Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore: The Venue of The Most Famous Flower Shows in India

Bangalore is on the itinerary of every tourist from within India and abroad. All that a tourist is possibly interested in are found here: beautiful palaces, lakes, gardens, and temples. Lalbagh Botanical Garden is perhaps the major attraction for all visitors to Bangalore.

All the year round, locals and tourists from every part of the globe flock this sprawling 240-acre garden where one could find native and exotic flora of wide-ranging diversity.

Started as a private garden by Hyder Ali, the erstwhile ruler of Mysore kingdom, in 1760, on a 40-acre area, this garden was subsequently developed by Tipu Sultan, his son, followed by the British and Indian horticulturists of repute. In 1856, the garden acquired the status of Government Botanical Garden, and is presently administered by the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka.

The main purpose of this article is not to dwell on the special features of Lalbagh as such, but to draw attention to the biannual Flower Shows held every year, on the occasions of the Indian Independence Day (August 15) and the Republic Day (January 26). This year the Independence Day Flower Show commenced from August 6, 2010 and will end on August 15, 2010.

Hundreds of people visit Lalbagh every day, but during the Flower Show, about 70,000 people visit here daily. This itself indicates the popularity of the Flower Shows held in Lalbagh.

The Glass House located inside the garden is the venue of the biannual Flower Shows. The Glass House itself is one of the major attractions in Lalbagh. This was built in 1889 to commemorate the visit of Prince of Wales, and is in the shape of a diamond.   

The Independence Day Flower Show of this season has become the talk of the town now. A replica of the famous India Gate, a war memorial in New Delhi, is erected within the Glass House, which is the cynosure of visitors to the Flower Show. While the India Gate in New Delhi is made of red sandstone and granite, the model inside the Glass House is made of 2.50lakhs of roses of different colours.

On display in the Flower Show are 260 varieties of flowers of different hues. They present a feast to the eyes (see pictures below).  Apart from the exhibition of flowers, outside the Glass House, one could also visit the Bonsai Park, Dr. M.H. Marigowda Rose Garden, Cactus House, vegetable garden, and ayurvedic plants exhibition. Visitors to the Garden can also purchase various seeds of fruits and vegetables, garden tools, bonsai plants, fertilizer mixtures, pots, etc. from the different stalls that have sprung up for the occasion. A food court is also set up inside the garden for the benefit of visitors to the Flower Show. 

Glimpses of the Flower Show:

Lalbagh Glass House: the venue of the Independence Day Flower Show. All images are by the Author.

Anthurium flowers.

Petunia.

Dahlia.

Heliotrop.

Torenia.

Alyssum.

Cineraria.

Salvia.

Aster.

Turf rose.

Cockscomb.

Tissue culture plants.

Cactus house.

Bonsai Park.

Roses in Dr. M.H. Marigowda Rose Garden