Palace front view about 6 am. It is on the day after Dussehra so not so clean. Palace was built in 1912 because earlier one destroyed by fire in 1897. It costs Rs 42 lakhs and was built by
Krishnaraja Wodeyar. `This 3-storied structure has beautifully designed square towers at various cardinal points covered by domes. Craftsmen from Jaipur and Agra along with local workers were engaged in crafting them.`
One enters the Palace through the Gombe Thotti or the Doll`s Pavilion. Seven canons in front of the Gombe Thotti one of which you see.
U see Golden Howdah. Weights about 750 kgs. Served as Maharaja`s seat during Dussehra procession up to 1970. Now murthi of Goddess Chamundeshwari is placed on AMBARI during Dussehra procession.
Next walk towards the marriage hall. Side gangway. If you take right you walk into the courtyard as you see in the next pic.
Courtyard. On Dussehra wrestling is held here ie why crowd gathered. Palace is a blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture with some European influence.
The Kalyana Mantapa or marriage pavilion has a central octagonal gabled roof that is covered with stained glass. Mantapa is supported by many pillars. Around it is a walk way are painted with dussehra processions. I missed clicking pics for u. To see painting pics Click Here
View of hall and roof with stained glass. The palace measures 74.5 m (length), 47.5 m (width) and 44.10 m (height).
Observe design at lower end. Even the ceiling is decorated. There is provision for sunlight to come in. By the time got permission to click it was 11.30 ish. It was sunny by then and crowds had swelled. Hope this album has done justice to this wonderful palace.
Close up. The floor continues a peacock theme with a peacock mosaic.
We present a few pics of hall. Lower left are sculptured supports next to arches. Notice paintings between arches. Some are of Dussehra procession, others of British rulers. Notice first floor.
Another view. The palace was originally built in the 14th century and renovated several times. It is also known as the AMBA VILAS Palace. The palace is housed within an old fort.
Arch supports. Centre is king with four horse chariot. Think horse carrying a flag of Surya Devata.
Centre has a learned man, perhaps Brahmin, keeping his foot on head of the king. Please correct if wrong.
View of the mantapa from another angle. Gives you an idea of how grand it is.
Cultural programs were organised on palace grounds in evening. Bharatnatyam dancer group. It was 9 pm and they were leaving, were sporting enough to let me click.
After marriage hall walk around the corridor. Doors to inside rooms are intricately carved.
Corridor ceiling. In usual course the palace is lit on Sundays and national holidays. There is a Light and Sound show at 7 pm.
Arch view. Love the creativity. `The beautifully carved mahogany ceilings, solid silver doors, white marble floors and superb columned Durbar Hall are a feast to the eyes.`
Mid landing enroute to first floor. Pranams to Ganesha. Pics of external part of palace all lit up presented in a separate album.
Entry to Public Darbar Hall (you shall see later) ie 155 feet in length and 42 feet in breadth. It has bottle shaped columns painted in pleasing colors that you see.
Side view. It has priceless collection of paintings by Raja Ravivarma. I walked through this to enter durbar hall.
Durbar Hall pic taken from one end. Length 155 feet. Look at the ceiling ka paintings. Chairs being put for those who shall come to see dussehra function. Extreme left end is a gallery with place to sit. It is also on the side from where I took pic. King sat in the centre.
Centre part of durbar hall ceiling ka painting. Paintings in centre left to right is Brahma, Mother Goddess, Shiv Parvati Ganesh and Karthik. What is covered is Lord Vishnu.
Same ceiling at night.
Think this is a sculpture of the goddess of good luck, prosperity and wealth, Gajalakshmi, with her elephants.
Durbar Hall from the other end. `The palace facing Chamundi Hills is a manifestation of the devotion of the Maharajas of Mysore towards Goddess Chamundi.`
Durbar Hall centre all lit up. Suggestion. Reach Mysore 3-4 before Vijayadashami. Less crowd better time to photograph palace.
Front view of bottle shaped columns. The palace gives you a sense of the lifestyle of the kings.
View of entrance and grounds from durbar hall. Covered area on right is for cultural events. It rained every evening so the cover came handy even if it blocked a full palace view.
View from the opposite side ie the entrance. It is the morning after Dussehra so not clean. Pic taken about 6 am.
This is the Ambavilasa. Area in front is covered because the throne ie kept for display during Dussehra behind the covered area. U need to pay Rs 50/ to see the throne. No photography allowed.
The hall has ornately glided columns, stained glass ceilings, decorative steel grills and chandeliers with fine floral motifs. Room was used by the king for private audience. The conventional Dussehra procession takes place on the 10th day or Vijayadashami, a must see.
A close up view of the columns. There is a private museum inside the palace where clothes, arms etc on display. Spend 15 minutes, not as good as the Mehrangarh Fort or Bikaner Palace museums.
Pic of throne with current Maharaja. Got this pic thru whats app. The throne looks much better than what you see in pic. I missed clicking a pic that illustrates the 8 manifestations of Goddess Shakti by famed artist Raja Ravivarma. Maharaja would sit on throne in Durbar Hall.
Silver chairs. To briefly read about History of Wodiyar dynasty Click Here
A fuly lit palace. It is spectacular. U can see the crowds in front. To see pics of Mysore DUSSEHRA 2017 https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Karnataka/Mysore-Dussehra.aspx