Mysore Palace - ಮೈಸೂರ್ ಪ್ಯಾಲೇಸ್
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The most attractive monument in Mysore that strikes the visitor is the Mysore Palace. It was completed in 1911 on the foundations of the old Palace that was destroyed by fire in 1897. The well-known architect Henry Irwin designed it. The palace has now been converted into a museum displaying souvenirs,paintings,jewellery,royal costumes and other items,which were once possessed by the Wodeyars.
The exterior of the Palace has Indo-Saracenic features with a series of domes and arches. The building is 245 feet in length and 156ft in breadth and the gold-plated dome at the centre is about 145 feet from the ground. This three storeyed structure has beautifully designed square towers at various cardinal points covered by domes,some of them of ochre colour. Many varieties of stones like granite,gneiss and trap of dark grey and ochre colours have been used. Craftsmen from Jaipur and Agra along with local workers were engaged for crafting them.
Exquisitely carved doors open into stunningly luxurious rooms. The front of the palace has an open balcony supported by massive circular columns. The interior of the palace,especially the Durbar Hall is richly decorated. Replete with ornate ceilings,intricately carved massive doors,gleaming floors,frescoes depicting scenes from the epics Ramayana and the Mahabharatha,the entire scene exudes royal splendour.
The frontal open space,which is wide and the open quadrangle in the middle of the building,provides natural air conditioning. Arrangements to keep the various parts of the building cool are contemplated. Domes,parapet balconies,verandahs,minarets,cupolas and arches combine harmoniously to make the building a veritable masterpiece of lasting beauty. To the south of the building is the marriage pavilion or the Kalyana Mantapa with a centre octagonal gabled roof,covered by stained glasses. Tall slender cast iron pillars are arranged in-groups of three at the corners of the central octagon. These iron pillars got wrought at Glasgow in Scotland. The flooring of this magnificent Kalyana Mantapa has artistic geometrical patterns created by using glittering glazed tiles imported from England. The building has gorgeous chandeliers of Czechoslovakian make.
With its majestic architecture and royal aura, the Mysore palace is the crown jewel of Mysore, the city of palaces. The official residence of the Woodeyar dynasty, the Mysore palace was first built in the 14th century. After being ravaged by fire and lightning twice, the present structure came up in 1912 courtesy the design of British architect Henry Irwin.
Irwin built the Mysore palace in the Indo-Saracenic style, incorporating the design elements of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. The three-storied stone building of fine gray granite with deep pink marble domes features domes, turrets, arches, and colonnades ornated with beautiful carvings.
Among the beautiful rooms of the palace, the elegantly designed Amba Vilasa or Diwan-E-Khas is a treat to the eye and was used by the king for private audience. The Kalyana Mantapa or Marriage Hall with its chandeliers and stained Belgian glass ceiling arranged in peacock designs is another main attraction. The magnificent jewel-studded golden throne, made of 200kgs of pure gold, is displayed during the Dasara festival.
Illuminated Mysore PalaceMysore Palace or the Maharajah's Palace located in the heart of the city at Mirza Road, is the most attractive monument in Mysore. One of the largest palaces in the country, also known as Amba Vilas, was the residence of the Wodeyar Mahararaja's of the Mysore state. The original palace built of wood, got burnt down in 1897 and was rebuilt for the twenty fourth Wodeyar Raja in 1912. Designed in Indo-Saracenic style by the well-known British architect, Henry Irwin, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world.
The three storeyed building, 245 feet in length and 156 in breadth has a series of square towers with arches covered by domes. There is wide open space in the front and the open courtyard in the centre is covered by a gold-plated dome about 145 feet from the ground.
The entry to the palace is through the 'Gombe Thotti' or the Doll's Pavilion, a gallery of Indian and European sculpture and ceremonial objects. Halfway along is the elephant gate, which is the main entrance to the centre of the palace. The gate is decorated with floriated designs, and bears the Mysore royal symbol of a double headed eagle. Inside there is an enclosed courtyard. To the north of the gate are dolls, dating from the earlier nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a ceremonial wooden elephant howdah (carriage kept on top of the elephants to carry royalty) decorated with 84 kilogram of 24 carat gold and other souvenirs.
To the south, the magnificent 'Kalyana Mantapa' or the marriage pavilion has a centre octagonal gabled ceiling, covered by multi coloured stained glass with peacock motifs arranged in geometrical patterns and beautiful chandeliers from Chechoslavakia. Tall, slender cast iron pillars wrought at Glasgow, Scotland are arranged in groups of three at the corners of the central octagon. The floor is laid with glittering glazed tiles imported from England in artistic geometrical patterns and the walls which lead to the Mandapa are lined with oil paintings depicting Dusshera celebrations of the bygone royal era.
