Though started as a royal Pleasure park during the 18th century, Lalbagh has grown not only as a Pleasure park of the common man during the 20th century, but also as a botanical garden and a centre of advanced Horticultural activity in Karnataka.

A botanical garden necessarily is an important genetic source centre. Apart from introduction, maintenance and acclimatization of plants, this area envisages documentation of all the variation available in plants of ornamental and economic value which would ipso facto serve as source material for creating new and meaningful variations. In such a scheme, apart from the cultivated components of a particular taxon, the related wild taxa are also studied.

The profession of gardening in India has been inherited from immemorial. Literary sources speak of udyanas and pushpa vatikas. Palaces, houses of the rich and temples had parks and gardens. Temples raised them to supply flowers and leaves (patra) for divine service. Muslim rulers, especially the Moguls’ paid special attention for laying out vast gardens. Shalimar garden of the Moguls is a famous example.

Hyder Ali imported plants from Delhi, Multan, Lahore and Arcot to beautify the garden. Tamil speaking gardeners, namely Thigalars were brought to look after the garden. Dr.Francis Buchanan (1800) writes that “Hyder’s garden is watered from a reservoir without the assistance of machinery. The taste of Hyder accorded more with the English. His walks are wider, his cypress tresses are not so much crowded; and in the means of watering the plots there is not so much masonry or bricklayer’s work employed”.

Tipu must have expanded the existing garden by acquiring more land, says Buchanan for he speaks of gardens of Hyder and Tipu separately. “Hyder’s garden is watered from a reservoir.” Says he and also says that “the garden of Tipu is supplied from three wells, the water of which is raised by the capily or leather bag”. Speaking of fruit trees in Tipu’s garden, “Some pine and oak plants lately introduced from the Cape of Good Hope seem to be thriving” and he further ads “Tipu procured exotic plants and seeds from Kabul, Persia, Mauritius, Turkey and Africa. Two old mango trees, said to have been planted during his regime still adorn the garden. According to a contemporary of Tipu the garden was very curious, and grew very high and had leaves like very big fans. The roads from the entrance to the garden and inside the garden were said to be lined with cypress trees closely planted and had low masonry platforms all along. Very tall, large and shady trees also were in the Lalbagh and the bagh was watered from a tank as well as wells. Drains had been built to carry water in every direction. The garden had several enclosures and each enclosure had only one variety of trees. Fruits were in abundance such as plantains, apples, peaches, rose-apple, jack-fruits, custard apple, peaches, cashew nut, fig, etc. Vegetables were also grown in different plots. Flowers were in abundance. Mogra, rose, Chameaili were strewn in grounds. There were plants of black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. Much care was taken in the cultivation of rice varieties, of which the Sultan got from Arcot, Kurnool and Travancore Besides rice, ragi, sorghum, wheat, beans and different kinds of pulses were grown.

Tipu Sultan maintained a regular garden establishment. The headman incharge of the garden was called Daroga (Chief Gardner). Two Darogas (Mohammed Ali and his son Abdul Khader) were in charge of the garden successively. A small tank on the southern end of the garden was originally the main source of water supply. Three additional wells were dug during his period and water was lifted in big leather drums with the help of bullocks. Dr.Buchanan further ads “Tipu improved the gardens to a great extent and even as late as in 1798, he obtained plants and seeds from the lsle of France (Mauritius). Lalbagh grew to be a treasure and sub-tropical plants and indigenous and foreign fruit trees. The gardens are extensive and divided into square plots separated by walks, the sides of which are ornamented with cypress trees. These plots are filled with fruit trees and potherbs. One plot is entirely filled with rose bushes, another with pomegranate and so forth. The walks are not graveled and the cultivation of the whole is rather slovenly, but the people say that formerly the gardens were well kept. Want of water is the principal defect of these gardens, for in this arid country everything during the dry season must be artificially watered.

The Lalbagh at Bangalore at that time, in addition to its being pleasure park, was also intended to serve as nursery to supply seeds and plants to farmers. The garden served the purpose of an experimental farm. After the death of Tipu sultan in 1799, Lalbagh came in to the possession of the East India Company’s Botanist Major Waugh. During his time, the Lalbagh was well stocked with a variety of foreign fruit trees, useful vegetables and choice and curious plants.

Major Waugh appealed to the Governor General of British India, Marquis of Hastings and proposed that the Lalbagh at Bangalore be taken over by the Botanical establishment at Calcutta. Dr.Nathaniel Wallich (the then Superintendent of the Bengal Presidency Botanical gardens) by way of acceptance of this garden as branch of Bengal Presidency Botanic Garden stated that he knew the garden in question at Bangalore for a long time as affording a striking instance of the practicability of bringing the fruits of Europe to complete perfection in this country, under a happy combination of favorable localities of soil and climate when aided by such efforts of zeal, skill and indefatigable perseverance as those which have distinguished the useful labours of Major Waugh. He added that the climate to Mysore was eminently suited to the purposes of Horticulture and for that reason might, be made a sort of an intermediate nursery or depot for the introduction and acclamatisation of the fruit trees of England.

