The Cubbon Park, Bangalore, Karnataka India

The Cubbon Park has been one of the major contributors to Bangalore’s ‘Garden City’ tag. The creation of Cubbon Park and the construction of Public Offices altered the cityscape of Bangalore radically. Today the park is the favorable picnic spot among the tourists and the locals.

The Cubbon Park was built in 1870 by the then acting Commissioner of Mysore ‘Sir John Meade.’ The vast landscape was conceived by the then Chief Engineer of the State Major General Richard Sankey. The park was initially named Meade’s Park, in honor of John Meade and later renamed as Cubbon Park after the longest serving commissioner of the time, Sir Mark Cubbon.

The park was officially renamed in 1927 as ‘Sri Chamarajendra Park’ to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar’s rule in Mysore State but the name Cubbon Park has stuck.

The park has around 68 varieties and 96 species with about 6000 plants. Both ornamental and flowering trees, exotic and indigenous are found here. Grevillea Robusta (Silver Oak), having the distinction of being the first oaks introduced to Bangalore from Australia is still found in the park.

There are different types of flowers bordering the lawns and structures, inviting colorful butterflies around. The noticeable birds at the park are Robin, Cuckoo, Kingfisher, Bee-eater, Bulbul, spotted owl and the Indian pond heron. Also there is an artificial pond that has ducks and the surroundings also have the Indian Hens that are reared there.

The rose garden is exactly opposite to the public library entrance. The varieties of roses cheerfully stand with enticing colors and natural beauty attracting the attention of passers by. The public library is also called the state central library. It is open for all. The library has been started in the year 1966 and the building said to be constructed in the year 1906. The inside of the library are high walls with a wooden parabolic ceiling from the inside, and a floor height book shelves; it gives a great feeling for one to be there. There are approximately 3,00,000 books in number and 240 periodicals, covering most of the Indian languages.