Let me begin with some basics, When I say Mysore, what comes to your mind first? I guess its the structures and the palaces or the festivities that take place during the Dasara festival. But what if i say its more than this, yes it lends its name to various forms arts and culture like Mysore Dasara, Mysore Painting; dishes like the sweet dish Mysore Pak, Mysore masala dosa, brands like Mysore Sandal Soap, Mysore Ink, styles and cosmetics like Mysore Peta (a traditional silk turban) and the Mysore Silk sarees, et cetera. Mysore served as the capital city of the Kingdom of Mysore for nearly six centuries, from 1399 until 1956. The Kingdom was ruled by the Wadiyar dynasty, with a brief period of interregnum in the 1760s and 70s when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were in power. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan usurped power through military might and ruled Mysore from 1761 to 1799. Their colluding with the French thoroughly alarmed the East India Company, which ultimately defeated Tipu and restored the Wadiyars to the throne, albeit with a serious caveat. Large parts of the Kingdom had to be ceded to the English, and what remained became in effects a British dependency, with a Chief Commissioner, a.k.a. “resident” dictating much of the King’s decisions. The cultural ambiance and achievements of Mysore earned it the sobriquet Cultural Capital of Karnataka.
Mysore is a major tourist destination in its own right and serves as a base for other tourist attractions in the vicinity. The city receives large number of tourists during the 10-day Dasara festival. One of the most visited monuments in India, the Amba Vilas Palace, or Mysore Palace, is the centre of the Dasara festivities.The land on which the palace now stands was originally known as puragiri (literally, citadel), and is now known as the Old Fort. Yaduraya built the first palace inside the Old Fort in the 14th century, which was demolished and constructed multiple times. The original complex was destroyed by fire and a new palace was commissioned by the Queen-Regent and designed by the English architect Henry Irwin in 1897. The overall design is a combination of Hindu, Islamic, Indo-Saracenic and Moorish styles, which for the first time in India, used cast iron columns and roof frames. If you look closely, you will find Gothic arches, Rajput windows, Islamic domes and minarets and Hindu temple-like ornamentation, all in the same building.
The kings of Mysore were devotees of Goddess Chamundi, hence the palace’s facing the Chamundi Hills.
The palace houses two durbar halls (ceremonial meeting halls of the royal court) and incorporates an array of courtyards, gardens, and buildings.
The palace has three entrances: the East Gate (the front gate, opened only during the Dasara and for dignitaries), 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 best view of the Palace is from the east gate. There are three major exclusive temple buildings within the Old Fort, and about 18 inside the palace heart building. Around the Palace are also eight bronze tigers, which look like they are ready to pounce.Inside the palace, there is a museum, containing relics from the royal family.
Mysore Palace is illuminated with more than 90,000 lights, which is a sight to behold. Entry during this time is not permitted, but photography from outside is allowed.
A traveler's tale 