Mysore Palace Tourist Attraction Of Mysore

Historical Mysore Amba Vilas Palace

 The Palace of Mysore (also known as the Amba Vilas Palace) is a historical palace situated in the city of mysore in Karnataka, southern india. It is the official residence and seat of the Wodeyars - the Maharajas of Mysore, the former royal family of Mysore, which ruled the princely state of Mysore from 1399 to 1950. The palace also houses two durbar halls and incorporates a mesmerizing and gigantic array of courtyards, gardens, and buildings. The palace is located in the central region of inner Mysore, facing the Chamundi Hills eastward.

Mysore is commonly described as the City of Palaces, for, there are about seven palaces inclusive of this; however, the term Mysore Palace refers specifically to the one within the Old Fort. Mysore Palace is now one of the most famous tourist attraction.

Timings: Everyday from 10am to 5.30 pm.
 

Lightings timings:-Sundays & Public Holidays :7pm-7.45 pm
 

Adults Rs. 40
Children below 10 years : Free Entrance
Children between 10 - 18 Years : Rs. 20
Foreigners : Rs. 200

For more info click this link :- https://www.mysorepalace.gov.in

History:- 

King Yaduraya first built a palace inside the Old Fort in Mysore in the 14th century, which was demolished and constructed multiple times. The regent of Mysore, Her Majesty Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhna, and her son, the Maharaja of Mysore His Highness Rajarshi Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, commissioned the British architect Lord Henry Irwin to build a new palace to replace the old one which had been turned into ashes by fire. Meanwhile, the royal family stayed in the nearby Jaganmohan Palace.

Construction of the current palace was commissioned in 1897, completed in 1912, and expanded around 1940 (including the addition of the present Public Durbar Hall wing) 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 to the newer extension built off the palace.

 Apart from the leonine Ambavilas Palace and Jaganmohan Palace (which, later, His Highness 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 (now the office of the district commissioner), Rajendra Vilas Mansion (now a private hotel atop Chamundi Hills), Lalitha Mahal Palace (now a five-star hotel), Laxmi Vilas Mansion, Cheluvamba Vilas Palace, and Krishnarajendra Vilas Palace (now Krishna Rajendra Hospital). Besides there are buildings a century old or more, like Crowfard Hall , Oriental Research Institute building, Corporation Complex of Mysore City Corporation, et cetera. 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. Despite this, the state government of Karnataka has its tourism department authorized the supervision Mysore Palace. Bangalore Palace remains entirely a private property of the princess.

Palace Design:- 

The architectural style domes of the palace is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic and blends Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles. It is a three-stone structure with marble domes and a 145 ft five-story tower. 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 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, there are numerous secret tunnels from the palace cellar leading to Srirangapatna, other palaces, and confidential areas.

The three-story stone building of fine gray granite with deep pink marble domes has a facade with several expansive arches and two smaller ones flanking the central arch, which is supported by tall pillars. Above the central arch is a sculpture of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, good luck and abundance with her elephants. There are three major exclusive temple buildings within the Old Fort, and about 18 inside the palace heart building. 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.

Programs:-

Every autumn, the palace is the venue for the famous Mysore Dasara festival, during which leading artists perform on a stage set up in the palace grounds. On the tenth day of the festival Vijaya Dashami, a parade with caparisoned elephants and floats originate from the palace grounds.

Dasara is the most extravagant festival of Mysore. It is celebrated in September and October of each year. The festival celebrates and commemorates the victory of the great Goddess Durga, also called Chamundeshwari, after she slew the demon Mahishasura, thereby symbolizing the triumph of good over evil according to Hindu mythology.

This festival has been celebrated by the Wodeyars at Srirangapatna since 1610, and in Mysore with great pomp since 1799. The tradition is still carried on, although the scale of the celebrations has diminished. The Dasara festivities have become an integral part of the culture and life in Mysore. To celebrate this festival, the Palace of Mysore is illuminated with more than 96,000 lights during the two-month period.

Amba vilasa

This spectacular room was used by the king as a hall for private audiences. Entry to this opulent hall is through an elegantly carved rosewood doorway inlaid with ivory that opens into a shrine dedicated to Ganesha. The central nave of the hall has ornately gilded columns, stained glass ceilings, decorative steel grills, and chandeliers with fine floral motifs, mirrored in the pietra dura mosaic floor embellished with semi-precious stones. This is where the king would confer with his ministers. It was the chamber in which he gave audience to people deserving special attention.

Kalyana Mantapa

The Kalyana Mantapa, or marriage hall, is a grand, octagonal-shaped pavilion with a multi-hued stained glass ceiling with peacock motifs arranged in geometrical patterns. The entire structure was wrought in Glasgow, Scotland.

The floor also displays a peacock mosaic, designed with tiles from England. Oil paintings illustrating the royal procession and Dasara celebrations of bygone years are displayed on the walls.

Temples

The palace complex includes twelve Hindu temples. The oldest was built in the 14th century, while the most recent was built in 1953.

