Lalbagh has earned the reputation of being one of the best gardens in India due to its vast layout, maintenance and extensive of flora. It is one of the rarest gardens in India and has the prestige of being a government recognized garden. If you ever get a chance to visit Bangalore, then add this garden to your to-do list, you wouldn’t be disappointed.

Location

Lalbagh is located in the residential area of Jayanagar in Bangalore city in Karnataka. It is spread over 240 acres of land and lies about 4 km from the State Legislature, the Vidhana Soudha.

Lalbagh is well protected with stone walls as enclosures and there are four approach gates to the Lal Bagh. The main gate is at the North in front of the Subbaiah Circle, while the West gate is in front of Basavanagudi, the South gate faces Jayanagar and the East gate faces the Double Road.

History

The history of this garden dates back to the times of Hyder Ali, a well-known ruler of old Mysore. Hyder Ali decided to create this garden on the lines of the Mughal Gardens. In 1760, Hyder Ali made a private garden in an area of 40 acres which was further developed by his son Tipu Sultan who added to the wealth of this garden by bringing flower plants and seeds from other countries.  

The garden has always had a marvelous collection of red roses because of which it has always been called Lalbagh (Red Garden).

Lalbagh is currently under the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. It was given recognition by the government in 1856. The garden had plants and saplings from Cape Town, Mauritius, Turkey Tenerife, Persia, Kabul and other places

Salient Features of Lal Bagh Garden

Flora and Fauna

Nearly 673 genera and 1,854 species of plants are found in Lalbagh.

The Glass House

The glass house was built in 1898 and is inspired from London’s Crystal palace. The Glass House appears as a shining white monument in glass hosting a wide array of colorful flowers in the morning whereas at night it is lit up in golden light creating a spectacular view. It hosts a permanent flower show which is in addition to the extravaganza held every year on Independence Day and Republic Day.

Kempegowda Tower

It is a monolithic rock formation in the Lalbagh garden which gives the full view of Bangalore from the top. It is one of the four towers that were built by Kempegowda who was the founder of the city of Bangalore.

The Lal Bagh Rock

It is one of the oldest rock formations on the planet of earth which dates back to about 3000 million years.

Floral Clock

This is a 7 meter wide clock gifted by HMT in 1983 and is close to Statue Garden. The clock machinery is embedded underground and works on electronic quartz mechanism.

Bandstand

It is circular wooden structure with artistic elevated roof supported by wooden pillars which are fixed to a granite platform. The band stand is located almost in the centre of Lalbagh gardens and it is surrounded by lush green lawns encircled by walls.

Lecture Hall

It is a tile roofed tiny building located at one of the shade gardens surrounding the Statue. It can accommodate about fifty persons. 

Lalbagh House

Lalbagh library was shifted to this building.

Pigeon House

It has a circular room with a height of about fifteen feet and has artistic holes round the wall towards the top which have enough space in each for a pair of pigeons. 

Statue of Sri Chamaraja Wodeyar

The most artistic and elegant structure in Lalbagh is the statue of Chamaraja Wodeyar, the then Maharaja of Mysore. 

The Directorate Building

This is a magnanimous structure with artistic features and an effective architectural style.

Lalbagh West Gate Guard Room

It is in shape of lantern with glass windows and ventilators at all the directions.

Deer Paddock

The deers of Lalbagh can happily walk, jump and gallop in their area as there is no menace of other animals or human beings.

Bonsai Garden

The Bonsai Park inside Lalbagh is spread across 2.5 acres. Trees such as Jackfruit, Tamarind and Banyan are grown in pots in miniature form.

Topiary Garden

It is one of the main attractions for children. Temperature plants like Juniperus and Cypress are maintained on steel structures of different shapes of animals like elephant, panda, lion, tiger, etc.

Aquarium building, Aviary, Lalbagh Lake, Rose garden, Cacti house and Lotus pond are other attractions. Lal Bagh has an intricate watering system for irrigation. Most of the very old trees are labeled for easy identification.

Lalbagh as a Centre of Education

Regular training courses on fruit and vegetable processing, mushroom cultivation, ornamental gardening and horticulture are offered to the public by the Department of Horticulture here. 

Entry Fee

No entry fee is charged from 6 - 9 in the morning and from 6– 7 in the evening. At other times of the day, an entry fee of Rs.10 is charged. No entry fee is charged from school children and the disabled.

Timings

Lalbagh is open daily from 6.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. throughout the year.

How to Reach

By Air

The nearest airport to Lal Bagh Botanical Garden is Bengaluru International Airport, which is 35 km away. 

By Rail

The nearest railway station to Lal Bagh Botanical Garden is Bangalore city junction train station which is 3 km away.

By Road

Once in the city, you can hire a private taxi or a cab to take you to the garden easily. You can also opt for the BTIS (Bangalore Transport Information System) buses heading to Jayanagar. All buses for Jayanagar pass through one of the four gates of the botanical garden. Lal Bagh is well connected by BMTC buses. Distance of Mission Road Bus Stop, Lal Bagh Road from KG Road, RR Nagar and Bangalore is 13.0 km and takes around 28 min.