Mysore Palace | History of Mysore palace and current status

Image source, Muhammad Mehdi Karim/Wikimedia Commons

The History of Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is one of the most famous tourist attractions in India, located in the city of Mysore, Karnataka. It is an iconic example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, a blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles. The palace serves as the residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka.

Who Built It

The current Mysore Palace was commissioned by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and his mother, Maharani Kempananjammanni Devi, the then Queen Regent. The construction was overseen by British architect Henry Irwin and completed in 1912.

Construction Cost

The construction of the Mysore Palace was a significant investment for the Wadiyar dynasty, with the total cost amounting to approximately INR 41,47,913 at the time. Adjusted for inflation, this would be a substantially larger amount in today’s terms.

Significance

Mysore Palace is not only a royal residence but also a cultural hub that highlights the grandeur and heritage of the Mysore kingdom. It is a key location for the celebration of Dasara, a major Hindu festival celebrated with much pomp and grandeur in Mysore.

Timeline

1. 14th Century: The original palace was constructed during the Wadiyar rule, but it was a simple wooden structure.

   

2. 1638: The palace was expanded and fortified over the years as the Wadiyar dynasty grew in power.

3. 1793-1799: During the reign of Tipu Sultan, parts of the palace were affected due to ongoing conflicts in the region. However, specific claims about Tipu Sultan demolishing the palace are not well-documented and remain subject to historical scrutiny.

4. 1897: The old wooden palace was destroyed by a fire during the wedding of Princess Jayalakshmanni, leading to the commissioning of the new palace.

5. 1897-1912: The current structure was constructed under the guidance of British architect Henry Irwin. The palace was completed in 1912 and stands as a testament to the Wadiyar's wealth and taste.

6. Today: Mysore Palace is a museum that houses numerous artifacts belonging to the royal family, including paintings, jewelry, and royal attire. It remains one of the most visited tourist attractions in India, drawing millions of visitors annually.

Architecture and Features

The Mysore Palace is built in the Indo-Saracenic style, which is a combination of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic architectural styles. Key features include:

- Domes and Arches: The palace is adorned with beautiful domes and arches that are characteristic of Islamic architecture.

- Durbar Hall: This grand hall was used for ceremonial meetings and is known for its ornate ceiling and sculpted pillars.

- Ambavilasa: This hall was used for private audience and features stained glass ceilings, intricately carved doors, and mosaic floors.

- Illumination: The palace is lit with approximately 100,000 light bulbs during special occasions like the Dasara festival, creating a breathtaking sight.

Current Status

Mysore Palace is currently managed by the Government of Karnataka and remains a public museum that offers a glimpse into the royal lifestyle of the Wadiyars. It also serves as the center of Mysore's famous Dasara celebrations, drawing visitors from all over the world. The palace remains well-preserved and is a crucial part of India's cultural and architectural heritage.

The Mysore Palace continues to be a symbol of Karnataka’s rich cultural history and stands as a testament to the architectural brilliance of the Wadiyar dynasty, making it a cherished monument of India’s regal past.

Tourism in Karnataka

Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular destination for tourism among states of India. It has the highest number of national protected monuments in India, at 507.

Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, eastern Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagaras and the Kingdom of Mysore ruled from what is today Karnataka. They built great monuments to Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. These monuments are preserved at Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Mahakuta, Hampi, Lakshmeshwar, Sudi, Hooli, Mahadeva Temple (Itagi),Dambal, Lakkundi, Gadag, Hangal, Halasi, Galaganatha, Chaudayyadanapura, Banavasi, Belur, Halebidu, Sringeri, Shravanabelagola, Sannati, Nanjangud, Mysore, Nandi Hills, Kolar, Mudabidri,Gokarna, Bagali, Kuruvatti and many more. Notable Islamic monuments are present at Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and other part of the state. Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, has the second largest pre-modern dome in the world after the Byzantine Hagia Sophia. Karnataka has two World heritage sites, at Hampi and Pattadakal. Bellary one of the historical place to see and charist, we can see the forts which were built by the great Tippu Sultan for protection.

