The Lalbagh or the Mysore government Botanical Gardens was a key centre of horticulture during the rule of later Mysore Wodeyars (1881-1947).
The original garden of 40 acres which was laid down by Hyder Ali was expanded during the rule of the British Commissioners and the Wodeyars. After the fall of Tipu in 1799, Lalbagh was owned by a military botanist, Major Waugh, who in 1819 gave the garden as a gift to the Governor General Marquess of Hasting. When Mark Cubbon became the Commissioner of Mysore he handed over the garden to a Horticultural Society formed in Bangalore in 1836. But in 1842, the Society was dissolved and Lalbagh was handed over to the government. On the recommendation of Hugh Cleghorn and Jaffrey (Superintendent of the Gardens at Madras) who visited Lalbagh in July 1856, Lalbagh became the Government Horticultural Gardens and William New took charge of the Garden in April 1858.
He resigned in December 1863 and was succeeded by A A Black, who resigned in 1865 and once again William New was reappointed as Superintendent till his death in August 1863.
Some of the famous Superintendents who contributed to the growth of Lalbagh were John Cameron, G H Krumbiegel, H C Javaraya, M H Marigowda and others.
Between 1886-87 and 1890-91, about 38 acres of land in the east was added and the area of Lalbagh was doubled to 80 acres. During 1890-91 13 acres of rock called the mantaparock and in 1894-95 another nine and a half guntas of land was added to the park. Subsequent periods saw the expansion of the garden.
The original garden of 40 acres which was laid down by Hyder Ali was expanded during the rule of the British Commissioners and the Wodeyars. After the fall of Tipu in 1799, Lalbagh was owned by a military botanist, Major Waugh, who in 1819 gave the garden as a gift to the Governor General Marquess of Hasting. When Mark Cubbon became the Commissioner of Mysore he handed over the garden to a Horticultural Society formed in Bangalore in 1836. But in 1842, the Society was dissolved and Lalbagh was handed over to the government. On the recommendation of Hugh Cleghorn and Jaffrey (Superintendent of the Gardens at Madras) who visited Lalbagh in July 1856, Lalbagh became the Government Horticultural Gardens and William New took charge of the Garden in April 1858.
He resigned in December 1863 and was succeeded by A A Black, who resigned in 1865 and once again William New was reappointed as Superintendent till his death in August 1863.
Some of the famous Superintendents who contributed to the growth of Lalbagh were John Cameron, G H Krumbiegel, H C Javaraya, M H Marigowda and others.
Between 1886-87 and 1890-91, about 38 acres of land in the east was added and the area of Lalbagh was doubled to 80 acres. During 1890-91 13 acres of rock called the mantaparock and in 1894-95 another nine and a half guntas of land was added to the park. Subsequent periods saw the expansion of the garden.