Flower Power in Bengaluru
by Rashmi Gopal Rao
Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
– Luther Burbank
If you love flowers and feel like what Luther Burbank says, you must visit Bengaluru’s bi-annual flower show at Lalbagh Botanical gardens, easily one of the city’s best known landmarks. The show that coincides with India’s Republic Day (26-Jan) and Independence Day every year is usually a 10 day long extravaganza of everything related to flowers. Also one of the best lung spaces in the city (the other being Cubbon park), Lalbagh must be on your must-do on your next trip to Bengaluru. The sprawling gardens is one of the spaces that has stood the test of time as the city gradually transformed from the “garden city” to the “silicon valley of India”. Founded way back in 1760, this 240 acre space is a lush green haven in the heart of the city. Depleting green spaces in the city, have made this erstwhile royal and private garden a universal favorite with early morning walkers, joggers, bird watchers and photographers alike. One of the main reasons for this is that the place is a ‘treasure house’ of rare plant species from across the world and boasts of a whopping 1,854 species of plants and trees!
A Riot of Colour
Lalbagh is currently under the aegis of the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka which organizes the biannual flower show. One of the much awaited events of the year, the show boasts of interesting and awe inspiring themes year after year. The themes have been varied and equally stupendous each time, whether it is the flower decked Eiffel tower, Mysore Palace or the world famous Dasara procession. All pieces are exhibited in the glass house of the garden. Last year’s Independence Day’s theme which incidentally happened to be the 202ndаflower show was Royalty with the centre piece being the replica of the Bangalore palace.
The floral structure was decked with a jaw dropping figure of close to 3 lakh Dutch roses. There were also five life-sized replicas of erstwhile maharajas of Mysore, including the ‘Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Jayarahamaraja Wadiyar and Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar.’ These stunning pieces are created by a team of highly talented experts who not only work in tandem weeks prior to the show but also make sure that the flowers are meticulously maintained during the 10-odd day display. They are watered, changed and taken care of so that their fresh look is retained. Apart from the main pieces there are hundreds of aesthetic decorations using rare flowers including spectacular orchids within the glass house.
A Complete Show
Apart from the decorations, the last show saw over 200 farmers from across Karnataka display rare and unique farm produce to demonstrate the emerging horticulture technologies. Visitors were also shown easy terrace garden vegetable growing methods to encourage everyone to get into gardening. Each year there are 100-odd stalls where you can learn and pick up anything related to gardening, landscaping, organic produce and the like. The sand sculpture of A P J Abdul Kalam and the unique elephant created using 600 capsicums had about 5 lakh people thronging the venue that year. The theme and signature “centre piece” that is the cynosure of all eyes is decided closer to the D-dates
There is a nominal entry fee for the show and the timings are from 9 am to 6 pm. Apart from the flower show, Lalbagh itself is an important resource centre in the dissemination of scientific and technical information of plants in addition to development of horticulture. This unique gem of the city is located in the South Bengaluru and has four approach gates. The main gate is at the North facing towards Subbaiah circle, the West gate is towards Basavanagudi, the South gate is towards Jayanagar and the East gate is towards the Double Road. The Bandstand, Pigeon house and the lake which is home to a number of avian species including migratory birds are points of interest in the gardens.
If You Go:
By air:
Bangalore is well connected to most important cities within and outside India via the Kempegowda International Airport that is about 40km away from the city centre.а You can hire cabs or take buses from the airport to Lalbagh.
By train:
The two important railway stations – Bengaluru City Railway Station and Yeswantpur Junction connect a number of cities and towns within India to the IT city.а From the station, you can easily hire autos, cabs or even take a bus to visit the attractions of the city including Lalbagh.
By road:
Bangalore is well connected by a network of state government and private buses that ply to and fro from major towns and cities of South India.
Cultural tour of Bangalore – a day trip
About the author:
Rashmi Gopal Rao is a freelance writer and blogger. She is from Bengaluru, India and writes for a few travel websites.а Her hobbies include traveling, reading, writing and photography. She is also passionate about home decor and gardening.а You can follow her on her blog, www.rashminotes.com.
All photos by Rashmi Gopal Rao.
3) Gandhak Ki Baoli
6) Baoli of NizamuddinLocation: Nizamuddin Dargah complex
The city of Agra in North India is synonymous with the Taj Mahal, the apogee of Mughal architecture in India. The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur in 1526, a descendent of Timur (Tamerlane) and Genghis Khan. Babur reigned from 1526-1530. He was succeeded by his son Humayun. But the Mughal Dynasty truly flourished under the rule of the emperors who followed Humayun, his son Akbar (1556-1605), Akbar’s son Jahangir (1605-1627), and Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan (1628-1658), known as the builder of the Taj Mahal.
