St. Mary’s Church View from Commercial Street In Bangalore, 1900 Photo
A 1900 photograph shows St Mary’s Church, now St Mary’s Basilica, from Commercial Street in Bangalore (Bengaluru). The British took control of Bangalore in 1799 after defeating Tipu Sultan in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War. Soon after, in 1809, the British East India Company established the Bangalore Cantonment by shifting its garrison from Srirangapatna. This created a secure and segregated military and administrative settlement in the city.
Located in the heart of the Cantonment area (present-day Shivaji Nagar) is the St. Mary’s Church. It is considered the oldest church in the city. The origins of the shrine date back to the 17th century, when a small community of Christians from Tamil Nadu settled here. They first built a simple thatched chapel in 1799.
The foundation of the present-day church building was laid in 1875, and it was completed in 1882. With its Gothic-style architecture and long history, St. Mary’s Church stands as one of the most important religious landmarks of Bangalore. Another early colonial-era church in the city is St. Mark’s Cathedral, which also ranks among Bangalore’s oldest churches.
Commercial Street, one of the oldest and busiest shopping hubs in Bangalore, traces its origins back to the late 19th century, during the British colonial period. Situated between Shivajinagar and Brigade Road, it has historically served as a vital link between the city’s Cantonment area and the Pettah (market) area. Today, it is one of Bangalore’s busiest shopping streets, attracting locals and tourists alike. Click on photo to enlarge.
Also read A Walk to St. Mary’s Basilica through Commercial Street, Bangalore.
Did you know – the street opened in the late 1800s, during British rule, serving the Cantonment.
Past posts- Rural Life In India Watercolour Painting By N. Mukherjee., Begum of Bhopal At The Delhi Durbar, 1911 Postcard., Aerial View of British Era Bombay, 1936 Print., Vintage Cars From British India Era – 6 Old Photos.