Some of the famous temples are:

• Someshvara Temple, dedicated to God Lord Shiva
• Lakshmiramana Temple, dedicated to God Lord Vishnu
• Shwetha Varahaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Varahaswamy, one of the 10 incarnations of lord Vishnu
• Sri Prasanna krishna Swami Temple
• Sri Gayatri Temple
• Sri Trineshwara temple
• Sri Bhuvaneshwari Temple
• Kodi Someshwaraswami Temple

 Note:-

Currently, a major portion of the palace is under the control of the Government of Karnataka, acquired by passing the Mysore Palace Acquisition Act. Only a small portion of the palace, towards the West Gate, is under the possession of Princess Pramodadevi Wadiyar. In fact, the High Court of Karnataka had passed judgment in favor of the late prince H.H. Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar that the palace belongs to the royal family. However, the Government of Karnataka moved Supreme Court after its defeat in the High Court. The case is still pending. Only the prince did not survive to continue fighting against the government, who demised on the 10th of December, 2013.

Chamundeshwari Temple

The Chamundeshwari Temple is located on the top of Chamundi Hills  about 13 km from the palace city of Mysore in the state of  Karnataka The temple was named after Chamundeshwari or Durga.

History:- 

The Chamundeshwari Temple is considered as a Shakti Peetha and one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas.  The origin of Shakti Peethas is associated to the mythology of Daksha yaga and Sati's self immolation.

Shakti Peethas are divine seat of Shakti due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti Peeth linking to the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit. Each temple have shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava. The Hair of Sati Devi is said to have fallen here, the Shakti is addressed as Chamundeshwari Devi.

Explanation:-

The original shrine is thought to have been built in the 12th century by Hoysala rulers while its tower was probably built by the Vijayanagar rulers of the 17th century. In 1659, a flight of one thousand steps was built leading up to the 3000 foot summit of the hill. At the temple are several images of Nandi. There is a huge granite Nandi on the 800th step on the hill in front of a small Shiva temple a short distance away. This Nandi is over 15 feet high, and 24 feet long and around its neck are exquisite bells.

The temple has a seven storey tall Gopura decorated with intricate carvings. The deity of the goddess is said to be made of gold and the temple doors of silver.

 Note:- 

First Chamundi Hill is Know as Mahabaleshwara Hill

For more info click this link :- www.mysorechamunditemple.com

 

Lalitha Mahal Palace

  The Lalitha Mahal is the second largest palace in Mysore. It is located near the Chamundi Hills, east of the city of Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka. The palace was built in 1921 at the orders of His Highness Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore for the exclusive stay of the then Viceroy of India. Built on a raising ground, the palace was fashioned on the lines of the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and is one of the imposing structures of the Mysore city.The elegant palace is painted pure white. It was converted into a heritage hotel in 1974. It is now run as an elite hotel of the Ashok Group of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under the Government of India. However, a veneer of the original royal ambience of the palace is maintained.

For more info click this link :- https://www.lalithamahalpalace.in

 

Nanjangud  Nanjundeshwara (Sreekanteshwara) Temple

Nanjangud is a town in Mysore district in Karnataka State. Nanjangud lies on the banks of the river Kapila (Kabini), 23 km from the city of Mysore. Nanjangud is famous for Srikanteshwara Temple. Nanjangud is also called as "Dakshina Kashi" (southern Kashi). This city is also famous for a variety of banana grown in the region, the Nanjanagoodu rasabale.

 The "Dodda Jaathre" festival at Nanjangud by temple attracts thousands of devotees. The festivities in the fair includes five colorful chariots that are pulled by devotees on a path called the ratha beedi.

 Nanju in Kannada means poison; the name Nanjundeshwara means the "God who Drank the Poison", a word that has its origins in the legend of the Great Churning of the Ocean of Milk; thus the town got the name 'Nanjangud' which means "the abode of the god Nanjundeshwara".

For more info click this link :- https://www.nanjangudtemple.kar.nic.in/seva.html

 

 Jwalamukhi Tripurasu Temple

 Jwalamukhi Tripura Sundari Temple is ancient temple of Jwalamukhi Tripurasundari is built in Uthanahalli, Mysore at the foot of Chamundi Hills. She is believed to be the sister of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Chamundi hills temple. Jwalamukhi Tripura Sundari temple is approximately 7 kilometers from the center of Mysore and is 3 kms from Chamundeshwari temple atop the hills.

Ranganthaswamy temple

The Ranganthaswamy temple (usually referred to as "Sri Ranganathaswamy") in Srirangapatina, in the Mandya district of Karnataka state, dedicated to the Hindu god Ranganatha, It is one of the five important pilgrimage sites along the river Kaveri for devotees of Ranganatha.

Temple Plan :- 

The temple has an imposing tower over the entrance gate gopuram and two large concentric rectangular enclosures around its perimeter. The entrance to the inner sanctum garbhagriha is through multiple columned halls. A vestibule , hall  and a front hallare the other main structures in the temple. The roof of the mukhamantapa is decorated with a "garland"  of miniature decorative towers whose niches contain stucco images of the god Vishnu.

In the sanctum, the image of Vishnu reclines on the coils of the snake Adisesha, under a canopy formed by the snake's seven hoods, with his consort Lakshmi at his feet. Flanking Vishnu are other deities from the Hindu pantheon; Sridevi, Bhudevi and Brahma. There are other smaller shrines within the complex dedicated to Narasimha, Gopalakrishna, Srinivasa , Hanuman, Garuda and the Alwar saints.

