If you’re the sort of person who
enjoys sightseeing, there’s no way you should skip a visit to the Lal Bagh
Botanical Gardens on your trip to Bangalore.
Commissioned by Hyder Ali in 1760 and eventually completed by his son, Tipu
Sultan, Lal Bagh is a 240 acre garden in the southern part of town. Tipu Sultan
added horticulture wealth to these world-famous botanical gardens by importing
plants and trees from various countries. The Glass House forms the centre of
attraction in the garden, which houses the subcontinent’s largest collection of
rare plants and also trees that are over 100 years old.
Hyder Ali had intended to create
this garden along the lines of the Mughal
Gardens that were gaining
popularity during his time. The park has some rare species of plants brought
from Persia, Afghanistan and France. With a complex and
intricate irrigation system, this garden is aesthetically designed, with lawns,
flowerbeds, lotus pools, fountains and most of the centuries old trees are labelled
for easy identification. The Lal Bagh Rock, one of the oldest rock formations
on earth, dating back to 3000 million years, is another attraction that draws
in the crowds.
Lal
Bagh is known
for its unique achievement in nurturing the concept of horticulture and aiding
the development of horticulture and is considered to be one of the best gardens
in the East for its layout, scientific treasure and scenic beauty. The garden,
with all its well- laid paths, tracks, open spaces, shades and an extensive
collection of rare plant species, makes this Garden extremely attractive to a
large number of visitors.
Yet
another attraction is the ‘Janapada Jaatre’, organized by the Government of
Karnataka, on the second and fourth weekend of every month, featuring folk
dance, music and plays performed by troupes from all parts of Karnataka.
The
Lal Bagh Botanical Garden
is open from 6.00 AM- 7.00 PM daily, throughout the year. For the sake of
fitness enthusiasts and joggers, the Garden entry is free from 6.00 AM to 9.00
AM and from 6.00 PM to 7.00 PM.
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