Bangalore Palace was built in 1887 and remains the property of the Wadiyar royal family of Mysore. The Tudor-style building, modeled closely on Windsor Castle, sits on 454 acres near the centre of the city — a fact that makes property developers and city planners nervous. The palace's towers, battlements, and formal gardens look faintly improbable in the Bangalore heat, but it is a handsome building, and the interiors — ornate carved wooden ceilings, royal portraits, hunting trophies, period furniture — are worth the entrance fee.
The palace grounds host several large concerts and cultural events through the year, including music festivals that have featured major Indian and international acts. If you're visiting during such an event, it is one of the better outdoor venues in the city. On ordinary days the palace is relatively peaceful, and the 45-minute guided tour gives good context on the Wadiyar family's history and their relationship to the city.