Mysore Palace – A Beautiful Architecture

India is a rich country of varied culture and history written in golden words. It is a country which has innumerable forts, palaces, havellis and other monuments which till date, very well showcases the one-time legacy and grandeur of the princely states ruled by the mighty rulers. These magnificent forts and palaces are the fine example of architectural marvel of the earlier craftsman. At the very first sight you will be mesmerized by their awesome beauty they have. If you peep into these majestic and sprawling forts and palaces of India, you will find yourself amidst of the royal ambiance of the bygone era. Most of the Indian states are blessed with these architectural masterpieces. Among them, the most favourite destinations of both international and national tourists are Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Some beautiful palaces in India are City Palace, Lake Palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur and last but not the least Mysore Palace, Mysore.

This Maharaja's palace is the major attraction at Mysore, in a sprawling large area, built in an expansive two storeyed building, with exhibits of arts and culture, where the Dussehra festival is celebrated every year, with large number of decorated elephants march with on-going musical bonanza, when the entire area is lit up with amazing illuminations. The fortress is a three storied structure with a length of 245 feet and breadth of 156 feet. It consists of a series of curved square systems surrounded by domes. The unique structure was designed out of wooden which was unintentionally burnt off in 1897. The Twenty fourth Wodeyar Raja renewed it in 1912. It followed the Indo-Saracenic design of architecture. The then regent of Mysore, Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhna, is acknowledged for developing the new edifice what you see. A popular English designer, Henry Irwin, was commissioned. He is acknowledged with developing many milestone structures in India.

A gold-plated dome about 145 feet from the ground covers the open courtyard in the center. The architecture has a blend of Hindu, Mughal, Rajput and Gothic styles. You can spot two more domed Chhatris at the top on either side of the central arch of the facade. Between these two domed Chhatris and above the central arch is a sculpture of goddess Gajalakshmi. This is a common feature in Hindu architecture as the goddess Gajalakshmi is considered of wealth, prosperity and abundance. The entrance of the palace has 'Gombe Thotti' or Doll's Pavilion, which has a collection of Indian and European sculptures and ceremonial objects. The main gate of the palace building is known as Elephant Gate and is beautifully decorated with floral motifs and the royal symbol of Mysore, the two-headed Eagle. One finds the royal ceremonial elephant howdah decorated with 84 kilograms of gold and other precious stones. 

At present it is under the supervision of the Archaeological Department of the India and is converted into a museum. The museum preserves a rare collection of marvellous carvings and exquisite art and sculpture culled from across the globe. You will get the opportunity to see the paintings, jeweller, and royal costumes of the Royal families of Wodeyars. 

The second floor has the splendid durbar hall known as 'Diwan-E-am', which is of 155 feet long and 42 feet broad. The hall is marked by an exquisitely decorated ceiling, a glistening floor and sculptured pillars that are painted in gold. The walls have murals depicting the eight avatars of Goddess Shakti. There are paintings that depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata and also an original painting of the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma. Towards the south on the same floor is the Diwan-E-Khas (private audience hall), which is decorated with beautifully carved entrance doors and stained glass ceiling. The ground floor displays the personal belongings of the Wodeyar King while the upper floor displays collection of weapons belonging to the Ruler. 

Also you can spot a number of temples dotted around the palace campus. The living palace where the family lived is located right behind the main palace. This too is a museum exhibiting a number of artefacts’ used in the palace. This is made in a more human scale, a lot traditional and can give a great insight into the life of those times. Every Sunday night the monument looks like a heavenly palace as it is illuminated with thousands of light bulbs.