Mysore Palace: Difference between revisions

 

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}{{Infobox building

| name = Mysore Palace  

| alternate_name = Mysuru Palace

| image = Mysore Palace Morning.jpg

| location = Mysore City

| location_town = [[Mysore]]

| coordinates = {{coord|12.3039|76.6547|region:IN-KA|display=inline}}

| start_date = 1897

| completion_date = 1912

| architect = [[Henry Irwin]]

| owner = Maharani Pramoda Devi Wadiyar

| website = https://mysorepalace.gov.in

| current_tenants = Government of Karnataka

| designations = Royal Seat of the Maharajas of Mysore

The land on which the palace now stands was originally known as ''mysuru'' (literally, citadel), and is now known as the new Fort. [[Yaduraya Wodeyar|Yaduraya]] built the first palace inside the Old Fort in the 14th century, which was burnt ablaze and constructed multiple times. The old fort was constructed using wood and thus was the reason for the old fort to catch on fire, the current fort was made up of stone,bricks and wood.The current structure was constructed between 1897 and 1912, after the Old Palace was burnt ablaze.

Mysore Palace is now one of the most famous [[tourist attractions in India]], after the [[Taj Mahal]], with more than 6 million annual visitors.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/is-tourism-stagnating-mysore/article5935949.ece|title=Tourism in Mysore|date= 22 April 2014}}</ref>

==Construction==

The last palace, now known as the Old Palace or the Wooden Palace, was burnt into ashes during the 1896 marriage event (Dasara festivities). Maharaja [[Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV|Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV]] and his mother Maharani [[Kempa Nanjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana|Kempananjammanni Devi]], commissioned the British architect [[Henry Irwin]] to build a new palace.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mysore.nic.in/tourism_palace.htm |title=Maharaja's Palace |publisher=Mysore District |access-date=2014-02-17}}</ref> Meanwhile, the royal family stayed in the close by [[Jaganmohan Palace]]. The  construction was overseen by an executive engineer in the Mysore Palace division. He had conducted elaborate architectural studies during his visits to [[Delhi]], [[Chennai|Madras]], and [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], and these were used in planning for the new palace. The construction cost was placed at Rs 41,47,913 (around $30 million adjusted to inflation) and was completed in 1912.<ref name=Sharad>{{cite web|url=http://www.culturalindia.net/monuments/mysore-palace.html |title=Mysore Palace |website=culturalindia.net |access-date=2021-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/196891/F|title= Mysore palace will complete 100 years next year|work=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref>

The palace was further expanded in around 1930 (including the addition of the present Public Durbar Hall wing) during the reign of Maharaja [[Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar]]. Although the construction was completed in 1912, the fort continued to be beautified and its inhabitants were slowly moved to the newer extensions built off the palace.

 

 

The main complex is 245 Ft in length and also 156 Ft in width. There are fire extinguishing machines located in all parts of the palace in order to prevent any fires.<ref name=Naveen>{{cite web |url=http://www.naveenmysore.com/mysore/palaces.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2005-02-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415142829/http://www.naveenmysore.com/mysore/palaces.htm |archive-date=15 April 2005 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The palace has three entrances: the East Gate (the front gate, opened only during the [[Navrati|Dasara]] and for dignitaries), the South Entrance (for public), and the West Entrance (usually opened only during the [[Navratri|Dasara]]).

 

 

Mysore Palace gate.jpg|Mysore Palace main approach

Mysore Palace (8113480008).jpg|Mysore Palace lighting during [[Mysore Dasara]] 2012

Roof design.jpg|Roof artwork

Grand Interiors of Mysore Palace.jpg|Audience hall

A Courtyard of Amba Vilas Palace (Mysuru Palace), during day.jpg|A Courtyard of Amba Vilas Palace (Mysuru Palace), during day

File:A side view of the magnificent Amba Vilas Palace (Mysuru Palace), against blue coloured sky, Mysuru, Karnataka.jpg|A side view of the magnificent Amba Vilas Palace (Mysuru Palace)

File:A very well lit Durbar Hall (ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court) of Amba Vilas Palace (Mysuru Palace), during day.jpg|A very well lit Durbar Hall (ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court) of Amba Vilas Palace (Mysuru Palace), during day