The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Of historical monuments and neglect

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Monday, Apr 21, 2008
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Of historical monuments and neglect

Staff Reporter

There is no security guard to watch over the tower
Pillars have been defaced, cement use suspected

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Disregarded: The Kempe Gowda Tower at Lalbagh in Bangalore.

BANGALORE: Centuries ago, when Kempe Gowda decided to establish the city of Bangalore, he built four towers — markers beyond which the city was not to grow. In the decades to follow, as the city pursued its relentless growth, the order of the erstwhile ruler was forgotten and the towers remained mere historical entities.

But, in an example of the careless attitude towards preservation of heritage, the Kempe Gowda tower, atop the rock in Lalbagh, has been “restored” in a way that reflects none of its antiquity, say conservation experts.

“I have my own doubts about whether the columns are original. By the looks of it, it seems like RCC cement, when the original pillars were actually stone and were of the Vijayanagar style of architecture,” H.R. Prathibha, convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Bangalore Chapter, told The Hindu.

The Gopura originally built in brick and lime mortar, remains coloured in a light cream paint, with the engravings completely masked to the public. Flowers and serial lights on the Gopura add to the disfigurement.

Protection

Even the pillars have been defaced with no security guard to watch over the ancient tower. The monument is under the protection of the Department of Archaeology.

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