Bangalore Palace

Bangalore Palace was built between 1862 and 1878, originally for Reverend J. Garrett, principal of Bangalore's Central High School, and acquired in 1873 by Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar X for the Mysore royal family. The architect — the school's own building committee — modelled it loosely on England's Windsor Castle and the Tudor-revival country houses of the period: turrets, fortified towers, Gothic arches, and timber-faced gables on a granite base. The interior holds Wadiyar family memorabilia: hunting trophies, royal portraits, and an extensive collection of European-style furniture. The estate (originally 454 acres, now around 25 after litigation) hosts year-round concerts and music festivals — Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, and Metallica have all played the lawns. The palace is privately owned by Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar's family; entry tickets fund maintenance. The self-guided audio tour covers the public rooms in roughly 90 minutes. Photography permits are sold separately. Avoid weekends if possible — the queue at the ticket counter can run 30 minutes.