Mysore
has once been the capital of Karnataka and still its
palaces and culture reflect the clean, light, serene and
easygoing old worldly charm. Its distinctive aromas
attract people to the place again and again. It is said
that Mysore was originally known as 'Mahishasurana Ooru'
or the town of Mahishasura, as it was here that Goddess
Chamundeshwari, the patron deity of the royalty of the
region, killed the mighty demon Mahishasura atop the
Chamundi. Still, one can see the temples of the Goddess
atop these hills at the eastern end of Mysore town.
The imposing and magnificent palaces and buildings of
Mysore are a part of architectural heritage of the city
and have retained its old-world charm. The city boasts
of well-planned gardens, fabulous temples and broad
shady avenues. The Wodeyar dynasty of Kings ruled Mysore
ever since 14th century except for the time in the late
18th century, when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were the
rulers of the city for 40 years. The city has been
planned well and the benevolent Wodeyar rulers gave it
the identity of a 'native' princely state and encouraged
traditional music, dance, art and literature along with
scholarship and time-honored crafts.
Mysore's Prime Attractions
Chamundi Hills:
Chamundi Hills is 1,100-feet-high and the Chamundeshwari
temple atop them is quite fabulous. Goddess
Chamundeshwari is patron deity of the erstwhile royalty
and it takes 13 km drive or climbing up the 1,000 stone
steps to reach the temple. The giant statue of
Mahishasura nearby, who was believed to be the demon
killed by the Goddess here is a chief attraction here
along with the the 300-year old monolithic statue of
Nandi Bull, which is 4.8 m high, placed halfway up the
stairs. Nandi Bull is the chosen mount of Lord Shiva and
is notable because of its size and ornamentation.
Srirangapatnam:
The
summer palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam, 15 km
from Mysore, was built in 1784. It boasts of Indo-Saracenic
architecture and has a small museum with a rich
collection of Tipu's personal possessions such as his
gold-embroidered tunic, old paintings and a coin
collection. Other places woth seeing at Srirangapatnam
are the Gumbaz, the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his
father, Hyder Ali and Jami Masjid with its slender
minarets that make the mosque recognizable from several
kilometers.
Brindavan Gardens:
30 minutes from Mysore, the terrace gardens of Brindavan
boast of beautiful watercourses, musical fountains that
are fitted with soft colored lights and look quite
beautiful in the night. It is a popular picnic spot of
the city.
Lalitha Mahal Palace:
Lalitha Mahal was the guesthouse of Wodeyar rulers and
was built in 1930s. It is snow-white in color and its
Italian marble staircase that branches off from a
landing to reach the first floor hall looks quite
fascinating. There are delightful lawns and tall trees
surrounding the palace.
Mysore Palace:
Mysore Palace was built in 897 AD using Saracenic style
of architecture. It presents a fusion of Hindu and
Muslim architectural styles. The old palace was burnt
down in 1897 and the new one designed by an English
architect was completed in 1912. Gray granite was used
to construct the main palace building while a gilded
dome was placed atop a tower in the palace. It has huge
rooms and floor tiles are of beautiful colors and hues
such as turquoise blue, magenta, golden yellow and leaf
green. The central hall once used for marriages and
other major gatherings is perhaps the most beautiful
part of the palace and is richly ornamented. The royal
courtyard is the venue from where the Dussehra
procession starts every year in the month of October.
There is a museum too that presents a collection of
musical instruments, children's toys, lots of paintings,
royal costumes and weaponry and armor that belonged to
the Maharaja's family.
Mysore City Facts
