26 years of living in Benagluru, I had not stepped into this compound though I had passed by it countless times. Same applied to Bengaluru Kote ~ Bangalore Fort. Finally I made it on the last day of 2011 ...with Gulli my friend, together we have traveled thousands of kilometers visiting historic monuments across Karnataka.
Tipu Sultan's Palace looks well maintained. However, a part of the monument houses an office and some furniture were dumped around haphazardly. Also few state vehicles had been parked close to the building :(
ASI description-
This magnificient palace in wood, sone, mortar and plaster was started by Nawab Hyder Ali Khan in 1781 AD., and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791 AD. It is situated within the fort walls of Bangalore, next to the Sri Venkataramana temple.
Though it seems like a one storied pavilion, it is actually a double storied building of symmetrical plan, typical of this style of architecture. Built on a stone plinth, the facade has gigantic fluted pillars in wood with stone bases, that support huge wooden beams constituting the structure. Cusped arches and brackets spring off the pillars in typical Indo-Islamic style, painted and polished in two different colors to accentuate the carvings of them.
The walls and wooden ceilings of the entire palace are painted in floral motifs on madder red surfaces, in muted warm colors, gilded, in great detail and beauty.
The upper chambers and balconies can be accessed by four staircases leading to them. The central portion on the first floor, is a large hall leading off to four smaller rooms at its corners. These rooms are considered the Zenana quarters. Located in the two balconies on the North and South were seats of State, where the Sultan held audience and conducted affairs of State. There is an enclosed private space below this area that houses a museum.
An inscription on a stone found in the palace describes it best as an 'adobe of Happiness and envy of Heaven'.
Brown, gold and red definitely creates a royal feel to interior.
Inscriptions embedded in opposite walls.
The ground floor of the palace houses a museum, its a collection of paintings, a model of rocket missile and a model of Tipu Sultan Tiger Organ. The original is supposed to be in a British museum. Tipu got this organ made to express his hatred for his enemy, the British of East India Company. The other interesting object was a rocket powered spear. It is said that Tipu's army had mastered rocket technology and used to fire rockets in battles. Photography is banned inside the museum yet few tourists shot away with mobile phones. Ditto at Tipu Summer palace near Srirangapatna.
An array of twin pillars support the roof. One of the two balconies used by Tipu to see people is visible in this picture.
Four such stairways lead to the first floor of the palace ...stone steps and carved wooden railing.
During its hey days, this floor wouldn't be bare. Probably it would be covered by expensive Persian rugs.
A closer look at the balcony and the open hall. Either ends of this level has small rooms, perhaps used by the Sultan to take rest.
Trying to get a feel of how Tipu Sultan looked at his audience.
Base of the pillar fits into a sculpted stone base. Simple yet beautiful floral art in wood.
Similar floral art at the top.
White walls facing east and west help reflect heat and keep interiors cool during summers.
Venkataramana temple and Tipu Sultan palace share a common boundary wall.
Done with the tour, Gulli and head to Bengaloru Kote, a five minute walk from Tipu's palace.
.........
Tipu Sultan's Palace looks well maintained. However, a part of the monument houses an office and some furniture were dumped around haphazardly. Also few state vehicles had been parked close to the building :(
ASI description-
This magnificient palace in wood, sone, mortar and plaster was started by Nawab Hyder Ali Khan in 1781 AD., and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791 AD. It is situated within the fort walls of Bangalore, next to the Sri Venkataramana temple.
Though it seems like a one storied pavilion, it is actually a double storied building of symmetrical plan, typical of this style of architecture. Built on a stone plinth, the facade has gigantic fluted pillars in wood with stone bases, that support huge wooden beams constituting the structure. Cusped arches and brackets spring off the pillars in typical Indo-Islamic style, painted and polished in two different colors to accentuate the carvings of them.
The walls and wooden ceilings of the entire palace are painted in floral motifs on madder red surfaces, in muted warm colors, gilded, in great detail and beauty.
The upper chambers and balconies can be accessed by four staircases leading to them. The central portion on the first floor, is a large hall leading off to four smaller rooms at its corners. These rooms are considered the Zenana quarters. Located in the two balconies on the North and South were seats of State, where the Sultan held audience and conducted affairs of State. There is an enclosed private space below this area that houses a museum.
An inscription on a stone found in the palace describes it best as an 'adobe of Happiness and envy of Heaven'.
Brown, gold and red definitely creates a royal feel to interior.
Inscriptions embedded in opposite walls.
The ground floor of the palace houses a museum, its a collection of paintings, a model of rocket missile and a model of Tipu Sultan Tiger Organ. The original is supposed to be in a British museum. Tipu got this organ made to express his hatred for his enemy, the British of East India Company. The other interesting object was a rocket powered spear. It is said that Tipu's army had mastered rocket technology and used to fire rockets in battles. Photography is banned inside the museum yet few tourists shot away with mobile phones. Ditto at Tipu Summer palace near Srirangapatna.
An array of twin pillars support the roof. One of the two balconies used by Tipu to see people is visible in this picture.
Four such stairways lead to the first floor of the palace ...stone steps and carved wooden railing.
During its hey days, this floor wouldn't be bare. Probably it would be covered by expensive Persian rugs.
A closer look at the balcony and the open hall. Either ends of this level has small rooms, perhaps used by the Sultan to take rest.
Trying to get a feel of how Tipu Sultan looked at his audience.
Base of the pillar fits into a sculpted stone base. Simple yet beautiful floral art in wood.
Similar floral art at the top.
White walls facing east and west help reflect heat and keep interiors cool during summers.
Venkataramana temple and Tipu Sultan palace share a common boundary wall.
Done with the tour, Gulli and head to Bengaloru Kote, a five minute walk from Tipu's palace.
.........