Mysore Palace

Amba Vilas is a palace in the center of the city of Mysore in the south Indian state of Karnataka. He was the residence of the Maharajas of the former princely state of Mysore, whose descendants still inhabit a part of the palace. The palace is one of the most famous palaces throughout India.

History

1897-1912 Amba Vilas was built for more than four million rupees, designed by the British architect Henry Irwin. The splendid Indo- Saracenic building replaced the recently burned down the old palace.

Architecture

Palace

Its floor plan is reminiscent of the layout of the Buckingham Palace in London. It combines elements of traditional Hindu, Indian -Islamic, Rajput and European architecture.

The three -story palace of gray granite is topped by several marble domes, a 44 -meter-high, five-storey tower with a gilded lace and many smaller turrets. Seven large arches form the main façade, the middle is flanked by two other, smaller arches.

Downright luxurious splendor - marble and mosaic floors, heavy silver and elaborately carved wooden doors, countless columns, expensive furniture from all over the world, stained glass decor and walls of mirrors and paintings and murals testify to the luxurious lifestyle of the Mysore rulers around the turn of the century. The rooms are designed here in a bewildering variety of styles. Especially famous is the coated with gold leaf throne in the huge Durbar Hall.

Every Sunday evening 19-20 clock and every second Saturday from 19 to 19.20 clock, the palace facade of over 80,000 light bulbs will light erleutet.

Temple

On the palace grounds there are also twelve Hindu temples, which date from the 14th to 20th centuries.

Famous spaces

• Audience Chamber: reception room for private audiences, conference hall ( historic)
• Public Durbar: The room served the king for general audiences.
• Wedding Hall ( Royal wedding hall): The space that took place in the weddings of the royal family
• Armory ( Armoury ): contains weapons from the 14th to the 20th century.

Pictures

Front facade

At night

Sri Shveta - Varahaswami temple on the palace grounds