Tracing Bangalore by Meghana Sastry

The Great Trigonometrical Surve...nificant in history.”

The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India was one of the earliest pan-Indian scientific projects launched in 1800 by Lieutenant Karnal William Lambdon and completed in 1937. One of the missions of this project was to measure and map the entire subcontinent and another was to calculate the exact curvature of the earth which in turn helped us make accurate maps.
The Bangalore survey played an important role in this project as it was the pilot which started in the Sarjapur-Agara area. Once the findings were proven to be good, the project was started in Madras in 1802 and a baseline was made in the 1860’s on the Hennur -Bagalur road which has the observatory.

Over centuries, the building has turned to ruins which is now under a restoration project led by INTACH.
Meera Iyer – Convenor INTACH Bengaluru Chapter said - "It is not only a matter of pride that Bengaluru has been the pilot of something as remarkable as this but it’s also important for people to understand what it took to make this project a success. All the information that we take for granted today like the height of Everest etc wasn’t easy to find out then and this journey is extremely significant in history.”

The Great Trigonometrical Surve...erence to a curious passer by.

The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India was one of the earliest pan-Indian scientific projects launched in 1800 by Lieutenant Karnal William Lambdon and completed in 1937. One of the missions of this project was to measure and map the entire subcontinent and another was to calculate the exact curvature of the earth which in turn helped us make accurate maps.
The Bangalore survey played an important role in this project as it was the pilot which started in the Sarjapur-Agara area. Once the findings were proven to be good, the project was started in Madras in 1802 and a baseline was made in the 1860’s on the Hennur -Bagalur road which has the observatory.
One of the labourers explains using an old image as reference to a curious passer by.

The Great Trigonometrical Surve...urers explaining the structure.

The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India was launched in 1800 by Lieutenant Karnal William Lambdon and completed in 1937. This building is now under the process of being restored to its original form and the labourers have been given images of the original building which they use for reference. If one looks at this closely, they will notice markings on the stones. This is block A says one of the labourers explaining the structure.

The Great Trigonometrical Surve...g which they use for reference.

The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India was launched in 1800 by Lieutenant Karnal William Lambdon and completed in 1937. The mission of this project was to measure and map the entire subcontinent. The Bangalore survey played an important role in mapping the country as it was the first field activity of Col. Lambton and marked the start of this project from Mekri circle to Hennur-Bagalur road where this structure was built. Over centuries, the building has turned to ruins which is now under a restoration project. This building is now under the process of being restored to its original form and the labourers have been given images of the original building which they use for reference.

In the heart of the city off ra... use the same stone.”

In the heart of the city off race course road lies a quaint building hidden from the public eye called the Patan house. This building that’s over a 100-years old was built and owned by P Madhav Rao a diwan (engineer). In 1898 when a plague hit the state that took a lot of lives Madhav Rao was appointed the Plague Commissioner. He was also instrumental in undertaking road construction work in Malleshwaram, Basavangudi and Shankarapuram. The property was 1.5 acres in total and now all that’s left of it is this house. After Madhav Rao, this building has seen a lot of different owners. It was a government law college which later became the atomic energy office during the emergency and finally Mr. KCN Gowda who had set his heart on this building bought it in 1972 to become the permanent owner. The building has been passed on for generations and the current resident KCN Mohan who’s the owner of Navarang Talkies and his children take a lot of interest in conserving this structure. His children in fact went on to study similar subjects. His son Surya M Gowda is a civil engineer and his daughter Amulya M Gowda studied architecture. The outer structure of this building is untouched but the insides have been renovated a little in time. TP Issar makes a mention of the ‘The Patan House’ in his book “The City Beautiful.”
Reminiscing her time in this house, Amulya M Gowda said – “There’s so much about all the little things in this house that make this so special and it’s only in time that I learnt the value of it. There’s a Chandelier in this house that I wanted to get rid of as it’s too colourful and wanted something that is more suited to the modern times but one day while driving down residency road with my father, I noticed a twin in one of the shops. We got excited and approached the lady asking to buy it. She then said, this isn’t for sale but is one of the only four that were made for the Nizam’s house. She said we can only trace three of them and I exclaimed saying the fourth one is in our house. It is important for people to understand and preserve history. What makes this building more special is the fact that the stone used to build this structure is native to the place and if one notices, all the old buildings such as IIMB, IISC, Vidhana Soudha and many others use the same stone.”

