Stamp duty for Bengaluru flat: felt like a surprise cost

Did anyone else get surprised by the actual stamp duty costs for their flat in Bengaluru? Just got possession of my 2BHK from VDB in Richmond Town last month. The base price felt okay, but then the registration and stamp duty hit hard. Felt like a hidden charge almost. Is there any way to actually minimise this or is it just a fixed percentage everyone pays? Wondering if I missed a trick or if others have tips.