St. Mary's Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica is the oldest church in Bengaluru, located in Shivajinagar in the north-eastern part of Central Bengaluru, in Karnataka, India. Its origins date to the 17th century as a small shrine, and the present Gothic-revival building, with twin spires, arched entrances and stained glass windows, was raised in the 19th century. It was elevated to the rank of basilica in 1974. Visitors approach through a busy market street and enter a calm interior with high ceilings, coloured glass, a decorated altar and a statue of Mary. Services in several languages are held throughout the day, and visitors can sit quietly in the pews outside service times. The annual feast around 8 September, celebrating the Nativity of Mary, brings a festival of processions, flower-sellers, candles and large crowds of pilgrims from many faiths. A typical visit takes thirty to forty-five minutes. The basilica is open daily from about 5:00AM to 8:00PM. Weekday mornings are quiet, while Sundays and feast week are crowded, and the surrounding streets are jammed with vendors selling flowers and candles. The best photographs are of the exterior spires from the forecourt and the stained glass lit by afternoon sun. Entry is free. Visitors should dress modestly, keep quiet, and avoid taking photographs during services or of worshippers without permission. Shivajinagar bus terminal is about 500 metres away, and from MG Road metro station it is around fifteen minutes by auto-rickshaw. Nearby Commercial Street and Russell Market offer shopping and food, so the basilica is often combined with a walk through the Shivajinagar area.