Masjid Anwar-ul-Islam and the Ancient Ulsoor Khabrastan of Old Bengaluru

Along the historic stretch of Old Madras Road, hidden amidst the movement of modern Bengaluru, stands another important landmark connected to the forgotten legacy of Ulsoor’s Muslim community, Masjid Anwar-ul-Islam and its ancient qabrastan. At first glance, it may appear to be just another mosque beside a cemetery, but the history surrounding this place goes back centuries, long before the arrival of the British and the transformation of Bengaluru into a colonial city. To understand this place, one must return to the days of Tipu Sultan and the military presence of his soldiers in the Ulsoor region. Among the descendants of these soldiers is Dr. Dawood Iqbal, one of the few remaining descendants of Tipu Sultan’s army families in Ulsoor today. He served as a committee member of the historic Jamia Masjid Ulsoor, which itself was built by the descendants of these soldiers. According to family history passed down through generations, one of the soldiers who had arrived during the protection of pilgrims near the Someshwara Temple was his great-grandfather, Sayyad Shamir Hayat. On the Old Madras Road, Ulsoor lies Masjid Anwar-ul-Islam, another old center of prayer deeply connected to this early settlement. Beside the mosque is an ancient qabrastan that predates the establishment of the British Cantonment itself. Long before the nearby cemeteries came into existence, this burial ground served as the primary qabrastan for Muslims living across the surrounding regions, including Ulsoor, Domlur, and nearby localities. Even today, the old tombs and a nearby monument silently bear witness to this forgotten past. These graves are more than resting places; they are reminders of an early Muslim presence that existed in this region before colonial Bengaluru took shape. The qabrastan continued serving the surrounding communities until newer cemeteries were later established along Old Madras Road. Local elders also recall that before the present mosque was built, there stood a much smaller mosque near this location, constructed nearly forty or fifty years earlier. Over time, as the community grew, the present structure replaced the older one while continuing the same spiritual and social legacy. Inside the mosque, there is a large, heavy iron safe used for collecting donations. Once, when robbers broke in, they tried hard to carry away the hundi, but its weight proved too much for them, forcing them to abandon their attempt. They were also unable to open the safe. Today, the qabrastan remains one of the cleanest and best-maintained burial grounds in the area, cared for with deep respect by the local community. It stands quietly amidst the noise of the modern city, preserving memories that are rarely spoken about outside Ulsoor’s older families. This age-old tomb holds within it folklore and history. It is one of the oldest tombs in the qabrastan. Very few qabrastans have ghusl facilities for the deceased, but this qabrastan does. Currently, it is undergoing renovation. The history of this locality also reflects another forgotten aspect of old Bengaluru life. At one time, Ulsoor had nearly three akhadas, or traditional wrestling centers, much like those once found in places such as Cottonpet and other old neighborhoods of the city. Over the years, however, these akhadas slowly disappeared, becoming another fading memory of a changing Bengaluru. Masjid Anwar-ul-Islam and its ancient qabrastan are therefore not merely religious sites. They are living reminders of migration, settlement, service, faith, and memory deeply tied to the descendants of soldiers who once arrived here during the time of Tipu Sultan, and whose legacy continues to survive quietly along the old roads of Ulsoor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #HiddenBangalore, #OldBengaluru, #BangaloreHistory, #Ulsoor, #MasjidAnwarulIslam, #Qabrastan, #TipuSultan, #IslamicHistory, #HistoricBengaluru, #BangaloreDiaries, #NammaBengaluru, #ExploreBangalore, #HistoricMosque, #OldMadrasRoad, #CemeteryHistory, #BengaluruHeritage,