On the second floor, the 'Diwan-I-am' Durbar Hall 155 ft. long and 42 ft. broad, has an ornate ceiling, a shining floor anddurbar hall many sculpture pillars which are said to have been painted with gold. The frescoes depicting eight manifestations of Goddess Shakthi (strength), Scenes from the Epics; Ramayana and Mahabharata and an original painting of the renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma are displayed here. There is an open balcony supported by massive circular columns and a fine view of the Chamundi hills from here.
On the same floor to the south is the smaller 'Ambavilas' or Diwan-e-khas ( hall for private audience that has beautifully carved doors at the entrance with inlay work. The central nave of this columnar hall has beautiful stained glass ceiling, supported by metallic bow shaped beams and bars. The ceiling and the walls have designs painted in blue, red and gold colours.
There are twelve temples surrounding the palace within the compound. Some of them are built in typical Dravidian style including the Varashaswamy Temple with a gopuram that set the pattern for the later Sri Chamundeswari Temple on Chamundi Hill. On special occasions, religious ceremonies are still conducted in these temples.
The palace now under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the Karnataka Government, has been converted into a museum. The paintings and portraits, jewellery, royal costumes and other items possessed by the Wodeyars are displayed on the ground floor and a small collection of weapons on the upper floor. It is said that the palace displays the largest collection of gold items quantity wise. The 200kg gold royal throne of the Wodeyars with beautiful artwork, is displayed during the Dussera festival. The palace is spectacularly illuminated on Sunday nights, and during the festive season of Dussera.
There is a small private Museum at the back set up by Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, an ancestor of the Wodeyar rulers as well as a member of the parliament who continues to reside here.
The exterior of the Palace has Indo-Saracenic features with a series of domes and arches. The building is 245 feet in length and 156ft in breadth and the gold-plated dome at the centre is about 145 feet from the ground. This three storeyed structure has beautifully designed square towers at various cardinal points covered by domes,some of them of ochre colour. Many varieties of stones like granite,gneiss and trap of dark grey and ochre colours have been used. Craftsmen from Jaipur and Agra along with local workers were engaged for crafting them.
Exquisitely carved doors open into stunningly luxurious rooms. The front of the palace has an open balcony supported by massive circular columns. The interior of the palace,especially the Durbar Hall is richly decorated. Replete with ornate ceilings,intricately carved massive doors,gleaming floors,frescoes depicting scenes from the epics Ramayana and the Mahabharatha,the entire scene exudes royal splendour.
The frontal open space,which is wide and the open quadrangle in the middle of the building,provides natural air conditioning. Arrangements to keep the various parts of the building cool are contemplated. Domes,parapet balconies,verandahs,minarets,cupolas and arches combine harmoniously to make the building a veritable masterpiece of lasting beauty. To the south of the building is the marriage pavilion or the Kalyana Mantapa with a centre octagonal gabled roof,covered by stained glasses. Tall slender cast iron pillars are arranged in-groups of three at the corners of the central octagon. These iron pillars got wrought at Glasgow in Scotland. The flooring of this magnificent Kalyana Mantapa has artistic geometrical patterns created by using glittering glazed tiles imported from England. The building has gorgeous chandeliers of Czechoslovakian make.
With its majestic architecture and royal aura, the Mysore palace is the crown jewel of Mysore, the city of palaces. The official residence of the Woodeyar dynasty, the Mysore palace was first built in the 14th century. After being ravaged by fire and lightning twice, the present structure came up in 1912 courtesy the design of British architect Henry Irwin.
Irwin built the Mysore palace in the Indo-Saracenic style, incorporating the design elements of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. The three-storied stone building of fine gray granite with deep pink marble domes features domes, turrets, arches, and colonnades ornated with beautiful carvings.
Among the beautiful rooms of the palace, the elegantly designed Amba Vilasa or Diwan-E-Khas is a treat to the eye and was used by the king for private audience. The Kalyana Mantapa or Marriage Hall with its chandeliers and stained Belgian glass ceiling arranged in peacock designs is another main attraction. The magnificent jewel-studded golden throne, made of 200kgs of pure gold, is displayed during the Dasara festival.
Illuminated Mysore PalaceMysore Palace or the Maharajah's Palace located in the heart of the city at Mirza Road, is the most attractive monument in Mysore. One of the largest palaces in the country, also known as Amba Vilas, was the residence of the Wodeyar Mahararaja's of the Mysore state. The original palace built of wood, got burnt down in 1897 and was rebuilt for the twenty fourth Wodeyar Raja in 1912. Designed in Indo-Saracenic style by the well-known British architect, Henry Irwin, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world.
