Bangalore's British-Era Mayo Hall, 2 Postcards 1903

Bangalore’s British-Era Mayo Hall, 2 Postcards 1903

Two 1903 postcards show the British Era Mayo Hall or the Municipal Office & Magistrate Court in Bangalore (Bengaluru). The first is a photo postcard of the Mayo Hall, and the second is a postcard of an oil painting of the Hall. Located in South Parade Road, now MG Road, with an all-around scenic view of Parade Ground and Ulsoor Lake on one side, and the Race Course and Brigade Grounds on the other.

The hall houses the municipal office and civil courts even today. The accompanying text in one postcard reads, “Bangalore is the capital of the native state of Mysore and the largest British Cantonment in South India. Since 1881, when Mysore was restored to an upright and well-educated Rajah, it has been a model state. As excellent a specimen of administrative efficiency as India can show.”

The Rajah that was referred to was Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore. Whose throne was dislodged by Haider Ali, who then controlled the Kingdom of Mysore (Mysuru). His son Tipu Sultan later took over control of the Kingdom until he died in the Anglo-Mysore War in 1799. The Wodeyar dynasty was restored by the British after the Anglo-Mysore War. Click first image to enlarge.