MYSORE PALACE

The Mysore Palace, which is also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, is a historical palace in the city of Mysore, Karnataka, southern India. It was the official residence and seat of the Wodeyars — the Maharajas of Mysore, the former royal family of Mysore, who ruled the princely state of Mysore since late 1300’s. The palace houses in two durbar halls and a chain of courtyards, gardens, and buildings. The palace is in the central region of inner Mysore, facing the Chamundi Hills eastward.

Mysore is commonly described as the City of Palaces. It is said that Mysore Palace is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in India, after the Taj Mahal, and has more than 4 million visitors annually.

Mysore Palace!

Construction of the current palace was commissioned in 1897 and expanded around 1940 during the reign of His Highness Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of Mysore Kingdom. The construction was completed in 1912, but the fort continued to be beautified and its inhabitants were slowly moved into the newer extension of the palace.

Apart from the Ambavilas Palace and Jaganmohan Palace (which, later Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar used as his art gallery and it remains an art gallery), the city has several other grand palaces like Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion, Rajendra Vilas Mansion, Lalitha Mahal Palace, Laxmi Vilas Mansion, Cheluvamba Vilas Palace, and Krishnarajendra Vilas Palace. Besidesthese, there are buildings a century old or more, like Crowfard Hall, Oriental Research Institute building, Corporation Complex of Mysore City Corporation etc. In all the above palaces, the royal family holds blocks held by the kings traditionally. However, the Bangalore Palace and Ambavilas are entirely under the possession of the royal family. The State Government of Karnataka has its tourism department which promotes Mysore Palace. Bangalore Palace remains entirely a private property of the princess.

A temple inside the premises of Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace - In Its Full Glory!!

The architectural style dome of the palace is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic and blend Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles.The palace is surrounded by a large garden. The entrance gate and arch hold the emblem and coat of arms of the kingdom of Mysore, around which is written the kingdom's motto in Sanskrit: never terrified (The meaning of the inscribed words)

The palace has three entrances: the East Gate (the front gate, opened only during the Dasara and for VVIPs), the South Entrance (for public), and the West Entrance (usually opened only during the Dasara). In addition, it is said that there are numerous secret tunnels from the palace cellar leading to Srirangapatna, other palaces, and confidential areas.

The Maharajas of Mysore were devotees of Goddess Chamundi, which is why the place faces Chamundi Hills. Besides, head of the Parakala Mutt stays the spiritual rajguru (royal teacher and guide) as a reason of which the palace is built next to an even older Parakala Mutt headquarters.

The palace is ten minutes from the city central railway station and from the suburb bus-stand; right behind city bus-stand, and twenty minutes from Mysore Airport. The domestic airport is directly connected to the international airports of Bangalore (Kempegowda International Airport), Chennai (Chennai International Airport), Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum International Airport), Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International Airport), and Bombay (Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport). The city is connected through the state highway NH-17.

The scenes of every detail in and around the palace attract one's attention. However, the authorities have prohibited photography inside the main palace complex.

A major issue for visitors is the frequent extortion of bribes from visitors and tourists from corrupt Police and Palace Guards. Several scams have been reported which include guards who "befriend" visitors while offering to take them to a "secret room" where they extort money from tourists. Guards frequently requests bribes for taking photos, or try and intimidate visitors into providing money or foreign currency. Visitors have reported other scams perpetrated by corrupt officials which include demands to produce tickets and further requesting bribes. Even demanding bribes offering to show the “Private rooms” to the public where the weapons, clothes, ornaments etc of Maharajas are displayed.

Illuminated Mysore Palace

A Full view of Illuminated Mysore Palace during Dusshera!

Tourists should take utmost care while entering the palace and premises as to not fall in the trap of the officials and end up paying bribes or anything of that sort. Even while moving around in Mysore, the local people warn the tourists regarding pick – pocketing and chain – snatching. So the tourists should take utmost care regarding these matters.