Ever Wondered How Bengaluru Came To Be The ‘Garden City Of India’? Here’s The Story Behind It!

German botanist Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel planned trees and flowers around Bengaluru from 1907 to 1932 in a 'serial planting’ manner.

by Tashika Tyagi
Ever Wondered How Bengaluru Came To Be The ‘Garden City Of India’? Here’s The Story Behind It!

We can spend a lifetime in the city and still not know everything about it! So, to help you know your city a little better, we’re sharing this interesting story that we bet most of you don’t know about. We are sharing the story of how Bengaluru came to be the ‘Garden City Of India’. Read on to find out!

How Did Bengaluru Turn Into The ‘Garden City Of India’?

Bengaluru Garden City
Image Courtesy: X/Karnataka Tourism

Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the 24th maharaja of Mysore, is often called the philosopher-king who laid the foundation of modern-day Bengaluru. The king, however, was not impressed with the lack of flowers in the city. So, he appointed German landscaper and botanist Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel as the superintendent at the Lal Bagh Gardens in 1097 in the city to redeem that.

From thereon, Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel changed the city, to put it simply. He introduced numerous plants in the city and is also credited for reviving the Mughal style of gardening in Bengaluru. He was also appointed as an architectural consultant by Dewan of Mysore, Sir Mirza Ismail.

According to a report in The Economic Times, in his book ‘The City Beautiful’, TP Issar, former chief secretary of Karnataka and chairman of the Urban Arts Commission had mentioned Krumbiegel’s contribution to Bengaluru. He said that many clusters of cassius, gulmohars, tabebuias, and bougainvilleas that we see today in the city are the manifestations of Krumbiegel’s “dreams of a blossoming Bengaluru.”

Also Read: Bengaluru: Traffic Police Data Reveals Over 2,000 Road Accidents In The City Till May; 376 Died

Why Does The City Have Flowers In Every Season?

gardens Bengaluru
Image Courtesy: Wikimedia

Have you ever noticed that in Bengaluru, some or other flowers bloom throughout the year? Well, this is all thanks to the ‘serial planting’ technique that Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel introduced in the city. He ensured that all avenues in Bengaluru were planted with seasonally-flowering trees. This means that the city blooms all year round! Now, isn’t this fascinating?

How one visionary can change the face of any entire city! Did you know about this story before? Let us know in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: X/Karnataka Tourism & Wikimedia

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