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| The Famous Balmoral Hotel |
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| Princes Street, Edinburgh |
The main shopping street of the New Town is called the Princes Street starting from Waterloo Station to Shandwick Place at the west end. Originally it was called St.Giles Street facing Edinburgh's Castle and the Old Town.King George III later named the street after his two sons, Prince George and Prince Frederick.On the north side of the street you will a row of shops and a very spacious garden on the south side.A steep rise or embankment is seen on the northern side due to increase in width of the Princes Street.Though the plan of this was laid out by James Craig in 1770, most of the buildings were re-developed in the nineteenth century. The tourists can do a lot of shopping here as this street was lined with many shops, malls, hotels and historic monuments. The famous hotel Balmoral Hotel and the Royal Bank of Scotland are located in this locality.
The Princes Street Garden is on the south side of the Princes Street spreading over a vast area of nearly 35acres and is divided by a mound . Previously this place was a marshy lake (Nor Loch) which served as a dumping place. It was later drained and a garden was laid out in 1770's and in 1820's. The Nor Loch was created by James II In 1450 to serve as a natural defense. In 1460 James III ordered the area to be flooded to strenghten the castle's defense. In later times the lake became a dumping trench and nearly three hundred witch trials took place here and the victims were thrown into this loch. In 1759 this lake was drained to facilitate the construction of the New Town to the north of this area. In 1820's a beautiful garden was laid out. The East Princes Garden stretching from the mound to the Waverly Bridge is 8.5 acres in area and the West Princes Garden is nearly 29 acres extending up to St.John's and St.Cuthbert's churches near Lothian Road in the west. One can see statues and monuments of many famous persons and celebrities.
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| Scottish War Memorial |
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| Scott Monument |
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| Ross Fountain |
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| The Mermaid Figures |
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In the East Princes Garden, the famous Scott Monument constructed in Gothic style in 1844 to honor Sir Walter Scott (The famous writer and novelist), attracts the attention of the tourists. The statue of the famous essayist Dr.John Wilson (Who wrote under the pseudonym Christopher North ) and David Livingstone( a famous Scottish Explorer) were also seen. A commemorative stone was erected honoring the soldiers who fought in the Spanish Civil War. In the West Princes Garden the statues of the famous Scottish poet, Allan Ramsay, the Church Reformer, Thomas Guthrie and that of Dr.James Young Simpson are seen. The Ross Fountain is a beautiful structure representing the four Muses of Knowledge-- Science, Arts, Poetry, and Industry. A female figure stands on the pedestal at the apex of the fountain . Just below the four Muses, the figures of mermaids are seen in graceful postures. This metal cast fountain was bought by the Philanthropist and gun-maker, Daniel Ross from the Great Exhibition, London in 1862 and was later installed here in 1872. Various concerts and other events are held at the Ross Band Stand. Apart from the Scottish American War Memorial, there is the world's first Floral clock at the eastern entrance actually showing the time.The design of the Floral Clock varies every year. This Floral Clock was the brain child of John MC Hattie,Edinburgh Parks Superintendent and was designed first by Ritchie& Son Clock Manufacturers and set up in 1903. Later many improvements were made to the clock.
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| Floral Clock |
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| Allan Ramsay (1686-1758) |
Really it was quite refreshing to stroll through the garden viewing the beautiful statues and monuments which enrich the beauty of this park with their historic presence and noble messages. As we were leaving the park we saw a beggar scarcely dressed, sitting on the steps. He noticed us shivering in the cold weather and smilingly remarked "Sir, come in December to feel the real winter. We smiled back admiring his ability to face such weather in August. As we were bidding farewell to this "City of Spires", the simple but moving lines of that Scottish Bard, Robert Burns echoed through my mind "Edina! Scotia's Darling Seat! All hail Thy Palaces and Towers/ Where once beneath a Monarch's seat/ Sat Legislation's Sovereign Powers."
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15th December, 2013. SOMASESHU GUTALA
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