Take a stroll at this prison turned park

Bangalore is never short of ideas and innovation. In a unique move, the state government has turned the erstwhile Central Jail to a park, where people can take a stroll. It is in a way a look into the history as well. Because the jail housed our great freedom fighters and people who opposed the late Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. 

Vicky Nanjappa takes a saunter through the prison-turned-park. Follow him!       

The Central Jail has undergone a complete makeover and is now the new cultural hub. The makeover, undertaken by architects Mathew and Gosh, is a dream come true for Bangaloreans, who have been looking for a cultural space, especially when the Information Technology boom has commercialized the city once known as the Garden City.

The 22-acre park situated in central Bangalore also boasts of a 16-acre amphitheatre that can house 300 people. While many structural changes have been made in the old building, the watch tower and the office of the chief warden have been retained to create a feeling of nostalgia.

The park also has six barracks which have been converted into recreational spots where the public could walk around and the cell yard continues to remain as a high-walled structure.

The plan is to have a musical fountain. There is still a bit of art work that remains to be done in the park.

The gallows will be redone in due course of time.The plan is to design it on the lines of the gallows at the Belgaum Central Jail, which is the only place where executions are carried out in Karnataka.