Mangaluru: The Collector’s house or the residence of the Deputy Commissioner, a heritage building, is located on the top of Sanyasi Gudda hill, here in Mangaluru. To the right of the road leading to DC’s Bungalow at Balmatta Junction, in Mangluru, Karnataka Tourism department has erected an information board about the DC’s Bungalow mentioning the brief history in Kannada and English. However, sharp difference in two texts has left the readers confused.
The text reads in English that, the Canara District under Madras Presidency stretched from Karwar to Kanhangad. The District Collectors lived in the colonial styled bungalow which was built in 1799. The first collector to stay is Major Munro and then 216 Collectors/Deputy Commissioners stayed in the bungalow and administered the district for 126 years.
However, in Kannada the board reads that over 216 years as many as 126 Collectors/Deputy Commissioners stayed in the bungalow. The printing error has left the readers in a state of confusion, wanting to know which of the details are correct.
According to information available, this house was constructed on a 10-acre land acquired from a Christian family (The Brittos, who also voluntarily handed over other sprawling and prime property to the administration including Nehru Maidan, DC’s summer bungalow at Shivbaugh etc).
The 10,000 sq ft house is located in the midst of lush green woods. A passage of newly laid interlock tiles leads to the three-bedroom house. “Deputy Commissioner every year meets the Scouts and Guides and distributes awards in the spacious verandah of the bungalow held here,” according to office of the Deputy Commissioner. Governors of the British Province visiting the area stayed in the Governor’s suite, which was built especially for them. This suite, which is attached to the Deputy Commissioner’s house, is being maintained as a VIP suite. The suite retains the old wooden flooring over which a vinyl coating has been done.
With new set furniture and cots in place, the structure has been giving a grand look. It has red oxide flooring, which replaces the old tiled flooring at Verandah. Deputy Commissioner House retains the old iron safe, writing table, and a revolving chair. The building retains the old frontage, roof design, and doors. All in all, the DC’s Bungalow is a feast for eyes by all means.
