THE KOLAR GOLD FIELDS

8 - Feb 2009

The Pretty Old Second Deepest Gold mine in the world Just left off as ruins, Near Kolar , 70 Kilometers from Bangalore, Karnataka, India

ABOUT KOLAR GOLD FIELDS

Gold was first mined in the area around Kolar in the 2nd and 3rd century AD by the digging of small pits. During the Chola period in the 9th and 10th century AD the scale of the operation grew, but large-scale mining only came in the 1850s under the British with more manpower and sophisticated machinery. In 1873, Mr M.F. Lavelle, a resident in Bangalore, applied to the Mysore Government for the exclusive privilege of mining in the Kolar district. His request was granted and he commenced operations by sinking a shaft near Urigam (Oorgaum, is the Nearest railway station to Kolar Gold fields, this station is connected to Bangarpet.) in 1875, but, finding that large capital would be required he, in the following year and with the approval of the government, transferred all his rights and concessions to the late Major General G. de la Poer Beresford. Major General Beresford formed a syndicate known as the Kolar Concessionaries (now merged into the Gold Fields of Mysore Co.) which took up the matter in earnest, and gradually acquired the area known as the Kolar Gold Fields.

Most of the people living here were from Tamil and Kerala, there were a few from Kannada (Even though the place  in Karantaka district and very close to the State of Anthra Pradesh).

HOW TO REACH KOLAR GOLD FIELDS< KOLAR, KARNATAKA.

The KGF is very easily accessible from Bangalore. It is well connected by both Rail and Road.

Rail:  Get a train which goes to Bangarpet, from Banaglore there are many trains along this route (Most of the trains going to Chennai and Kerala will pass Bangarpet). The ticket charge for this 50 Kilometer Trip which takes around an hour Is 34 Rs. From Bangarpet you have to move to Oorgaum, but there are almost no trains along this route, so it will be ideal to get a bus to KGF from Bangarpet, there is one atleast every minute (I saw many many buses). You can get down at Robrtsonpet (Which is the Last stop) and from here, you can make a walk to see the Golden hills and the mines (Just 2 kilometer walk), The Countryside is very beautiful and is good the make a walk

Bus:  Buses are available from Majestic (Bangalore)  to KGF, There are buses to Kolar, but please note that the buses which goes to Kolar will not Go to KGF (the Kolar town is about 20 Kilometers away from KGF). Once you reach Robrtsonpet, you are on your own, You can get an auto or make a walk to the Mines.

View of the Oorgaum Railway Station

THE GOLDEN HILLS

You can have a trek to the top of an artificial, hill made by depositing the remains of gold extraction. This is a Good Place to develop your mountaineering skill and steep climbs. We have spent hours on this, even though we were running out of time. The hills are steep, but is not that hard to Climp.

The Hill was strong enough. No trees or plants were growing on the hills. At a few sides, the stones are loose and there is a high chance of loosing grips while climbing. The hill was about 30 meters high.  The hill can be seen to the north from the Robertsonpet town. From the top of the hill you can see a good view of the town and the mines far away. The hill was mostly made up of some soft stone, probably hardened due to the heavy pressure of the soil on top, there were many interesting patterns on the rocks.

CLOSING DOWN OF THE MINES

The reduction of gold deposits and Increase in the cost of production forced the KGF to be closed by 2003. Now all the remains are left as ruins. Instruments and machines worth millions are just left to the dance of wind and rains. There are a few military officers to guard it, they can keep the monument away form the forces of nature. It is believed that an earthquake which occurred nearby is due to the presence of this mine.

The following were the Mines in the Gold Fields in 1905:- (Source Ronnie Bangalore)

• The Mysore Gold Mine
• Champion Reef Mine
• Ooregum Mine
• Nundydroog Mine
• Tank Block Mine
• Balaghat Mine
• Gold Fields of Mysore
• Coromandel Mine
• Oriental Mine
• Nine Reefs Mine
• Road Block Mine
• Mysore Reefs Gold Mines Coy

Until the year 1902 all the machinery in the Mines was worked by steam power, but in August 1902 the completion of the Cauvery Power Works, brought about a complete revolution in the working of most of the Mines on the Fields, whereby 4000 H.P. of electric energy is transmitted to the Gold Fields from the Cauvery Falls Power Station received at an elaborate Transformer House centrally situated and distributed to the various mines in quantities contracted for and by the means of this electric power the majority of the mines work their milling and stamping machinery.

