Photo 212/6(3)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Interior view of one of the ornately decorated rooms in the Darya Daulat Bagh, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan. Lyon's 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs prepared to illustrate the ancient architecture of Southern India' (Marion and Co., London, 1870), edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph: '453 - is a view of the large room on the upper storey, which is fitted up as a drawing-room being carpeted and well furnished. The same style of ornamentation is continued on the inner as well as on the outer walls. Anyone at all familiar with the palaces of Agra and Delhi will easily be able to trace the origin of every feature in this building. It is purely Mohammedan in its form, with the slightest possible admixture of Hindu taste in its details. Its worst defect is the attenuation it exhibits as compared with the manly vigour which is seen in the works of Akbar and the earlier Mogul Emperors of India. There is nothing else now at Seringapatam worthy of a visit, as every vestige of the old palace has disappeared. The mosque is quite modern, having been built by Tippoo just before his death. The unhealthiness of the place is such that the population of the town is every year decreasing. There is a ruinous, poverty-stricken air about the place which warns the visitor truthfully of its condition, and foolhardy will lie be if he tarries here one hour longer than necessary, especially after the sun is down. Both the Deria Dowlut and the fort may easily be visited the same day. The latter is interesting in an historical sense only. The place is still shown on the south side where the great breach was made, and where the British troops advanced to the storm. Here, too, Tippoo fell. Close to this is the building where the European prisoners were confined, and so many gallant hearts pined in captivity.'