Mysore

Excursion

Maharaja palace
Designed by the English Architect, Henry Irwin, the Mysore Palace dominates the skyline of Mysore. A three storied structure in the Indo-Saracenic style built between 1897-1912, the palace has beautifully designed square towers at cardinal points, covered with domes. The Durbar Hall with its ornate ceiling and sculpted pillars and the Kalyanamantapa (Marriage Pavilion) with its glazed tiled flooring and stained glass, domed ceiling are worth noting. Intricately carved doors, the golden howdah (elephant seat),paintings as well as the fabulous, jewel encrusted golden throne (displayed during Dasara) are amongst the palace's other treasures. The walled palace complex houses the Residential Museum (incorporating some of the Palace's living quarters),temples and shrines including the Shwetha Varahaswamy temple. The palace is illuminated on Sundays, Public Holidays as well as during the Dasara Celebrations when 97,000 electric bulbs are used to illuminate it.

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Chamunda Hills
A prominent landmark, located at the outskirts of the city, Chamundi Hills can be reached by a 13 kms motorable road or 1000 steps built by the Wodeyars. At the crest of this hill is Sri Chamundeshwari Temple that dates back to the 11th century. The striking gopura (Pyramidal Temple tower) was added by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar-III in 1825-1826. Goddess Chamundi was the patron deity of the rulers. Near the temple is the statue of Mahishasura, the demon slayed by the goddess Chamundeshwari. Half way up the stone steps, is the 4.8 meter high monolith of Nandi, Lord Shiva's mount.

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Zoo
Sri Jayachamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popularly known as the Mysore Zoo was established in 1892 under the reign of Chamarajendra Wodeyar. A large collection of animals, including exotic species, are housed in lush green surroundings. This zoo is famous for breeding some rare animals in captivity.

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St. Philomena's Church
This is a beautiful gothic structure with twin spires, 175ft. in height, said to have been modeled on the gothic Cathedral at Cologne. Designed by French architects, the foundation stone was laid by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar-IV in 1933.

The stained glass windows, made in France, overlooking the apse, showing the Birth of Christ, Baptism of Christ by St. John the Baptist, the Last Supper and the Crucifixion of Christ are works of art. The altar bears the statue of St. Philomena,a third century saint from Greece.

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Jaganmohan Palace
One of Mysore's beautiful buildings, the Jaganmohan Palace was built in 1861 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar in a predominantly Hindu style, as an alternative retreat for the royal family. This three storied palace with stained glass shutters and ventilators, in a lovely garden setting, has since 1915, housed the Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery. This museum displays paintings, sculptures and musical instruments. This gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings dating back to 1875. The collection includes paintings by Travancore Ruler, Raja Ravi Varma, the Russian Svetoslav Roerich and the traditional Mysore gold leaf style of painting.

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Ranganathittu
Ranganathittu, 18 kms from Mysore, is a Bird Sanctuary that houses exotic birds. It is a group of small islands in the Kaveri river. It is home to a variety of waterbirds, including comorants, herons, egrets and spoonbills, many of whom migrate here annually from Siberia and North America, to nest and breed. Crocodiles basking in the sun is also a familiar sight. Best season to visit this place is May-Sept/Oct.

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Somanathpura
The Keshava Temple, located 42 kms from Mysore, was built in 1268 as part of an agrahara (scholastic community) founded by the Hoysala General Somanatha Dandanayaka. The temple is famous for its elaborate detail and for the fact that unlike the other Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebid, it was actually completed. This beautiful temple is enclosed within a walled courtyard, which is entered through a gate and porch. The temple is built on an elevated star shaped platform. The sides of the raised platform are richly adorned with carved freizes depicting rows of cavalry, elephants and stories from the epics. Above these is a row of large images, mainly of Vishnu in various forms. The triple-shrined (Trikutachala) monument, has three sanctums, of which the north sanctum bears the image of Janardhana, the south sanctum that of Venugopala.The main hall has beautifully turned pillars and ceiling panels. Sadly the image of Keshava that was in the main hall is missing.

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Krishnrajasagar Dam and Vrindavan Garden
This is India's first irrigation dam, built in 1924. Sir. M. Vishweswariah, the engineer who designed and built this dam, has shown his acumen in converting a dam site into a beautiful garden with colourful fountains and ponds downstream. The dam is named after the then Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar, who financed this novel project. Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) represents a marvel of civil engineering achievement in pre-independence India and was among the first in the world to use automatic sluice gates. There is a boating pond to cross the dam from the south bank to the north bank and at the northern edge are the dancing fountains. The fountains are made to jump and dance to the tune of music, using advanced lighting techniques. The dam is over 3 Kms long and is constructed at the junction of three rivers - Kaveri, Hemavati and Lakshmanathirtha. This site has been popularised over the years by the large number of Indian and foreign films shot at this location. This dam has not only served as a model to several dams in India, but is also a testimony to prove the superiority of surkhi (a mixture of brick powder and lime) over cement, in dam construction.

Located 12kms north-west of Mysore City is Krishnaraja Sagar Dam or KRS Dam, as it's popularly known. Designed and built in 1932, by the visionary Indian engineer Sir M. Vishweswaraiah, and named after the reigning king, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, who financed the project, Krishnaraja Sagar Dam holds a very special place in the hearts of the people of Mysore.

The dam was constructed as India's first irrigation dam on the confluence of three rivers, the Cauvery, Hamavathi and Lakshmanathirtha.

The dam is around 8600 feet long and 130 feet high with a reservoir spread over an area of 130 sq.kms., and represents a marvel of civil engineering achievement in pre-independence India. The dam was also among the first in the world to use automatic sluice gates.

Located just below the dam are the beautiful terraced Brindavan Gardens. One of India's premier horticultural display gardens, the gardens offer a tranquil retreat from Mysore City and an outdoor classroom for people of all ages to learn about the world of plants.

Apart from the different types of plants the gardens are decorated by spectacular fountains and ornamental pools. A small lake for boating enhances its recreational charm. At night the gardens are transformed into a sparkling wonderland with thousands of brilliant lights and musical fountains.

The Brindavan Gardens are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. The musical fountains are operational from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

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