British Cantonment Area Bangalore, 1880 Photo
An 1880 photo of the British Cantonment Area in Bangalore (Bengaluru). Noticeable in the back are rows of shops and further back is the St Mary’s Church (now a Basilica). The area is probably the Broadway shopping area during that time. This photo most likely was taken from the Russell Market area.
The British established Cantonments as military hubs in important cities at the time of colonial rule. Most were in cities, particularly where the concentration of the British troops was high. It was like a self-contained city in a city. The Cantonment (now Shivaji Nagar) in Bangalore was one of the biggest cantonments in India during colonial rule.
It had a Railway Station and a huge bazaar called Russell Market. Named after T B Russell Municipal Commissioner, it was opened as a permanent market in 1927. The architectural design of the building was of more of Indian style than that of the usual European or Indo-Saracenic style of the British era period.
Read more History of Bangalore. See post-Vintage Postcard Banglore The Cantonment Market.
Did you know- Kempe Gowda, a feudal ruler under the Vijayanagara Empire, founded Bengaluru in 1537.
From the collection- Antique Print India Garhwal Hill Village., Old Print – Eden Garden & Harbour Calcutta 1905., c1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper Lovers (#5)., 2 Old Postcards – Robert Bristow’s Cochin Harbour 1947.
