Saturday, August 4, 2012

Heritage

Last couple of weekends, I went on a photo walk on the streets of Bangalore. Well, talking about mundane routines and various ways to beat them, photo walk seemed to be a good option. Folks who are familiar with Bangalore know the bunch of heritage colonial structures adorning the city. They are a feast to look at. As with any other developmental works, a bane is the fear of losing these structures.

For instance, one of the castles right on MG road lies encroached by Metro station and a tall glass facade on the other. I thought of capturing some of them since who knows, what happens to them tomorrow? Here are few; I will go for photo walks more often and capture such gems :)

A vintage window. I was stumped to see these huge bungalow right on MG road - Bangalore's financial and fashion district.


Mayo Hall - again on MG road; built in 1883. 


MG road vicinity has lot of heritage buildings. Their beauty is mostly shielded by garish billboards. The police station on Kasturba road is housed in a heritage building, believe it? The below building is the State Central Library in Cubbon park. I am glad the Cubbon park has been left alone. Acres of greenery admits the city is so rare; the real estate sharks have somehow not got their hands on it. 

Originally called as Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall; this one is built in 1915 in a classical European style with Tuscan and Carinthian columns.


This one is Attara Kacheri built in 1864. Now the High Court. The style is Gothic. It housed the Mysore Secretariat until 1956; they are now moved to the opposite building the Vidhana Soudha.


The opposite building - The State Administrative office - offices of the most corrupt men; sad to say this. The crane in the foreground is the metro work in progress underground.


One of the towers of St. Patrick's church on Brigade Road. Its more than 150 years old. 

30 comments:

  1. Nice clicks.. We travel everyday though these places. But some how miss the beauty of the buildings in the busy environment

    The pics are always a good way to look at the real beauty of the so called buildings which are otherwise unnoticed

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    1. Yes, we travel everyday but miss to stop and observe.

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  2. Hi B, good hobby that can be enterprising too and refreshing as well. I guess people like Balan would be able to discern the pictures more than a person like me who confides in personal choice and not on the nuances.

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    1. :) Thanks Anil. Its nice to experience the place you call yours.

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  3. Hi,
    Whatever catches your eyes would be from long back.Colonial buildings have a style of their own.
    In Kerala,there is nothing new that looks good.It is pathetic that we cannot even give some respect to traditional architecture.
    Your pictures are lovely,as usual.

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    1. Thanks Doc. Some of these buildings are well preserved. I have been to historic sites like Badami, Hampi, Aihole, Pattadakal and many others. Nice to see the work done there to preserve them for future generations. Kerala? I cant comment much. It should be each one's interest to maintain and upkeep

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  4. Great pics, its surprising that a couple of pictures make us realize the beauty of things that we have seen in actual but never appreciated.

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    1. Thanks Harish. Yup! it also shows how busy we are

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  5. From what I have seen of Bangalore, I fear that the old bungalows have almost all disappeared. The large buildings might remain for many more decades, but B, I suggest you focus on the independent bungalows that was the beauty of old Bangalore. There is one off Church Street - you walk up a narrow lane. And there are many more.

    The benefit of photography as a hobby is that it sharpens one's power of observation; and you are never bored! :-) Make a record of the remaining Bangalore - have fun!!

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    1. Balan,

      Those bungalows are either nestled amidst tall trees and securities or being used as commercial spaces with hoardings all over. There are many on the by-lanes around MG road. I might go there a couple more times :)

      Thank you

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  6. Wow. It takes an eye for detail to see these. You have it. I love the pics, and the title background of this blog as well.

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    1. Thanks Anita. Its these simple details that give us immense happiness.

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  7. These are some heritages which need to be preserved!

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  8. Wow, I never quite did go around Bangalore doing this. Isn't it true that we never really see the city where we live.

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    1. I keep looking at such buildings whenever I roam around. Some people are interested; mostly folks dont like it. Its nice to discover the place you are raised and have lived all your life

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  9. Thank you for the insightful pictures! And may your journey of discovering your neighbourhood / city on your photo-walks continue...

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  10. Most of the pictures I see hear seem to be of the British Raaj.

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    1. Yes sir, the centuries old ones are about 100+ kms away from Bangalore

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  11. lovely pictures , I think I saw a couple of those buildings when i was there..

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    1. Yup! Those were near the place we met over coffee :)

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  12. Loved the mini tour of Bangalore through this post. I was thinking of doing something like this from quite some time but had not gotten there yet. I loved the dark clouds in the background for the red High court.:)

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    1. Thanks the dark clouds and the brick red were very contrasting and I so loved being there and clicking those pics without worrying about shadows :)

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  13. Fantastic pictures. Each one of the structure is fantastic.

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  14. Lovely pictures. Hope to see more of your photo-walk clicks on your blog. :)

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I'd love to know what you thought :-) Please shoot!