Mysore Palace

The magnificent Mysore Palace at Mysore in the state of Karnataka truly makes the whole nation proud. The palace served as the official residence of the Wodeyar rulers of Mysore. The architectural masterpiece earns Mysote the appellation - the 'City of Palaces'. Also known as Amba Vilas, the grandiose edifice lies on the Mirza Road in the heart of the city.


Glimpses From The Past
The Wodeyars ruled over the kingdom of Mysore from 1399 until the time India gained her independence in the year 1947. During their rule, the rulers of the Wodeyar dynasty erected the palace in the 14th century as their centre of authority. The original structure of the palace was severely damaged in a lightning strike in 1638.

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But, once again the palace was given shape and made to stand in all its splendour. The overall structure was refurbished and other additions were made. However, due to some unfortunate circumstances, the palace fell upon bad time by the late 18th century. A new palace was built in its place and the structure was destroyed heavily in a fire one more time.

Finally, the Queen Regent of Mysore, Kempananjammanni Vanivilasa Sanndihana, hired the renowned British architect Henry Irwin who shaped the current design of the palace. The architect was also advised to assimilate various styles of architecture to give the palace a look of its kind. The construction work of the palace was finished in the year 1912.


Architectural Attractions
The Mysore Palace is one of the finest examples of the Indo-Saracenic architecture in India. As architect Henry Irwin was told to do, he combined the essential elements of the Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic styles of architecture. The palace comprises of three storeys and remains surrounded by landscaped gardens on all sides.

The three-storeyed structure of the palace is flanked by a huge marble dome and a tower that measures 145 feet in height. The dome is built in deep pink marble while the rest of the structure is made up of gray granite. The Gombe Thotti or the Doll's pavillion is the entry point to the palace. However, to reach the middle section of the palace you need to pass through the Elephant Gate. The gate bears wonderful floral patterns and also has a two-headed eagle which is considered to be the royal symbol of the Wodeyar rulers.

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Moving to the south, you find yourself at the Kalyan Mandapa or the 'Marriage Pavillion'. The ceiling of the hall is embellished with peacock motifs, colourful stained glasses and a chandelier that was brought from Czechoslovakia. The cast iron pillars from Glasgow and the glazed tiles from England are the other attractions inside the hall. Diwan-i-Am and the Diwan-i-Khas are the other worth seeing structures inside the palace.


Reaching There
Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, is the closest airport from Mysore. The airport operates regular flights from Bangalore connecting to places like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The railway station at Mysore has regular mail and express trains from Bangalore and the other important destinations of South India. A convenient network of roads links Mysore with the key destinations of the state and the outside. Bangalore is 139 km from Mysore and has regular buses plying to Mysore.