It was a walk to remember

The soft rays of the sun, light breeze and lush greenery — the ambience was just perfect for all those who attended the Richards Town Walk held recently.

City-based writers and heritage history enthusiasts Pushpa Achanta and Poornima Dasharathi, who conduct these walks in and around the City, gave a glimpse of the ethereal past of this part of the City.

The walk had an interesting set of people. While some were curious to know more about their neighbourhood, others attended the walk as they shared an innate connection with the City. The walk started at Richards Park at around 8 am and went on till 10.30 am. It ended with a sumptuous breakfast which gave the visitors a flavour of the local cuisine available in the neighbourhood.

The interesting anecdotes and trivia shared by Pushpa and Poornima intrigued the visitors and many, who had stayed in the area in the past, shared interesting pieces of information that they had come to know. Through the course of the walk, the group of visitors got a glimpse of the rich local history which was accompanied by intriguing stories of old villas, churches, the Garden City and its Cantonment.

“Though there is no sign in the park stating that it is over a 100 years old, there is a lot of evidence to prove that this is one of the oldest parks in the City. This whole area looks like a square and has been designed in such a way that the park can be seen from the tip of every lane or bylane. It’s a typical European or English design.

Also, the water tank at Richards Park is very unique as it is built right at the centre of the park and is different from the water tanks in the other parks around the area,” detailed Pushpa.

The group stopped at many old villas, churches and houses which have stood the test of time. “Some of the institutions here are over a century old but the building might not be that old. The Holy Ghost Church, which is designed in the shape of an eagle, is an important landmark in this area and has a contemporary design.

However, the ‘Cylon India General Mission’ which stands in one of the lanes in Richards Town bears witness to the old architectural heritage of Bangalore. They have renovated a 100-year-old villa and yet, managed to preserve the original architecture of the house,” said Poornima.

The walk ended at an art gallery — ‘Apaulogy’ — run by Paul Fernandes, which had watercolour works that showcased the Bangalore of 1970s.