All You Need To Know About Bengaluru's Lalbagh Botanical Garden

The 157-year-old Krumbiegel Lecture Hall, a part of the Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bengaluru was recently razed. This has upset many heritage lovers, architects' association Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH-Delhi Chapter) and also, Krumbiegel's granddaughter, UK-based Alyia Phelps-Gardiner Krumbiegel. Many residents also came out to protest against the demolition.

The hall was built in the memory of architect and botanist Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel. Krumbiegel was largely responsible for turning Lalbagh into the wonder it is today.

The reason cited for the demolition is the condition of the hall which had fallen into disrepair owing to years of neglect. A large portion of the inside of the Hall, after suffering years of neglect and decay had collapsed earlier. And, the property was too old and too weak to be restored.

The Lalbagh Botanical Garden is an iconic attraction in Bengaluru for the tourists, the horticulture and architecture enthusiasts and the locals.  

Here are five interesting facts about this structure:

• Where it began: A well-known botanical garden in Bengaluru, Lalbagh was commissioned in 1760 by the then ruler of Mysore, Hyder Ali, and was later finished by his son Tipu Sultan.
• The iconic glasshouse: The structure is known for two glasshouses that host two annual flower shows, one each on January 26 and August 15. It is also known to be the pendant in the necklace of gardens in Bengaluru.
• Maintenance: The garden, spread in an area of 240 acres, is under the aegis of the state's Department of Horticulture and is maintained by Public Works Department (PWD).
• A lush spread: Lalbagh, in 1856, was given the status of a Government Botanical Garden. It is recognised internationally for scientific study of plants and botanical artwork and also conservation of plants.
• Education: Not just tourists, Lalbagh also attracts horticulture enthusiasts. The garden premises have various courses on horticulture, post-harvest technology and mushroom cultivation. These courses are organised by the Department of Horticulture. There is a 10-month training programme conducted for the rural youth. The Mysore Horticultural Society, too, organises courses on Ikebana and Bonsai.

Localities near Lalbagh Botanical Garden:

Richmond Town: With a liveability score of 9.4, Richmond Town is one of the posh localities of Bengaluru. The locality offers apartments in an average price range of Rs 1.5 crore-Rs 7.6 crore.

Chamarpet: This is one of the most-sought after localities in the heart of the city that offers affordable properties. The apartments here are available in 1BHK-4BHK configurations and are priced in the range of Rs 51 lakh-Rs 2.30 crore. The locality has a liveability index of 9.1.

Banashankari: Another locality that offers affordable properties near Botanical Garden is Banashankari. The locality with a liveability score of 9, offers apartments in 2BHK, 3BHK, 4BHK and 5BHK configurations. The average property price here ranges between Rs 68.8 lakh-Rs 2.3 crore.

Jayanagar: Among the premium localities of Bengaluru, this locality has a liveability score of 9.4. It offers a mix of properties, including plots and apartments in 2BHK, 3BHK, 4BHK and 5BHK configurations. While you can buy a plot for an average price of Rs 4.5 crore, the apartments are available in an average price range of Rs 1.49 crore-Rs 6.44 crore.