Vidhana Soudha counts amongst the most impressive as well as the most magnificent buildings in the Bangalore city of India. It is mainly famous for housing the Legislative Chambers of the state government. The three hundred rooms of Vidhan Soudha accommodate approximately twenty-two departments of the state government. The building rises to a height of almost 46 m, making it one of the most imposing structures in the city of Bangalore.
About Vidhana Soudha Bangalore :
The Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore was built in 1956 in the Dravidian architecture and has become a popular landmark in the city. The philosophy behind the imposing building is the temple architecture in India. One can find four domes in the four corners and the Ashoka Lion at the entrance gate.
The Bangalore Vidhana Soudha houses the State Legislative Assembly of Karnataka and also the largest secretariat of India. The then Chief Minister, Kengal Hanumanthaiah was the responsible for the initiative for the construction of the building.
The Bangalore Vidhana Soudha has been built under the guidance of the chief engineer late B.R Manickam. The sandalwood door of the Cabinet Room is a spectacular feature of the building. The building is accessible from all four sides and is built of granite and porphyry (sourced from the city) in the neo Dravidian style.
It took four years to build Vidhana Soudha where five thousand laborers, 1500 chisellers, wood carvers and masons were involved in the construction. It has four floors and one floor below and covers an area of 700 by 350 feet. The central dome is 60 feet in diameter and is crowned with a resemblance of the Indian National emblem.
The Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore is a popular attraction in the city and one would require special permission to visit the interiors of the building. Special arrangements are made for the lighting of the whole building on Sundays and public holidays in the evening from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
Architecture :
Constructed purely out of granite and porphyry, Vidhana Soudha is adorned with four domes on its four corners. Embellishing the entrance of the buildings is the Four-headed Lion, the national symbol of India. The Cabinet room has a huge sandalwood door, which has been beautifully carved.
Vidhana Soudha of Bangalore can be accessed from all the four directions. However, the admission to the building has been restricted and one has to take prior permission before visiting its interiors. Vidhan Soudha looks breathtakingly beautiful on Sunday evenings and on public holidays, when it is floodlit. The lights are kept on from 6:00 to 8:30 in the evening. A sightseeing tour of Bangalore is incomplete without a visit to the Vidhana Soudha.