Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace

One of Bangalore's most popular attractions and a major stop on most Bangalore city tours, this beautiful palace is built entirely from teak wood, with two floors of pillars, archways, and balconies. While visitors generally come to gawk at the architecture and beautifully adorned interiors, the ground-floor museum is equally worth visiting. Don’t miss the replica of Tipu’s Tiger, an automaton toy depicting a tiger eating a soldier (the original is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London).

• The palace is a must-visit for history buffs and art and architecture lovers.

• Families with small kids beware: There's a toy on display here depicting a soldier being eaten by a tiger that could either enthrall or terrify little ones.

• The palace is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Tipu Sultan’s Palace is located at the intersection of Krisnarajendra and Alur Venkata Rao roads in Chamrajpet, a short walk from the City Market and Bangalore Fort. It's about a 10-minute drive to Cubbon Park and a 15-minute drive to Bangalore station. Bangalore is well-connected to airports across India and has regular international flights from elsewhere in Asia and Europe.

The palace is open daily, though arriving first thing in the morning is recommended to avoid crowds. The palace itself remains cool, but travelers planning on spending time exploring the surrounding area on foot should take weather into consideration. The coolest months are November through January, while April and May can get fairly hot. Monsoon rains in June–August deter many travelers from visiting India, though it’s also during this time that crowds are lightest.

Tipu Sultan was an important ruler of Mysore, notable for making numerous changes during his reign, from pioneering rocket artillery to laying the foundation for Mysore's silk industry. He used the tiger as his symbol and was sometimes referred to the Tiger of Mysore; according to legend, he killed a tiger attacking him using only a dagger.