Way back in 1978, it was possible to walk into any one of these old bungalows, make couple of sketches, take few black and white photographs, walk around and talk of old times with the owners or occupants who held on to the vintage structures with pride and a sense of ownership...

They dont exist any more... have you seen any of them lately, in the shadows of the forests of high rise real estate? They have become part of the folk lore of Bangalore, the city with a layout dating back to the beginning of the 19th century, when the British, having defeated Tipu Sultan at Seringapatnam in 1799, felt the need of a military base in this part of South India...

There was plenty of room for development beyond the walled city and the fort, for the British military tradition of developing a separate area for barracks, cantonment and separate area for the natives. The new town for the Sahibs was planned a few miles further East, on land assigned to the British by the Maharajah of Mysore. It was spaciously laid out,with wide streets, parks, Christian churches in the classical style... and the streets and houses were given nostalgic British names... Cambridge Road, Alexandra Street, Burnside, Clovelly...

There was plenty of social life and entertaining both by British and Indian householders with well planned compounds and buildings to suit the climate of the place and the taste and life styles of the owners...

Although old, weak and crumbling in 1978, these structures and spaces were attractive and cosy places to live in... the old bungalows of Bangalore...

They say history repeats itself... not so, in architecture... 

About the Images

A documentation done in 1978 as Field Observation Study of Old Bungalows of Bangalore

Author: Harimohan Pillai