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Bangalore Palace |
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Inspired by
the Windsor Castle, it was built in 1887
by Chamaraja Wodeyar in Tudor-style. Standing in the heart of the city, this unique edifice
gives the impression of a piece of England's architecture in Bangalore with fortified
towers, arches, turreted parapets and undulating lawns. The palace was earlier
surrounded by beautiful gardens in the midst of a vast open area, which
have reduced considerably today. The structure has fortified towers and its
interiors boast of elegant woodcarvings and Tudor-style architecture, complete with
Gothic windows, battlements and turrets. This 110 year old palace,
largely constructed of wood, is famous for its carving and paintings. An exquisite
door panel at the entrance leads to grand settings inside. The interiors have breathtaking
floral motifs, cornices, mouldings and relief paintings on its ceiling.
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The construction of this
45,000 sq ft palace cost just over Rs 1 Million. Reverend Garret originally
owned the land, on which the palace
rests today (The credit of setting up the first
printing press in the city also goes to him). Located between Jayamahal and
Sadashivanagar areas, the palace ground has now become a venue for
various exhibitions, concerts and cultural programmes and film shooting. There is also a statue of Venkataswamy Raju, the head gardener on one of the lawns. Spread
over 45,000 sq ft, the palace began to look a bit decrepit after 1949 when it was
at the center of an ownership dispute between the Government and the ruling Wodeyars.
However It has now been restored to the Wodeyar. Forty-five rooms, two large open
courtyards, fancy fountains, engraved aqua blue marble seats, turreted parapets,
majestic towers and intricate wooden carvings immediately transports one to the
bygone era. The ‘skating’ ballroom, with its smooth and slippery teakwood flooring,
hints at the elaborate parties the Mysore royals threw frequently. The darbar on
the first floor, overlooking the grounds below, flaunts mesmerizing paintings of
Ravi Varma. From the darbar door, one can see what would have been a prized catch
for the hunters of the past – a massive elephant head mounted over the wall. In fact, some rooms also have stuffed stools made of elephant and deer legs. |
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Tourists can get a peek into
what was till now off-limits, thanks to some parts of the palace finally opening
up for the public. Visitors can shop at the boutique, set up by Srikanta Datta Wodiyar
and his wife Pramoda Devi, which offers the finest Mysore silks, with a royal name
tag attached. |
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