Date:22/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/22/stories/2005072210690400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Wadiyar to restore Bangalore Palace

Staff Reporter

Work to be completed in six to eight months; palace now open for public viewing Work to be completed in six to eight months; portions of palace now open for public viewing

A MAJESTIC MONUMENT: The Bangalore Palace, which has a built-up area of 40,000 sq.ft. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Restoration of the interiors of the Bangalore Palace and its gardens has been taken up by the scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, Mr. Wadiyar said that repairs are being carried out with a view to popularising the Bangalore Palace as a major tourist destination in the State. "For 20 years the palace was not in the possession of the family. When we acquired it again, it was in bad shape. The ceiling was fragile and the woodwork had not been cared for. The upholstery of the furniture was badly damaged. I want to restore the palace to its original condition without changing its appearance," Mr. Wadiyar said.

Workmen from Rajasthan have been engaged to restore the woodwork inside the palace. Mr. Wadiyar said: "The first priority was to restore the woodwork and to redo the ballroom. Plastering of the inside of the structure is going on. Cast-iron lamps and brass fittings are being remade in the rooms and the furniture is being upholstered," he said.

Venue for parties

The ballroom will be rented out for private parties, shows and other events.

Mr. Wadiyar said the palace has a collection of 30,000 photographs of which 1,000 will be restored and put up for viewing at an exhibition. One room of the palace has been converted into a boutique, where silks and garments are on display. Silk scarves, bras shields and photographs of the royal family will be sold as souvenirs to visitors.

The restoration will be complete in six to eight months. The ground floor and parts of the first floor are already open for public viewing at an entry fee of Rs. 100 for domestic tourists and Rs. 200 for foreign tourists since May-end. Till now, 2,000 people have visited the palace.

"We want the Chief Minister to officially launch the opening (of the palace for public viewing.) I have already spoken to him," Mr. Wadiyar said.

He said all artwork and paintings in the palace are in good condition.

Mr. Wadiyar has put up his personal collection of modern art in the Darbar Hall and some rooms in the Maharaja's Suite. The illumination of the palace and the garden has been taken up.

The garden will be restored with Mexican grass, he added.

The Bangalore Palace was built by Rev. Garrett, first Principal of the Central High School, now Central College. In 1884, it was bought by the then Maharaja, Chamaraja Wadiyar. Earlier, polo matches were conducted on the grounds. The last modifications to the palace, which has a built-up area of 40,000 sq.ft, were made in 1927.