In the heart of the city off ra... Madhav Rao a diwan (engineer).

In the heart of the city off race course road lies a quaint building hidden from the public eye called the Patan house. This building that’s over a 100-years old was built and owned by P Madhav Rao a diwan (engineer).

Devanahalli fort located 35 kil...litary architecture.”

Devanahalli fort located 35 kilometres to the north of Bengaluru city which has become a tourist attraction today played a very important role in the history of the Vijayanagar empire. This village was one of the many principalities and Kempegowda, known as the founder of Bengaluru was the ruler of Devanahalli in the 16^th century.

In the 1700’s Hyder Ali was the commander-in-chief of the Wodeyars and under his rule the dynasty won Devanahalli. He then refurbished the fort from mud to a stone wall making it a strong boundary to secure the village and the ammunition.
During his stint here his son Tipu Sultan was born in the year 1750.

Talking about what makes this important. Basava Biradar a writer, filmmaker and a history enthusiast said – “Devanahalli being the birthplace of Tipu Sultan, the fort is a significant reminder of the 18^th century military architecture.”

A man carrying a milk can walks...da, the man who built the city.

A man carrying a milk can walks past the Devanahalli fort. This fort is situated in Devanahalli which is on the outskirts of Bengaluru and is the home of Kempegowda, the man who built the city.

A man enters the village throug...da, the man who built the city.

A man enters the village through the opening in the Devanahalli fort which is the entrance to the village. This fort is situated in Devanahalli which is on the outskirts of Bengaluru and is the home of Kempegowda, the man who built the city.

How did Bengaluru get drinking ...h is the basic need.”

How did Bengaluru get drinking water?
A reservoir was built in the Hessarghatta lake over 100 years ago to meet the needs of drinking water in Bengaluru city. The water from the Arkavathy river reached this lake which was pumped to a filter in Malleshwaram which is called the Jewel Filter (the current BWSSB office) and then distributed to the rest of the city. While this filter isn’t functional, it is still preserved as it is a part of our history. This reservior still has a scale on the side that measured the water level.

Suresh Moona- Columnist of Bengaluru History - “Jewel filters is not just a water pumping station but one of the lesser-known heritage sites of Bengaluru. The younger generation should understand how our forefathers worked hard with no access to technology to bring drinking water to every citizen of Bengaluru which is the basic need.”

A reservoir was built in the He...as it is a part of our history.

A reservoir was built in the Hessarghatta lake over 100 years ago to meet the needs of drinking water in Bengaluru city. The water from the Arkavathy river reached this lake which was pumped to a filter in Malleshwaram which is called the Jewel Filter (the current BWSSB office) and then distributed to the rest of the city. While this filter isn’t functional, it is still preserved as it is a part of our history.

Whitefield is known as the IT c... of our rich history."

Whitefield is known as the IT capital of the country and for bad traffic. While it has grown exponentially since the IT boom it has a very old history. The British built holiday homes/farm houses for the officers and the settlement dates back to over a 100 yrs. These homes were later donated by the then Maharaja of Mysore to the British and Anglo-Indians who wanted to stay in India. This became a tight self-sufficient community. There are very few say about 10 houses that remain untouched. There are two circles in Whitefield, the inner circle which was the residential portion and the outer circle which was surrounded by farmlands where the community grew their own produce. They were very environment friendly and warm people. The ‘Whitefield Club” was a common place where everyone met to celebrate birthdays, play sports, organise events such as Christmas and more, and age was never a concern except for adult parties such as ballroom dancing events. As time passed all this history has been forgotten and known for the high-rise glass buildings. Paul D’Souza a resident of a 100-year bungalow said – “With the influx of the uncivilised selfish brutes, I feel that it’s important for people to salvage whatever is left of the culture. Whitefield is not just about architecture and technology but about a self-sufficient community that cared about one another and the environment. The club had a dress code for people and when one walked around this place, they always saw well-dressed people and now it’s full of ‘Chaddi chikkas’ A house this old is not easy to maintain but it is important for them to be preserved as it’s a part of our rich history."