History:- 

According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the temple is one of considerable antiquity. An inscription at the temple reveals it was first consecrated in 984 A.D. by a local chief called Tirumalaiah, a vassal of the Western Ganga dynasty. In early 12th century, Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana (r.1108-1152) granted the village of Srirangapatna to the Vaishnava saint Ramanujacharya as an place of learning. An inscription of the great Hoysala King Veera Ballala II (1210 A.D.) confirms that additions and renovations were made to the temple at that time. The tower over the entrance bears features consistent with Vijayanagara architecture. According to historian George Michell, contributions were also made by the Wodeyar kings of the Kingdom of Mysore. The temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance.

Tourist Places In Mysore

 Mysore Zoo

Mysore Zoo (officially the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens) is a 157-acre (64 ha) Zoo located near the palace in mysore, It is one of the oldest and most popular Zoos in India, and is home to a wide range of species(168-species). Mysore Zoo is one of the city’s most popular attractions. It was established under royal patronage in 1892, making it one of the oldest zoos in the world.

History:-

Mysore Zoo was originally created in 1892 on 10 acres of the summer palace of Maharaja Sri Chamaraja Wodeyar, and was originally called the Palace Zoo. The zoo was originally set up by G.H. Krumbeigal, a German landscaper and horticulturist. Over the next 10 years the zoo was expanded to 45 acres with spacious enclosures that are still in use.

The zoo was opened to the public in 1902, and now includes a bandstand and an artificial lake. It was given to the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Mysore State Government in 1948. The zoo was expanded first with another 50 acres, and then another 150 acres with the acquisition of the Karanji Tank (Karanji reservoir), in which an artificial island has been created as a sanctuary for birds.

The zoo was handed over to the Forest Department in 1972, and was entrusted to Zoo Authority of Karnataka {The first autonomous organization in India to manage a zoo} in 1979.

The Zoo had completed 100 years in 1992. The Centenary celebrations were held in 1990-91. During centenary celebrations various developmental activities were initiated such as renovation & modification of entrance gate, Hospital building, Walk Through Reptiles, etc., The bust of Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar, founder of Mysore Zoo was unveiled. The Logo of Zoo, Centenary Souvenir, publication of Literature and Leaflets, conducting various Competitions, Preparation of a documentary film were other highlights

For more info click this link :- www.mysorezoo.info

 

 Karanji Lake

                        

 Karanji Lake is a lake located in the city of Mysore. The lake is surrounded by a nature park consisting of a butterfly park.There is also a museum, the Regional Museum of Natural History which is located on the banks of this lake. The total area of Karanji lake is 90 hectares. While waterspread area is about 55 hectares, the foreshore area measures about 35 hectares. Karanji lake is owned by the Mysore Zoo Authority.

 

The Karanji Lake with 77 acres area is located on eastern side of Zoo. The Chamundi Hills area acts as catchment and provides a dramatic backdrop.

Previously the tank was almost a garbage dump being used by all and sundry for each and every function. There was no bird life but for scavengers, crows, and the entire area was a slum. As such it was in constant danger of being taken over by developers for real estate development. The tank was handed to Mysore zoo in the month of March 1976 by public works department for development and maintenance. The tank is situated on north-east side of Mysore city. It functions as a percolation tank. After the protection and afforestation in the foreshore area, the tank started attracting a variety of birds for breeding & nesting activities. Restoration and development activities were taken up under the Asian Development Bank project through Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation to the extent of Rs.1.17 crores.

About five acres of prime zoo land has been donated to the Natural History Museum, which will enhance the educational potential of the zoo by offering people a rare opportunity to study natural history of wild animals, aquatic birds and tropical vegetation etc.

Railway Museum

The Railway Museum was established in 1979 by Indian Railways, The museum is opposite the Central Food Technology and Research Institute on Krishnaraja Sagar Road. It has locomotives and a gallery of photographs and paintings depicting the growth of railways. Railway signals and lights are also displayed. The museum has a battery-operated mini-train giving a short ride for children on the grounds.

Regional Museum of Natural History

 

The Regional Museum of Natural History at Mysore, was inaugurated on 20 May 1995. 

It was undertaken by the government of India, ministry of environment and forests. The museum is located on the banks of Karanji Lake, with the Chamundi Hills visible in the background. It is now a landmark in the city. The museum exhibits plants, animals and geology of the southern region of India.

St. Philomena's church

St. Philomena's church is a catholic church built in honour of St. Philomena in the Diocese of Mysore,It was constructed in 1936 using a Neo Gothic style.

   

History

The St. Philomena's Church  

A church at the same location was built in 1843 by the then Maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. An inscription which was there at the time of laying the foundation of the present church in 1933 states: "In the name of that only God - the universal Lord who creates, protects, and reigns over the universe of Light, the mundane world and the assemblage of all created lives - this church is built 1843 years after the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Enlightenment of the World, as man". In 1926, T. Thumboo Chetty who was a secretary to the Maharaja of Mysore, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar obtained a relic of the saint from Peter Pisani, Apostolic Delegate of the East Indies. This relic was handed over to Father Cochet who approached the king to assist him in constructing a church in honour of St. Philomena. The Maharaja of Mysore laid the foundation stone of the church on October 28, 1933. In his speech on the day of the inauguration, the Maharaja is quoted to have said: The new church will be strongly and securely built upon a double foundation ,Divine compassion and the eager gratitude of men.. The construction of the church was completed under Bishop Rene Feuga's supervision. The relic of Saint Philomena is preserved in a catacomb below the main altar. This church is a good example of blending of local culture. Some of the female statues are dressed with local traditional dress, Saree.

