A piece of Tudor style architecture on a massive scale with battlements, turrets and fortified towers in an Asian city certainly stands out as an oddity as well as for its style. This is what Bangalore Palace is. This mid 19th century building continues to be an odd yet impressive attraction in Bangalore. A popular Bangalore India hotel, the Gateway Hotel Residency Road Bangalore offers a host of luxuries and conveniences suited for business and leisure travelers.
Construction of this 4,200 sq meter building commenced in 1862 as part of Bangalore’s Central High School, was bought by the Mysore royal family later that century who took until 1944 to complete it. In spite of being an extraordinary addition to an Asian landscape the Bangalore Place is quite an amazing building from its Tudor style exterior to the elaborate interior. The palace was finished painstakingly and this is manifested in elegant wood carvings, floral motifs, cornices and ceiling paintings. Designed around an open courtyard the two storey palace comprises of 35 bedrooms, a ballroom on the ground floor, a Durbar Hall on the first floor from where the head of the royal family once met the public and viewed ceremonies and other public and private spaces. It is furnished with neo classical, Victorian, Edwardian, Chinese and traditional Indian pieces. European paintings from the mid 19th century, art work by Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma and other types of decorations adorn the walls and stained glass windows illuminate some parts of the palace. There is also a gallery of over a thousand historic photos. Its once expansive 183 ha garden was tended by a famed German botanist and garden designer who worked with the royal family until 1956. The palace has undergone renovations several times to bring it up to date and to maintain the woodwork and fittings. Although much of the original garden is gone, there is still enough to set off the magnificent architecture.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.