Mysore city was formerly the capital of the royal province of Mysore. According to Hindu mythology, the town is named after the demon Mahishasura, who was killed by the goddess Chamundeshwari. The Wadiyar royal family ruled Mysore from the 14th century, except for a period in the 18th century when Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan controlled the region. Tipu expanded Mysore's territories through military campaigns until he was killed fighting the British.
4. Brief History of Mysore
Mysore city was the capital of the former royal Mysore province. The
word Mysore expands to 'Mahishasurana Ooru', which means the
town of Mahishasura. According to Hindu mythology Mahishasura
was a demon king who was killed by the warrior goddess
Chamundeshwari on Chamundi hill near Mysore. Ever since, the
people of Mysore have worshipped Chamundeshwari as their tutelary
deity.
The Wadiyar royal family ruled Mysore since the 14th century except
for a short period of 40 years in the 18th century when Hyder Ali and
Tipu Sultan were the rulers. Hyder Ali was a general in the army of
the Wadiyar king who rose to become the ruler of Mysore. His son
Tipu Sultan followed in his footsteps expanding Mysore’s territories
in a series of daring battles, until he was killed when fighting the
British.
8. From this Hall one can have a
panoramic view of the open yard
consisting of lawns and
fountains, towers of temples, the
majestic Jayamarthanda Gate and
in the horizon, a view of the
famous Lalit Mahal Palace as well
as the rugged, uneven contours of
the Chamundi Hill.
11. •Gombe Thotti (Doll’s
Pavilion)
Entry to the palace is through the
Gombe Thotti or the Doll’s
Pavilion, a gallery of traditional
dolls from the nineteenth and
early twentieth centuries.
The pavilion also houses a fine
collection of Indian and European
sculpture and ceremonial objects
like a wooden elephant howdah
(frame to carry passengers)
decorated with 84 kilograms of
gold.
Other features of the Gombe
Thotti are the seven canons which
is situated in front of the Gombe
Thotti and are still fired to mark
the beginning and end of the
annual Dasara procession.
15. KalyanaMantapa
The Kalyana Mantapa or marriage hall is a
grand octagonal-shaped pavilion with a
multihued stained glass ceiling with peacock
motifs arranged in geometrical patterns. The
entire structure was wrought in Glasgow,
Scotland.
The floor of the Mantapa continues the
peacock theme with a peacock mosaic,
designed with tiles from England.
The hall is lined with elaborately detailed oil
paintings, illustrating the royal procession
and Dasara celebrations of bygone years.
19. Ambavilasa or Diwan e khas
The Ambavilasa, a hall used by the king for private
audience, is one of the most spectacular rooms of the
palace.
Entry to this opulent hall is through an elegantly carved
rosewood doorway inlaid with ivory that opens into a shrine
to Ganesha.
The central knave of the hall has ornately gilded columns,
stained glass ceilings, decorative steel grills, and
chandeliers with fine floral motifs, mirrored in the pietra
dura mosaic floor embellished with semi-precious stones.
21. Architecture
A dramatic three storied stone building of fine
gray granite with deep pink marble domes
dominated by a five-storied 145 ft tower with a
gilded dome mounted by a single golden flag.
Designed by Henry Irwin, the Mysore Palace is
one of the finest achievements of Indo-Saracenic
architecture, summing up many diverse themes
that have played through Indian architecture over
the centuries. Muslim designs and Rajput style
combine with Gothic elements and indigenous
materials in an exuberant display of grandeur.
22. Elephant Gate
Elephant Gate of the
Mysore Palace is
commonly described
as Indo-Saracenic
mode of architecture.
The architecture of
Mysore Place is a
perfect blend together
with Hindu Culture,
Muslim Culture,
Rajput Culture, and
Gothic stylesof
architecture.
24. The new Durbar Hall (1938) of the Mysore Palace
is a part of the main palace enclosed on three sides
and completely open on the eastern side. This hall is
of a unique kind with magnificent
proportions. Having a clear height of about 15.24 m.
above ground level and hall measures 74.68 m long
and 24.38 m wide without any intermediate
pillars. The ceiling of the hall is adorned with the
paintings of the ten incarnations of Vishnu
(Dashavatara). The cnetral panel has the 12 signs of
the Zodiac placed around the Hindu Trinity-Brahma,
Vishnu and Maheswara. The main frontage of the
palace has nine arches, supported by ornamental
pillars carrying a beautiful balcony without
intermediate pillars.
26. Public Darbar Hall
The Public Darbar Hall for public audience is 155
feet in length and 42 feet in breadth, with
majestic bottle-shaped columns tastefully
painted in pleasing colors. The hall contains a
priceless collection of paintings by great Indian
artists including Raja Ravivarma.
The hall opens into an expansive balcony
supported by massive columns that has a fine
view of the Chamundi Hills and parade
grounds.
29. Golden Howdah
that is the elephant seat or
Chinnada Ambari is a Howdah,
which is the carrier mounted on
the lead elephant during the
"Jamboo Savari" (Elephant
Procession) of the famous
Dasara festival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r7eR2F2MNY