Johnson Market - the visit into the past

On 10^th March 2019, we the Mums and children started to walk to explore one of the Bangalore’s prominent place in Richmond Town the” Johnson Market”. Everyone were excited to know about this place and children got the briefing from Amanda. 
Johnson's Market was a huge horse stable belonging to Aga Ali Asker, a rich businessman from Persia, who owned large tracts of land around Richmond Town.

Fruits and Vegetable vendors now occupy the corridors 

Where the horses stood

As we look into the beautiful designs made on the top entrance of the building, it reminded us about the Indo Persian exchange of architecture, with a combination of motifs.

The entrance of the old stables 

We had a chance to taste the Khova Naan from Makkah café which is one of the best-sold product at the market. Children walked with curious eyes and were delighted to see how the market building, built in 1929, is still being used, with new occupants - the vendors-  selling the much-needed vegetables, fruits and meat.

The center of the market building has a huge roof with octagonal structure and children were quizzed with their geometry knowledge on shapes. This must have been the central source of good support and ventilation for the structure.

This visit gave all of us a sense of living in the past (which is always so fun to imagine) with all the military regiments, British officers around, best horses being traded by merchants.

Fish and Meat vendors within the structure

Shops line the outside of the structure of the former stable

Our Exhibit is on the 31^st of March and then on the 6^th and 7^th of April. Do join us, we start in the park.

Please do reach out to Tanya ( 98451 31025) or Cauvery (99720 45903) to join us for the displays !!

Amanda shares

The current Indo-Saracenic building was constructed in 1929 on the site of former stables that were no longer fully occupied due to the rise of the automobile. A local market, known as “Richmond Town Market’ had sprung up in the area. According to historical accounts, The new ‘Johnson Market’ building was constructed under the behest of the then Diwan of Mysore, Sir Mirza Ismail, grandson of the famous horse trader, Ali Asker. The market takes its name from a former British Civil servant, who we assume helped facilitate its construction. It was built both as a smaller-scale stable and to house market stalls, with room for small shops along the outside. 

Some of the notable market vendors include the Makkah Cafe and the ‘Golden Fish Stall,’ which, according to the descendants of the original owners, has been in operation for around 100 years, predating the building itself. The structure is currently in poor repair and has been slated for demolition in the near future.