The timber arches
An elegant dark facade.
P Naga Praveena Sharma — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tania the lady shutterbug — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Avinashisonline — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pinakpani — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ibrahim Husain Meraj — CC BY-SA 4.0
Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace is a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture in the heart of Old Bengaluru, once the summer residence of Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore. Built almost entirely of teak, with pillars, arches and balconies, it is now a tourist site run by the Archaeological Survey of India. Hyder Ali began it in 1781 within the walls of Bangalore Fort, and Tipu Sultan finished it ten years later in 1791. After Tipu's death in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the British used it as their secretariat before moving to Attara Kacheri in 1868. The palace appears at the end of a long path between clipped hedges, with a facade of dark timber arches. Tipu is believed to have held court from the eastern and western balconies of the upper floor, and four small corner rooms were the zenana quarters. Floral motifs adorn the walls, and there is a painting of a grand throne Tipu envisaged, along with panels on his life. It lies near Kalasipalya bus stand among busy streets, so take the metro or a taxi. The visit is short, an hour at most, so pair it with the nearby market or Lalbagh gardens. The facade gets its best light in the morning. Take care of the timber floors, follow the instructions inside and wear shoes that come off easily if asked.
An elegant dark facade.
Tipu's court, by tradition.
On the walls.
Near Kalasipalya bus stand, Old Bengaluru
Hyder Ali began it in 1781, and Tipu Sultan finished it in 1791.
An hour is enough, as the palace is fairly small.