1950s MG road photo goes viral, revealing Bengaluru’s peaceful past – 'Bengaluru must have been a paradise,' say netizens

A 1950s black-and-white photo, depicting a parking lot on Bengaluru's iconic MG Road, recently surfaced on social media, triggering nostalgia attacks among netizens. The old photo, posted by the account Indian History Pics, takes viewers back to a period when one of Bengaluru's busiest roads was lined with vintage cars and cycle rickshaws. The post, originally posted on March 15, has received more than 22,000 views since, triggering debates about the city's makeover.

The photo captures a period when MG Road, now one of Bengaluru's busiest streets, was comparatively quieter and peaceful. The cars in the photo, ranging from the old cars to cycle rickshaws, depict the city during an era gone by, a striking contrast to the busy city we are familiar with now. The lack of distractions in the scene, with minimal modern frills, evokes nostalgia among several viewers who look back warmly on Bengaluru's more relaxed past.


While most people appreciated the antiquity of the city, there were differing views on whether Bengaluru's past had been better than its current state. Some people romanticized the pre-historic quiet, pre-madness times of the city. One of them, comparing the tranquility of the past with the current situation, said, "Bengaluru must have been a paradise back then." Not everyone shared this rosy outlook on the past, though, and pointed out the good changes that the city has faced.
Another user responded to the nostalgic view by pointing out the economic progress in the city through the years. The user opined, "Even though I also criticize stuff myself, this current era is undoubtedly better. In the olden days, over 75% of people were living beneath the poverty level.". Today, almost everyone has a smartphone." This observation highlights the great progress Bengaluru has made in economic growth, technology, and standard of living, indicating that though the past might have been lovely, the future brings concrete advantages to the people of the city.

Although there has been economic development, there have been complaints from some users about the effect of modernization, especially that of urban development projects such as the Metro rail on MG Road. A user said with regret, "The authorities decided to build a Metro line in the middle, destroying the road's original beauty." This captures the irony between wanting to maintain the historic nature of the city and providing urban infrastructure to support Bengaluru's expanding population.
Similarly, another 1994 picture of Bengaluru's Majestic bus station also went viral on social media during January 2025. Taken on a foggy morning at 9:05 a.m., this image shows a less crowded, peaceful Majestic in contrast to the present scenario. Majestic is now one of the city's busiest transport hubs, always bustling with commuters, new entrants, and tourists. The old picture reminds us how the city has undergone so many changes over the years.
The re-emergence of such historical photographs has encouraged most people in Bengaluru to look back at the city's quick change. While a few bemoan the city losing its erstwhile charm, some people applaud the progress that has been achieved as far as economic growth and advancements in technology are concerned. The juxtaposition of the quieter streets of yesteryear and the busy, contemporary cityscape of today is both nostalgic and contemplative, underlining the complexities of urban development and the ever-changing nature of Bengaluru.
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