Mysore Palace

The stunning Mysore Palace is one of the grandest royal palaces located in the heart of the historical city of Mysore, Karnataka. It is the official residence and seat of the Wodeyars, the Maharajas of Mysore. It is an excellent example of indo- saracenic architecture. The giant marble domes, mirror work, stained glass work, carved wooden doors, mosaic floors and enchanting paintings take one to the bygone majestic era. Three beautiful entrances merge elegantly into the Palace. The fine collection of artifacts and sculptures deserve special mention. The palace foretells the legacy of Mysore so charmingly that anybody would fall in love with it. The light and sound show, organized everyday for the tourists, is surely the best means to get acquainted with the glorious history of the palace and the city. The richly carved and colorful interiors are truly a feast for the eyes.

Attractions

Ambavilasa
This sumptuous room was used for private gathering by the king. The lavishly carved rosewood doorway marks the entry to this room studded gracefully with gilded columns, stained glass ceilings, decorative steel grills and chandeliers with fine floral motifs.

Doll’s Pavilion
Entry to the spacious Palace is through a pavilion containing a vast collection of dolls from different centuries. This pavilion also house a fine collection of Indian and European sculptures including a wooden frame carved out of 84 kg of gold.

Kalyana Mantapa
A huge octagonal pavilion with a multi-hued stained glass ceiling decorated stunningly in geometrical patterns. The floor displays a peacock mosaic, designed with tiles from England.

Other Attractions
The Palace complex houses several Hindu Temples like Someshwara Temple, Lakshmiraman Temple and many other temples which are one of the best examples of Indian architecture. The Palace also contains various rooms like Diwan-e-aam and an armory containing the arms used by the different members of the royal family.

Special Events
Every autumn marks the celebration of the very renowned festival, Mysore Dasara, during which various artists light the palace ground with their mesmerizing art forms. The end of the festival is marked with a parade of beautifully decorated elephants.

How to Reach
The nearest airport is Mysore Airport. It is ten minutes away from the city central Railway station.