Tipu Sultan ( reign December 1782 to May 1799 ) of Mysore State had a summer residence in Bangalore Fort. As of now however, roads and buildings have come up in Fort land and the Summer Palace stands alone with adjoining Sri Kote Venkataramana Swami Temple.
The Palace has Indo-Islamic style architecture and entire two storey palace is made up of teak wood. Construction of the Palace was started by Hyder Ali within the Bangalore Fort and Tipu Sultan completed it in 1791.
After death of Tipu Sultan in Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, British East India Company used it as administrative secretariat. They moved out in 1868 to Attara Kacheri. The Palace is now under management of Archaeological Survey of India.
On ground floor some rooms have been converted into museum wherein some portraits and paintings are displayed along with clothes of Sultan. Silver vessels gifted to Hyder Ali are also on display.
One interesting anecdote is about a grand throne of Tipu coated with gold sheets and adorned with precious stones. Tipu never used it as he had vowed to defeat British first and then sit on the throne. The British defeated Tipu and dismantled the throne and auctioned it in bits and pieces as whole of it was too expensive to be bought by any individual.
The guide also narrated a story that British soldiers fired from behind the adjoining Swami Temple on Tipu Sultan during the Third War. Bullet hit the Garuda Pillar of the Temple instead of Tipu and Tipu was thus saved. Both Hyder Ali and Tipu had therefore great reverence and regard for the Temple. This story is written on the Notice Board in the Swami Temple also.
Tipu Sultan used to conduct his Darbar in the Summer Palace whenever residing here. Rooms on first floor were Zenana quarters.
The Palace is small and therefore visit can be concluded in an hour or so. But small is beautiful! Entry is by ticket. Guide available on payment. Open daily from 8.30 to 5.30. Bus stop and metro station are on walking distance. Some phots:
 |
| 1. Facade of the Palace |
 |
2. Tipu used the balcony to address meetings
|
 |
| 3. Entrance of the palace |
 |
| 4. Ground floor |
 |
| 5. Teak wood pillars and arches |
 |
| 6. Carvings on the pillars |
 |
| 7. Rear balcony with railings of wood |
 |
| 8. Arches and wooden railings show great craftsman ship |
 |
| 9. Looks beautiful in sunshine |
 |
| 10. Another view of arches and pillars of the two floors |
 |
| 11. First floor |
 |
| 12. Notice Board |
