St. Mary`s Basilica, Bangalore Royalty-Free Stock Image

St. Mary`s Basilica had a humble beginning as a thatched hut in the 17th century, built by Tamil Christian migrants from Gingee. The Shrine was then known as `Chapel of Kanikkai Madha` and was located in their village where rice was grown. The rice grown in the village had a distinct white colour, and hence the settlement came to known as Bili Akki Palli or colloquially known as ‘‘Blackpally’’ now known as Shivajinagar. However, according to prominent historian S K Aruni, Blackpally could have been named after John Blakiston 1785-1867, who designed the layout of the Bangalore Cantonment.