What to expect from Vidhana Soudha guided tour

The guided tour of Vidhana Soudha, which officially opens on June 1, will cover 1.5 kilometres in 90 minutes and highlight the building’s historical significance and architectural wonders. The tour will be in Kannada and English. It will be held on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays of the month, between 8 am and 5 pm.

The guided tour initiative at Vidhana Soudha was launched by the state tourism department, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and Karnataka Legislative Assembly, on Sunday.

A trained guide will lead a group, capped at 30 individuals, through the Neo-Dravidian architectural features of the building. The first stop is the foundation stone, laid in July 1951 by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in the presence of then chief minister K C Reddy.

J Gnanashakhar, parliamentary guide to the Speaker’s office, says: “The foundation stone does not mention the words Vidhana Soudha, instead it mentions The Mysore Legislature.”

Work on the Vidhana Soudha was envisioned and completed under Karnataka’s second chief minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah. The next stop is a sandalwood model of the building, placed near the Banquet Hall on the ground floor. “It is symbolic of how Karnataka was known for sandalwood in the entire country,” he says.

The tour will proceed towards the Banquet Hall. “It can seat up to 1,000 people. Photos of dewans of Mysore state are placed inside the hall,” Gnanashakhar shares.

A grand carved rosewood door leads into the pillarless Legislative Assembly Hall. “The Hall can seat around 300 members while the visitors gallery can accommodate around 600. One will see a carved rosewood chair (for the Speaker), an AI camera, a Gandaberunda clock, among other details,” he explains. Another key stop, the Legislative Council, has a seating capacity for 75 members and 200 visitors.

How to book

Check time slots on the KSTDC website (kstdc.co). Tickets are priced at Rs 50 for visitors aged 16 and above. It is free for children. The tour will start from Gate 3 of Vidhana Soudha. Visitors must arrive 20 minutes ahead of their slot with a physical copy of their ID (Aadhaar or passport). Photography is permitted at designated spots.