The OH and I might never have ventured to explore the Jai Prakash Narayan Park (popularly known as JP Park) if not for the BIL, who loves gorging on the yummy chaats from the stalls that surround it. Oh, yes, the park has a horde of stores outside, selling everything from straight-off-the-stove jalebis and samosas to different kinds of chaats, corn and cotton candy. I am so glad we found this park!
The park, nestled in a quiet lane in Matthikere, is not one of the best known parks in Bangalore. It is no Lal Baugh or Cubbon Park, but it does have a charm of its own. In fact, it is so neat, well-maintained and pretty that I often wonder why it is not as popular as the other parks in the city!
The big golden statue of Mr. Narayan outside the park and the canopy of pink bouganvilla at the entrance are its identifiers for the passersby.The park is quite big, spread across 85 acres, with beautiful landscaped lawns, divided into different sections. Wide, well-built lanes and an adequate number of stylish lamps all over the garden make walking through it a good experience.
Separate areas have been constructed for exercising and yoga.
There are beautiful statues spread across the park, most depicting rural life in Karnataka.
There is a rock garden and a musical fountain, too.
There is also a natural lake, full of huge catfish, eager to eat the goodies that visitors offer them. This is where I had my first sight of catfish, and I was amazed to see the large creatures opening their mouths wiiiiiiiiiide and jostling amongst themselves for every bit of the food.
The garden has a football court, volleyball ground, kabaddi ground and a 1,000-seater amphitheatre, though most of these are still under construction. What’s more, it has ample parking space and free entry.
We loved the park at first sight, and since our first visit a few months ago, it has become one of our favourite go-to spots in the city.
Did you enjoy touring the place with me?
WOW! This place is in Bangalore? Must visit it! How do you find such gems, TGND? Lovely!
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@Sandhya
Yep, this place is very much in Bangalore. One of my favourite places to just relax. š
I just love to explore the city, and love highlighting places that are beautiful but not so well known on my blog.
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The pink canopy is gorgeous! Love it!!
Thanks for the tour GND. Had never heard of this one.
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@Priya
You are most welcome. Do visit the park sometime! š
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Lovely pictures TGND. Loved reading about this park… I love parks that are not very crowded and not littered. I will add it to my “to visit ” list for my next Bangalore visit š
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@Lifesong
Me too. š
I am sure you will like this place.
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TGND,
The park looks well maintained and the statues add a new dimension to the whole place. Seems like a nice place for a stroll.
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@Amit
It is a very neat and well-maintained park. I love the place. š
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A nice place indeed:)
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@Rahul
Yes, it is! š
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wow.. thats a super park.. teaching a lot too.. i too lived in b’lore, nvr explored this place.. :(..
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@Ashreyamom
I heard that this park was recently revamped or something. So, please don’t blame yourself. š
Teaching a lot? :O
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for the kids who have nvr been to villages.. š
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@Ashreyamom
Ah, okay. š
Yes, it is a good place to teach your kids about rural life. That said, it would be better to take your kids to an actual village rather than show them something second-hand. Of course, I understand it might not always be possible.
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A lovely post and a visual treat TGND. Have never been to this place before but now I know its on my To-Do list!
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@Sia
Thank you! š
Are you based in Bangalore?
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Just I mentioned earlier – TGND !
You make me fall in love with my own home town , over and over again.
I’ve lived in Bangalore for 26 years and haven’t visited this park even once. In fact, got to know of it’s very existence through you.
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@SJ Scribbles
Awwww, I’m glad! š
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What a wonderful place you’ve rediscovered! the statues are sooo real. Loved it š
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@Mom with a dot
Glad you enjoyed the ride. š
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Such a great find! I love these gems in our cities š The pics are great and I especially loved the statues of the modern family. Very lifelike. Thanks for showing us a tour….where is matthikere btw?
Btw love your new background :))
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@Aparna
Thank you! š
Matthikere is close to the MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology. Check this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathikere
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These parks are not popular because people are busy patronising malls!! No seriously!!
The pictures depict how good this place is!
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@Smita
I don’t know. I think Lal Baugh or Cubbon Park are quite popular in spite of the malls. Why, then, isn’t this one?
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Wow! That is definitely a place I would love to go and visit. Thank you for the lovely snapshot š
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@Veens
You are most welcome, Veens. š
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lovely pics and i loved the one of the farmer looking at the sky for rain.. inspite of all the hard work still our farmers are looking for nature to help …
the last ones now those are a lot of cat fish …
see now that i have come back from bangalore i get to hear about a lot of places that i could of gone , the last time i was there I saw Tipu sultan’s palace too š
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@Bikram
Maybe it is time to plan another visit to Bangalore! š
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OH yes especially after seeing those biscuits you put up in your last post .. I am so tempted just for that to come over .. he he he he he
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@Bikram
Hee hee
Sure thing, come over! š
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Thanks for that walk in the park, TGND. Came back feeling totally refreshed and happy that the park appears to be so well maintained. And that walk through the bamboo grove was the best š
I have seen similar depictions of rural life in the Almatti Dam Gardens which is spread out over 10s of acres. Some of the statues there were a little too real for comfort too (see this: http://wp.me/pWlKD-SJ) š
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@Sudhagee
I am glad you enjoyed the visit, Sudhagee! š
Yes, the park is indeed clean and well-maintained, and that is the best part about it. At least, it is so till date.
I have heard that the rock garden in this park is modelled on the one at Almatti. Don’t know how far it is true, though.
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I think it is true, for when I saw the photograph of the rock garden I thought it was that of Almatti’s š
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@Sudhagee
Oh okay! š
Pardon my ignorance, but where is Almatti Garden located? Is it in Mumbai?
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Almatti Dam falls is in North Karnataka. It is on the way to Badami from Bijapur.
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I loved touring this place with you.. what with beautiful words and awesome pictures. I have never been to this park nor heard of it. I will go there for sure, when S is here. I completely fell in love with those statues. I also love looking at fishes, that come up to gobble the eats thrown at them, so I am going there for sure, if not for anything just for looking at catfish and the statues š . All in all a very lovely post TNGD š
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@Greenboochi
Thank you so much, GB! š I hope you enjoy the place as much as I did.
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Thoroughly enjoyed,TGND! The canopy of bougainvillea looks gorgeous! Those statues as well, so well depicted! Thank you for this lovely virtual tour š
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@Deeps
I’m glad! š
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