The Royal Mysore Palace

The city of Mysore is a tourist paradise that attracts visitors from all around the world. One of the city’s main highlights is Mysore Palace. This impressive five-story tower, standing at 145 feet, draws approximately 2.5 million visitors annually, making it one of India’s most visited monuments. Mysore Palace boasts four entrance gates, and before entering, visitors are required to remove their shoes for the sake of cleanliness and religious observance. A designated shoe storage area is available for a nominal fee of two rupees per pair.

Mysore Palace owes its existence to Adi Yaduvaya, the first Wadiyar king, who commissioned the construction of a palace within Mysore’s Old Fort in 1399. Over the centuries, this palace witnessed the reign of twenty-five kings, concluding in 1974. What’s interesting is that the Mysore Palace once fell under the rule of Tipu Sultan from 1793 to 1799. The palace faced a devastating fire in 1897, after which reconstruction began in the same year. Designed by Henry Irwin, the palace came at a cost of approximately forty-two lakhs and took fifteen years to rebuild. Noteworthy for its Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the palace today stands as a remarkable testament to architectural craftsmanship.

One of the palace’s unique attractions is the annual public display of the Wadiyar’s gold-studded throne during Dasara (Dussera). A distinctive feature within the palace is the original face of an elephant, which was poached in 1955 and now hangs on a palace wall, preserved with a chemical preservative. The palace also showcases three-dimensional paintings of prominent figures from that era, with their eyes seemingly following visitors much like the famous Mona Lisa painting.

In summary, Mysore Palace is a captivating blend of visual and intellectual delight, owing to its grand architectural design and rich historical significance. Travellers from across the globe, regardless of age, can embark on an enriching exploration of its beauty, preferably with the guidance of a knowledgeable tour guide, making it an enjoyable learning experience.

Writen By Anika Sharma, Kavya Gupta, Mudit Gupta, Parth Sharma, Saranya Ghavri, Saumya Singh, Vedaanshi Kashyap, Vedika Singh & Zoya Atif Khan (Delhi Public School, Sector 132, Noida).

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