Formerly called The Residency, now Raj Bhavan, is the home of the Governor of Karnataka, Rama Devi. The offices of the Hon'ble Resident in Mysore were situated here. It had a large Banquet Hall and sprawling grounds. The Hon'ble Resident exercised the powers of a High Court in the Civil and Military Stations. The Mysore Residency included the Hon'ble Resident, Secretary to the Resident, Personal Assistant, The Collector and District Magistrate, Residency Surgeon, Commissioner of Police, Garrison Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Military Adviser - South India Circle.

At first the Residency offices were situated at the Good Shepherd Convent before the nuns bought over the building. The offices were then shifted to what was known as the Madras Bank building (built around 1840), which is next to St. Joseph's Boy's School. Later the offices were moved to Residency Road, and finally to the present building on Raj Bhavan Road.
The original structure of the Residency (built in the year 1842) was a one-level, horizontal complex, built in what came to be known as the Residency style of architecture. A first-floor was added in 1967. The architectural integration is done remarkably well to the point that one assumes that it was always there.

It is one of the first important buildings to be built in Bangalore after setting up of the British Commission. According to one account, Sir Mark Cubbon bought the building from a private European. Cubbon lived in the building as Commissioner for Mysore Affairs. It remained as the Resident's offices till 1947

It is a dignified building worthy of the status of its resident. This beautiful building has colonial architecture - stately pillars and symmetrically set pediment windows. The well-maintained lawns and the huge garden with its exotic plants and flowers needs a special mention.

|