Vidhana Soudha

Vidhana Soudha
ವಿಧಾನ ಸೌಧ
Vidhana Soudha is the seat of Karnataka's Legislative assembly
Location of Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore 32
General information
Type	Legislative building
Architectural style	Neo-Dravidian
Location	Bangalore, Karnataka
Country	India
Coordinates	12°58′47″N 77°35′26″E / 12.979693°N 77.590658°E / 12.979693; 77.590658
Construction started	1952
Completed	1956
Cost	₹14.8 million (US$230,000)
Owner	Karnataka Government
Height	150 feet (46 m)
Technical details
Floor count	4 + 1 basement
Floor area	505,505 square feet (46,963.0 m2)
Design and construction
Architect	Kengal Hanumanthaiya
Main contractor	KPWD
Other information
Seating capacity	300members

Coordinates: 12°58′47″N 77°35′26″E / 12.979693°N 77.590658°E / 12.979693; 77.590658

The Vidhana Soudha located in Bengaluru, is the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka. It is an imposing building, constructed in a style sometimes described as Mysore Neo-Dravidian, and incorporates elements of Indo-Saracenic and Dravidian styles. The construction was completed in 1956.

Kengal Hanumanthaiah is credited with the conception and construction of the Vidhana Soudha. The foundation stone was laid by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, on July 13, 1951. However, it was Hanumanthaiah who was instrumental in the redesign and speedy construction of Vidhana Soudha. He visited Europe, Russia, the United States, and other places and got the idea of building the Vidhana Soudha by incorporating various designs from the buildings he had seen. It was completed in 1956. He took a lot of interest and effort in building this marvelous granite building. It was meant to dwarf the British-built Athara Kacheri (High Court) building. Hanumanthaiah was criticized for the nearly 15 million rupees spent to construct the building. But the building designed by him is an impressive structure of Neo Dravidian style.