Mysuru: Immediately after assuming charge as the new tourism minister, Sa Ra Mahesh had repeatedly said that Brindavan Gardens, one of the major attractions of the KRS dam would be developed. Adding to this, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, in his maiden budget, announced to spend Rs 5 Crore towards developing the garden on the model of America’s Disneyland with Public Private Partnership. In his speech, he had pointed out that global industrialists were eager to invest in this project. However, this proposal was opposed by several experts.
Now, Alyia Phelps-Gardiner Krumbiegel, the great-granddaughter of the creator of the Brindavan Gardens Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, has opposed the move. Alyia Krumbiegel, who works as an architect in the UK, has written an open letter to the CM voicing her objections to the proposal.
In her letter to Kumaraswamy, Alyia Phelps-Gardiner Krumbiegel says that the inspiration for the garden (earlier called Krishna Terrace Gardens) located just a level below the dam, came from the architecture of the famous Mughal gardens in Kashmir-the Shalimar Gardens. “This achievement goes to the then Dewan of Mysuru, Sir Mirza Ismail and my great grandfather G H Krumbiegel, the then superintendent of parks and gardens of Mysuru, the man behind Bengaluru’s Lalbagh and largely credited for the title of the architect of the garden city,” she writes.
She questioned the rationale behind the latest proposal of the state government to turn the iconic gardens into a theme park. “The tourist minister will want international tourists to come to experience the historical vibrant city of Mysuru during the most famous Dasara festival of Karnataka. Most international tourists are hoping to experience such heritage. Why travel halfway around the world to see a theme park just like those back home?”, she questioned.
Calling India “a land replete with cultural, historical and religious artefacts, which draw a sense of wonder for the visitors”, she said that the Brindavan gardens were of “international value and must be treated following the ICOMOS guidelines.”
She decried the undoing of history by modernising an iconic cultural monument. “It is also about the very spirit of the place that just has to be preserved, the so-called ‘genius loci’ Disneyland would put the whole idea, the concept of a representative garden, ad absurdum a total neglect of history,” she said.
Further, she said, “I would be only too willing to meet you to discuss alternative restoration for this most iconic landmark.”
She also pointed out that the Brindavan Gardens needed a proper conservation management plan with realistic aims, guidelines and a financial plan to convince and show alternatives. “Brindavan Gardens has not got the same historical and tourism value as the Taj Mahal it should have. The tourist board in Karnataka does not promote their valuable assets well enough to the international tourism industry,” she stated.
