It is maintained properly but once you visit the palace you get a feeling that it could be better. The town itself is laid back and you get a feeling everything is in slow motion. We had visited it on a weekend and didnot find it crowded.
There are numerous paintings on the walls of the palace. The uniqueness is that eventhough it resembles a large mansion than a palace which it is not but portrayed as a palace is covered with all kinds of paintings showing the people who came to meet the sultan. It is largely open and I couldnot make out any toilets or bathrooms. So, it must have been used as a durbar(audience hall).
A kilometer from the palace you can also visit a couple of temples (sangam) where people perform the last rites of their beloved. The edges of the island are fertile obviously because of the cauvery. Above is a picture of the fields. There are a couple of shops where you can get some snacks, coconut, and drink. The shops do not clean the place up and strangely there are no dustbins. Plastic is everywhere.
You could have a swim as some areas are not that deep. The locals who ply the buta boats will tell you where it is shallow and where it is deep. At the end of the island you can again see the confluence of the cauvery. 
A fuller view of one side of the cauvery. Coconut water is very good here. For Rs.8-10/- you will get a nice big coconut. It is better to quench your thirst this way rather than go for a bottled soda which is polluting.
There is a cannon that had fallen through the roof when it was hit by another cannon ball into the dungeon where Tipu Sultan kept many english prisoners. They are doing up the place with grass on either side of the previous steps leading to the dungeon.
Here is a picture of the gate to delhi bridge. When you climb over the bridge you can see the soldiers have drilled several holes all along the wall pointing down. I am guessing that they were used during war to shoot arrows or fire at. 
Although no one ventures near the obelisk there is a nice view at one end of the island. If you are lucky you get to see some nice birds. 
The obelisk is a memorial and has all the names of the british officers who laid down their lives. Its interesting in its own way. It was built after a century I guess after Tipu's death. 
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