Mysore Monuments

Mysore Palace

• Built in : 1911
• Built by : Architect Henry Irwinc
• Location : Mysore

The most attractive monument in this city that strikes the visitor is the Mysore Palace, completed in 1911 on the foundations of the old Palace that was destroyed by fire in 1897. It was designed by the well-known architect Henry Irwin.

The exterior of the Palace has Indo-Saracenic features with a series of domes and arches. The building is 245 feet in length and 156 in breadth and the gold-plated dome at the centre is about 145 feet from the ground. This three storeyed structure has beautifully designed square towers at various cardinal points covered by domes, some of them of ochre colour. Many varieties of stones like granite, gneiss and trap of dark grey and ochre colours have been used. Craftsmen from Jaipur and Agra along with local workers were engaged for crafting them.

Exquisitely carved doors open into stunningly luxurious rooms. The front of the place has an open balcony supported by massive circular columns. The interior of the place, especially the Durbar Hall is richly decorated. Replete with ornate ceilings intricately carved massive doors, gleaming floors, frescoes depicting scenes from the epics Ramayana and the Mahabharatha, the entire scene exudes royal splendour.