THE MYSORE PALACE:

An Architectural Overview

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Dr. M.P.S. Chauhan Neha Aswal
Mrs. Rajni 140532
 Contents
• Introduction
• History
• Architecture
• Materials Used
• Features of the Structure
• Maintenance and Protection
• Trivial Facts
• What We Can Learn
• References
 Introduction

• Also known as Amba Vilas Palace

• Owner: Rajmata Pramoda Devi Wodeyar
• Location: Mysore, Karnataka
• Coordinates: 12°18’14”N, 76°39’16”E
• Construction period: 1897 - 1912
• Cost of Construction: 42 lakh (approx.)
• Ground Floor Area: 245ft X 156ft
• Famous for: Dusshera festivities
 History
• Owned by Wodeyars
• Architect: Henry Irwin
• The first palace was
built in 14th century
• 1638: Palace was
damaged by lightening
• 1803: Old palace was
demolished and a new
one built
• 1897: Palace fully
destroyed in fire
• 1897: Construction of current palace began
• 1912: Construction completed
• 1940: Addition of public durbar hall wing
Map of the Palace
 Architecture
Indo Saracenic Revival Style
(Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic)
Central Tower:
• Height: 145ft
Chhatri
• Floors: 5
• Tower projects up from Large
the rest of the roofline dome
like a tower of a Gothic
cathedral
• Top of tower is a large
dome – Persian Style
• Top of the dome is a
domed Chhatri –
Rajput Style
• Above the central arch is the statue of goddess
Gajalakshmi – Hindu influence
• ‘Jharokha’ (protruding balconies) – Rajasthani
Architecture
• Pointed Arches – Persian in origin
• Gombe Thotti (Doll’s Pavilion)
– European influence
• Kalyana Mantapa (Ceremonial
Hall) with wrought-iron pillars
and a stained glass ceiling with
a prominent peacock motif –
Persian influence
• Entrance of Amba Vilas
(Diwan-e-Khas) is a rosewood
doorway inlaid with ivory that
opens into a shrine to Ganesha
– Hindu Influence
• Great deal of plaster work on the ceiling - Blend
of Native and Gothic styles
 Materials Used
• Wood – Teak (yellow
brown) and Rosewood
(coffee colour)
• Marble
• Stones
• Hard Granite
• Tinted Glass
• Cast Iron, Steel
• Ivory, Gold, Silver
• Brass
• Stucco work
 Door
carved out
of Teak and
Rosewood

On the floor, are the

embedded inlay work - Pietra
dura- popularly known as
Agra work
 Features of the Structure
• Current palace is built on the foundation laid for the
old palace (1803)
• Fireproof
• Public Durbar Hall - 42.75m X 12.70m
• New Public Durbar Hall (1938-40) –
Clear height: 15.24m above ground level
Area: 74.68m X 24.38m
without any intermediate pillars
• Pillars in Diwan-e-Khas are made of hollow cast
iron
• Jayamarthanda (principal
east gate) –
 Constructed of reinforced
concrete
 Central archway: 60 feet
high and 45 feet span
 Maintenance and Protection
• In-charge: Mysore Palace Board constituted by the
Government of Karnataka
• Revenue Source: Entry ticket sales
• No major conservation work done yet
• Footwears are not allowed in the palace premises.
• The whole court is netted at the top to prevent
birds messing the inside.
 Trivial Facts
• 96,000 incandescent bulbs(15 W) used for lighting
• Palace light illumination on Sundays and all public
holidays from 7:00pm to 7:30pm
• Golden Howdah (Throne) decorated with 84kg gold
• The palace has electricity supply, since the
completion of it’s construction.
• Ceiling fans were also installed in the Kalyana
Mantapa.

Ceiling
Fan
 What We Can Learn

• Adaptability
• Mixing various styles
• Local materials
• Going with the advancing technology
• Local craftsmanship
 References

• www.mysorepalace.gov.in
• www.onlinejournal.in
• www.wikipedia.org
• www.slideshare.net