DARIA DAULAT BAGH

Daria Daulat Bagh, literally "garden of wealth", is the summer palace of Tipu Sultan which he had built in 1784. Built on the same plan as the summer palace in Bangalore, this one is enthroned in the middle of a vast landscaped garden. The palace is built on a platform. Only the east and west walls are enclosed. To the north and south, the rooms are open, which allows for a draft in the hottest hours. These two halls have solid teak pillars that support the roof. Walls forming four rooms in the center of the building separate the two halls. The first floor has been transformed into a museum presenting some objects that belonged to Tipu Sultan, Persian manuscripts... The highlight of the collection is the painting by Sir Robert Ker Porter depicting the final battle of Srirangapatnam on May 4, 1799 where Tipu Sultan was killed.

The Daria Daulat Bagh is also worth a visit for its incredible frescoes decorating the entire building from walls to ceilings. Painted canvases with floral motifs are glued to the ceilings. The interior walls have friezes of foliage and flowers. The most beautiful works are on the outside walls. The western wall depicts the victories of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan against the British. In the upper right corner, one can see the French soldiers led by General Lally, observing the battlefield through a telescope. The eastern wall divided into 5 rows represents the darbar (coronation) of Tipu Sultan's contemporaries.