Attara Kacheri (Karnataka High Court)

Attara Kacheri, meaning 'eighteen offices' in Kannada, is the red Greco-Roman style building on Dr Ambedkar Veedhi beside Cubbon Park in central Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It was built between 1864 and 1868 to house the administrative departments of the Mysore state during the British Commissioner period (1831-1881), when the kingdom was administered directly by British Commissioners from Bengaluru. The name refers to the many government departments that were accommodated under one roof. The building is a large two-storey structure with a colonnaded facade, tall classical columns, a pediment and a central portico, and its red colour distinguishes it from the granite Vidhana Soudha across the road. It is a characteristic example of the public architecture of the Raj, planned to express authority and order, and it was built in brick and masonry with plaster finishes. After Independence, the offices moved out and the building became the seat of the Karnataka High Court, which continues to sit here; a later extension was added to accommodate more courtrooms. Because it functions as an active court, the interior is not open to tourists and there is no museum-style presentation. Visitors typically view the exterior from the pavement, from Cubbon Park or from the opposite side of the road, and the building forms a group with Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park and the nearby Government Museum. Maintenance has been carried out by the state public works department, with the facade repainted regularly, and the structure remains in sound condition. Photography from outside is generally allowed, though security around the court and the legislature is tight, and people are not permitted to loiter near the entrances. A visit is best planned as part of a walk through the Cubbon Park civic precinct.