The space where the bandstand once stood. It was constructed in 1870, before the Glass House.
Credit: DH Photo/Pushkar V
The Lalbagh bandstand, last renovated in 2004, has been dismantled after suffering irreversible damage over the years. An expert committee was formed to oversee the restoration. The work is expected to be completed by mid-August.
The major problem was the roofing of the wooden structure, said Pankaj Modi from Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), who is part of the committee.
The committee also comprises members from the Horticulture Department, Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Karnataka Shilpakala Academy, and Public Works Department (PWD).
The rafters were in terrible condition. “The structural members at some places had leaned out or broken,” said Modi. Some of the wood pieces were weakened by water ingress. However, the foundation is intact, he reveals.
The IWST will analyse the pieces of wood and determine which can be reused and what kind of wood was used in the last renovation, carried out by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), said Balakrishna, deputy director of horticulture department (Lalbagh).
The current committee held a series of meetings to arrive at whether a complete restoration was required.
“The experts analysed the structure to see if it could be repaired without dismantling it. After careful consideration, it was decided that it was unavoidable,” added Balakrishna. A report detailing the wood to be used, estimate of the cost of restoration and other aspects will be submitted by July-end, he added.
The bandstand was constructed by the British in 1870. It was originally used as a performance space by the military band. After the departure of the Brits, it became a venue for the performance of Bollywood and Kannada songs. “It was built earlier than the Glass House. The first flower show was hosted around the bandstand,” shared art curator Suresh Jayaram, whose book ‘Bangalore’s Lalbagh: A Chronicle of the Garden and the City’ examines the history and significance of the garden.
“The structure had been supported by scaffolding for a while. I think it is important to stick to the original design and use good-quality wood. Wood is bound to decay but now there are chemical treatments to make wood waterproof,” Jayaram explained.