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The palace you see today is the fourth to occupy this site, each of the earlier ones succumbing to disaster and political upheaval down the centuries. Designed by British architect Henry Irwin, the Amba Vilasa Palace as it is also known, was completed in 1912 at a cost of Rs. 4,147,913. A brilliant combination of Dravidian, Indo-Saracenic, oriental & Roman architectural styles, the Maharaja's Palace is a splendid three storied stone building of fine gray granite and deep pink marble domes, dominated by a five-storied 145 foot tower whose dome is gilded in gold. |
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Entry to the palace is through the Gombe Thotti or the Doll's Pavilion, a gallery of traditional dolls from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries including a wooden elephant howdah (frame for carrying passengers) decorated with 84 kilograms of gold! There are seven canons right in front of the Gombe Thotti and are still fired to mark the beginning and end of the annual Dasara procession. Halfway along is the elephant gate, which is the main entrance to the centre of the palace. The Kalyana Mantapa or marriage pavilion with a central octagonal gabled roof, covered by stained glasses, is to the south of the building. Its flooring has artistic geometrical patterns created by using glittering glazed tiles imported from England. The Ambavilasa or Diwan-e -khas, a hall used by the king for private audience, is one of the most spectacular rooms of the palace located on the first floor, facing east. On the same floor is the Diwan-e-Aam, facing south. All around the sprawling palace, there is much to see…the portrait gallery, the royal armory, collections of costumes and jewelry, intricately carved doors of mahogany and solid silver, delicate chandeliers, exquisite stained glass ceilings, decorative frescoes and just during the Dasara festival - the breathtaking royal throne made of 200 kgs of pure gold! Its ancestry is traced to the period of the Pandavas, epic heroes of the Mahabharata. The walls of the palace are painted with pictures of the Dasara processions which have been painted in such a fashion, that, from any angle it appears as if the procession were heading towards you. There are twelve temples within the palace complex dating from the fourteenth to the twentieth centuries and displaying a wide range of architectural styles. The
whole palace is set among meticulously laid gardens where one
can sit down to watch one of the most enchanting of sights in
the world. The palace is open all days of the week, from
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The palace is illuminated on Saturdays,
Sundays, national holidays and state festivals between 7:00
p.m. and 8 p.m. and during the Dasara festival, from 7p.m. until
9p.m. If you would like to treat yourself to a private guided
tour of the entire palace complex, Mysooru Palace Board certified
guides can be found at the entrance who will take you around
for a nominal fee. How
much time to spend ? |
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THE LALITHA MAHAL PALACE Perched atop a low hill, about 11kms from the city of mysore is the Lalitha Mahal Palace. Set amidst sprawling terraced gardens this magnificent twin storied palace was built in 1921 by the then Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV to accommodate his most important guests, mainly the viceroy of India. Today, it is one of India’s most opulent hotels -The Lalaitha Mahal Palace Hotel which offers royal living and dining in the environs of a real palace. Inside, the central hall is decorated with lifesize portraits of the royalty, lithographs portraying Tippu Sultan's battles with the British, decorative motifs on the walls and ceiling, carved wood shutters, wall panels and myriad touches of regal embellishment.There are 54 rooms and suites, including the Viceroy, Vicerine and Duplex suites, all of princely proportions,with high ceilings and furnished with the old palace furniture-four poster beds, carved wooden cupboards, deep velvet covered armchairs and gilt framed belgian mirrors. The erstwhile ballroom has been recreated as a gourmet restaurant which serves Indian and continental cuisine amidst genuine royal ambience. The most sought after dish here is the Mysuru Thali - a fine array of several delicately spiced south Indian delights served in small bowls on a large silver platter. truly a meal fit for a king! |
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Oil
paintings of contemporary artists like Raja Ravi Varma and Svetoslov
Roerich are awe- inspiring. |
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How
to reach?
Jaganmohal Palace is at the city center and at walkable distance from most of the Hotels. How much time to spend ? 5 Mins walk from city Center and maximum 15 mins at at the Palace
The structure is in Indo-Islamic style and composed mostly of teakwood, set on a 1.5 mt high platform. Open corridors run along its four sides with wooden pillars at the edges of the plinth. There are two fairly large audience halls. The four staircases concealed from view are built in the four partitions walls which divide the audience hall into four rooms at four corners, with a central hall connecting the eastern and western corridors. At first sight, this low rectangular building fails to impress, however its well preserved interiors are remarkably interesting. The most striking feature of this building is that every inch of space on the walls, pillars, canopies and arches are painted with exquisite paintings and murals. The paintings portay the glorious victories of Haidar and Tippu over the English contingent led by col. Bailee in the battle at Pollilur near Kanchipuram in 1780. Upstairs is a small collection of Tipu memorabilia, European paintings and Persian manuscripts. Nearby is Tiupu’s fort, mostly destroyed and in ruins. It is here that Tipu charged at the British soldiers with his legendary sword. The fort holds within it, the Jamia Masjid mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple. Closeby is a ruined structure identified as Tipu's Palace, the famed Lal Mahal. Outside the fort is the Gumbaz, Tipu's tomb with splendid ebony doors inlaid with ivory. The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm on all days. How to reach? Dariya Daulat Palace is 30 minutes drive from City Center. How much time to spend ? 30 Mins to 1 Hour |
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