Perhaps the most famous British remnant in Bengaluru is the Raj Bhavan. It was built in 1840 by Sir Mark Cubbon, the then British commissioner of the Mysore territories, at the highest point in Bangalore, known as High Grounds, using his own funds. The bungalow was put up for sale when Cubbon left in 1861 and was eventually bought by the subsequent commissioner, Lewin Bentham Bowring, with government funds. It served as the resident's official home until Indi gained independence in 1947. The building also lends its name to the abutting Residency Road.

Prior to India's independence, the structure served as the Resident's official address. A similar administrative position of raj pramukh (governor) was established under the Constitution of India—the first raj pramukh of Mysore was the maharaja of Mysore. The Residency became the raj pramukh's formal home, but the maharaja of Mysore preferred to stay in his own palaces in Bengaluru and Mysore instead. Consequently, the government changed the Residency into a state guesthouse. The president and the vice president, officials from the central government, and chief ministers from various states have resided at the Residency. Every year, on Independence Day and Republic Day, parties were hosted by the raj pramukh at the bhavan, a tradition that has continued till now.