Architecture Feature - Mysore Palace
Also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, the Palace of Mysore or Mysore Palace, as it is more commonly called is situated in the beautiful city of Mysore in Karnataka. This magnificent palace is the official abode of the former royal family of Mysore, the Wodeyars. One of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, Mysore Palace also houses within it two durbar halls, the ceremonial meeting halls of the royal court.
The architectural style of the palace is mostly Indo-Saracenic and is a beautiful blend of different styles of architecture including Hindu, Muslim and Gothic. The palace is a three-storey structure with a 145-feet five-storey tower and marble domes and is surrounded by a sprawling garden. The three-storey building is built with fine granite and the domes are built with pink marbles. The façade is adorned with several arches and a central arch which has the sculpture of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, above it.
The Mysore Palace complex also houses twelve Hindu Temples including Someshvara Temple, Lakshmiramana Temple and Shwetha Varahaswamy Temple, among others. The oldest one out of these twelve temples was built in the 14th century while the most recent one in 1953.
There are several unique rooms in the palace and each of these served an important purpose:
Ambavilasa – Decorated with a stained glass ceiling, mosaic floor and spectacular chandeliers, this room was used by the king as a Hall of Private Audience.
Gombe Thotti or Doll’s Pavilion – The entrance of the Palace, Gombe Thotti is a gallery of traditional dolls from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Kalyana Mantapa – The royal wedding hall with a colourful stained glass ceiling and peacock mosaic flooring.
Mysore Palace is truly a sight to behold during the festival of Dussehra which is celebrated with much fervour in Mysore and is popularly known as Mysore Dasara. The palace is illuminated with more than 96,000 lights during the festivities.
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