Tourists of Bangalore/Bengaluru will be met with opinionated drivers who do their best to stray from driving to the palace of Tipu Sultan. The reasons never seem to match between drivers or guides, so it’s best to form your own decision on this destination. Chances are, if you’re on the tourist circuit within the state of Karnataka, you’ll be visiting Tipu Sultan’s fort town Srirangapatnam, near Mysore. Touring the smaller, less maintained Bangalore Fort provides an excellent introduction into one of the most famous, and recognizable names of South India.

Once the ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan completed construction of the palace within the fort (built in 1537 by Kempe Gowda, who was the founder of Bangalore) by 1790. Bangalore Fort provided safety for Tipu Sultan against the imposing British. But the armed forces whom Tipu had grossly defeated twice before, became a more challenging opponent. In 1791, just one year after the completion of the palace, all that remained of Bangalore Fort was the palace and the armory. Today, visitors enter through Delhi Gate, the only part of the fort that still exists.

The palace structure, built primarily of teak wood, is a replica of his summer retreat Daria Daulat Bagh located in Srirangapatnam. Two-stories of intricately carved arches, pillars and finely embellished balconies greet the curious. The original painted decorations are all but gone, not surprising given the palace’s age. Gardens on both sides of the main pathway lead from the fort’s wall to the palace entrance. Brilliant pops of color are present as far away as the roadside.

A well maintained temple devoted to the Hindu God, Lord Ganesh, still stands on the property attracting some followers. Islamic and Hindu architecture somehow mix between the palace and temple respectively. And the tourist flow is steady. The popular and rather congested market of Krishnarajendra City, is steps away from the fort entrance. This creates a bit of a parking issue for car services making it reason #1 why drivers may defer travelers from this site. Tuk tuk’s, buses and taxis will easily get any traveler to the main entrance if your driver won’t.

Entry Fee: Rs 100 / Camera Rs 25

Open Daily: 8:30 – 5:30