Views of Bangalore

On the back [verso] of this card is written: "The building in the centre is the last one of which my father was the architect. C.J.V. India 1907." The Bowring Institute is one of the older Clubs in India, and an appropriate centerpiece for the early multi-view card of the city. Note the gold embossed "A happy New Year" scrawled across the top left.

The Bowring Institute, now a protected and restored edifice, was originally founded as a literary and scientific club in 1868, and the current premises on St. Marks Road was started in 1888. It was funded by the Government and Indian philanthropists. The original architect was said to be Municipal Engineer, G. Gibson, which may or may not correspond with the inscription on the back of this card.