The Legacy of British
 |
| Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru KA thehindu.com |
 |
| 1895 The British Residency,Bengaluru en.wikipedia |
 |
| Lok Bhavan Bengaluru thehindu.com |
Perched at the highest geographical point of central Bengaluru—High Grounds, standing 3,031 feet above sea level—lies an architectural masterpiece of deep political and historical weight. Long recognized as the official residence of the Governor of Karnataka under the name Raj Bhavan, the iconic estate was officially rechristened Lok Bhavan, Karnataka on December 3, 2025. This renaming, approved by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot following a Union Ministry of Home Affairs directive, marks a conscious effort to shed colonial nomenclatures in favor of citizen-centric symbolism.
_86.jpg) |
| Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan),Bengaluru en.wikipedia.og |
Above image: Loka Bhavan set on an eighteen acre plot has two divisions. Main complex comprising 2.5 acres with first floor (1967) and Lawns and gardens covering 15.5 acres with Rose/Jasmines and pine tree. In the colonial day the residency had just one floor only..........
History: From British Residency to People’s House
The origins of Lok Bhavan trace back to the mid-19th century when the Kingdom of Mysore operated under a subsidiary alliance with the British East India Company. The grand structure was built between 1840 and 1842 by Sir Mark Cubbon, the long-serving Commissioner of Mysore territories. Initially built as a single-story private bungalow, it was sold in 1861 to Cubbon' s successor, Lewin Bentham Bowring, who used government funds to establish it as the official Bengaluru Residency.
Over the next few decades, the property evolved to host imperial dignitaries. A major addition came in 1874 with the construction of the "Serapis Room," a ballroom built specifically for the visit of King Edward VII (then the Prince of Wales), named after the royal naval ship that brought him to India.
When power reverted to the Mysore Royal Family during the Rendition of 1881, the Commissioner's post was abolished, but the estate retained its high-status identity. Following India's independence on August 15, 1947, the Residency briefly transitioned into the residence of the state’s Raj Pramukh (Governor). However, because the Maharaja of Mysore preferred his own palaces, the Union Government utilized it as an elite state guesthouse. It hosted prominent international and domestic figures, including US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. It permanently became the home of the state Governor in 1964 when General S.M. Srinagesh took office.
Architecture, Art, and Conservation
 |
| Another view of Lok Bhavan Bengaluru Lee- Warner Collection en.wikipedia.org |
_Lee-Warner_Collection_-_Souvenirs_of_Kolhapur._Installation_of_H.H._the_Maharajah,_1894'.jpg) |
| 1894Another view of British Residency (Lok Bhavan) Lee-Warner Collection en.wikipedia.org |
_01.jpg) |
| replica of war machine, Lok Bhavan Bengaluru en.wikipedia.org |
Architecturally, Lok Bhavan reflects classic British colonial style, defined by sprawling high-ceilinged halls, grand classical pillars, and large verandas. In 1967, the building underwent its first major expansion with the addition of a first floor. Architects took meticulous care to match the design, moldings, and structural character of Cubbon’s original foundation.
The property spans an 18-acre campus, of which the main building complex occupies roughly 2.5 acres. The remaining 15.5 acres are dedicated to lush gardens that mirror the botanical heritage of Bengaluru's famed Lalbagh. Fringed by century-old pine and fir trees, the grounds feature an artificial waterfall, dense rose beds, and vibrant flora. Inside, the estate acts as a museum of heritage, housing an exquisite collection of multi-school Indian and Western oil paintings, antique furniture, and historical trophies.
Modern conservation efforts focus heavily on preserving the environmental microclimate of the campus and maintaining the structural integrity of the nearly two-century-old lime-and-mortar masonry, ensuring this green lung in central Bengaluru remains intact for generations to come.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/raj-bhavan-renamed-lok-bhavan-in-karnataka/article7
https://www.ptinews.com/detail/south,states/Karnataka-Raj-Bhavan-renamed-as-Lok-Bhavan/3154111
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lok_Bhavan,_Bengaluru
https://karnatakatourism.org/en/attractions/raj-bhavan
K. N. Jayaraman (Author: navrangindia.blogspot.com )
