One of the famous palaces in India, the erstwhile Royal residence Mysore Palace, aka Amba Vilas, is an exceptionally grand structure that is well worth a visit. It is the fourth palace built in the same location since the beginning of the Wodeyar dynasty in 1399. Designed by the British architect Henry Irwin who designed several other iconic buildings of British India, the palace is a masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic design, which blends together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic styles of architecture. The original palace built of wood was destroyed in a fire in1897, during the wedding of Jayalakshammanni, the eldest daughter of Chamaraja Wodeyar, and was rebuilt in 1912 at the cost of Rs. 42 lakhs.
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The palace is a three-storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145 ft five-storied tower. Above the central arch is an impressive sculpture of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good luck in abundance with her elephants. The palace is surrounded by a large garden and is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world as well. The ground floor with an enclosed courtyard displays costumes, musical instruments, children’s toys and numerous portraits.
The upper floor has a small collection of weapons as well. The beautifully carved mahogany ceilings, solid silver doors, white marble floors, and superb columned Durbar Hall are a feast to the eyes. Exquisitely carved doors of the palace open to stunningly luxurious rooms. The front of the Amba Vilas Palace has an open balcony supported by massive circular columns. There are four entrances to the palace, aligned to the cardinal points. Inside, surrounded by tile work and huge pillars, the palace hosts a portrait gallery, an armoury, and a collection of costumes and jewellery. Every fall during the festival of Dasara, the golden royal throne is displayed.
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At night 97,000 light bulbs transform the building into a glowing spectacle. Though the lighting happens at 7 pm, crowds start to grow outside the gate by 6 pm to witness the candescent display. While entering the palace, visitors are restricted to the residence garden and can only view the main palace from a distance. The palace complex also includes twelve temples in the Dravidian style, the oldest among these was built in the 14th century and the most recent in 1953.
