The majestic Mysore Palace is the first thing that springs to mind when one hears the term Mysore. This Karnataka heritage city is known for its magnificent castles, sandalwood, and silk, but the magnificence and splendour of the Mysore Palace stand out. While the City of Palaces includes seven palaces, the one known as Mysore Palace is housed within the historic fort. The Amba Vilas Palace, also known as Mysore Palace, served as the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore in the past. The palace was also home to the Wodeyar dynasty’s royal family. The stately house of Mysore’s former monarchs is now one of India’s most prominent tourist attractions. The Wadiyars’ mansion, built and refurbished over five centuries, is a treasure collection of historical artefacts.
History
The historic fort, also known as the puragiri (citadel), faces the Chamundi Temple in the east. Yaduraya, the creator of the Wadiyar dynasty, constructed the first palace of the old fort in the fourteenth century. The palace has been torn down and rebuilt numerous times throughout history. In CE 1574, Chamaraja Wadiyar IV, the seventh king of Mysore, finished building this significant fort. The palace was destroyed by lightning, according to Shrimanmaharaja’s Vamshaavali (the history of Mysore’s Royal family). Ranadheera Kanthirava Narasaraja Wadiyar, the twelfth ruler of the Wodeyar dynasty, renovated the palace in 1638.
The problems persisted, though. During the Islamic authority over Mysore, Tipu Sultan, like his father Haider Ali, renounced any pretence of devotion to the Wadiyar Kings. He dismantled various parts of the palace walls in 1797 to create room for his new capital, Nazarbad. As Tipu Sultan and his empire were toppled in the fourth war of Mysore in 1799, this did not last for very long. When the British and Wadiyars arrived in Mysore after their victory, there wasn’t a single decent place to live, according to B. Lewis Rice, the author of the “Mysore Gazetteer.” All that was left were several hastily constructed worker shelters and an incomplete fort made of large stones and rocks. So Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar III was crowned in one of Nazarbad’s construction sheds. The newly elected king rebuilt the destroyed palace.
Reconstruction
During Princess Jayalakshammani’s wedding in 1897, a second unexpected accident resulted in the palace being completely destroyed by fire. The ancient palace, also known as the Wooden Palace, was destroyed by fire and reduced to ashes. After the previous palace was destroyed by fire, the current Mysore Palace was built between 1897 and 1912. The new palace was designed by Henry Irwin, a British architect, at the request of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and the Queen Regent, Kempananjammanni Vani Vilasa Sannidhana. The building was supervised by P Raghavulu Naidu, an executive engineer in the Mysore Palace division. In order to design the new palace, the British architect Henry Irwin travelled to Delhi, Madras (now Chennai), and Calcutta (now Kolkata).
Architectural Style
Through its architecture, Mysore Palace’s past may also be seen. The Indo-Saracenic architecture of the Mysore Palace is made of stone and marble. Due to its many repairs, the architecture features a fusion of Hindu, Mughal, Rajput, and Gothic elements. The three-story stone building features a sizable garden that is planned out in a geometric pattern, as well as dark pink domes, turrets, and broad arches and colonnades. The palace also boasts a 145-foot-tall, five-story tower with a gold-plated dome. The palace also includes the residence of the royal family, two durbar halls (royal courts), courtyards, and ornate mahogany gates. The Wadiyar rulers also built 12 temples in the Mysore Palace over the course of their reign.
Four principal entrances lead into the palace. The front gate is the East gate, also known as Jaya Maarthaanda, and it is only opened for dignitaries and during Dasara. Varaha’s West entrance is similarly only accessible during Dasara celebrations. The public can enter through the Balarama entrance on the south side. The Jayarama gate is located in the North. The entrance gate and arch are etched with the crest and coat of arms of the Mysore empire.
The Wadiyar dynasty hired the best artisans to build the palace since they were great supporters of the arts. One of the most impressive pieces of art is the magnificent sculpture of the goddess Gajalakshmi, who is also known as the goddess of fortune, wealth, and success, and her elephants, which is located above the main arch.
Attraction
One of the nation’s most priceless assets, the Mysore Palace, once home to the illustrious Wodeyar Maharajas of the Mysore Kingdom, is currently being transformed into a museum. Richly and tastefully carved rooms can be reached through doors that are stunningly decorated and expertly chiselled. The elegantly columned Durbar Hall, the solid silver doors, the finely engraved mahogany ceilings, and many other palace decorations leave one in awe while providing insight into the lavish lifestyle of the royals. Royal attire, memorabilia, musical instruments, and Wodeyar weapons are on display in the palace. The palace is home to a number of exquisite paintings, including those that depict the eight forms of the goddess Shakthi and a famous artist named Raja Ravi Verma’s masterwork.
Each year during the autumn, the palace hosts the well-known Mysore Dasara celebration. Approximately 100,000 light bulbs are used to illuminate the palace every night from 7 to 10 over the festival’s ten days. The Chinnada Simhasana or Ratna Simhasana, the royal throne with intriguing motifs carved onto its gold plates, is on exhibit throughout the festival. During this time, various religious and cultural performances take place in the palace. After worshipping the “Pattada Katti,” or the royal sword, on the auspicious day of Mahanavami, which is the ninth day, it is led in a parade by camels and elephants. On the tenth day, or Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession begins from the palace with tremendous fanfare. Its main attraction is an idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari that is seated on a golden mantapa that weighs about 750 kg of gold.
Light And Sound Show in Mysore Palace
The 600-year Wadiyar dynasty is chronicled in the Sound and Light Show (Son et Lumiere) at the Mysore Palace. The majestic history of the Mysore Palace and its monarchs is told in this magnificent dramatic portrayal in male and female voices, as well as song and music, set against the broader backdrop of local historical events. The programme was previously solely broadcast in Kannada, but as of January 2018, it is now also broadcast in English. Five minutes after the light and sound extravaganza, the castle is dimly lit.
Doorway to the Palace
The majestic Mysore Palace is open for tours every day between 10:00 am and 5:30 pm. Adults must pay Rs. 40 to enter the palace; children between the ages of 10 and 18 must pay Rs. 20, and international nationals must pay Rs. 200. The management has added battery-operated cars to make it easier for guests to tour the palace, which is regarded as one of the largest Indian palaces and one of the most well-known tourist destinations in India after the Taj Mahal.
Nearest Attractions
- Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens.
- Devaraja Market.
- Brindavan Garden.
- Somnathpur Temple.
- Venugopala Swamy Temple.
- Sri Chamundeshwari Temple.
Also read: Hindu Pilgrimage sites are not a Tourist Place.
How To Reach Mysore Palace?
From Bangalore (140 km approx.), which is well connected by train and air with major cities in India and by air with certain foreign ones, one can go to Mysore by KSRTC bus, train, or taxi.
