Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace

12°57′34.18″N 77°34′24.86″E / 12.9594944°N 77.5735722°E / 12.9594944; 77.5735722

British Period Engravings of the King Tipu Palace at Bangalore by Robert Home (1752–1834)
The Old Palace in the Fort, Bangalore by Albert Thomas Penn, 1870

Tipu Sultan's (Summer Palace), in Bangalore, India, is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture and was the summer residence of the Mysorean ruler Tipu Sultan. Hyder Ali commenced its construction within the walls of the Bangalore Fort, and it was completed during the reign of King Tipu Sultan in 1791. After King Tipu Sultan martyred in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the British Administration used the palace for its secretariat before moving to Attara Kacheri in 1868. Today the Archaeological Survey of India maintains the palace, which is located at the center of Old Bangalore near the Kalasipalya bus stand, as a tourist spot. Entry fee is 20 for Indian citizens, while for foreign visitors is 200 (US$2.40).

The structure was built entirely of teak and stands adorned with pillars, arches and balconies. It is believed that King Tipu Sultan used to conduct his durbar (court) from the eastern and western balconies of the upper floor. There are four smaller rooms in the corners of first floor which were Zenana Quarters. There are beautiful floral motifs embellishing the walls of the palace. The site also holds a painting of grand throne visualized by Tipu Sultan himself. Coated with gold sheets and adorned with precious emerald stones, King Tipu had vowed never to use it until he completely defeated the British Army. After King Tipu Sultan martyred, the British dismantled the throne and auctioned its parts as it was too expensive for a single person to buy whole.[citation needed]

The rooms in the ground floor have been converted into a small museum showcasing various achievements of King Tipu Sultan and his administration. There are newly done portraits of the people and places of that time. There is a replica of King Tipu Sultan's Tiger, which is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. King Tipu Sultan's clothes and his crown are present in silver and gold pedestals. The silver vessels given by a general to King Hyder Ali is also displayed.

The Horticulture Department, Government of Karnataka, maintains the area in front of the palace as a garden and lawn.