- Best time
- October to February; Dasara in late September or October
- Light and sound show
- 7 pm to 7.45 pm (not on Sundays and public holidays)
- Nearest railway station
- Mysuru Junction (about 2 km)
- Nearest airport
- Mysuru (about 10 km); Bengaluru international airport
- Distance from Bengaluru
- About 140 km
- Address
- Sayyaji Rao Road, Agrahara, Chamrajpura, Mysuru 570001
History
After a fire destroyed the old wooden palace in 1897, the royal family commissioned a new one designed by the British architect Henry Irwin. It was completed in 1912 during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, a ruler Mahatma Gandhi praised as a rajarishi, or saintly king. Later additions came under his successor, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar.
What to see
The grey granite building has pink marble domes and a five-storey tower about 145 feet high. The palace faces Chamundi Hill, since the Wadiyars were devotees of Goddess Chamundeshwari. Inside, look for the Kalyana Mantapa, or wedding hall, with its stained-glass ceiling and patterned tiled floor; the Durbar Hall used for public audiences; and the Amba Vilas hall for private meetings. Near the entrance are royal doll collections and a wooden elephant howdah decorated with gold.
Dasara and the light show
Dasara, the ten-day festival held in late September or in October, is the palace's big moment. The final day brings the Jamboo Savari procession, led by decorated elephants, and the whole palace is illuminated every evening. Outside festival time, a light and sound show runs on most evenings from 7 pm to 7.45 pm, but not on Sundays or public holidays.
Best time to visit
Winter, from October to February, is the most comfortable season, with temperatures dropping to about 15°C at night. Dasara is spectacular but crowded, so book hotels well ahead. The monsoon months of July and August are also pleasant, and summer brings lower hotel rates, though afternoons can reach the low 30s.
How to reach and nearby sights
The palace is in the centre of Mysuru, about 2 km from Mysuru Junction railway station and around 10 km from the city's domestic airport. Bengaluru, roughly 140 km away, has the nearest international airport and is three to four hours by road. For a gentle ride around town, try one of the city's horse-drawn tongas.
Close by are Jaganmohan Palace art gallery (about 1 km), Mysuru Zoo (about 1.3 km) and the Chamundeshwari temple on Chamundi Hill. Brindavan Gardens is about 20 km away and the Hoysala temple at Somanathapura about 33 km. We can arrange a Mysuru day plan or a longer Karnataka tour.
Also nearby
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