Mysore Palace , or the Amba Vilas Palace ( Kannada : ಮೈಸೂರು ಅರಮನೆ or ಅಂಬಾ ವಿಲಾಸ ಅರಮನೆ) is a palace in the city of Mysore in southern India . This is the official residence of the Vodeyarov - the former royal family of Mysore. It also houses two Durbar Assembly Halls (ceremonial meeting rooms of the royal court).
| Sight | |
| Mysore Palace | |
|---|---|
| ಮೈಸೂರು ಅರಮನೆ | |
 View of the corner of the Mysore Palace | |
| A country |  India |
| City | Mysore |
| Type of building | palace |
| Architectural style | Indo-Saracen |
| Architect | Henry Irwin |
| Established | |
| Building | 1897 - 1940 |
| Site | |
Mysore is usually called the City of Palaces , however, the term "Mysore Palace" refers only to one located within the old fortress. Vodeyars built the palace in the 14th century; it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The current version of the palace began to be erected in 1897 and completed in 1912 . It was later expanded in 1940 [1] .
Mysore Palace is India's most famous landmark after the Taj Mahal , with over 2.7 million visitors. [2] Despite the fact that the palace is open to tourists, they cannot take pictures inside it. The price of visiting for foreign tourists is 200 Indian rupees, for Indians - 40. All visitors are obliged to take off their shoes at the entrance to the palace.
Mysore's regent, Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhna, hired a British architect, Henry Irwin , to build another palace in the old place. The construction was completed in 1912. Gradually, the old fortress was also being improved and the inhabitants who inhabited it moved outside its walls to new built-up areas. The existing wing with the Durbar Assembly Hall was built much later, around 1940.
Content
Architecture
The architectural style of the palace is usually described as Indo-Saracen , and combines Hindu, Muslim , Gothic styles in architecture and the style of the Rajputs. This is a three-story stone building with marble domes and 44-meter five-story towers. The palace is surrounded by a large garden.
Three floors of a gray granite stone building with pink marble domes were designed by Henry Irwin. The facade has seven wide arches and two smaller ones, from the flanks of the central arch, which are supported by tall columns.
Above the central arch are impressive sculptures of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, good luck and abundance, and elephants.
Palace Events
Every autumn, the Dashar festival is held in the palace, during which artists perform on the palace stage. On the tenth day of the Vijaya Dashi festival, an elephant parade is held.
Dashara is the most extravagant Mysore festival. It is celebrated in September and October of each year.
The holiday is celebrated in memory of the victory of the great goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura and, thus, symbolizes the triumph of good over evil according to Hindu mythology. Some call it Chamundesvari.
This holiday has been celebrated by the Vodeyars in Srirangapatnam since 1610 and in Mysore with great fanfare since 1799 . This tradition is still maintained, although the scale of the celebration has declined. Celebrations in Dashara have become an integral part of culture and life in the city of Mysore.
During this festival, the Mysore Palace illuminates more than 96,000 light bulbs for two months.
Unique Halls
- Ambavilas
Used by the king for private audiences. The entrance to this luxurious hall is opened by elegant doors made of mahogany and inlaid with ivory. The central nave of the hall has columns decorated with gilded paintings, colored stained-glass windows on the ceiling, decorative metal bars and chandeliers with beautiful floral motifs, reflected in gems covered with Florentine mosaics.
- Gombe Totti (Dolls Pavilion)
Inspection of the palace usually begins with Gombe Totti, a gallery of traditional dolls of the nineteenth - early twentieth centuries. The pavilion also houses a beautiful collection of Indian and European sculptures and ceremonial items, such as the haudah (wooden elephant saddle), decorated with 84 kg of gold.
- Hookah Mantapa (Wedding Hall)
Hookah Mantapa, royal wedding hall, octagonal pavilion with a glass mosaic ceiling with a peacock motif in a geometric pattern. The entire interior was created in Glasgow, Scotland. Paul Mantapa repeats the peacock theme, tiled from England. The splendor of the hall is emphasized by the walls with many paintings illustrating the royal processions and celebrations of Dashar of past years.
Temples
The palace complex includes twelve Hindu temples. The oldest of them was built in the XIV century, while the latter in 1953.
The most famous temples:
- Someshwara, dedicated to Shiva ;
- Lakshmiramana, dedicated to Vishnu ;
- Shvesa Varahaswami, dedicated to the god Varaha , one of the 10 incarnations of Vishnu .
Attractions
There are several important rooms in the palace. These include:
- Hall for private audiences. This is the hall where the king consulted with his ministers and received visitors that deserve special attention;
- Meeting room. This is a hall where the population could meet with the king at the allotted time for this;
- Royal Wedding Hall;
- Armory: It contains an arsenal that contains a set of different types of weapons used by members of the royal family. These include weapons that were used in the 14th century (spears, knives, etc.), as well as weapons that were used at the beginning of the 20th century (pistols, etc.).