When in Bangalore, it is impossible to miss a glimpse of the sprawling Bangalore Palace grounds. Many of you might have even attended some of the famed international concerts like the highest grosser Iron Maiden concert or the ever-popular Bryan Adams show. Then, there are a few of us who have visited it for the popular amusement park – Fun World or have taken a few horse riding classes here. However, these parts are just the fringe of colossal grounds and hidden in the middle of it is an actual treasure – the stunning Wadiyar palace Bangalore. This treasured Bangalore Palace calls for exploration and can be easily covered in a day trip!
Bang in the middle of the city, the Bangalore Palace is impressive from the first time that you set your eyes on it. This fairytale castle was actually closed to the public until 2005. What I discovered inside the Bangalore Palace definitely made me endorse the saying that this attraction was the crown jewel of Bangalore city. In this complete guide to Bangalore Palace, you will learn the history of the place and get tips along the way to plan your own visit here. In the tour section, I have detailed the key sections that tell you what to see in Bangalore Palace. And finally, at the end of it all, are the common FAQs about the Wadiyar Palace in Bangalore, information about its entry fees and timings. So, get set for a whirlwind tour of this attraction.
History of Bangalore Palace Bengaluru:
Bangalore Palace belongs to the illustrious Wadiyar dynasty of Mysuru (also, referred to as Wodeyar dynasty). However, in terms of built-up area, it is just a fraction of the Mysore palace. It was built in the 1878 for the young Maharaja of Mysore – Chamrajendra Wadiyar X . By this time, the Wadiyars were just rulers of Mysore on paper. The actual administration was taken over by the British. To ensure that there was proper residence and place for his training, the British guardians used the Maharaja’s funds to purchase 450 acres of property from Rev. Garrett. A few years later, the first construction of the current Bangalore palace began. The palace served as a summer retreat for the Mysore royal family. The Wadiyar Palace in Bangalore underwent several legal battles over the next few decades. Ultimately, the title deed and ownership was granted to the Wadiyar family. For several years, it remained closed to the public. It was only in 2005, finally, that it was converted to a heritage museum and opened to the public. The Bangalore palace continues to be a private property, owned by H.H.Smt Pramoda Devi Wadiyar – a descendant of the illustrious Mysore royal family.
The Architecture of Bangalore Palace:
The Bangalore Palace is actually a copy of the Windsor Castle built in the Tudor Style. The high turrets and those battlements along the walls is what give it the distinct European appearance. Adding a touch of Gothic, are the stained glass windows – more easily visible from inside the Bangalore palace. As you go along this tour of the Bangalore Palace, you will see the Indian touch to the otherwise European architecture. It is this aspect that makes this Wadiyar palace different from its Western counterpart.
The palace is actually, a small one – with just around 35 rooms and is made of wood and granite. These rooms are divided between separate public and private sections. The public area can be accessed from the entrance on the left -which currently serves as the main entrance for the visitors. The private section consists of the residential space for the Maharajas and his family. This section has its own entrance but is also, connected from the inside to the public area of the palace.
Some quick facts for fun:
There are over 30,000 photos inside the Bangalore Palace.
Many popular movies have been shot at the Wadiyar Palace Bangalore. One of them is the popular Aamir Khan movie – Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander.
The Bangalore Palace grounds have hosted several prominent concerts like Bryan Adams, Deep Purple, Metallica, Guns and Roses & Iron Maiden.
What to see in Bangalore Palace?
The Bangalore Palace entrance tickets include an audio guide that ensures that you don’t miss all the significant attractions within its premises. The audio guide to the Wadiyar Palace is quite well made and enjoyable. It in fact, makes a great companion in your journey through the Bangalore palace. Here is what you can expect to see inside:
The Ballroom of Wadiyar Palace Bangalore - The ballroom of the Bangalore palace is pretty impressive with its colors and lighting and is an important part of the Wadiyar Palace. It has a classic wooden ceiling with pretty chandeliers hanging throughout the room. The high Art-Deco arches along the side is what adds a royal yet contemporary touch to this room. As the audio guide informed me, there were plenty of ballroom parties and dancing that this hall has witnessed.
The Spiral staircase - An ordinary wooden spiral staircase but with some lovely artifacts and decor on it – the lovely lamps and the antique vases kept along the corner.There was something charming about the brown intricately carved, wooden staircase – something antique, something different.
Durbar Hall - With its amazing chandeliers, yellow and gold decor, stained glass and majestic looking furniture, the Durbar Hall is pretty impressive. It is here you can see the little Gothic touch clearly with those stained glass windows. Unlike the Mysore Palace of the Wodeyars, this Durbar hall is quite contemporary. By the time the Bangalore Palace was built, there was no need for a public Durbar Hall, explaining the smaller set-up.
Corridors with its antique cases and pictures - Throughout the palace are corridors lined with beautiful paintings and artifacts from the palace. Be it the painting of the Maharajas or the black and white photos of him and his family on various occasions, it is indeed fun to observe them. A lot of them are not originals as informed by the audio guides of Bangalore Palace but beautiful and priceless, nonetheless. Included among them are the prized paintings of Raja Ravi Varma – the famed artist whose work still adorn the main Mysore Palace. Carved side tables and dressing tables adorn the passage way. Along with them are several writing desks used by the Maharaja himself. The natural sunlight coming through added a certain beauty to the entire place.
Wildlife spoils - What's with a palace without some spoils of wildlife? Spoils made of real animal hides adorn the palace – like the one below which is a stool made from Elephant’s legs.
Maharaja’s courtyard at Bangalore Palace (Mardana Mahal) - A unique tiled bench is the first thing that you see. The same is made of Spanish tiles and has a picture of a stag being attacked by dogs while the birds watch. There is no partition around it and you are welcome to sit on it and rest. A few seconds of Royal pleasure for you.The bench along with the fountain above was a gift from the King of Spain. The entire courtyard looks vibrant, thanks to these gifts. Along the corridors are kept some lovely curios from the Western world like the ones below.
The Chandeliers - Throughout the palace are amazing and colorful chandeliers, adding a speck of old world charm to the Bangalore Palace. The chandeliers lit up the palace in terms of the vibrancy and decor, and add to the much needed ashthetic appeal.
Entrance Fees:
The entrance tickets to Bangalore Palace is INR 230 for Indians and INR 460 for foreign tourists. This includes the audio guide to the palace. The audio guide is available in English, Hindi, Kannada, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Anyone without the photography permit is fined and they are quite strict about it. You will find guards and officials within the premises checking for the same.
Is it worth visiting Bangalore Palace?
If you enjoy architecture, history and culture, then, it is definitely worth visiting the Bangalore Palace. The 19th century palace is a perfect showcase of the royal lives of the Wadiyar family of Mysore. The Indo-British architecture of the palace along with the prized possesions of the family makes an interesting heritage and cultural tour. You will also, get to see some unusual and exclusive exhibits like the gift from the King of Spain to the Maharaja, his hunting trophies and a jockey’s weighing chair.
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