Structural facts in and around Church Street
- Jesly Pulikotil
- Oct 6, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 6, 2022
If you missed on some trivia from our blog posts so far, here is a list of structural facts and marvels in and around Church Street- some that you can still spot, and some long gone…
1. The Cathedral Story.
Starting off with the edifice that lend its name to Church Street, St. Mark’s Cathedral. The cathedral was established with the laying of the foundation stone in 1808. The cathedral is home to memorial tablets of British military officers who died while serving Bengaluru when it was part of the Cantonment. Here is an old image of St.Mark’s Cathedral.
2. Pedestrian Only. No Traffic Please!
Church Street is known to be a pedestrian-only, traffic-free street primarily during the weekends. This is to ensure better air quality in the area with the absence of vehicles as well as to make room for various activities without the fear of accidents. Performers can freely take to the centre of the street to gather attention, artists, crafters and other vendors or sellers can extend their stores to the sidewalks.
3. ‘Kasuti’ Church Street Ki.
The cobblestone paving on the roads of Church Street was first of its kind. If you haven’t noticed it already, these cobblestone paving have specifically followed a design which is a tribute to a part of Karnataka’s cultural heritage. The designs are inspired by Kasuti, a famous style of folk embroidery in the state.
4. For The Bibliophiles:
From post-cards to old magazines, to comics and manga to catalogues and posters of shows by local artists, to books of all genres old and new, Blossom Book House is a must visit on Church Street for bookworms and otherwise. In case you cannot find something that you are looking for, the staff will help you find it or let you place an order for the same. They have also recently opened a website for Bengaluru residents who cannot visit the store owing to the pandemic.
5. Remembering Falnir House:
If you were lucky enough to explore Church Street and its surrounding areas before mid-2019, you may have definitely seen this extremely old, colonial house as seen below. It was once owned by a British Army officer. The officer’s family owned the house for about 60 years, eventually selling it in the 2000s. In 2019, the house was demolished for a new commercial space.
6. Before You Enter Church Street!
At the crossroads of Church Street and St. Mark’s road, stands the iconic Koshy’s or Koshy’s Parade Cafe, which was once known as just ‘Parade’s’. It was established in around the 1950s by P Oommen Koshy. The Cafe is a living classic, with regular visitors sitting around on tables longer than usual, reminiscing stolen moments of happiness away from the crowd and noise outside. For new comers, the sepia aesthetic of the cafe with its seating, lights, the food, is surely appealing. Keep an out for little pieces of history and vintage value across the cafe’s indoors.
7. And We Lost A Haunted House.
Similar to Falnir House, some fortunate individuals who decided to take a stroll beyond Church Street before 2019, may have seen a deserted, mildly spooky building at St. Mark’s Circle, closer to the Federal Bank and MTR lane. What is now a private building called ‘Anandam’ was once called ‘Terra Vera’ home to sisters Dolce and Vera Vaz. The building was built in 1943 and the Vaz sisters, lived there until 2002. In 2002, the 75 year old younger sister was killed by an unidentified person. She was buried in the same compound and her elder sister, 80 then, was moved somewhere safe. Rumours of ghost-spotting circulated around until the building was finally razed in 2019. More about this haunted house- here or watch the video below.
If you know more such facts, tell us in the comment section below or let us know via mail at churchst.talking@gmail.com
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