Cubbon Park, Bangalore: ✔History, Location, Timings, Entry fee

An expansive green belt in the heart of the city, Cubbon Park is an all-time and old-time favorite of Bangaloreans. This 150-year old park traces its origins back to the colonial times and is home to hundreds of plant species, thousands of ornamental and flowering trees, and several avenues lined with trees and colorful flowerbeds. Many historical monuments, stately buildings, museums, statues of famous personalities, and other attractions are also part of the park complex, not to mention the fun rides and activities here. Located in the Central Business District, one of the commercial and tourist nerve centers in the city, Cubbon Park offers easy access to many tourist attractions in Bangalore.

For exploring this humungous green space and the attractions scattered in and around it takes some planning. Here are all the details you need to plan a visit to Cubbon Park, such as its history, timings, entry fee, things to do and see, nearby tourist places, and other useful information.

Cubbon Park, Bangalore Information

Cubbon Park, Bangalore: History

Cubbon Park boasts of a rich recorded history that goes back to the colonial period. Back then, it was called Meade’s Park in honor of Sir John Meade, the Acting Commissioner of Mysore State, who commissioned its construction. The park was conceived and designed in 1870 by the then Chief Engineer of Mysore State, namely Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Hieram Sankey. Later, it was renamed Cubbon Park after Sir Mark Cubbon, one of the most notable British administrators in the region.   

The renaming of the park didn’t stop at that. In 1927, the name of the park was changed to Sri. Chamarajendra Park as a tribute to Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar who was the Maharaja of the Mysore Kingdom at the time of its construction. Though it remains the official name of the park even today, people continue to call it Cubbon Park.

Cubbon Park, Bangalore: Structure and Features

When it was first built, Cubbon Park was spread over an area of over 100 acres. However, the park was expanded and many new structures, features, and amenities were added to it over the last 150 years. As of date, it covers an area of nearly 300 acres, making it one of the largest green lungs in Bangalore.

The park has been creatively designed without disturbing the natural rock outcrops and other geographical features of the land. Cubbon Park has a wide range of botanical and floral assets including lush green lawns, colorful flowerbeds, massive bamboos, walking paths, and tree-lined avenues. Quite a few 19^th-century heritage buildings and statues of famous historical figures also dot the park and its premises.

There are several entry/exit points that regulate the access to the park, including the ones near Hudson Circle, High Court, K.R. Circle, NGO Hall, and Vittal Mallya Road. The park also has motorable roads passing through it, but only light motor vehicles are permitted on these roads.

Cubbon Park, Bangalore: Today

A scenic park for morning walkers and joggers, a peaceful picnic spot, a hub for recreation activities, and a historical landmark in Bangalore – today, Cubbon Park is many things rolled into one. Currently, it is under the control of the Horticulture Department of the Karnataka Government.

In addition to various attractions for kids and adults, the park is equipped with facilities like restrooms, food stalls, and a parking area. You will also find many vendors selling ice creams and street food outside the park. It is also a favorite destination for local groups for conducting fitness programs, cultural events, yoga sessions, guided nature walks, and the like.

The area surrounding the park is dotted with several tourist attractions as well as shopping streets in Bangalore such as M.G Road Brigade Road, and Commercial Street. The bustling area also houses many malls including the famous UB City and a fine range of restaurants, cafés, and pubs.

Things to Do/See in Cubbon Park, Bangalore

Besides soaking in the beauty and abundance of nature, there are many things to do and see at Cubbon Park. Our suggestions include:

• Discover the botanical and floral assets: Cubbon Park is best known for its diverse range of flora that includes both indigenous and exotic varieties of flowering and ornamental trees and plants. The park has over 6000 plants/trees that belong to various genera and species.
• Take a toy train ride: Want to relive the little joys of your childhood? Get into Putani Express, the toy train at Cubbon Park, and enjoy a joyful 10 to 20-minute ride through various sections of the park.
• Explore the statues: The vast green space is dotted with statues of several famous personalities including Sir Mark Cubbon from whom the park got its name. Other notable statues are that of Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar, Queen Victoria, Sir K. Sheshadri Iyer, and King Edward VII.
• Take some candid pictures: Have a thing for photography? With lush green settings, multi-colored flowerbeds, well-maintained lawns and avenues, colonial buildings, and other natural and manmade attractions, Cubbon Park is a haven for photographers.
• Visit Jawahar Bal Bhavan: A small-scale recreation center for kids, Jawahar Bal Bhavan has a decent range of attractions to keep your little ones busy. These include a dolls museum, horse rides, swings, roller coaster rides, boating, slides, other play gym equipment, and large open areas for kids to play.
• Get mesmerized by the aquatic wonders at Bangalore Aquarium: Also known as the Government Aquarium, this three-storied building is located right at the entrance of Cubbon Park and houses a good range of ornamental and cultivable fish varieties from across the world.
• Break a sweat: Fitness aficionados have a whole lot of things to do at Cubbon Park including morning walks, jogging, evening strolls, and yoga.

Historical Buildings and Structures in and around Cubbon Park, Bangalore

Located in the precincts of Cubbon Park are numerous historical buildings and structures, many of which date back to the British era and boast of spell-binding colonial architecture. Some of the must-visit attractions within the park complex are:

• State Archeological Museum: Built in the neoclassical architectural style, this 19^th-century museum is one of the oldest in the country. Also known as the Government Museum, it displays a fascinating array of old and rare artifacts including coins, inscriptions, and exhibits belonging to the Mohenjodaro period.
• Attara Kacheri: Another 19^th-century structure built out of red stone, Attara Kacheri is a fine example of the Gothic style of architecture. Currently, the building houses the Karnataka High Court.
• Indira Priyadarshini Children’s Library: A must-visit place for little bibliophiles, the library is housed within the park and boasts of a good collection of books for children of all ages.
• Venkatappa Art Gallery: Located next to the Government Museum is Venkatappa Art Gallery, one of the must-visit museums in Bangalore, with over 600 paintings and artworks.
• Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall: Featuring elements of the classic European style of architecture, Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall is an early 20^th-century building. It houses the Central Library and has over 2 lakhs of books and a special collection dedicated to Braille books and manuscripts.
• Band Stand: Built in the early part of the 20^th century, this is an octagonal-shaped structure made of cast iron. In the past, it served as a hub for performances, cultural shows, music concerts, etc.
• Other Notable Buildings: Besides these, Cubbon Park is dotted with a number of institutions and buildings including the State Youth Center (Yuvanika), the YMCA house, the Press Club, Century Club, Ottawa Chatter, and the Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall, to name a few.

Attractions near Cubbon Park

• Mahatma Gandhi Park (240 m by walk)
• Vidhan Soudha (290 m by walk)
• Mark’s Cathedral (400 m by walk)
• Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (450 m by walk)
• Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (2 km)
• Bangalore Turf Club (2 km)
• Garuda Mall (2 km)
• National Gallery of Modern Art (2 km)
• G Road (2 km)
• Commercial Street (2 km)
• UB City (2 km)
• Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park (2 km)
• 1 MG Lido Mall (2.5 km)
• Sri Someshwara Swamy Temple (3 km)
• Mary’s Basilica (3 km)
• Snow City (4 km)
• Bangalore Palace (4 km)
• Ulsoor Lake (5 km)
• Sankey Tank (5 km)

Rich in history and green foliage, Cubbon Park counts among the best places to visit in Bangalore with friends and family or to enjoy some “me-time” in the company of nature. Whether you are a nature lover, history buff, photography enthusiast, fitness fanatic or a leisure seeker, this green expanse makes for a memorable outing.