 Design:- 

The church was designed by a Frenchman named Daly. It was designed to be built in the Neo Gothic style with inspiration drawn from the Cologne Cathedral. The floor plan of the cathedral resembles a cross. The long part of the cross is congregation hall called the nave. The two arms of the cross are the transepts. The part containing the altar and the choir is the crossing. The cathedral has a crypt that houses a statue of St. Philomena. The twin spires of the church are 175 feet in height and they resemble the spires of the Cologne Cathedral and also the spires of the St. Patrick's Church in New York. The main hall can seat up to 800 people and contains stained glass windows depicting scenes from the birth of Christ, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ. It is considered to be Asia's second largest church.

Kukkarahalli Lake

Kukkarahalli Lake located in the heart of the Mysore city, adjoins the Manasgangotri, It provides lung-space to the city. Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, (1794–1868) of the Mysore was responsible for getting the lake created, in the year 1864, to provide water for irrigation to about 4000 ha of land outside the city.

Water source:-

The lake drains a catchment area of more than 414 square kilometres  and the water body spreads over 62 hectares (150 acres). Dewan Poornaiah feeder canal, 27 km long, which passes through Hinkal, Bogadi, Kudremala and Manasagangotri outfalls into the Lake. The Lake is ‘J’ shaped. The maximum depth of lake is reported to be 5 m (16 ft). The east-west bund holds water on one side. Sandy loam to clay loam form the dominant geological condition of the Lake. On the northern side another temporary bund hold back the direct flow of waste water into the lake.

 A detailed study of the physico-chemical and bio-chemical parameters of the lake waters carried out in the period 1981-2001 confirmed the deteriorating status of the lake necessitating action for restoration. There was a high percentage of chemicals but low percentage of total plankton . The activity of chemicals lead to the liberation of extra quantity of cellular products which increased . Lake indicated high productivity of bio-chemical products; with death and decay of algal blooms adding to the biochemical concentration. The lake waters showed high electrolytes, low dissolved oxygen, high phosphate and nitrogen content with abundance of plankton blooms, all of which have contributed to a high degree of eutrophication. The non potability of the water body is indicated by the high degree of faecal contamination with organisms that produce H2S that may include forms of Salmonella, Proteus, Citrobacter and some strains of Klebsiella.The distribution pattern of plank tonic forms, for the decade ending 2001, as per laboratory tests of lake’s water samples provides the values of parameters such as the Chlorococcales, Desmids, Diatoms, Blue-greens and Euglenoids, as the biological indicators of water body, as given in table below which testify to the lake’s eutrophication status. The numbers indicate the microorganisms present in the sample per litre.

• Forming a new walkway on the western side for the benefit large number of morning walkers who visit the lake,
• Shaded  stone benches for visitors to sit, relax and enjoy the scenic serenity of the lake.
• Improving the eastern and the northern pathway,
• Fencing of the lake perimeter
• The iron watch tower (within the lake) about 100 feet (30 m) from the shores has been restored
• Lighting arrangement along the southern bund.
• Adopting rainwater harvesting methods to improve the quality and quantity of water inflows
• Augmenting supply to the lake with fresh water inflow with filtered municipal back water wash
• Adopting aeration of water techniques: boating is one of the methods widely adopted houses - a boating center has been established
• Removal of algae by manual methods
• Engineering methods to clean the boundary conditions of the lake such as desilting and opening of the intake channel
• Ban on immersion of idols during festivals
• Banned dumping of medical waste in the lake
• Increased security system to restrict human influence
• Increased aquaculture
• Stakeholders participation for collective ownership and responsibility to restoration activities

 
Krishna Raja Sagara

Krishna Raja Sagara, also popularly known as KRS, is the name of both a lake and the dam that creates it. It is located close to the settlement of Krishnarajasagara. The dam is across Kaveri River, in Mandya District near Mysore in Karnataka state, There is an ornamental garden attached tothe dam, called Brindavan Gardens.

The dam was built across river Kaveri, the life giving river for the Mysore and Mandya districts, in 1924. Apart from being the main source of water for irrigation in the most fertile Mysore and Mandya, the reservoir is the main source of drinking water for all of Mysore city and almost the whole of Bangalore city, the capital of the state of Karnataka. The water released from this dam is further used as an important source of water in the state of Tamil Nadu, which has its own Mettur dam in the Salem district. Sir Visvesvaraya served as the chief engineer during the construction of this dam. The dam is named for the then ruler of the Mysore Kingdom, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV.

Brindavan Gardens is a show garden that has a botanical park, with fountains, as well as boat rides beneath the dam. Diwan Sir Mirza Ismail of Mysore planned and built the gardens in connection with the construction of the dam. KRS Dam was the first to install automated Crest gates during 1920 which was initiated by Sir. M V. Display items include a musical fountain. Various biological research departments are housed here. There is a guest house, and a four star luxury heritage hotel Royal Orchid for tourists.

Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary

Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka is a Bird Sanctuary in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state, only 0.67 km. in area, which is about 40 acres and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri river. Ranganthittu is located three kilometers away from the historic town of Srirangapatna and 16 kilometres north of Mysore.

History:- 

 The islets came into being when an embarkment across the Kaveri river was built in 1648 by the then Mysore King, Kantirava Narasimharaja Wadeyar. The ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali observed that the isles formed an important nesting ground for birds, and persuaded the Wodeyar kings of Mysore to declare the area a wildlife sanctuary in 1940. The Forest Department of Karnataka State is maintaining the bird sanctuary and puts its efforts to improve the sanctuary, which include purchase of nearby private lands to expand the protected area. 
The sanctuary with its islets experience heavy flooding during certain rainy seasons when water is released from K R S Dam upstream, due to heavy rains. During heavy flooding boating is suspended and tourists are allowed to watch the nesting birds from a distance.Frequent flooding has also damaged some portions of three islands over past few decades.

For more info click this link :- https://www.ranganathittu.com

Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace (Daria Daulat Bagh)

 

Daria Daulat Bagh (literally 'Garden of the Wealth') is a palace situated in the city of Srirangapatna, near Mysore It is mostly made out of teakwood.Srirangapatna is an island in the river Kaveri, about 14 km from Mysore. In Srirangapatna is the Dariya Daulat Palace (Summer Palace) that is set amidst beautiful gardens called Daria Daulat Bagh. Tippu Sultan popularly known as the "Tiger of Mysore", built this palace in 1784 and ruled Mysore from here for a short time after his father Hyder Ali wrested power from the Wodeyars in the middle of the 18th century. The palace is built in the Indo-Sarcenic style in mostly made of teakwood. The palace has a rectangular plan and is built on a raised platform. There are open corridors along the four sides of the platform with wooden pillars at the edges of the Plinth.

The western and eastern wings have walls the other two wings have recessed bays with pillars supporting the roof. The four staircases are inconspicuous, built in the four partition walls that divide the audience hall into four rooms at four corners with a central hall connecting the eastern and western corridors. The most stunning feature of the palace is that all the space available on the walls, pillars, canopies and arches have colorful frescoes in the style of Mysore paintings. The outer walls of the palace have frescoes of the battle scenes and portraits. The inner walls are decorated with scrolls of thin foliage and floral patterns. The wooden ceilings of the palace are pasted with canvas painted with floral patterns.On the western wall are painting that depict the celebrated victory achieved by Haider Ali and Tippu Sultan over the English lead by Col. Bailee in the battle of Pollilur near Kanchipuram in 1780. The panels on the left wing depict he armies led by Haider Ali and Tippu Sultan going to battle and on the right wing Col. Bailee is shown seated in a palanquin troubled, with the English army surrounding him, besieged by the army of Tippu Sultan. There is a painting at the extreme top right, of French soldiers led by Lally, who are looking through a telescope. The top panels shows the Nizam of Hyderabad and his army of horsemen and elephants arriving a little too late to help his allies, the English. The eastern wall has paintings in five rows representing the scenes of Darbars of different contemporaries of Tippu Sultan including the Hindu Rani of Chitor, the Raja of Tanjore, the Raja Benares, Balaji Rao II Peshwa, Magadi Kepegowda and Madakari Nayaka of Chitradurga and Krishnaraja Wodeyar II.On the top floor of the Daria Daulat Palace is the Tippu Sultan Museum. It has a collection of Tippu memorabilia, European paintings and Persian manuscripts. The museum has the famous painting "Storming of Srirangapattanam" an oil painting by Sir Robert Ker Porter made in 1800. This historical painting depicts the final fall of Srirangapatana on 4 May 1799. Tippu's men are seen giving stiff resistance to the British army and many British officers are clearly visible in the painting. In background behind the fort walls are seen parts of the Palace and the minarets of the mosque. Close by is Tippu's fort that lies in ruins now. It is in this fort that Tippu died fighting the British. In the fort are the Jama Masjid and the Ranganathaswamy Temple. Tippu's Palace the Lal Mahal lies in ruins nearby. Outside the fort is the Gumbaz that contains Tippu's tomb, his father Haider Ali's tomb and his mother's tomb.

 Tipu Sultan's Death Place 

The place where Tipu’s body was found is close to the northern fringe of the fort. The road from Masjid-e-ala ( the mosque with minarets you see as you enter Srirangapatna ) towards the Water Gate passes by this point.

A fenced area with a stone marks the area where his body was found.

Lachlan Macquarie ( later known as the ‘Father of Australia) who participated in the 1799 Battle of Battle of Seringapatam as a major in the English forces gives a firsthand account of the day Tipu was killed.

Gol Gumbaz.

  Gol Gumbaz, which houses the tombs of Tipu Sultan’s family. It was originally built by Tipu Sultan as his father’s burial chamber but later his own tomb was added to it. This structure is the most stunning one in Srirangapatna and has been beautifully maintained by the authorities. We were able to enter the inner chamber where three tombs were placed in the center. These belonged to Tipu Sultan and his parents.

