About
A slice of the modern electronic city of Bengaluru still stands witness to the historic era of the great warrior Tipu Sultan and his bravery. The area located near the crowded City Market at the junction of Albert Victor Road and Krishna Rajendra, houses the Tipu Sultan Fort. The palace is in the precincts of the fort.History
Back in 1537, Kemp Gowda, who was the founder of the city, built the fort, which was extended later by Tipu Sultan. Hyder Ali, father of Tipu Sultan, imprisoned many British army officers in this fort, of whom David Braid was one.
Then Hyder Ali started the construction of the palace in 1781 and it was completed by his son Tipu Sultan in 1791, upon which people started calling it Tipu's Palace.
Architecture
The entire palace is built of teak wood, mortar, stone and plaster. It is laid on a stone plinth. The structure is two-storied and is supported by wooden pillars that rest on the stone base.
The exquisitely carved pillars support giant wooden beams that constitute the palace structure. The pillars are met with brackets and cusped arches that are decorated with beautiful carvings emphasized in two colours.
Four staircases lead to the first floor. A large hall embraces the first floor with four rooms at four corners. The rooms were Zenana quarters, considered to be used by the ladies of the royal family.
There are two projecting balconies, one on the east and the other on the west side. It is said that the Sultan used to hold Durbar in the hall to conduct the affairs of his state, with the state officials seated in the balcony area.
The fort area also holds an art gallery that showcases numerous pictures, painting, photos and fine carvings of those lost times. The Tipu Sultan Palace not only attracts tourists round the year but also remains a place of interest for historians and archaeologists.
At present the Archaeological Survey of India looks after the maintenance of the palace. Carrying camera or food items inside is strictly prohibited by the authorities.
Timings
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. except Sunday.
Entry Fee
• Rs. 5 per person
• Admission of children under 15 years is free.
• Tickets are availed from the counter located near the main gate.
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