Glimpses of Bangalore During British Raj Era, 5 Photos 1914
Five rare 1914 photographs offer fascinating glimpses of Bangalore during the British Raj era. Showcasing the city’s colonial past as a prominent cantonment in Southern India. The five small-sized photos capture a cantonment street, an officer’s residential quarter, and two rare scenes of cycle polo played by army men. The final photograph highlights a long-forgotten memorial in the city that was dedicated to officers killed in the 1857 Indian Mutiny (First War of Independence). Though the monument was demolished long ago, its exact location remains unknown.
The foundation of Bangalore Cantonment in 1809 marked a turning point in the city’s history under British rule. The cantonment was laid out with wide roads, spacious bungalows, parade grounds, and European-style churches. Major thoroughfares such as South Parade (now MG Road) and Brigade Road became iconic colonial streets lined with shops, hotels, clubs, and cafes that catered to the European community. The legacy of the British Raj can still be traced in its colonial-era architecture, gardens, institutions, and urban planning.
The imposing Attara Kacheri (18 offices) was built in 1868 in the Greco-Roman style. St. Mark’s Cathedral, with its stately dome and colonial charm, became a spiritual anchor for the British community. Similarly, Bangalore Palace was inspired by Tudor architecture.
Residences and clubs, such as the Bangalore Club (founded in 1868), became elite spaces where colonial officers socialized. The tree-lined avenues, red-brick public buildings, and Gothic-style churches all contributed to the city’s evolving cityscape.
Known as the “Garden City,” its greenery owes much to the colonial period. Lalbagh Botanical Garden, originally founded by Hyder Ali, was expanded by the British, who introduced exotic plants and landscaped it in the European style. Cubbon Park, laid out in 1870, was another colonial contribution that gave the city its green lungs, dotted with statues like Sir Mark Cubbon’s.
The era also witnessed the establishment of several educational and medical institutions. Bangalore Medical College, Central College, and schools created new learning opportunities. While hospitals like Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital became important healthcare centers. The British introduced clubs, theaters, and horse racing. Over time, Anglo-Indian communities, traders, and professionals added to the city’s diversity.
Did you know – that the city was originally only a cluster of villages, it grew outward from the Fort after the 4th Anglo-Mysore War.
Past posts – Lake & House On A Serene Moonlit Night, 1944 Painting., Municipal Corporation Building Bombay, 1908 Postcard.