Lalbagh and Cubbon Park in Bengaluru may soon get archaeological protection status

The state horticulture department has proposed to declare Bengaluru’s iconic Lalbagh and Cubbon Park as archaeologically protected sites to safeguard them from future infrastructure projects and preserve their heritage value.

The Karnataka horticulture department is preparing a proposal to grant archaeologically protected site status to Bengaluru’s historic Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Cubbon Park. This move comes as urban development agencies plan major infrastructure projects, including the proposed tunnel road connecting Hebbal to Central Silk Board, which will pass beneath Lalbagh Rock and use nearly six acres of Lalbagh land.

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While Lalbagh Rock already holds a geological protection status, the botanical garden itself lacks any formal heritage or archaeological tag. Originally established in the 1760s by Hyder Ali as a private garden spanning 40 acres, Lalbagh has since grown into a 240-acre expanse through successive additions during the British and post-independence periods. It also houses the Kempegowda Tower, a declared heritage monument.

Meanwhile, the horticulture department has undertaken a canopy mapping and biodiversity enhancement project in Cubbon Park. The 197-acre park now hosts over 250 varieties of plumeria trees, making it the richest plumeria germplasm collection in South India. However, repeated proposals for construction and infrastructure development inside Cubbon Park have raised concerns, prompting the department to seek archaeological protection for both green spaces.

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Currently, Bengaluru has no officially declared heritage or archaeologically protected buildings, though Mysuru has 129 such structures. Earlier proposals to recognize 39 heritage buildings in Bengaluru have not moved forward. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has also listed 39 structures for protection, but the absence of a functional District Heritage Committee has delayed the process.

Once Lalbagh and Cubbon Park are granted archaeological protection, it will ensure that no construction or alteration can take place within their limits without special permission, securing these green landmarks against urban encroachment and infrastructure expansion.