A Walk through the Iconic Raj Bhavan

All of us have been stuck in traffic in front of its ornate gates, the road winds in such a way that it looks like you have to pay homage to it before you proceed to your destination.

The magnificent Raj Bhavan, a beautiful piece of a legacy left behind by the British governance and an architectural wonder built by Sir Mark Cubbon.

On 15th June, a pleasant afternoon (considering the rest of the country is sweltering!), the FICCI FLO ladies gathered in the gorgeously manicured lawns of the Raj Bhavan, after several rounds of through frisking and checking by the security officials.

At the Royal Banquet Hall, which has hosted many important official functions and dignitaries, the ladies were seated to witness the proceedings. The Governor of Karnataka, His Excellency Mr. Vajubhai Vala was introduced to the members by Chairperson Shruti Mittal.  The Governor was also given a brief outline about Ficci Flo and it’s activities. In his short yet eloquent talk to the members, the Governor expressed his delight at being able to host an evening at the Raj Bhavan for such an esteemed group of ladies.

The ladies were welcomed with a kit containing brochures on the Raj Bhavan and the Governor.

This was followed by a formal photography session in the Glass House, where the Governor also joined in for a few minutes.

A guided walk around the century-old gardens was organized for the members, which was a visual and sensory delight considering that the gardens were built along as a replica of the Lal Bagh.

Both the formal and the informal gardens are in harmony with the colonial and classical architecture of the Raj Bhavan building.

The Raj Bhavan is spread over an area of about 18 acres, hence the walk was restricted only to the important areas.

The evening concluded with a lavishly spread high tea in the Glass House. The members were treated to an array of Gujarati snacks and delicacies like chaat, dabeli, dhokla’s, poha, paav bhaji and sabudana kichdi amongst many other items.

In fact, most members were overheard saying that they were ” relieved ” to walk around the lawns because they were so stuffed!

However, the highlight of the evening was probably the fact that all members were phone and bag free, a real throwback to our younger days where we mingled freely without any techie traps.