postbox that has been here since 1887. Used by soldiers during World War II, Prasad shares this amusing story of how miscreants would steal letters from the letter box during wartime. “They would attach chewing gum to a thread and drop into the postbox to withdraw letters. They would keep whatever was relevant and discard the rest. This way, many letters never found their way to their destination.” Given that every day, at 4 pm, the letter box is cleared by a postman, we are encouraged to mail a postcard. It’s tempting, and perhaps, this is the best way to end a walk that truly takes you back in time.'



HOW DID WE NOT KNOW? HOW CAN THE RAILWAYS OPERATE WITH THIS OPACITY?

Pic News Trail
Pic News Trail

Article by S Lalitha New Indian Express



BENGALURU: The recent demolition of the ancient arches between Platform One and Platform Two of Bengaluru Cantonment station by the Railways has shocked and upset heritage conservationists and railway enthusiasts.


They insist that modern technology could be deployed to preserve and retain it somehow while the Railways state that the dilapidated structure was a risk to the lives of passengers and had to be done away with.


The iconic station, the first railway station in Karnataka to operate trains, is being redeveloped as a world-class structure at a cost of Rs 480 crore. Ironically, an official release from the South Western Railway (SWR) Zone released last year in connection with the work stressed that the heritage structure of the station would be preserved.


As of now, 20 of the masonry arches, which are over a century old and located on the tracks between PF1 and PF2, have been razed. The active heritage preservation community in the city is demanding answers from the Railways and questioning why there was no consultation before the destruction of these invaluable structures.


Prabha Dev, a member of Heritage Beku, a citizen-led initiative, is keen to know who gave Railways permission in such matters. Dev asked TNIE, "How come contractors and their architects are unaware of the heritage value of what they demolished? The new structure should have incorporated the heritage arches. Do we lack imagination in the new urban development projects?"


Founder of the initiative Priya Chetty-Rajagopal bills the demolition as "a crying shame." Heritage is just not a priority in Bengaluru and there has been no consultation done, she said. "There existed a Bengaluru Urban Arts Commission under the Bangalore Development Authority which has been disbanded. Which is the authority whose guidance needs to be sought in the case of such issues? In Mumbai, the local corporation has been vested with the authority and the city's heritage is well taken care of. In Bengaluru, structures fall under the purview of both the BDA and the BBMP but there is just no clarity on who is the deciding authority."


T R Raghunandan, a member of the National Rail Enthusiasts Society, bills the removal of the arches as "a disaster and a completely thoughtless action by officials for whom heritage preservation is just not a priority." A resident of the Cantonment area since 1976, this steam engine enthusiast recalls the ancient charm the station possesses. The station used to have a steam shed and a turntable to turn engines around, but these are long gone.


"These arches are beautiful structures and are a defining aspect of the station. It gives the feel of a tunnel there. I agree that Cantonment is emerging as an important hub and needs to be developed but experts need to be consulted to preserve the heritage of this beautiful station," he said.

Citing the example of London, which deeply values its heritage, Raghunandan said, "The demolition of the St Pancras railway station, which dates back to the Victorian era, was halted due to public protests. Instead, an ultramodern second deck was created within the station to operate the Eurostar trains, while preserving the old heritage structure. The same could have been done here too."


A source at the Constructions Division of SWR told TNIE, "We are merely executing the work for the Bengaluru Railway Division. We were asked to demolish it and have done it. The wall runs to a height of nearly 60 metres with the arches in a sequence as extensions above it. These old arches were in a dilapidated condition and were weak."


Bengaluru Divisional Railway Manager, Yogesh Mohan, told TNIE, "The arches were in a dilapidated condition and could have collapsed on passengers at any time."We cannot preserve heritage at the cost of passenger safety. They have been removed only as a safety step. We have done the best we could in the interest of the public."


10 Dec 2024 Indian Express : S Lalitha
10 Dec 2024 Indian Express : S Lalitha

 

Cantonment Station : Internet
Cantonment Station : Internet

A LONG, RICH HISTORY


Aug 1, 1864: A steam engine locomotive chugged down the railway track from Cantonment station to Jolarpet in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu


1882: Bengaluru was linked to the Mysuru line through a meter gauge line by Mysore State Railway. In the same year, Madras Railway Company linked Cantonment station to Bengaluru City station, from where lines were laid towards Guntakal, Mysuru & Tumakuru


Aug 11, 1920: Mahatma Gandhi addressed a big gathering near Cantonment station. This was his second visit to the city, with the first being in May 1915


June 14, 1959: First President of India, Rajendra Prasad, visited the station


1972: The station was subjected to remodelling and the then railway minister, K Hanumanthaiah, laid foundation for the work


April 1, 2003: The station became a part of SWR with the inception of the new railway zone


2019: SWR undertook beautification of the station, with paintings on the walls depicting freedom fighters, steam locomotives, and the cultural heritage of Karnataka


 

Lahore kept its arches..

Lahore Railway Station in 1870 and in 2019. PRESERVED!
Lahore Railway Station in 1870 and in 2019. PRESERVED!

And this is what we did ..



How it looks now .. Image : TOI
How it looks now .. Image : TOI





We have been hard at work at the #BlrHubba 2024 from 30 Nov to 15 Dec 2024, to get as as many heritage related events out to Bangalore citizens as we possibly can.


As you can see there are quite in location, genre and even tenor. Scroll through and see which ones you want to be part or look at those you’ve already gone to .


We would love to have your feedback for what you would like us to do the next year


Follow us on Instagram for updates on the events


Blog: Blog

©2019 by #HeritageBeku.  All Rights Reserved.

bottom of page