Vanishing icons of Bangalore – tracing the city's landscape before the IT boom

Long before Bangalore had to grow into the country's IT hub, the city had a very different persona. Owing to the rapid transformation, the city had to sacrifice a lot more than it could have. Icons of yesteryear that made Bangalore the city its people loved. The list includes many prominent landmarks, eateries, and food items that have since vanished, been lost, or forgotten. Thank us, the AI (for the research), and the many locals (the OG Bangaloreans) whom we had to wake up from their slumber to compile this list. Here’s a list of vanished icons of Bangalore that the upcoming generations may not see.

New Krishna Bhavan

The story of New Krishna Bhavan started when a young, 13 YO Ramakrishna Prabhu moved to Bangalore from Udupi and started working as a dishwasher. Eventually, he started Janata Hotel on Mysuru Road and later acquired New Krishna Bhavan for ₹70,000 in 1954. Since then, the restaurant served billions of customers a variety of Udupi-style dishes, including their special green idlis. It was passed on for three generations, finally taking its last order on 6th December 2023. Why? The building housing New Krishna Bhavan was sold to a jewellery chain, leading to its closure.

Good food, now a memory 

Green Masala Idlis from NKB

Green masala Idlis came into existence because of the New Krishna Bhavan. The origin of the dish itself is a story, and so is the taste. Now, even though the recipe is out in the open and multiple restaurants are serving it, the taste or the experience won’t be the same as the ones served at New Krishna Bhavan.

Samrat Restaurant

Samrat Restaurant was an iconic eatery on Race Course Road, on the ground floor of Hotel Chalukya. It was established in 1977 by Maruthi L. Shanbhag, who hailed from Manki village in Karnataka. Over 45 years, Samrat Restaurant became popular and was frequented by several big names, celebrities and politicians apart from the general public. Their signature dishes like Masala Dosa, Vada, and Badam Halwa ensured the line outside the restaurant never ended. On a good day, the restaurant used to serve 3000-5000 people. The restaurant closed its doors in September 2022 due to the expiration of its lease. However, after the closing of the iconic restaurant, the current owner Santosh Shanbhag, opened a new one called Mini Samrat or Chalukya Samrat on Vasanth Nagar.

Bangalore Fort

 Kempe Gowda served as a governor under the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. He is credited as the founder of Bangalore. In 1537, he created a fort with mud, envisioning it as the centre of a flourishing city with well-planned roads, markets and temples. In 1761, Hyder Ali transformed it into a stone structure, making it a formidable military stronghold. The fort helped protect Mysore from multiple British invasions before it was finally captured by them during the third Anglo-Mysore War. Today, the fort has been reduced to a significant relic of yesteryear, being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

A glimpse into Bangalore’s past

Fort Church (St. Luke's Church)

Fort Church, also known as St. Luke’s Church is one of the oldest churches in Bangalore. It was initially built during the British era, inside the Bangalore Fort, after it was captured by them during the third Anglo-Mysore war. It served as an integral part of the fort’s landscape, offering a place of worship for British soldiers and civilians. Eventually, due to the city's expansion and changes in the local governance, the church was moved outside the fort’s walls. While Bangalore Fort has lost most of its original structures, the church still stands strong, preserving the city’s colonial heritage.

Cenotaph on Nrupathunga Road

It was a British War Memorial located at the intersection of NR Road (now Nrupathunga Road) and Mysore Bank Circle, near the BBMP office. Built in the 19th century, it was a tribute to British officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the Third (1790–1792) and Fourth Anglo-Mysore Wars (1799). It was demolished in 1964 to make way for modern developments as per the Mysore state government, led by Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa.

The lost Race course of Bangalore

Few people today know that Bangalore once had a British-era horse racing track near the present-day HAL Airport. Over the years, it was shifted to multiple locations it was shifted to Lalbagh in 1928 and then to its current location in High Grounds in 1951, operated by the Bangalore Turf Club. The original racecourse is no longer operational and is under the jurisdiction of the Indian Army. 

Bangalore’s forgotten racetrack

Mayo Hall Bandstand

One of the many bandstands of Bangalore, this iconic landmark once served as a stage for British military bands while playing in public gatherings. The bandstand was eventually demolished in the 20th century and what remained was the building, Mayo Hall, made as a way to honour Richard Southwell Bourke, the 6th Earl of Mayo, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1869 - 1872. 

Kalasipalyam Clock Tower

Long before the endless traffic, sky-high buildings and metro lines, clock towers were an essential part of Bangalore’s landscape. However, they vanished with time. In that list was Kalasipalyam Clock Tower, a 20th-century masterpiece that served as an important timekeeping structure for travellers and traders. It was dismantled in the 1960s owing to the growing traffic needs.

Lost in time

Elgin Fountain

Elgin Fountain was a cast-iron fountain built in 1909 to honour Lord Elgin, a former Viceroy of India in the city market. Before being demolished in 1970 to make way for modern development, it served as a popular meeting spot in the KR Market.

Premier Bookshop

Premier Bookshop, a well-loved bookstore on Church Street run by T.S. Shanbhag, vanished from the scene due to increasing rent. Before vanishing, it was Bangalore’s favourite independent bookstore with no trace of technology, just Mr. Shanbhag guiding people to the right book.

A lost treasure for book lovers!

Plaza Theatre

Plaza Theatre was the OG single-screen cinema hall on MG Road. Started in 1936, it used to screen Hollywood and Bollywood movies with a classic old charm that’s hard to forget. This theatre was where most Bangaloreans saw their first films. It was demolished in 2005 to make way for Namma Metro Station.

Vasantha Habba

If I can quote music and art enthusiasts, they’d call Vasantahabba a pilgrimage. A brainchild of Protima Bedi, an Indian model turned Odissi exponent and the wife of Kabir Bedi. It was an all-night cultural festival hosted by Nrityagram (a dance school by Protima Bedi), featuring Indian classical and folk performances. It was Protima’s answer or desire to create a ‘Woodstock ’ festival to showcase Indian dance and music. The first event happened in 1990 and the popularity grew significantly. The last event was in 2004 after which, in 2005, it was cancelled due to the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Eventually, financial challenges led to its discontinuation.

Khara Bun Congress

It was the original tea-time snack that included Khara Bun and Congress Kadlekai (spiced peanuts). Congress Kadlekai got its name from a political split in 1930s Karnataka. Creation of the iconic VB Bakery, it had split peanuts tossed in turmeric, chilli, asafoetida and curry leaf, sandwiched between buttered masala buns. While some bakeries including VB still sell it, the trend has faded with the new generations preferring other snacks over Khara Bun Congress.

Have you ever tried Khara Bun Congress?

This is our list of 14 things that were once a part of Bangalore’s heritage. Preserving these stories is essential to honouring the city’s rich cultural heritage. If you want to be a part of this heritage, book a trip soon. Don’t worry about the stay… we’ve got you covered. We are the biggest hostel chain in Bangalore, with The Hosteller, Marathalli being India’s largest hostel. Book a trip soon. Don’t forget to stay with us.

P.S. Do let us know if we missed out anything.