Whitefield is known as the IT c...ns who wanted to stay in India.

Whitefield is known as the IT capital of the country and for bad traffic. While it has grown exponentially since the IT boom it has a very old history. The British built holiday homes/farm houses for the officers and the settlement dates back to over a 100 yrs. These homes were later donated by the then Maharaja of Mysore to the British and Anglo-Indians who wanted to stay in India.

As Whitefield is a suburb of Be...ry on the traditions."

As Whitefield is a suburb of Bengaluru and extremely far from the urban centre of Bengaluru and the only mode of transport was trains and two buses the community had no means of recreation apart from the club which played a vital role in creating a closely knit community. Everyone gathered here to celebrate birthdays, play sports, organise events such as Christmas and more, and age was never a concern except for adult parties such as ballroom dancing events and more. The club still remains as an activity hub for the original residents of Whitefield.
Deepa Peck - long time resident and member of the clubs aid – “Apart from nostalgia, the club is very important to us because Whitefield has lost its charm and people know it for lots of different reasons and this is one thing that still holds us together and carry on the traditions."

Rice Memorial Church is the fir...o enter this church.”

Rice Memorial Church is the first church that was built inside the pete area by Benjamin Lewis Rice who is known for his pioneering work in translating inscriptions from Kannada to English. This Church is located in the heart of the busiest street of Bengaluru, Avenue Road and stands out as it is the only white structure in the area.
Suresh Moona- Columnist of Bengaluru History said – “It’s more than just a church as a Bengalurean gets a self of belonging here. Everything here starting from sign boards, prayer service and everything else is in Mysuru Kannada and screams Bangalore. No other church has this kind of feeling. To add to this one doesn’t have to be a Christian to enter this church.”

It is said that there were 11 a...story of Bengaluru.”/

It is said that there were 11 armouries in Bengaluru of which there is only one left which is located in Kalasipalya. Tipu not only built the armoury in the 18th century to store ammunition during the Anglo-Mysuru war but built his own rockets along with and his father Hyder ali in the 1700’s. They experimented and made a major change by replacing bamboo with iron, which became very popular and were also used in many battles. To name a few, battle of Waterloo and in the Anglo-American war, eventually finding a mention in the Star-Spangled Banner. This armoury he built is currently under renovation.

Basava Biradar a writer, filmmaker and a history enthusiast said “This is where one of the biggest wars were fought, armoury and the Bangalore fort are the only remains of that war. Bangalore was occupied by the British. It should remind us of the military history of Bengaluru.”/

This stone structure was built ...e performances here.”

This stone structure was built in 1912 and has seen many establishments come and go. While one side of it has been occupied by the Bible Society since the building was erected, the other side was occupied by the popular music label company "HMV" for a very long period followed by a cafe called "Barista", a pub called "180 Proof" and today the international chain of pubs "Hard Rock Cafe" occupies this space.
Sachin Banandur, Drummer of Parvaaz said - “Being a Bengaluru boy out of all the HRC’s I have visited in India, this one on St. Marks Road is my favourite. Also, Bengaluru is the perfect place for HRC as it is the rock capital of the country. Every Thursday used to be gig night and mainly performed by rock bands which was a good get-away on a weekday unlike other venues which only hosted gigs on weekends. HRC is extra special to me as a musician as I grew up watching a lot of live acts. I am looking forward to a day when I can get back on stage as well as watch other live performances here.”