On a hot, summer day in August, with temperatures reaching 100F, we traveled to Agra from New Delhi in a rented car with driver. This is one of the best ways to go to Agra in the hot months as taxis such as these are air conditioned and one can travel in relative comfort. Our first stop was at Sikandra, the mausoleum of Emperor Akbar, about 10 kilometers from Agra city center. Considered as the greatest Mughal emperor, he was the most secular minded royalty and a patron of the arts, literature, philosophy and science. Akbar himself laid out the plans for his own tomb, selected an appropriate site and even started building it. His son Emperor Jahangir finished building the tomb in 1613.
The hallmark of Mughal architecture in India is in the use of red sandstone and marble. We entered the mausoleum complex through a red sandstone gateway, with four minarets in each corner, immediately bringing to mind the Taj Mahal. There are four gateways into the complex but only one is in use now. A broad, paved plaza like walkway leads to the tomb. Magnificent in its look, the tomb is a five story red sandstone building, carved with glazed tiles and colorful stones. The eye catching mosaic patterns that cover the gateway and the tomb entrance embody the essence of Mughal design showcasing elaborate stone inlay work, calligraphy, tile work, painted stucco and white marble.
At around 7 am next morning, we reached the Taj Mahal. In the early morning quiet, we had an easy time of buying tickets and then we headed towards the main entrance gateway to the Taj. I could feel the palpable excitement in the air as we waited to get in. One first views the Taj through the dark entrance way and I remembered my first visit all those years ago. The Taj is one monument I feel that exceeds the expectations of the viewer no matter how many times they have seen it.
The tomb complex stands on the southern banks of the River Yamuna and took twenty years to be completed. It is made of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones that form intricate designs using the pietra dura technique. There are verses from the Quran, inscribed in calligraphy on various sections of the complex including its arched entrances. Like at Sikandra, the Taj too is situated in a four square Mughal paradise garden, on its northernmost end and on a raised marble platform. The four decorative minarets on each corner lean away slightly so that in the event of an earthquake they do not fall on the main structure. Both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are interred here and we see their highly decorated marble cenotaphs directly below the main dome. Both these are false tombs and the real tombs are underground and cannot be viewed by the public.
Soon it was time to leave and move on to the next historic site on our itinerary, the Agra Fort, also known as the Red Fort of Agra. Emperor Akbar began building this massive red sandstone fort in 1565 and it was completed with further additions by Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Predominantly built as a military structure, Shah Jahan constructed several white marble palaces within the premises. It too is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated so in the same year as the Taj.
We walked around the fort in the blinding August midday heat, strangely unperturbed, feeling ourselves being transported to the Mughal glory days. We strolled through marble pavilions and red sandstone hallways, stopping to admire the elaborate and intricate carvings. The Agra Fort is a superb example of Indo-Muslim architecture with Persian influences. This is seen in the floral and geometric designs that cover the walls, the archways, and in the intricate jali (perforated stone and latticed screens) patterns and the balconies that overlook the Yamuna River and the Taj Mahal. In the final years of his life, Shah Jahan and his daughter Jahanara Begum were imprisoned here in the tower known as Musamman Burj by his son Emperor Aurangzeb when he came to power in 1658. It is said that he spent his last days looking out at the mausoleum of his beloved Mumtaz Mahal.
While closer to Chikmagalur, we decided to take a quick detour to visit the renowned temples of Halebid and Belur, both located about 30 km (though in different directions) from Chikmagalur. Both these temples are characterized by ornate pillars, detailed panels, intricate carvings, beautiful sculptures and are the finest examples of the Hoysala school of architecture. The Hoysaleswara temple in Halebid, dating back to the 12th century has it walls covered with myriad sculptures which depict a wide variety of Hindu Gods, mythological birds and animals. It is indeed a marvel that no two sculptures here are the same.
One of the most popular attractions in Chikmagalur is the peak of Mullayyanagiri. This is the highest peak in Karnataka and at a little less than 2000 meters, it is one of the most loved trekking destinations. However, the road to Mullayyanagiri is very narrow with steep curves. Unless traveling on a clear sunny day, there is every chance that the road ahead would be very foggy with very low visibility. The road ends a little below the peak beyond which a small trek takes you to the peak which houses a temple. The views are picturesque and breathtaking and provide a great spectacle of the Arabian Sea on clear days.
Close to Bababudan giri are the Manikyadhara Falls which again is a much visited destination. Though small, the waterfalls are frequented throughout the year as it is considered a holy site. Tourists as well as locals bathe in the water as it is believed to have divine therapeutic powers. We too had a quick dip in the waters before proceeding back.
In the city, the coffee museum is yet another ‘must visit’. Nestled in the greenery of the ‘coffee land’, this place is a store house of information on the history of coffee, its cultivation, varieties, grading and basically everything you ever wanted to know about coffee. An initiative by the Coffee Board of India, the museum also houses the coffee quality evaluation and training center. Attractive visuals and maps display interesting trivia and the place gives you a complete picture of the “bean to brew” journey. With a modest entry fee, this place can really boost your knowledge on coffee and it is recommended for adults and children alike.
About the author:
