The
only church to attain the status of a basilica in Karnataka, St. Mary's
Basilica first came up as a small chapel in 1818 courtesy French
missionary Abbe Dubois. In 1882 Reverend Kleiner transformed this humble
structure into a magnificent Gothic style church by adorning it with
decorative stained glass imported from Europe. The St Mary's Church was
conferred the status of a Basilica in 1973 through a papal order by Pope
John Paul IV.The St. Mary's Basilica church boasts of an elegant interior with stained-glass windows, multiple columns with rich Corinthian capital supporting stately arches. In September each year, lakhs of devotees, dressed in saffron, gather here to celebrate St Mary's Feast.
