Vidhana Soudha

The Vidhana Soudha houses the legislature of the state of Karnataka and as the biggest legislative building in India. The locals are particularly proud of this important city landmark. This imposing building is made of granite in a neo-Dravidian style with a few Indo-Saracenic architectural elements thrown in, like its golden dome. Surrounded by gardens, it stands on a 60-acre site.

The construction of the Vidhana Soudha started in 1951 and was the ambition of the then Chief Minster Sri Hanumanthaiya who wanted the building to symbolize the people’s legislative sovereignty, like the House of Commons in London or the Capitol in Washington DC. Construction on the building started with the foundation stone being laid by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1951 and was completed four years later.

On Sunday evenings and public holidays the building is lit up between 6pm and 8:30pm. Just south of the Vidhana Soudha is its replica, the Vikasa Soudha. This building was opened in 2005 to house additional legislative and ministerial offices of the Karnataka government.