In the heart of the city lies a...and feels like home.”

In the heart of the city lies a beautiful white building near the Balenkundri circle which is the community hall for the Parsee community of Bengaluru, called the “Lady Jehangir Kothari memorial hall” which is the venue for all social and religious events in the Parsee community in the city. Today, there are a total of 280 families and a rough estimate of 900-1000 in absolute numbers and an additional floating population of IT professionals. This community hall has an interesting history to it. The building came into existence because of a wealthy Zoroastrian couple Sir Jehangir and Lady Goolbai Kothari from Karachi who while globe-trotting visited Bengaluru in the year 1923. During their stint here, the wife fell ill and she passed away. She was laid to rest in Parsee Aramgah and Sir Jehangir built a memorial in her name which is used as their community hall.

Phiroze Barhta – 1^st resident of the Parsse Anjuman and current trustee “The Parsee population is small and smaller in Bengaluru but important. This building is not just structure but home as this is the only place where the community gathers and feels like home.”

Fort high school located in the... restored to its original form.

Fort high school located in the centre of the city in the pete area is 115 years old. This building is not only a government school but also a venue for music concerts. When the building was being renovated by INTACH and they peeled off the outer layer they realised that the original colour of the building was red oxide and was painted white during the colonial era. It was then restored to its original form.

While there have been many girl...mmediate restoration."

While there have been many girl's schools, Vani Vilas Institute is the 1st govt. school for girl's in Bengaluru which was built in 1868 and subsequently upgraded multiple times in the 1900's.This building is a beautiful example of the classical colonial architecture with Mysorean sensibilities of courtyard planning with the idol of Krishna set in the middle of a fountain in the centre of the courtyard. It has colonnade passages leading to the classrooms with high pitched rooms bringing in a lot of light and ventilation. It is set in the heart of the city amidst some very important landmarks in Bengaluru.Yashaswini Sharma founder architect of Esthetique Architects said - " This building is of prime importance as girls broke the glass ceiling for the first time by having access to public education and is a typical example of Mysorean civic architecture of the 1900's . Presently this building is in a state of disrepair and needs immediate restoration."

Tipu Sultan Summer Palace is lo...re from that period.”

Tipu Sultan Summer Palace is located in the centre of the city in the Fort area which was of prominence during the colonial rule. This palace was the residence of rulers Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali during the summer season and is a popular tourist spot today. The structure is quite unique as it is a combination of two different styles called the indo-saracenic architecture.
After Tipu’s death in 1799 the British converted the palace into an administrative office before the high court was built and the ASI has worked on restoring the architecture after they left.

Basava Biradar a writer, filmmaker and a history enthusiast said “It is important to maintain this heritage site as what is left today is a very small part of the palace and the only symbol of Tipu’s rule in Bengaluru which shows the royal architecture from that period.”

This fort which is in shambles ...tep tank as it is a quiet spot.

This fort which is in shambles was built sometime in the 1800’s and is situated in Devanahalli which is in the outskirts of Bengaluru. The history of this fort remains a mystery and only caught attention when NHAI was widening the road for the new airport. This fort houses a Hanuman temple and a step tank. Many people passing by this structure are seen spending long hours exploring the fort or just sitting in the step tank as it is a quiet spot.

Meghana Sastry

Also by Meghana Sastry —

Living on Fish

Woes of girls in African tribes

Daily Life UK

Lonely Road to Childbirth

Unlock India

SINGLES

PORTRAITS

Girl with a pink dupatta

Home is where the shore is

TEARSHEETS

Reportage

Covid Crisis India

Death in the time of Corona

Artists struggle during the pandemic

Pandemic Pride 2020

Hands that Serve

When I Tested Positive

Floods During COVID

Day in a library

Aero India 2019

Eat, Pray, Work

Wheels of Worry

VIDEOS

Migrant's concerns during COVID19