 Jaganmohan Palace

Jaganmohan Palace is a palace in Mysore, the princely city of Mysore. Its construction was completed in 1861 and was initially used by the Wodeyars, kings of Mysore as their home (when the present majestic Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas Palace) was under construction after the old palace turned into ashes owing to a fire accident). It is now converted into an art gallery and a function hall.

History: 

 The Jaganmohan Palace was constructed in 1861 by the king, His Highness Krishnaraja Wodeyar III as an alternate retreat for the royal family. The Mysore Palace, which was the original home of the royal family was burnt down in a fire and the construction of a new palace in its place was started in 1897. Till the new palace was completed in 1912, the Jaganmohan Palace was used by the royals as their home. In 1902, the king His Highness Rajarshi Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was installed to the Mysore throne, in a ceremony that took place in a pavilion inside the Jaganmohan Palace. This ceremony was attended by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India. The palace was used for his daily durbar by the king and also the special Dasara durbar during the dasara period. In 1915, the palace was converted into an art gallery, which was later renamed in 1955 in the name of HH Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, as the Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery . The early convocations of the Mysore University were also held in this palace. The first session of the Legislative Council of the Mysore state was held here in July 1907. The Legislative Council was then called as the Representative Council and was presided over by the Diwan . HH Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar converted the palace into a trust and opened it for public viewing.

Design:- 

 The palace is built in traditional Hindu style and has three stories. In 1900, an external facade with a hall behind it was added to the palace. This facade has three entrances and the entablature has religious motifs and miniature temples crafted on it. The walls of the interiors are painted with murals. These mural paintings which follow the traditional style of the Mysore school of painting depict the Dasara scene and the canvas depicting the sequence of the Jumboo Savari stretches across three walls.This mural is the earliest known picture of the Mysore Dasara and has been painted using vegetable dyes. A family tree of the Wodeyars tracing the lineage of the royal family is also painted on a wall. Two wooden displaying Dashavatara, the ten incarnations of the Hindu God, Vishnu is also present in the palace.

Art Gallery:-

The art gallery contains one of the largest collections of artefacts in South India. Most of these artefacts are paintings, prominent among which are those by Raja Ravi Varma, some of which demonstrate scenes from the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha. The collection of paintings in the gallery exceed 2000 in number and these belong to different Indian styles of painting like Mysore, Mughal and Shantiniketan. 16 paintings of Raja Ravi Varma were donated to the gallery by Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar. Another important painting present here is the Lady with the lamp which was painted by the artist Haldenkar and is placed in a dark room where it is the only exhibit. This is to give an illusion that the glow of the lamp is illuminating the face of the woman. Some other painters whose works are exhibited here include Nikolai Roerich, Svetoslav Roerich and Rabindranath Tagore and Abanindranath Tagore. There are beautiful paintings by the Ukil brothers -Sharada Ukil, Ranada Ukil and Barada Ukil. Another collection of paintings by a British Army Officer named Col. Scot on the wars between Tipu Sultan and the British army are said to be the only visual representation of the wars.
Other exhibits here include weapons of war, musical instruments, sculptures, brassware, antiques coins and currencies. Some other unique artefacts exhibited here is a French clock which has a mechanism in which a parade by miniature soldiers is displayed every hour; beating drums mark the seconds and a bugle marks the minute. Paintings made on a grain of rice which can be viewed only through a magnifier are also displayed here.

Auditorium:-
Jaganmohan palace also has an auditorium which is used for traditional dance performances, music festivals and other cultural programs mainly during the period of dasara.

 Reconstruction:-
A new hall was built in 2003 because there was insufficient space available to exhibit all the paintings.The original paintings of Raja Ravi Varma which are over 100 years old are being restored by the Regional Conservation Laboratory. Syrendri, Victory of Meganath and Malabar Lady were some of the paintings of Ravi Varma to be restored. Unscientific stretching of the canvas on which the paintings were drawn was one of the major problems noticed including unprotected exposure to dust, heat and light. Even the murals on the walls had been damaged because of water seepage and these were also restored by RCL.

Despite what is mentioned here regarding restoration of these paintings,recent visits to the Jaganmohan palace suggest gross neglect. These priceless paintings are ill maintained and incompetently restored. The painting is also torn and ridden with holes at the bottom. One can only understand the tragic plight of this extremely powerful painting when one visits the palace.Painting the walls of this room has also resulted in damage to the paintings, with the paint from the walls dripping on the uncovered paintings. These paintings which are already in very bad condition are further affected by the abysmally poor lighting and humidity conditions. The painting of the lady holding the lamp by Haldenkar is also poorly exhibited. The windows are covered by a mouldy cloth to supposedly give the effect of "shade" which only ends up ruining the effect due to the poor lighting in the first place. This palace and its contents especially the Ravi Verma paintings are in dire need of attention and very poorly managed.This needs to brought to national attention so that it may be handed to amore competent restoration team and management. These priceless paintings must also be brought to the notice of UNESCO so that the issue can be taken seriously.

Sangama Srirangapatna

"Sangama" is the confluence of 3 holy rivers Kaveri River, Kabini River & Hemavati River. It is in Srirangapatna.

