Lake Ulsoor the Once Beautiful Lake of Bangalore, 1900 PC
A 1900 postcard of Lake Ulsoor the once beautiful lake of Bangalore, now Bengaluru. The Ulsoor or Halasur or Alasur Lake is believed to be a man-made water body. Some say created by Kempe Gowda the chieftain of Karnataka in the 16th century. It was named after the old village Halasur which is now a locality of Bangalore.
During the British Era, the lake was largely improved and well maintained by L B Bowring, the chief commissioner of Mysore State from 1862 to 1870. Bowring initiated the laying of bunds, deepening its waterbed, and vastly expanding the area of the lake. Today this water body has an area of 123 acres.
After the rule of Kempe Gowda, the lake and the village of Ulsoor, came under the possession of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The 4th Anglo-Mysore War ended in 1899, the British established a cantonment in Bangalore that developed around Ulsoor Lake. Since the lake was also for drinking purposes, it was badly contaminated during the 19th century which prompted a probe.
The outcome suggested that sewage drains from the military barracks and other establishments emptied into the water body. This led Sir L B Bowring to take swift action in reinforcing the bund and other areas of the lake. So that no more pollution would enter the beautiful Lake Ulsoor.
Did you know – residents of Bangalore were greeted with the horrific sight of thousands of dead fish that had washed up on its shores in 2016.
Past posts – 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#17)., View Over British Era Bombay City, Old Photo 1885., Mahatma Gandhi On The Streets of Bombay – Old Print 1932., Lorry In British Era Madras, Old Photo 1919.
