Vidhana Soudha is one of the grandest buildings in India, an elegant marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture. It is located in the heart of the capital city of Bangalore in Madhya Pradesh. Popularly known as the ‘Taj Mahal of South India’ for the monument, it is one of the grandest buildings in the city of Bangalore. It has the proud distinction of being the largest state legislative building in the country.
Vidhana Soudha is a famous building in Bangalore spread over 60 acres of land, adorning this glorified and opulent place with sheer elegance.
Built over five years between 1951 and 1956, the country’s largest legislative building was inaugurated on 13 July 1951 by the then Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Kengal Hanumantiah, and eventually became India’s largest legislative building in 1956.
Vidhana Soudha Structure
Vidhana Soudha twelve forty-foot columns in front of the Assembly Hall provide a magnificent backdrop to the central dome and six smaller domes. Methodology The structure surrounded by lush green manicured lawns has four upper levels and a basement, with a total of 172 rooms in the basement and is built entirely of granite and porphyry. The floor area is about 47,000 (700 by 350 ft) square meters and is decorated with 12 granite columns, 40 ft high east facing facade. Vidhana Soudha has 300 rooms which are used by various departments of the state government.
The entrance of the building is decorated with the national emblem of our country, the four-headed lion. The most attractive feature of the interior of the Methodist Church is the grand staircase leading to the front. Forty-five steps, 200 feet wide and 70 feet high, the Assembly Hall looks very grand with twenty columns, each forty feet high, adorning its entrance. The central dome is supported by eight granite columns, each 60 feet in diameter, which roofs the State Banquet Hall. The dome is crowned with the Indian national emblem.
An interesting fact about the construction of this monument is that it was built by 5000 unskilled workers, all of whom were criminals. After the construction was completed, all these convicts were given freedom to work.
The Vidhana Soudha is mostly built of “Bangalore Granite”, carved from the surrounding areas of Mallasandra and Nameghatta. The building is constructed of “Magadi pink” and “Turuvekere black” granite stones transported from Magadi and Turuvekere.. It has four domes at its four corners and the entrance to the building is decorated with the national symbol of India. The building is accessible from all four sides.
The best time to visit the Vidhana Soudha is on Sundays and public holidays, when it is beautifully lit from 6pm to 8.30pm. And visitors must get prior permission to enter the building.
Other government offices, archives, library and banquet hall are housed in the same building with artistic elements representing the tradition of the state.
It bears the crown of India’s emblem. The phrase “Government’s work is God’s work” (Sarkarada kelasa devara kelasa) in Kannada script is inscribed on the main entrance. An inscription “Satyameva Jayate” is also made.