              

Mysore Dasara                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                        

Mysore Dasara is the Nadahabba (state-festival) of the state of Karnataka,It is also called Navaratri (Nava-ratri = nine-nights) and is a 10-day festival with the last day being Vijayadashami, the most auspicious day of Dasara. Dasara usually falls in the month of September or October. According to a legend, Vijayadashami denotes the victory of truth over evil and was the day when the Hindu Goddess Chamundeshwari killed the demon Mahishasura. Mahishasura is the demon from whose name the name Mysore has been derived. The city of Mysore has a long tradition of celebrating the Dasara festival and the festivities there are an elaborate affair, attracting a large audience including foreigners. The Dasara festival completed 400th anniversary in year 2010

Festival:-

 

The Dasara festivities began with the Vijayanagar kings as early as the 15th Century.A Persian ambassador, Abdur Razzaq, reported the Dasara observance  in Vijayanagara during his mission to India in his book entitled Matla-us-Sadain wa Majma-ul-Bahrain (The Rise of the Two auspicious constellations and the Confluence of the Two Oceans), a major work which contained an overview of the history of this part of the world from 1304 to 1470.
After the fall of the Vijayanagar kingdom, the Wodeyars of Mysore continued the Dasara Festival, initially by Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 ) in the year 1610 at Srirangapatna. The Mysore Palace is illuminated on all the 10 days of Dasara. Chamundi Hill at Mysore. This would be followed by a special durbar (royal assembly). It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in the year 1805, when the king started the tradition of having a special durbar in the Mysore Palace during Dasara; which was attended by members of the royal family, special invitees, officials and the masses. After the death of Srikanta Wadiyar in December 2013, this tradition has been continued by placing the “Pattada Katti” (royal sword) on the golden throne. The ninth day of Dasara called as Mahanavami is also an auspicious day on which the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession involving elephants, camels and horses.

Lighting at Mysore Palace:-

The main attraction of the ten-day Mysore Dasara festival is the Mysore Palace which is illuminated daily with nearly 1 lakh (100,000) light bulbs from 7 pm to 10 pm on all days of the festival. Nearly Rs. 1 crore (Rs. 10,000,000) every year is spent towards maintenance of its illumination alone. Various cultural and religious programs highlighting the dance, music and culture of the State of Karnataka are performed in front of the illuminated Palace.

Procession

On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as Jumboo Savari) is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden mantapa (which is around 750 kilograms of gold) on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap where the banni tree is worshipped. According to a legend of the Mahabharata, banni tree was used by the Pandavas to hide their weapons during their one-year period of Agnatavasa (living life incognito). Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war. The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayatthu (torch-light parade).
In Mysore, India, the Vijayadashami Elephant procession during Mysore Dasara is called Jumbo Savari (from the British during their control of Mysore State). The original name to this procession is Jumbi Savari ("going to the Shami (Banni) tree"). Now Goddess Chamundeshwari is taken in procession on an Elephant. But the "Jumbo" name is still intact.
After the Jamboo Savari, a torchlight parade takes place in the evening at the Bannimantap Parade Grounds.

Mysore Dasara Exibition                                                                                                                                                   

Another major attraction during Dasara is the Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the Mysore Palace. The exhibition was started by the Maharaja of Mysore Chamaraja Wodeyar X in 1880 with the sole aim of introducing timely developments to the people of Mysore. The task of holding the exhibition is now entrusted with the Karnataka Exhibition Authority. This exhibition starts during Dasara and goes on till December. Various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables are set up and they attract a significant number of people. A play area containing attractions like a Ferris wheel is also present to provide entertainment to the people. Various Governmental agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements and projects that they have undertaken.

In the year 1981 Karnataka Exhibition Authority was constituted to organize the exhibition besides looking into the proposed construction of Karnataka Kalamandira, Vishwa Kannada Sammelana guest house and shopping complex. The construction of the aforementioned buildings was completed in 1985 and they were handed over to the Kannada and Culture Department and PWD Department respectively following the government order on 1 April 1989. The task of conducting the Dasara exhibition was entrusted to Karnataka Exhibition Authority in 1987. From 1987 to 1993 the exhibition was conducted under the banner of the Information, Tourism and Youth Affairs Departments, and from 1994 to 2003 under the banner of the Kannada and Culture, Information and Tourism Departments.

Torch Light Parade

 The procession is taken through the streets of the city and ends in the Banni Mantap where, in the evening, a torch light parade is held.

University of Mysore 

 

The University of Mysore is located in Mysore, Karnataka,. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. It opened on 27 July 1916, with the first chancellor being the Maharaja of Mysore and the first Vice Chancellor being H. V. Nanjundaiah. The university became the first outside the domain of the English administration in India, the sixth university in India as a whole, and the first ever university in Karnataka. It is a state university of the affiliating type, and became autonomous on 3 March 1956, when it gained recognition from the University Grants Commission.The university encompasses 122 affiliated colleges and five constituent colleges (forming an aggregate of 53,000 students). In addition, the university has 37 postgraduate departments, eight specialised research and training centres and two postgraduate centres that together offer about 55 regular academic programmes to 3,500 students. It also runs a number of employment-oriented diploma courses and certificate programmes.

