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HISTORY OF LALBAGH

Lal Bagh Botanical Garden is considered to be one of the most diverse botanical garden in South Asia. It is located in the southern part of the city, about 4 km from Vidhana Soudha and M.G. Road (GEO 12.97 degree N 77.56 degree E). Lalbagh has four approach gates.

The main gate is at the North facing towards Subbaiah circle, the West gate is towards Basavanagudi, the South gate is towards Jayanagar and the East gate is towards the Double Road.

Lal Bagh Botanical Garden was commissioned by the ruler of Mysore, Hyder Ali. Hyder Ali started building the Garden of Lal Bagh in the year 1760 and his son Tipu Sultan completed the garden. The garden derived its name 'Lal Bagh' because of a collection of red roses that remain blooming all through the year in this garden. Lal Bagh Gardens was known Rose and Cypress Garden till 1856. King Hyder Ali's father was in the service of Dilawar Khan, Viceroy of Moguls. Dilawar Khan had a passion for setting up many gardens across Mysore. Among them the famous ones are Mogul gardens at Sira near Tumkur, Lalbagh at Srirangapatna, a garden at Malavalli, Lalbagh Gardens in Bangalore.

Lal Bagh is a 240 acre (971,000 sq.m. - almost 1 sq km) Garden and is located on the southern part of Bangalore. It holds a number of flower shows, especially on the Republic Day (26th January). The garden has over 1,000 species of flora.

The Glass House, modeled on London's Crystal Palace (now re-modeled with a different layout), is the center of attraction. Lal Bagh is a 240 acre (971,000 sq.m. - almost 1 sq km) Garden and is located on the southern part of Bangalore. It holds a number of flower shows, especially on the Republic Day (26th January). The garden has over 1,000 species of flora. The Glass House, modeled on London's Crystal Palace (now re-modeled with a different layout), is the center of attraction. Hyder Ali laid out these famous botanical gardens and his son added horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries like Cape Town, Mauritius, Turkey Tenerife, Persia, Kabul and other places Nurtured by Tippu Sultan, Hyder Ali's son. The Lal Bagh Gardens were commissioned by the 18th century and over the years it acquired India's first lawn-clock and the subcontinent's largest collection of rare plants. The garden also has trees that are over 100 years old.

Lal Bagh is currently under the aegis of the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. The Directorate is housed amidst the splendid environs of the botanical garden. Today it has been an internationally renowned centre for scientific study of plants and botanical artwork and also conservation of plants. Formal and informal styles dominate the garden in perfect harmony, which is a testimony to the beauty of nature. Nearly 673 genera and 1,854 species of plants are found in Lalbagh. The collection of the plants has made it a veritable treasure house.