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Top 10 Amazing Facts about Bangalore Palace and Grounds

The Bangalore Palace is located in Bangalore, India. It is one of the architectural landmarks of the city and it features manicured gardens and great houses. The features attract tourists around the world and thus make it a good addition to the local economy.

The palace was commissioned in 1864 by Rev. Garett who was the first principal of Central High School. However, the palace was bought by British officials who took over the education sector from Prince Chamaraja Wodeyar. The officials renovated the building and incorporated floral motifs, relief paintings on ceilings and detailed wooden carvings. Therefore, this article will provide some interesting facts about this major tourist attraction site.

 1. The palace grounds are used as a concert venue

The palace sits on a large piece of land with the grounds occupying 453 acres. This large tract means that it can be utilised for a lot of things and thus make it an ideal place to hold concerts, cultural events, weddings and other state functions. Some of the bands that have performed on the palace grounds include Deep Purple, Backstreet Boys and Metallica.

Additionally, the palace also hosts musicians who do Indian classical music. This attracts quite a crowd since the locals want to experience the songs that incorporate their culture.

2. The palace features a stunning interior

The palace is well known for its stunning interior which is exciting for tourists when exploring. After buying the palace from the British, Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar made a few changes to the interior of the palace. Some of the things he added include chandeliers, wooden staircases and unique relics. There are also paintings mounted on the corridors that will capture the attention of the tourist

3. it was reopened to the public

Before the palace was not opened to the public but that was changed. These days, locals and visitors can visit the palace and grounds to explore and experience the life that royals used to live during those times. In doing so, the locals get to be knowledgeable about their history and past and how it influences their daily life.

4. The architecture of the palace

The palace features a Tudor style of architecture with a mix of Scottish Gothic. The palace looks like most buildings in Britain. It is believed that the king got his inspiration from Britain. This type of architecture is usually a two-level granite structure that is fitted with fortified structures and turreted parapets. There are also roman arches at the entrance of the palace.

Therefore, this architectural design is not common in India and thus attracts a large number of tourists as it is different from the buildings in the country. Additionally, the vines covering the walls around the main entrance make the palace look exquisite.

5. There is an entry fee

Tourists interested in exploring the palace have to pay an entry fee for them to be admitted to the magnificent palace and grounds. The palace charges 230 rupees for Indians and 460 rupees for foreigners. It is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm and visitors are given two to three hours to explore the palace.

Furthermore, the palace is open every day which means that history enthusiasts can pick a day that works for them so that they can go experience the royal lifestyle.

6. King Chamaraja and his stuffed toys

Royalties have been known to have particular interests that the common citizen would not care for and partake in them. This fact was the case for King Chamaraja Wodeyar in that he had an interest in taxidermy. Having bar stools that were made of paws from various animals that have cushions placed on them. The most notable one is the elephant head that is found at the entrance of the palace. his skin is stuffed with hay and is one of the main attractions in the palace.

7. The legend of the palace jewels

Most historical attraction sites usually have stories that are fabled to be true. The Bangalore Palace has the story of jewels it is believed that some jewels were stolen in the palace by a royal consort of the Viceroy of Vijayanagar known as Alamelamma. After being asked to return the jewels, she refused to part with them and this prompted the king to curse her. The king swore that Talakad will be a barren land and the thief would not have any heirs.

Surprisingly, the curse worked for generations since the Mysore Kings did not have heirs. This makes it an interesting story. This also means that there are other secrets that the palace has that may be interesting.

8. The sofa in the palace

The Rajas were known for having possessions that were extravagant and fitted to make life easier. One of them was the famed sofa that was used by the king. The sofa featured an inbuilt weighing scale. This may have been put in place to ensure that the king was within the required weight limits. It also may have been made for the queen.

However, this seat is now out of order and it no longer measures the weight but it will be a nice attraction for tourists as they will encounter the extravagant piece of furniture that was used by the royal family.

9. Audio guide for the palace

The palace has an audio guide that tourists can use to explore the different rooms and ground. A tour of the palace takes forty minutes and therefore being self-paced because of the audio guide is great because the visitor will not be rushed through it. The guide also provides a lot of information about the palace that one would not come across by themselves.

10. The palace is used as a summer retreat

The Bangalore palace was used by the Maharajas family as a summer residence because of the beautiful views and scenic environment. The stunning palace is now owned by the Mysore Royal Family.