History:-

 

It is the 6th oldest university in India and the oldest in the state of Karnataka. It was established in 1916 by the then Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, after two of his educational experts C. R. Reddy and Thomas Denham, undertook a five-year study of higher education around the world. The structure of the university was designed after a thorough analysis of the functioning of those universities that had as their chief aim the promotion of original research (University of Chicago), those that laid emphasis on the extension of knowledge among the people (University of Wisconsin), and those that combined intellectualism with an educational system calculated to give training for political and social life (University of Oxford and Cambridge). H. V. Nanjundaiah who played a key role in establishing the university was elected by the Maharaja of Mysore to run the University as the first Vice Chancellor, and he held the post until his death in 1920. Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya, the Dewan of Mysore at the time, also played a major role in its promotion. It was inaugurated on 27 July 1916. Maharaja College of Mysore and the Central College of Bangalore, which were previously affiliated to Madras University, became part of the new university. The Act was amended in 1933 and 1939 to make the senate representative of public life and to establish the academic council responsible for the academic affairs of the university.
During the reorganization of Mysore state 1956, the Mysore University Act was passed, which made the university an autonomous body. In 1960, the university's graduate centre was set up in the picturesque environs of the Kukkarahalli lake. The national poet and the Jnanpith Award winner, K. V. Puttappa (Kuvempu), a former Vice-Chancellor of the University, christened this campus `Manasagangotri', meaning the eternal spring of the mind. Bangalore University was carved out in 1964 starting with Central College, Bangalore and the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering. Mangalore University was formed out of the colleges in Dakshina Kannada in 1980. The act of 1956 was replaced by Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000 which came into force on 13 Sep 2001. Under the new act the senate has been abolished. It is one of the oldest university in India.

Building

The main campus of the University, created in 1960, lies to the west of the Kukkarahalli Lake. The University headquarters, the Crawford Hall, is located across the lake to the east. The main campus was given the name "Manasagangotri"  by the poet-laureate Dr. K. V. Puttappa (Kuvempu). Two satellite campuses have since been set up in response to the demands of postgraduate education from semi-urban/rural areas: Sir M.Visveswaraya Postgraduate Centre at Tubinakere in Mandya, and the Mysore University Postgraduate Centre at Hemagangotri in Hassan.
At the time of the University of Mysore's founding, the entire princely state of Mysore came under its jurisdiction. Now this is confined to the Mysore, Mandya, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar districts, with the remaining areas falling under the remit of Bangalore University (1986), Mangalore University (1980), and Kuvempu University (1987). In 1996, the Institute for Correspondence Courses and Continuing Education in the Manasagangotri campus was separated from the University of Mysore to form the Karnataka State Open University.

Motto

The University’s motto "Na Hi Gyanena Sadrusham", taken from the Bhagavad Gita, is written in Devanagari script on the top of the emblem. At the bottom of the emblem is the Sanskrit saying "Sathyamevoddharamyaham"(I uphold only the truth).

Recent academic restructuring

The university direction was made prominent towards basic science. The university has introduced an Integrated M.Sc courses in physics, chemistry, and Biochemistry. The University also has ties with various Chinese universities for resource sharing and training in information technology education.

The university has also initiated a next generation I-School at its campus. ISiM was conceptualised and established in 2005. The International School of Information Management (ISiM), has been initiated with the collaboration of a few US universities and IIIT- Bangalore. Faculties from partnering institutions teach in this Institute. ISiM, already has secured grants from Ford Foundation and several industries for various projects.

Another development has been the setting up of the Third Sector Research Resource Centre (TSRRS). The Research Resource Centre has been set up with a grant from the Ford Foundation. The aim of the centre is to provide centralized infrastructural facility for researchers pursuing their studies in the area of Civil Society. TSRRC aims at pursuing and supporting research, training and consultancy in the area of Third Sector. Developing and offering Diploma and Masters program in the area of Non Profit Management is another area of focus.

Recently the department of law in the university was incorporated into the Mysore University School of Justice (MUSJ). Continuing with the initiative of the university to introduce five-year integrated courses to produce professionals with in-depth knowledge, the MUSJ has introduced a programme leading to a degree in Law, in a bid to enhance the quality of legal education in Karnataka.

Setting up of a National Centre for History of Science, Digital Library, Centre for International Programmes, School of Life Sciences, IT Division, Joint Campus with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Patent Awareness Cell and Entrepreneurial Park in Science & Technology are the main initiatives of the University. In the last five years, an Archaeological and Folklore Museum has been established in the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion with the donation from the Infosys Foundation.

University Evening College

University Evening College is one of the four constituent colleges of the university, open to those who cannot pursue their studies on a regular basis. In accordance with the motto of the University “Nahi Jnaanena Sadrisham”, this college has been catering to the educational needs of youngster as well as middle aged aspirants.
University Evening College was established in 1965 at the campus of Maharaja College, a premier college in Mysore. The college is planning to celebrate its golden jubilee in 2015.
The N.S.S (National Service Scheme) was awarded the national NSS award and NSS state award. Through the NSS unit, the college has created a space for the students to participate, enlighten and create a consciousness among the public about social, economic, cultural, legal and environmental issues of society.
The college has an N.C.C (National Cadet Corps) unit too. National Cadet Corps is a Tri-Services Organization, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force.

For more info click this link :- https://www.uni-mysore.ac.in                     courtesy:- google&wikipedia