BENGALURU: If you feel bold and adventurous, take a walk to the oldest cemeteries in the city some of which date back to the 18th century
Fort Cemetery
History has it that there existed a fort cemetery just outside the old fort area and the Fort Church was responsible for its upkeep. Christian Catholics and Protestants of the 18th century were laid to rest and significant among them are the graves of the soldiers who fell during the siege of Bengaluru during the third Mysore War in 1791. Robert Homes in the book ‘Select Views of Mysore, the country of Tipoo Sultan’( 1794) has illustrated paintings of Fort cemetery with graves of Capt. James Smith, James Williamson, Nathaniel Daws, John Shipper, Jeermiah, Lt. Col. Gratton among others.
Kalpalli Cemetery
The oldest cemetery in cantonment area is the Protestant cemetery, Kalpalli Cemetery. Graves of prominent British army officers of 19th century who lived in the cantonment area are found here, including General John Wheeler (Wheeler road, Cleveland Road, Cleveland Town are named after him) and his wife. The cemetery is also known as St. John’s Cemetery as it is under the control of St. John’s Church.
Agram Cemetery
Oldest Protestant cemetery in the city with graves dating back to 1808 is protected and maintained by Indian Army. This is the oldest existing War Memorial cemetery in the city besides the military graves. There are graves of the families who died during plague and cholera epidemics in the 1820s. This cemetery is declared as a heritage site by ASI
New Protestant Cemetery
This is an addition to the Agram Cemetery with an architectural entrance gateway that is divided into two. One part being the graves dating from 1869 to 1917 and another one from 1917 onwards having tombs of the Second World War victims.These cemeteries are maintained by St. Marks Cathedral
Hosur Road Catholic Cemetery
Record has it that Catholic Cemetery was located earlier at the premises of Sacred Heart Church, Richmond Road, which existed from 1807 and is as old as Agram cemetery. This cemetery was later moved to the present Hosur Road and is maintained by St. Patricks Church Residency Road.
Inputs by Arun Prasad, independent historian