| Lalitha Mahal, Mysore | |
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Lalitha Mahal, Mysore |
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Location within Karnataka
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Architecture |
| Town or city | Mysore |
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 1921 |
| Completed | 20th century |
| Cost | Rs 1.3 million |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Stone masonry and marble |
| Design and construction | |
| Client | Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, Mysore Kingdom |
| Architect | E.W. Fritchley |
The Lalitha Mahal is the second largest palace in Mysore. It is located near the Chamundi Hills, east of the city of Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka. The palace was built in 1921 at the orders of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore for the exclusive stay of the then Viceroy of India.[1] Built on a raising ground, the palace was fashioned on the lines of the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and is one of the imposing structures of the Mysore city.[2][3][4][5]
The palace painted in pure white colour is strikingly elegant. It was converted into a heritage hotel in 1974. It is now run as an elite hotel of the Ashok Group of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under the Government of India. However, a veneer of the original royal ambience of the palace is maintained.[1][3][6]
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History of the palace is of early 20th century built in the princely state of Mysore under the British rule. The state was then called by the British Administrators as a "Model State”. The Maharajas of Mysore were wealthy, at that time were second only to the Nizam of Hyderabad. The palace, a very impressive architectural edifice, was constructed with a reasonable amount of money, out of their annual income of two million pounds.[1][2] The then Maharaja of Mysore of the princely state (since absorbed with the Indian state of Karnataka after India got independence from British rule) was Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (June 4, 1884 - August 3, 1940) who ruled under the title “Wodeyar” with his capital in Mysore city. He was the 24th ruler of the Wodeyar dynasty. Mysore rulers were considered as great patrons of arts and architecture and were reasonably ostentatious in their living style, as is evidenced by the number of highly beautiful monuments consisting of palaces, temples, churches and gardens that they built to enhance the architectural heritage of the their Kingdom. The Lalitha Mahal palace was built in 1921 for the exclusive stay of the then Viceroy of India and subsequently as guest house for the European guests of the Maharajas.[2][3]
Set amidst sprawling landscaped gardens below the Chamundi hills, the palace was planned by E.W. Fritchley, the architect from Bombay (now renamed Mumbai) and constructed by B Munivenkatappa. The palace built in Renaissance architectural style is considered an adaptation of the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, particularly the central dome. The architecture of the palace reflects English manor houses and Italian Palazzos. It is a two storied structure.[7] The supporting structure of the palace is of Ionic double column. At the ground level, there is a projecting porch. Spherical domes with the dominating central dome sets the front elevation of the palace. Decorative stained glass has been extensively used to enhance the elegance of the palace both in the exterior facades and in interiors doors, windows and ceilings. A lovely view of the Chamundi Hill to the left and the Mysore city in front of the palace is seen from the balcony upstairs.[3][8]
The palace has exquisitely designed viceroy room, a banquet hall, a dancing floor and an Italian marble staircase (has an arresting curve) and also embellished with small ornamentations, which are said to be replicas from various palaces in Britain. The full length portraits of the Wodeyar Kings, Italian marble floors and Belgian crystal chandeliers, cut glass lamps, heavy ornate furniture, mosaic tiles and a couple of exquisite Persian carpets gives the palace its regal ambience. With conversion of the palace into a heritage hotel, interiors have been modified to provide for modern conveniences but most of the earlier sections of the palace such as the dancing and banquet halls have been retained in their original elegance but adopted as dining halls and conference halls for holding meetings and conventions; these have polished wooden flooring and three stain glassed domes in the ceiling. The ball room in particular, which has been converted into the Dining Hall of the hotel, is a baroque hall with immensely high ceiling with domed skylights made of Belgian glass. A swimming pool is now an additional provision.[3][4][5] The elevator, carpeting and the Ottoman, upholstered with tapestry are treasured items in the palace.[9]
Mysore city where the palace is located is well connected by road and rail links with the rest of the country.[6]
The palace is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the east of the Mysore city centre. The approach road from the main National Highway is long and winding that offers visitors sufficient time to appreciate the beauty of white and graceful lines of the palace.[3][9] The main road that skirts the palace is National Highway 212 (India) from Kozhikode - Gundulpet - Nanjangud - Mysore - T.Narsipur – Kollegal; T. Narasipur sector of road from Mysore is the closest to the palace.[10]
There are a number of roads radiating from Mysore to several cities in the state. Bengaluru is140 kilometres (87 mi) away from Mysore. There is an Express Highway connecting the two cities, which is a 110 kilometres (68 mi) road still under construction.[11]
Even though there is an Airport near the city, it is not commercially operational. Hence, Bengaluru International Airport near Devanahalli is the nearest Airport, which is 180 kilometres (110 mi) away from Mysore – 140 kilometres (87 mi) to Bengaluru city centre plus a further 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the airport.[12]
Mysore Railway station on the Broad Gauge line of the Indian Railways is 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the palace and connects to all major cities in the country.
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