Karnataka is famous for its waterfalls. Jog falls of Shimoga District is second highest waterfalls in Asia. This state has 21 wildlife sanctuaries and five National parks and is home to more than 500 species of birds. Karnataka has many beaches at Karwar, Gokarna, Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka is a rock climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagara near Bengaluru district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district are a rock climbers heaven. Utsav Rock Garden in Shiggaon, Uttar Kannada.

List of Palaces:

• Bangalore Palace
• Mysore Palace,Also known as Ambavilas Palace
• Nalknad Palace
• Rajendra Vilas
• Jaganmohan Palace
• Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion
• Lalitha Mahal
• Rajendra Vilas
• Cheluvamba Mansion,Mysore
• Shivappa Nayaka Palace,Shivappa Nayaka
• Daria Daulat Bagh

Hill Stations:

The Hill stations in Karnataka are generally unexplored and more pristine than better known ones in South India.

• Agumbe, Shimoga District
• Kodachadri, Shimoga District
• Biligiriranga Hills, Chamarajanagar District
• Baba Budangiri, Chikkamagaluru District
• Kemmangundi, Chikkamagaluru District
• Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru District
• Mullayanagiri
• Pushpagiri(or Kumara Parvatha)
• Nandi Hills, Chikkaballapur district
• Kundadri
• Tadiandamol
• Talakaveri
• Male Mahadeshwara Hills
• Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
• Ambaragudda
• Antara Gange
• Savandurga
• Kurinja
• Yedakumeri
• Siddara Betta
• Bananthimari Betta
• Skandagiri
• Devarayanadurga
• Madhugiri

List of Wildlife Sanctuaries:

• Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, near to Hubli-Dharwad (70 km), Uttara Kannada: spread over 834.16 km², it is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka and is contiguous with the Mahaveer sanctuary in Goa.
• Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary: small bird sanctuary incorporating the wetland along the river. It was established in 1974 and encompasses an area of 29 km².
• Daroji Bear Sanctuary, 15 kilometers from Hampi.
• Peacock sanctuary in Bankapura, Shiggon taluk: Bankpur Fort is the second sanctuary in India exclusively engaged in the conservation and breeding of peacocks. It is also home to a variety of other birds.
• Ranebennur blackbuck sanctuary, Haveri district: declared a wildlife sanctuary on 17 June 1974, with a core area of 14.87 km and a buffer zone of 104.13 km for tourists. It is divided into three blocks namely Hulathi, Hunasikatti and Alageri for administrative purposes. The vegetation comprises mainly scrub forests and eucalyptus plantations. Other resident fauna include wild pigs, foxes, jackals and wolves.
• Deva Raya Wildlife Sanctuary, near Hampi, Bellary District: A privately owned sanctuary, named after kings of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• Attiveri Bird Sanctuary, near to Hubli-Dharwad, Uttara Kanada district: spread over an area of about 2.23 km², the sanctuary is located in and around the Attiveri reservoir.
• Anshi National Park, Uttara Kannada: A habitat for tigers, leopards and elephants, about 340 square kilometres in size. Adjoins the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary.
• Magadi Bird Sanctuary, Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District
• Bhimagada Sanctuary, Belgaum District
• Adichunchanagiri Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Melukote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary: This is located in Mandya district
• Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary:* Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary: This is located in Udupi district
• Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary: This is located in Kodagu district
• Gudavi Bird Sanctuary: This is located in Shimoga district and is spread over 0.73 km². The tree species that dominate this sanctuary are Vitex leucoxylon and Phyllanthus polyphyllus. 191 species of birds are recorded here including white ibis, pheasant-tailed jacana, purplr moorhen and little grebe.
• Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary:
• Kaggaladu Heronry: This is located in Tumkur district and is one of the largest painted storks sanctuary in South India. Some of the birds that nest here are painted storks, grey herons, pelicans, black stilts and ducks.
• Kokkare Bellur
• Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary: This is located in Haveri district and spread over an area of 139.10 acres (0.5629 km²). This sanctuary was created mainly for the conservation of peacocks.
• Bonal Bird Sanctuary : This is located about 10 km from Shorapur city in Yadgir district.

Tourism In Bihar

Bihar is one of the oldest places in the world with history of 3000 years. The rich culture and heritage of Bihar is evident from the innumerable ancient monuments that are dotted all over this state in eastern India. This is the place of Aryabhata, Great Ashoka, Chanakya and many other great historical figures.

