Have you been planning a trip to Bangalore in the days to come and thinking about the places to include in the itinerary so as to space out your time conveniently? Then don’t forget to include Bangalore Palace in your travel itinerary. And if you are indeed adding it, then get ready to bump into a surprise that you would least expect in India, i.e. a touch of English architecture to an edifice that was meant for being the home to a very Indian royal family. In other words, Bangalore Palace can well be called a Windsor Castle in its Indian avatar. It is this very sight which will arrest your imagination and take you for an odyssey of the original English castle amidst the lush greens in your dreams.

Bangalore Palace dates back to the colonial era of India when the influence of the English on the minds of the locals was immense, one of the grandest testament being the palace itself. Spread across four hundred acres of land, Bangalore Palace was built by Chamaraja Wodeyar of the renowned Wodeyar dynasty of Karnataka in a Tudor style of architecture. Replete with characteristics of typical English style inclusive of gigantic fortified towers, gothic windows, battlements and turrets surrounded by sprawling lush gardens, Bangalore Palace paints in your mind a perfect picture of a dreamland somewhere far away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday urban life. The exquisite beauty of the place is accentuated by the incorporation of tasteful décor and splendid yet intricate wood and stone carvings, floral motifs, mouldings, cornices and relief paintings on the ceiling in the interior and the walls adorned by thousands of marvelous masterpieces of famous painters. The best amongst these paintings are displayed in the palace gallery, bearing the portraits of personalities of historical eminence and depiction of historical events.

Bangalore Palace was opened to public viewing only in the year 2005 by Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, who wished to generate revenue for the maintenance and upkeepment of the palace from the entry fees paid by the tourists visiting the place. Entry is however, quite restricted but the visiting hours range from 10 AM to 6 PM. On everyday, recording and photography is allowed but only on the payment of an amount higher than normal visiting fees except on Sundays when the palace remains closed for the entire day. The whereabouts of the Bangalore Palace lie completely with the owners and administrators; hence the timings and tariffs are liable to change at any time. This might especially be seen when special occasions or events such as seminars, musical programs, weddings and shooting for movies are held within the palace premises.