Did you know that the Avalon, a heritage Europen Classical style edifice in Bangalore city (now Bengaluru) which belonged to the Wadiyar family of erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore was purcha.sed by the Government of India in 1959 to house the National Tuberculosis Institute?
The Avalon is a heritage European Classical style edifice spread over an area of 24 acres, located on the south-east part of Bangalore on opposite Palace Grounds on Bellary road, next to Cauvery theater. It was, in the early 1900s, the residence of HH Yuvaraja Kantheerava Narashimharaja Wodeyar, the ruling Maharaja Krishnarajendra IV's younger brother. Later his son Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar and his sister owned the property till it was sold in 1959 to the Government of India at a cost of Rs 25 lakhs to house the National Tuberculosis Institute.
The Avalon edifice is double storeyed and has European classical style details such as columns, balustraded parapets and pedimented tops. A well maintained garden is also part of this building. The structure has now been declared as a heritage building.
The National Tuberculosis Institute (NTI) was established in Bangalore (now Bengaluru) as a result of findings of a 1955-58 survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) when a high incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis was found across the country. The Government of India exclusively started an advanced research institute on tuberculosis, solely at the Avalon, dedicated to the cause. As a result, NTI was established in 1959, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The National Tuberculosis Institute ( (acronym NTIB) has, ever since, been active in research projects and studies and has been successful in formulating a TB Control Program for the country which incorporates the clinical, epidemiological and sociological aspects of the disease.The Institute was accredited as a WHO Collaborating Centre for TB research and training in 1985.
The European style vintage furniture and heirloom jewels that once filled its halls of Avalaon has been replaced with state of the art equipment from UNICEF and doctors credited with successful TB control program.
Narasipur Char