- Built
- Completed 1791
- Distance from airport
- About 37 km
- Distance from railway station
- About 5 km
- Ideal time needed
- About 1 hour
What to see
The palace is built almost entirely of teak on a stone base, with arches and pillars in an Indo-Islamic style and brackets that show local carving traditions. Traces of painted floral decoration survive on the walls and ceilings. Tipu called it the 'abode of happiness', and Persian-style inscriptions at the entrance still carry the phrase.
On the ground floor, a room has been turned into a small museum with objects and pictures linked to Tipu Sultan and his times. Upstairs, two balconies look out over the lawns; the ruler is said to have held audiences from here, one side for his court and the other for ordinary people.
Bangalore Fort
Kempe Gowda built a mud fort here in the sixteenth century, and it was later rebuilt in stone under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Only a small portion survives today, including a gateway, walls and a small Ganesha shrine, but it gives a good idea of how the town was once defended. The Venkataramana temple and the site of Tipu's armoury are also nearby.
Timings and tickets
Both sites are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and are normally open from about 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. A small entry fee applies at the palace. Allow around an hour for the palace and fort together.
How to reach
Kempegowda International Airport is about 37 km away, with prepaid taxis and app cabs available. The main city railway station (KSR Bengaluru) is around 5 km from the palace, and local buses, autos and the metro serve the area; the nearest metro station is Krishna Rajendra Market. Traffic in the old city can be slow, so plan your visit for the morning.
Also nearby
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