The Tipu’s lodge atop Nandi Hills, also called Nandagiri and Nandidurga, in Chikkaballapur district, may not be an impressive building, but it is steeped in history.
The lodge is a rectangular two-storied structure built in east-west orientation measuring 12 x 7 metres and is situated within a fortified area on the summit of the hill.
Constructed of brick, mortar and wood, it has a series of compartments.
The walls accommodate niches and originally appears to have been decorated with paintings.
The verandah has pierced balustrades.
Tipu Sultan is said to have stayed in this building whenever he visited the place during expedition or hunting.
Tipu’s summer palace, Daria Daulat Bagh, in Srirangapatna, is set amidst beautiful gardens. He built this palace in 1784, in the Indo-Saracenic style and it is mostly made of teakwood.
The palace has a rectangular plan and is built on a raised platform.
The most stunning feature of the palace is that all the space available on the walls, pillars, canopies and arches have colourful frescoes in the style of Mysore paintings.
The other summer palace is in Bangalore.
Its construction was started by Hyder Ali within the walls of the Bangalore Fort and completed during the reign of Tipu Sultan in the year 1791.
It is a perfect example of Indo-Islamic architecture.
Tipu Sultan used to conduct his durbar (court) from the eastern and western balconies of the upper floor of this palace.
Published 07 April 2014, 17:33 IST