Cubbon Park lies at the heart of the city of Bangalore. The park is one of the major attractions in the city. Cubbon Park stretches over a larger area which encompasses many government buildings, heritage centers and historical monuments.
Quick Facts about Cubbon Park
Timings: 5:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Closed on Monday & 2nd Tuesday of Every Month
Visit Duration: 1 -2 hours
Best Time to Visit: September – February
Location: Near MG Road
History of Cubbon Park, Bangalore
Cubbon Park was originally created by Major General Richard Sankey, in 1870, during his time as the Chief engineer of the Mysore State. The plenteous flora and fauna orchard mingled with many historic buildings nearby gives the park a vintage look.
The park was firstly named as Meade’s Park in 1870. Later it was renamed as Cubbon Park following the name of Sir Mark Cubbon, who served for the longest period as the commissioner.
In the year 1927, once again, the parked was renamed as Sri Chamarajendra. The renaming was done as a tribute to the ruler, Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar. The topography of the park has a unique outlook, with groves of various trees, flowerbeds, bamboos, and some monumental statues.
._Curzon_Collection%27s_%27Souvenir_of_Mysore_Album%27.jpg){kind=link}
Floral Assets in the park
Cubbon Park contains lot many flowering plants that cover a major area of the park. Even though the park is situated amidst the city, the grasslands, the trees and the flowering plants are well maintained.
The park is a storehouse of a variety of species of plants and trees that contains many inherent species of plants. There are a variety of ornamental and exotic silver oak trees that are found in arrays on the roadside parks. The trees also include Gulmohar trees that are widely grown in the park.
The park is perfect for morning walks to succumb the gulp of fresh air in the park. The park has well-laid paths for joggers to enjoy the walk-in nature.
Library, Cubbon Park. Image courtesy Augustus Binu
Attractions in and around Cubbon Park, Bengaluru
- Attara Kacheri
- The State Archeological Museum
- Iyer hall (Central Library)
- Indira Priyadarshini Children’s library
- Jawahar Bal Bhavan
- The Aquarium (The second largest Aquarium in India)
- Press Club
- Tennis Pavilion
- The Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall
- Yuvanika — the State Youth Centre
- The YMCA
- Century Club
- The Ottawa Chatter
Statues in and around Cubbon Park, Bangalore
Many memorials are erected in the park including:
- Queen Victoria
- Major General Sir Mark Cubbon
- Rajya Dhurandhara
- Sir K. Sheshadri Iyer statue
- Chamarajendra Wodeyar
Band Stand in the Cubbon Park
The octagonal structure erected in the park is a treasure house of fond memories of the old Bangalore. The bandstand was a hub of many cherished performances in the city. Many accomplished musicians have performed in this cast iron octagonal structure and rose to fame.
Major attractions in and around Cubbon Park
Karnataka High Court
Famous Attara Kacheri, located opposite to the Vidhan Soudha is an alluring spot to visit in Bangalore near Cubbon Park. The two-storied building was built by the British in 1864 AD. The Corinthian decorative pillars in the Gothic style is an architectural splendid to visit in Bangalore.
The place is now occupied by the High Court when the Secretariat offices moved out from this space to the Vidhan Soudha in 1956AD. Behind the high court is a grand statue of Cubbon made by Baron Marochetti. The Central hall contains a portrait of Sir Cubbon on the ceiling; the painting is indeed worth a watch.
The State Archeological Museum
One of the oldest museums in India is placed here in Cubbon Park, Bangalore, adorning the park, which was built by Colonel Sankey in 1876. The architecture is like the Attara Kacheri. The museum contains the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro. It also contains some specimens from the ancient Vijayanagara Empire, coins from old times and many stone inscriptions.
K.Sheshadri Iyer Statue, Cubbon Park. Image courtesy Augustus Binu
Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Hall
Another building that adorns the Cubbon Park is the Iyer Memorial Hall, whose architecture depicts the classy European Style. The building is constructed in the memory of Sir K. Seshadri Iyer. He was the Dewan of Mysore State during the period of 1833- 1901. The building is positioned as such encompassing the amazing greenery of the park that gives the building an elegant look. The hall is presently used as a library, with the beautiful rose garden in the frontispiece. The library has an abundant collection of books and even the Braille section.
The Dancing Musical Fountain
On the Raj Bhavan Road, one of a kind available in India, a musical fountain is seen. The fountain functions on a unique binary control way which lets the music come in a flow.
Jawahar Bal Bhavan
An amusement park mainly for kids is built in the Jawahar Bal Bhavan. Many activities and events take place in the place for facilitating and mentoring kids. It was inaugurated in the year 1967. The programs conducted here are only for kids in the age group of 5-16 years. The park also contains a toy train ride.