In the year 1831, on the assumption of administration of Mysore by the British Company, the Lalbagh passed into the hands of the Chief Commissioner of Mysore and continued under his general supervision till 1836. At this time the, Agri-Horticultural Society Branch was established in Bangalore, to which officers of the Mysore Commission, officers of British forces at Bangalore, clergymen and eminent persons at Bangalore enrolled themselves as members. They approached the Government for the grant of rent free Lalbagh, which although seriously injured by mismanagement, still contained a number of rare and 'useful though neglected trees and plants'.

On 27th February 1836, Sir Mark Cubbon recommended to the Governor General with the observations that “Great public benefit may be expected to arise from this institution, not only in objects merely Horticultural and the extension of Botanical Knowledge, but in the promotion of the Agricultural interests of the country by the introduction of new and valuable productions suited to the climate amongst which may be enumerated varieties of sugarcane and tobacco far superior to any, now produced in Mysore and by affording the people the means of obtaining gratuitous instructions in improved modes of cultivation. The Lalbagh was transferred to the Society in 1836.

The Agri-Horticultural Society was assisted by the Government in the way of providing convict labor and all other respects by public contributions. Mr.Willliam Munro, Secretary of Agri-Horticultural Society, in the report of 1838-39 writes that “The garden establishment is very same as it was at the last general meeting, and the principal heavy expenses have been caused by building seed house and the payment of prizes awarded at various exhibitions”. He recorded that the exhibitions incurred heavy expenditure, but they were attended by more people. Regarding garden, he observed that the “Mauritius sugarcane was cultivated in the garden and had thriven remarkably and was admired by all the natives who saw it. New method of planting in holes and other experiments with various manures already have proved that sheep’s dung is by far the best. The produce of oats had been great and was very superior. Wheat of various kinds had been cultivated and distributed to a certain extent among natives. A small quantity of barely was grown. A great number of trees and plants were introduced, upwards of 200 species. A catalogue of all the plants in the garden has been completed and would be printed. A considerable improvement had been effected in the flower pots made after the English shape and sizes, and kept in the gardens, sized and marked to agree with books on English gardening.

The Secretary used to train the local people in Horticulture business that rendered assistance to him without receiving pay. He introduced tickets for admission to the garden and more than 900 rupees were received. A book was kept in the garden for the members and their requirement of plants, seeds, varieties of fruits, etc., were recorded and the same were supplied to them. He recommended that a small portion of ground in each taluk might be placed under the Superintendent to be cultivated on the part of Government.

Dr.Cleghorn, Chief Conservator of Forests in the Madras presidency and Superintendent of Botanical Garden in South India, was appointed in 1855 to the office of Botanical Adviser to the Government of Mysore under the Chief Commissioner. In 1856, Dr.Cleghorn and Jeffrey, Superintendent of Madras Gardens came to Bangalore to select a site for the establishment of a Horticultural garden in the city. Dr.Cleghorn saw no other site so well adapted as the Lalbagh, it was ultimately agreed that the Lalbagh (formerly selected by Hyder for a garden) was the most eligible spot for the establishment of a Botanical garden at Bangalore. His recommendations at the time are very interesting he advised the employment of a skilful and experienced European Superintendent with the object “not merely to improve the culture of indigenous productions, but at the same time to naturalise exotics and prepare both for introduction in the plains”. He suggested that a Superintendent should be entertained on a salary of Rs.150 per menuem, with a suitable residence in the gardens or in the immediate neighbourhood and should have a writer acquainted with English and vernaculars for Rs.25 per annum. He proposed an allowance of Rs.125 per menuem for the permanent establishment of maistries and gardeners. He also recommended one-time expenditure of Rs.2000 for clearing the ground, gravelling the walks and other preliminary works including the Chief Commissioner to retain control over the Lalbagh with reasonable degree of freedom to the Superintendent to operate. He was against the plan of a subscription garden which had been tried on Lalbagh with reasonable degree of freedom to the Lalbagh with reasonable degree of freedom to the Superintendent to operate. He was against over the Lalbagh with reasonable degree of freedom to the Superintendent to operate. He was against the plain of a subscription garden which had been tried on Lalbagh itself. He also observed that injury would result if the gardens were to enter into competition with market gardeners. He was against turning the garden into a commercial enterprise. The Botanical Garden should concern it-self with the improvement of indigenous products, the introduction of exotics, the supply of these to the hills and plains when acclamatised and the exhibition to the people of an successful operations. He also envisaged exchange of plants and seeds with the gardens of Madras, Calcutta and Ooty.