Attraction Sites:

• Patna – The capital of Bihar, famous for its rich history and royal architecture
• Gaya – Known for Bodh Gaya the place at which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment
• Muzaffarpur – Famous for its education
• Kesariya – Location of the world's largest Buddhist Stupa
• Nalanda – Location of one of the world's oldest university
• Sasaram – Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, the great Emperor of medieval India
• Sonepur Cattle Fair – The Sonepur cattle fair or Sonepur Mela, it is the biggest cattle fair of Asia and stretches on from fifteen days to one month
• Takht Sri Patna Sahib – One of the famous Sikh pilgrimage known for the birthplace of Sikh's Tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib
• Darbhanga – It is among the oldest cities of Bihar. Famous for the Maharaja forts and Kali Mandir.
• Munger – Home to the only Yoga University in the world, Bihar School of Yoga. Religious places such as Shakti Peethas.
• Deoghar- One of the famous Hindu pilgrimage known for the Satsang Ashram of Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra situated at Satsang Nagar
• Vaishali- Lord Mahavir was born on the outskirts of this ancient city.

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park is spread over 858 sq.kms and is located in the floodplains on both sides of the Brahmaputra. Patches of mixed deciduous forests are interspersed with vast stretches of savannah grasslands, wetlands and chars of river islands formed by the shifting course of the Brahmaputra.

The park is divided into five ranges - Central (entry point at Kohora), Western (entry point at Bagori), Eastern (at Agratoli), Western-most Burha Pahar (at Ghorakati) and Northern. The first four lie on the southern side of the river while the last is on the northern bank.

A memorable way of exploring Kaziranga is on eleplant-back as these gentle creatures tread through the tall grass. The park's prized possessions, the rhinos, are usually found in good numbers grazing with deer and buffaloes.

Another option is to see the park is to take the jeep safari which is also highly recommended, as it offers the added benefit of covering a vast expanse in a relatively short span of time.

While on safari, visitors to the park are well advised not only to abide by park etiquettes but also to bear in mind its conserbation history, officially counted as the most successful conservation initiative in the sub continent in the 20th century (Kaziranga Centenary: Celebrating the Century's Greatest Success Story, 2005)

Originally established as a reserve forest in 1908, Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary in 1916 to counter extensive poaching of the rhinoceros. In 1974, the Indian Government demarcated the present area as a national park. Then, in 2007, it was declared a tiger reserve under the Central Government's Project Tiger scheme.

The Park is the abode to more than 70% of One Horned Rhinoceros in the world. Highest density of tigers' prey including the large prey biomass of tiger found in the country. Harbours more than 60% of India's wild buffalo population along with the only population of the Eastern Swamp deer and seven species of turtles and tortoises. The other important wildlife found are - Leopard, Fishing Cat, other Lesser cats, Large Indian
Civet, Small Indian Civet, Sambar, Barking deer, Hog deer, Gaur, Hog Badger, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Sloth Bear, Gangetic Dolphin and Otter etc

The park also has a sizeable population of birds. Home to 25 Globally Threatened and 21 Near Threatened species of birds. Huge flocks of pelicans and rose-ringed parakeets can be spotted here besides crested serpent eagles, grey-headed fishing eagles, red jungle fowl, Bengal floricans, bar-headed geese and whistling teals.

More than 150 perennial water bodies are located inside the Park, where water level fluctuates temporally resulting in the generation of a very rich aquatic floral diversity. More than 32 species of flora have so far been identified.  More than 60 species of fishes have been recorded and is the breeding ground of many of the local species.

 

How to Reach : Rowraiah (Jorhat) is the nearest Airport which is 97 Kms. away and LGBI Airport (Guwahati) is 239 Kms. away. The road distances from nearest cities & towns to Kohora are : from Jorhat is 89 Kms., from Nagaon is 96 Kms., from Guwahati is 219 Kms., from Golaghat is 73 Kms. and from Bokakhat is 21 Kms.
Contact Person: Director, Kaziranga National Park
Contact Numbers: +91 3776-268095 / +91 3776-268086
Best season to visit: November to April.