Inspired by the Windsor castle in London, Bangalore Palace was build in the Tudor Style architecture with Gothic windows, fortified towers, arches, battlements and turreted parapets. Situated in the heart of Bangalore city, near Sadashiv Nagar, this unique edifice was built by Rev. Garrett, first Principal of the Central High School, which is now Central College. In 1884, it was bought by the then Maharaja of Mysore, Chamaraja Wodeyar. The palace spread over an area of about 430 acres with a built-up area of 40,000 sq. ft, is famous for its elegantly carved woodwork. The interiors have awesome floral motifs, cornices, mouldings and relief paintings on its ceilings. Earlier the vast open area of the palace used to be surrounded by beautiful gardens, and polo matches were conducted on the grounds. Today the palace ground is a popular venue for various exhibitions, concerts and cultural programs. After the last restoration in 1927, recently in 2005, work on the interiors of the Bangalore Palace and its gardens was taken up by the scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar. Mr.Wadiyar has put up his own personal collection of modern art in the Darbar Hall and some rooms in the Maharaja's Suite. One of the rooms 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.