Dr.Cleghorn’s report was forwarded to the Governor General by Mark Cubbon, with the recommendation that the general superintendence be given to Dr.Cleghorn with an allowance for his service. The Governor General approved the creation of ‘Government Botanical Gardens’ and sanctioned a monthly grant of Rs.4000 towards contingent expenses. Dr.Cleghorn was given an allowance of Rs.200 per menuem.

Thus in August in 1856, the Lalbagh became a government Botanical Garden, a Government controlled establishment. In the early part of 1856, Sir William Hooker, Director of Royal Gardens, Kew and Dr.Royale of East India house were requested to make available the services of a professional Horticulturist for the Lalbagh. Pending the arrival of a Superintendent, a maistry gardener (Heera Lal) was appointed on Rs.25 per month and placed in the instructions of Dr.Cleghorn. A committee consisting of the Secretary to the chief Commissioner ,the Superintendent of Bangalore Division and Dr.Kirkpatrick, was set up to take measures to preserve all the more interesting Botanical specimens and to make the ground generally as attractive as possible. In two years (1856-1858) a great deal of work was done, the walks were gravelled and broadened; a dwelling cottage and the office of the superintendent was constructed in the garden at a cost of Rs.2000, the garden compound wall was erected at the a cost of Rs.540 and two large manure pits were prepared.

Mr.Willam New, who was in charge of a certain portions of the Royal Gardens, Kew and possessed high testimonials from the Committee of Management of the Belfast Garden (where he had once worked), was selected by sir William Hooker for the post of Superintendent of Botanical gardens at Bangalore. He reached Bangalore on 10th April 1858 and assumed charges as the first Superintendent of the Botanical gardens. He brought two valuable cases of plants from the Royal Gardens at Kew and at the same time, two cases were received from the Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, one from Sydney and a large collection of fruit trees were received from Udhakamandalam (Ooty) Garden. Thus, he began the work of organized introduction of plants into Lalbagh and exchange of plants with other Botanical institutions in India and abroad. In his letters to Kew he wrote; “There is no one who takes any great share in the management of the garden in Dr.Cleghorn’s absence, but when anything is wanted, it is obtained by applying to captain Cunningham, Sir Cubbon’s Secretary; Dr.Kirkpatrick looks over the accounts, and any new road or walk is executed under the superintendence of Captain Puckles of the Public Works Department; at present there are employed for watering, cleaning and garden work 16 men with a maistry as he is called over them.

During his tenure, William New made every effort to improve the beauty of the garden, to introduce plants of value and to distribute them as far as possible. In the summary of his report for 1858-59, he has given an account of fruit plants received from the garden of Udhakamandalam (Ooty) and seeds and plants from Sir William Hooker, along with other details of improvement such as addition of three more wells, the brick lining of the open ditch, the formation of a walk on the tank bund, the grafting of fruit trees and other works executed in the garden. Cleghorn on seeing the garden report of 1859-60 wrote that New’s practical knowledge on Agriculture fits him for his job. The utility of manuring, deep trenching and clean weeding were demonstrated to the market gardeners and the public by the excellent results he obtained. These induced many natives and market gardeners to start visiting the Lalbagh to buy ‘graft’ results. A few of the Australian Eucalyptus planted by New just behind the tank bund and the drive are still growing well in the garden.

During New’s Superintendentship a library of Horticultural books was started and on the suggestion of Dr.Cleghorn, he prepared a complete list of plants found in the garden. The list was communicated to the Botanic Society of Edinburgh in the year 1861. It was published in 1861 and republished in the year 1863. The eastern boundaries of the garden were extended by 50 yards in 1859-60. The following species were included in the list of plants prepared by Mr. New. Grevillea robusta, Araucaria excelsa, Amherstia nobilis, Anona muricata, Averrhoa bilimbi, Poinciana aculeate, Eribotrya japonica, Casurina equesetifolia, Castanospermum australe, Areaucaria bidwilli, A.cookili, A.cunninghamii, Cupressus sp, Damara robusta, Bixa orellane, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Gossypium barba-dense, Coffeaarabica, Vanilla aromatica, Pisum sativum, Arachishypogaea, Medicago sativa, Daucus carota, Brassicaoleracea, Lactuca sativa, Solanum tuberosum, Beta vulgaris, Myrtus communis, Corypha umbraculifera, C.australis, Ammomum angustifolium, Machadamia sppodocarpus longifolia, Pinus longifolia, P.sylvestris, P.pseudo-strophilus, Allamanda catharica, Achrassapota, Persea gratissima, Java fig, Moretonbay chestnuttrees, Mahogany, litchi, guava, pineapple, tobacco, etc.

