- Edited and Published by S.K Nair Director Edutech Foundation - Bangalore
This year the annual flower show hosted by the Department of Horticulture at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden commences on 4th of August 2023. Bengaluru, the Garden City also known as the Silicon Valley of the country, is now the third most crowded city in India. This year is supposed to be the show's 213th edition, with the theme being Bengaluru's history and evolution and by honouring the former Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah.
The annual flower show in Lalbagh is held in and around its beautiful glass house. The construction of Glass House was started in the year 1888 and completed in the year 1890 at a cost of Rs 75,000. The garden is spread over about 240 acres of land inside the city. A permanent highlight of the garden is the watchtower built by Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru.
The earliest recorded official flower show was during the 1830’s. it was a great entertainment, especially during the summer months. Earlier this show was organized by the Mysore Horticulture Society. In the year 1760 the Lalbagh was laid down as the private garden of Mysore's ruler Hyder Ali and was initially built in Mughal style over an area of 40 acre.
Flower shows kindles the interest in growing and showing horticulture, creating floral designs, and expressing creativity. The flower show at Lalbagh is India’s biggest collection of tropical plants and flowers.
Thousands of varieties of flowers put on display in different forms with a particular theme (changes every year) during the exhibition. This garden was further developed by Hyder Ali’s son Tipu Sultan by adding horticulture wealth. By importing trees, plants, seeds and saplings from different countries like Persia, Afghanistan, Cape Town, Turkey, Mauritius and France, the Lalbagh botanical garden was completed and which has a collection of almost 1000 different and rare species of flora and fauna. This garden also has a variety of trees that are over hundred years old.
Till the year 1856 Lalbagh garden was known as Mango Tope and the Cypress Garden. Later the Garden was named Lal Bagh because of a collection of red roses that remain blooming all through the year in this garden. Later they deployed traditional gardening families known as thigalars, a Tamil speaking community, to implement their plan. The first lawn clock of India was set up by Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Lalbagh garden itself. After the death of Tipu sultan in the year 1799, the East India Company took Lalbagh into its possession. The British rulers transformed the park and gave it its current look with 240 acres.
Earlier Lalbagh not only held the collections of flora but also wild animals like Lion, Tigers, bears, deer, panther, peacocks, swans and a variety of monkey species, these animals were shifted on the year 1920 to Mysore zoo. Lalbagh is now under the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. From the year 1856 Lalbagh has remained a Government Botanical Garden and has been worldwide famous as a centre for scientific study of plants and their conservation. Lalbagh Botanical Garden is regarded as one of the best gardens in the world for its layout, maintenance, scientific treasures and scenic beauty.
Lalbagh botanical garden of Bangalore hosts its famous “Flower Show” to commemorate Independence Day (Aug 15) and Republic Day (Jan 26) every year.
Thousands of varieties of flowers numbering about fifteen lakhs will put on display in different forms with a particular theme contributions of the second Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah. during the exhibition.
Sale of plants and saplings during the show and musical concept of flower show are the added features of the event. The entry is restricted through tickets of Rs.70/- for adults and Rs.30/- for children on normal days and of Rs.80/- for adults on weekends.
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