The Kolar Gold Field water Supply Scheme was completed in 1901-1902. The water was drawn from the Bettamangala and Ramasagram tanks. Rotertsonpet suburb was established around 1901, and the name was given by the then H.H. the Maharaja in commemoration of the memory of Sir Donald Robertson, KCSI, late Resident in Mysore, on 15th August 1903. In the same year Kolar Gold Fields established a Corps known as the Kolar Gold Fields Volunteers, and earlier part of the Bangalore Rifle Volunteers . The Corps had its Head Quarters at Oorgaum.

In Oorgaum, there was a Kolar Gold Field Club and Kolar Gold Fields Library in a building called Oorgaum Hall. In 1905, S.M. Pritchard (the Clubs Hon. Secy), H.H. Osborn (H. Treasurer), with R.R. Rodda. G.H. Burnell (Secy & Librarian), Committee members P. Bosworth-Smith, H.M.A. Cooke, Rev. L.G. Pollard.

Many rails were laid down to carry the deposits and the remains from the mines to the dumps. Now these rails are left as ruins, with none to look after and many of its portions got rusted or covered by soil.

THE GLORY

Kolar Gold Fields was the first city in Asia to get Electricity from Shivanasamudra( A waterfall near Kanakapura, Bangalore) in Mysore. People from as far as Kolar could see the lights of this once prosperous city. KGF was known as "Little England " by the British, due to its more temperate Weather and a landscape more similar to Britain`s. It also had a sizable Anglo-Indian Population who worked in the various mines in different capacities.. Silicosis, a form of pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, was first identified in KGF. National Institute of Miners Health had its headquarters in KGF Mr.K.H.Muniyappa union minister has been successful in reopening this closed mines and giving life to the almost dead city. It is told that it was his election promise.

KGF AND BRITISH EMPIRE

KGF played a major part in the prosperity of the British Empire. A collaboration of Particle physics from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Osaka City University, Japan and Durham University, UK recorded the first Cosmic ray Neutrino interaction in an underground laboratory in KGF mines in 1965. 6KGF also has the distinction of having a Golf course started by the Britisher`s dating back to 1885 and affiliated to Indian Golf Union.

THE GOLD MINES

The Golden Carpets were 4 miles (6 km) long with an average width of 4 miles, were first worked by a British company, John Taylor and Sons, in 1880. Within three years, four main veins (Champion, Oorgaum, Nundydorog, and Mysore) were opened. Champion, the deepest, reached some 10,500 feet (3,200 metres) below sea level. Although the annual production in some years was more than 95 percent of India’s gold output, the mines declined and were nationalized in 1956 to prevent closure. The mines finally closed in 2001 despite the protests of the miners and others who depended on the mines for their livelihoods. Many people left the mining town and moved to the nearby cities of Bangalore and Kolar.

This is a view of the Old Parking ground inside the factory. Now all these laces are overgrown with plants and destroyed.

FOOTNOTES

TEAM

Anoop Gopala (http://www.gnoop.info)

Amruth Raj V (http://www.idukki.info)

George Joseph (george@peermade.info)

THANKS TO

Ronnie Johnson (ronniebangalore@gmail.com)

Brittannica Encyclopedia

A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO

A lot of thanks to Ms Lovely from Kottayam, Who was doing her Nursing studies at Gokul College Kolar. Unfortunately, both of us moved away fom Bangalore at the same time (I went to Bhutan) and thus we were not able to exchange our new Phone numbers and thus lost contact.

She was the one who gave me an introduction on Kolar and the places near Kolar. .. Hope we will be ale to contact each other some day.