Mr. William New resigned from service in December 1863 and on the recommendation of Sir W.Hooker, the services of Mr.A.Black from Kew Herbarium were secured and he was appointed as Superintendent. He continued New’s policies. A collection of 150 kinds of flower trees was received from Kew during 1864 in his time. He kept up the exchange list of other gardens, Mr. Black, however, resigned from this post during the year 1865 due to his poor health and Mr. New was also a member of the Bangalore Horticultural Fete (show) Committee during 1866, which organized the Horticultural show at Lalbagh. He continued in this post until his death in August 1873.

John Cameron took charge as the Superintendent of Government gardens in 1874. He introduced scientific and systematic methods in gardening. He evinced keen interest in systematic introduction and acclimatization of plants of economic value in the state. Experimental cultivation in the Lalbagh was carried out on crops like cotton, rubber and grapes, fruit plants, groundnut, dates, coconuts, mulberry and others. The result, many of these plants came to be grown all over the State and contributed much to the wealth and fame of Mysore. The official supervision of the garden continued to be under the Commissioner until the Rendition. At the Rendition in 1881, the garden passed into the hands of the Government of the Maharaja of Mysore. Under the State Government, the area of garden was increased. From the original area of 40 acres, the garden area was more than doubled. During 1888-89, an area of 22 acres and 36 guntas was purchased in addition to the land purchased during the previous year. Eight acres of land situated between the eastern boundary, the wall of the existing garden and the nullah skirting the foot of the mantapam rock was purchased. Acquisition of the Mantapam rock to the east of the east of the exhibition building was made in 1891-92, the area being 13 acres lying under the rock and sufficient land outside the main entrance gates was acquired in 1890-91 to prevent any encroachment. In the year 1894, immediately under the rock and east of the garden an area of 9 acres and 21 guntas was acquired for the extension of Botanical gardens. By the turn of the century, the extension of Botanical gardens. By the turn of the century, the total area of the gardens was more than 120 acres.

Flower shows were held by this society right from the beginning. They were held for several reasons like creating public awareness to entertain the public. For conducting these shows the Government paid the cost of prizes direct to the Society for some years and later on in was absorbed direct in the garden budget. The Society was basically an association of members and legally it was not a Society. Its early members were highly influential and the committee members were all Europeans. The society helped in distributing and procuring seeds and plants from other places in India and abroad. They arranged for lectures on Horticultural and allied fields. They also gave technical advice to members. The Society maintained its own library and published its own bulletins and journals. After long gap, the flower exhibition was conducted on 16.12.1867. The annual flowers shows were continued during the subsequent years. Admission to the first flower show was free, but admission by tickets was practiced from December 1867. Under the auspices of the Agri-Horticultural Society, the shows held in August-September were known as summer shows and the ones held in January-February were known as winter shows. All the shows were notified in the Mysore Gazette with approved prize schemes.

Cameron reports that “but it is being an oriental custom to exhibit animals with plants in garden, it is presumed that the native visitors felt the want of animals and birds in Lalbagh. As a matter of fact a large percentage of sightseers in all countries prefer to watch the movement of animals of viewing beauties of flowers and trees”. It was probably for this reason that mixed arrangement of the garden and zoo had been so long maintained. Earliest mention of an animal secured by the Lalbagh Menagerie was in 1862, when a black panther was purchased. By 1877, there were a few animals and a fairly good collection of birds. Expenses on Menagerie and Aviary were reduced in 1879 and many less important birds and small animals were either sold or let loose. A few tigers, kangaroos and deer were donated to the Menagerie during 1889-90. An orangutan and a pair of monkeys without tails were also procured. Orangutan was quite popular with the visitors. A pigeon house for 100 pairs of pigeon was built in the form of a Dove cot. The plague of 1899 had a bad effect on the strength of the Menagerie and Aviary. As on 16th November 1900, there were only 60 animals and the birds. All these animals were only 60 animals and the birds. All these animals were later transferred to the Mysore zoo.

In the year 1888, John Cameron proposed for construction of Glass House for the sole purpose of holding Horticultural shows. Construction of the glass house was completed in 1890 at a cost of Rs.75, 000. Temporary power connection was given to the Glass House in 1905 and permanent power connection was given to the Glass house in 1913-14.

J.Cameron was regarded as the life and soul of the Government Botanical Gardens at Bangalore from 1874 to 1908, till he laid down his office and went back to England. His name is particularly associated with introduction of useful plants not only to the garden but also to the state. His letters to the Kew Gardens are interesting and valuable and reveal his zeal for enriching the collection of plants of economic value to the State. He collected a large number of Botanical drawings and colour plates and prepared a list of name of hundreds of plants. After retirement of Cameron, Gutsav Herman Krumbiegal assumed the charge of the Botanical Gardens. So important was his service to the Lalbagh and to the State in general that a main road near the Lalbagh is named after him.