he Scotsman, Col. Walter Campbell, writing in 1833, described the Daria Daulat as 'surrounded by what has been an ornamental garden. Although much neglected, it is still well stocked with oranges, lime, citron, pomegranate and mango trees, besides a variety of flowers and flowering shrubs. It is intersected by canals terminating in marble baths, one of which occurs opposite each suite of appartments…..'. Lady Clive, in her Journal of 18 July 1799, is somewhat dismissive of the charming interior decoration, although Buchanan, in his Survey, gives a detailed description of how the appearance of gilding was achieved: 'in truth, not a grain of gold is employed. The workmen use a paper covered with false gilding. The laborious production method is then described, including the hammering out of thin lead leaves, and laying the paper on a smooth plank and rubbing is with a polished stone 'til it acquire a complete metallic lustre.' The paper was then cut into floral shapes and pasted onto the walls. Lady Clive notes the remarkable 'Battle of Pollilur' mural which Tipu had painted on the exterior walls.

Nearly one hundred years later, in 1930, the garden was still considered of 'perpetual interest to artist and botanist alike,' with tropical and semi-tropical flowers, some new and some exceptionally interesting plants - the nagalinga tree (gouroupita guianensis); the fan-shaped 'Traveller' Tree' (urania speciosa) and enormous plantains 30 ft high.

It is evidence of the continuing interest in the trees, plants and agriculture of Mysore and modern Karnataka that the Asian Educational Services have reprinted in full (1988) the great survey of Mysore prepared by the Scotsman, Francis Buchanan, in the years immediately after Tipu's death. The gardens at Bangalore and the Daria Daulat, and the flourishing silk industry of modern Karnataka survive as witness to Tipu's own interest in horticulture, two hundred years ago.