Bangalore Fort is an old fort in Bangalore city, or Bangalooru as it is called now. Kempe Gowda I, the First ruler of the Bangalore Kingdom under the Vijayanagara Empire, built this fort in 1537.
Bangalore Fort
The original fort was made using mud. Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore rebuilt the fort with stones in 1761 after the fort and the city came under his Kingdom. In 1791, during the reign of Tip Sultan, the British East India Company captured the Bangalore Fort in the Third Mysore War. There is a marble plaque at the spot where the British breached the fort’s wall. The capture of Bangalore Fort helped the British East India Company to establish a strategic base here to attack Tipu Sultan’s capital, Srirangapatna, which they succeeded in later years.
The fort is in ruins and what remains today are the Delhi gate and two bastions, along with Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. The Summer Palace of Tip Sultan is in Ind-Islamic architecture. Construction of this palace was started by Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore and was completed by Tipu Sultan, his eldest son.
This palace is a two-storied building. Accentuated Arches and brackets, protruding balconies, and magnificent motifs are some of the architectural specialties of this palace. It is built using teak wood, stones, mortar, and plaster. Massive wooden pillars on stone bases support the building. Beautiful carvings are there on the ceilings. Intricate paintings and floral motifs are the specialists of the interior walls. External walls have paintings of kings, wars, and historical events. Zenana, the dwelling unit for the royal women, is on the corners of the first floor. Four flights of steps lead to the Durbar area (king’s court).
The Mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali is located close to the palace, within this fort.
Bangalore Fort is one of the must-see Bangalore sightseeing tourist places.
The museum inside the Fort
A small portion of the palace now houses a museum. Antiques, ornaments, weapons used for wars, clothes, and knight armor of Tip Sultan and Hyder Ali are displayed in the museum gallery. Portraits and sketches of prominent past rulers are also on display in this museum.
A replica of Tipu’s Tiger is placed here. Tipu Sultan’s throne rested on a life-size Tiger made of wood and covered in gold sheets and precious stones. The original is now at the London Victoria and Albert Museum.
‘Storming of Srirangapatna’, an oil painting by Sir Robert Ker Porter, depicting the attack on Tipu Sultan’s capital city of Srirangapatna, by the British, is also on display here. Another portrait shows Tipu Sultan’s sons surrendering to General Baird, while the family is mourning alongside Tipu’s dead body.
How Do I Go to Bangalore Fort?
Bangalore Fort, is one of the main tourist places in Bangalore in the old Bangalore. It is located at the Albert Victor Road and Krishna Rajendra Road Junction. It is accessible from the Delhi gate on the Krishnarajendra Road. The road is well-connected to other parts of the city.
Bangalore City Railway Station is the nearest major railway station to Bangalore Fort. There is an International airport on the outskirts of Bangalore.