Forgotten buildings

In a mundane metropolitan city like Bengaluru, we often forget its history and heritage.

Many times we pass through these historic buildings but don't recall it's value and history.

Here are few such places in Bengaluru:

Balabrooie

Vasanthnagar houses a magnificent mansion, Balabrooie. On entering this 150-year-old mansion, you revisit the colonial era. The building reflects European classic architecture with arched doors,

windows, and rooms with verandas. The mansion is surrounded by a garden that

consists of trees of different species which dates back to more than a century.

Balaboorie was built by Agha Ali Asker, a Persian horse merchant in 1850 and it spreads over 16 acres of land. This part of the land is the only green island in the rapidly urbanizing lands of Bengaluru. The mansion was bought by Sir Mark Cubbon, the then Governor of the city. Later, after his death it went to his successor Sir Frank Bowen. After which it was under the commissioner of Mysore until the independence of India.

Sir Mark Cubbon renamed this Mansion as Balabrooie because he never went back home in his lifetime, so they named this building as Balaboorie which is a typical Scottish name which means River Bank Farm.

Balabrooie has entertained many legendary guests such as Jawaharlal Nehru,

Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. It is said that Rabindranath Tagore

composed many poems and made few painting in this mansion.

If you are in Bengaluru or planning to visit this city, make sure you don't miss this

place.

Location:

Palace Road, towards Cunningham road

Mohan Building

Most of us are familiar with the bustling commercial area of Chickpet, which once upon a time was the heart of Bengaluru. This area with extremely narrow roads and small footpaths is still the favorite one-stop shopping center.

As one enters Chickpet, the oldest existing structure is bound to catch your eye. The building takes you back in the British era. This structure was built in 1909 by businessman Haji Sir Ismail Sait. It is said that this area was used as stable for Tippu Sultana’s horses and the fort is near KR Market. There are around 70 shops in the building. Although the building lost its glory, it did not lose the charm.

In 1945, this building was bought by the owner of Rex Theatre which is located in Brigade Road and was renamed after their eldest son Mohan Lal Kapoor. Later in 1993 this private build Rex Theatre sold this to Subh Jewellery and Rajesh Exports.

Location:

Walk towards the end of Avenue Road at Chickpet cross. It’s main face and entrance is an old Taluk Cutcherry road.

Janta Bazaar

If you ever wondered that Bangalore had a mall during the princely rule or a place where everything from grocery to home decor was accessible? Janta Bazar was the place.

Bangaloreans have a trip down the lane as they see the building. The building is

amazingly constructed and designed well, but just poorly maintained which leads to

negligence of this historic evidence. As you enter this historic building you can experience beautiful arched windows and gates, long L shaped halls and aesthetic stairs that reflect the British architecture.

Janta Bazaar is the Asiatic Building on Kempegowda road, opposite to Alankar

plaza. It was inaugurated on September 11,1935 by the prince of Mysore kingdom,

Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wodeyar.

The building is known as Asiatic building because it was the office of one of the earliest insurance companies called an Asiatic company. The building was rented out to other government bodies such as The Employment Exchange, BSNL and famous

Mysore Silk Corporation.

The Building was designed by GH Krumbiegel, a renowned German Horticulturist,

Town planner and Architect who helped design and remodel several gardens in the

city including the garden at the Bangalore Palace.

Janta Bazaar was inaugurated on the same day as Putta Chetty

Town Hall by Yuvaraja of Mysore Karntiveera Narasimharaja Wodeyar.

Location:

Walk towards Kempegowda road and take left towards Gandhi Nagar. As soon as one enters Gandhinagar, one can get the view of this magnificent building.