The three storeyed building, 245 feet in length and 156 in breadth has a series of square towers with arches covered by domes. There is wide open space in the front and the open courtyard in the centre is covered by a gold-plated dome about 145 feet from the ground.
The entry to the palace is through the 'Gombe Thotti' or the Doll's Pavilion, a gallery of Indian and European sculpture and ceremonial objects. Halfway along is the elephant gate, which is the main entrance to the centre of the palace. The gate is decorated with floriated designs, and bears the Mysore royal symbol of a double headed eagle. Inside there is an enclosed courtyard. To the north of the gate are dolls, dating from the earlier nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a ceremonial wooden elephant howdah (carriage kept on top of the elephants to carry royalty) decorated with 84 kilogram of 24 carat gold and other souvenirs.
To the south, the magnificent 'Kalyana Mantapa' or the marriage pavilion has a centre octagonal gabled ceiling, covered by multi coloured stained glass with peacock motifs arranged in geometrical patterns and beautiful chandeliers from Chechoslavakia. Tall, slender cast iron pillars wrought at Glasgow, Scotland are arranged in groups of three at the corners of the central octagon. The floor is laid with glittering glazed tiles imported from England in artistic geometrical patterns and the walls which lead to the Mandapa are lined with oil paintings depicting Dusshera celebrations of the bygone royal era.
On the second floor, the 'Diwan-I-am' Durbar Hall 155 ft. long and 42 ft. broad, has an ornate ceiling, a shining floor anddurbar hall many sculpture pillars which are said to have been painted with gold. The frescoes depicting eight manifestations of Goddess Shakthi (strength), Scenes from the Epics; Ramayana and Mahabharata and an original painting of the renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma are displayed here. There is an open balcony supported by massive circular columns and a fine view of the Chamundi hills from here.
On the same floor to the south is the smaller 'Ambavilas' or Diwan-e-khas ( hall for private audience that has beautifully carved doors at the entrance with inlay work. The central nave of this columnar hall has beautiful stained glass ceiling, supported by metallic bow shaped beams and bars. The ceiling and the walls have designs painted in blue, red and gold colours.
There are twelve temples surrounding the palace within the compound. Some of them are built in typical Dravidian style including the Varashaswamy Temple with a gopuram that set the pattern for the later Sri Chamundeswari Temple on Chamundi Hill. On special occasions, religious ceremonies are still conducted in these temples.
The palace now under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the Karnataka Government, has been converted into a museum. The paintings and portraits, jewellery, royal costumes and other items possessed by the Wodeyars are displayed on the ground floor and a small collection of weapons on the upper floor. It is said that the palace displays the largest collection of gold items quantity wise. The 200kg gold royal throne of the Wodeyars with beautiful artwork, is displayed during the Dussera festival. The palace is spectacularly illuminated on Sunday nights, and during the festive season of Dussera.
There is a small private Museum at the back set up by Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, an ancestor of the Wodeyar rulers as well as a member of the parliament who continues to reside here.
Shwetha Varahaswami Temple
Amba Vilasa palace grounds, Mysore
This 18th century temple is one of 12 that lie within the palace grounds. It is dedicated to the Varaha incarnation of Vishnu. The 5-story gopura (closeup) is whitewashed; the only figural sculptures are dvarapalas flanking the openings, and guardian faces on the top story.Nandi monolith
This impressive 1659 sculpture of Nandi is located partway up Chamundi Hill near Mysore. Carved from a single granite boulder, it is 7.5m (22ft) long and 5m (15ft) high. Click here for a side view.Mysore, Karnataka
The Maharaja's Palace (1912) was built in Indo-Saracenic style by the British architect, Henry Irwin. It replaced an earlier palace on this site, which had burned down in 1897. The new palace covers a vast area; the south-side entrance is seen here, with the main part of the palace rising in the background.Lalitha Mahal
This Neoclassical-style palace was built in 1931 as a Maharaja's guest house. The government currently runs it as a hotel and venue for film-shoots (indeed, a crew was filming during our stay).How to get there
Air: The nearest Airport is the Bangalore airport. Bangalore (130km) is connected to all the major cites of the country by air. Train: Trains 6210 Express, 6222 Kaveri Express and the Shatabdi Express run between Mysore and Bangalore regularly. Bangalore is also connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Hyderabad, Madras and Mangalore by Express trains. Bus: There are regular bus services from Bangalore to Mysore. Bangalore is well connected to Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kanyakumari, Mangalore and Madras by bus. There are direct bus services from Mysore to Kerala and other major cities in the state.
 Photo by : Velachery Balu in Flickr |
 Photo by : VIjay Pandey in Flickr |
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 Photo by : Velachery Balu in Flickr |
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