The Sultan's retreat

TIPU's SUMMER PALACE , Fort, Bangalore


The first impression : Its so modest, for a royal retreat !
Designed somewhat like the Dariya Daulat palace in Srirangapatna , this one is smaller, has fewer rooms and fewer decoration.
Flooring is simple grey stone, no fancy mosaics.
 

The mouldings of the pillar capitals  looks elegant , reminding of some central Asian  structure , can't  put my finger on it.

The best feature here is the mural art. The colour scheme and floral designs are exquisite . But sadly, peeling, chipped and marred by graffiti .


 
 



Pictures ( modern replicas and prints  of  old engravings ) from the time of Tipu are exhibited in the ground floor , along with some Tipu memorabilia, including a rocket . Ofcourse there's a replica of that mauling Tiger toy too ! The  picture of the famous throne is an eyeful . Reportedly, the Brits broke up this magnificent artefact and sold it off  by  bits and pieces as it was deemed too expensive for one person to buy !
An old marble tablet, embedded high up a wall,  informs : " This palace was commenced by Nawab Haidar Ali Khan  1781 completed by Tippoo Sultan 1791 "


The archeology department has placed a Ganesha statue , probably found in the fort area, in the garden and it sticks out like an oddity here.
 
Just across the compound wall is the Kote Venkataramana Temple, built by Chikkadevaraya . The Sultans seem to have been good neighbours .

After Tipu's fall, the place served as the  Secretariat office for the Brits for a while . From old engravings it is apparent that the palace was larger . Whatever remains is, mercifully, maintained  reasonably well.

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The Fort :
Only the Delhi Gate remains.....and is well taken  care of. 






The random etchings of unrelated motifs scattered on the huge walls makes one wonder if the fort was  resassembled after its fall......




























































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