Karnataka
Palace architecture in Karnataka is a tradition responsible for the birth of some of the historical wonders of past. Palace of Mysore or monuments of Hampi and temples of Hoysala time – all of them follows the best traditions in south Indian architecture. Visit Karnataka and explore the fascinating world of its palaces, their architecture, and their opulence.
Mysore Palace
Everywhere the sense of beauty without vulgar opulence is apparent. Soft white marble floors, strong and shining granite pillars and ceilings painted tastefully with intricate floral designs in muted colors capture the senses. Not one color is visually jarring in the magnificent Mysore Palace.
The palace at Mysore was built over one thousand years ago, in 897 AD. Saracenic in style, the architecture has both Hindu as well as Muslim influences. In 1897, however, the wooden palace accidentally caught fire and was destroyed. During the regime of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the chief architect Henry Irwin designed the new palace, which we see today.
If the magnificence in the interior of the Palace is anything to go by, this is not hard to believe. No history textbook can give the feel of Maharajas and Princesses as the tour of Mysore’s Palace can. It is not surprising that a long line of visitors queue up outside the Palace every day so as to get a whiff of the lives of past royalty
The faint sounds of the royal trumpet echo in one’s memory as one leaves the palace gates. Which textbook can depict all that is seen here? How much has been said without words: the symbolism of the peacock and the unicorn, the royal finery, the class and caste distinction during the period, the wealth, the economy, the lifestyle, the aesthetic sense, and the emphasis on art. Those were certainly splendid times, if just the sight of long-forgotten royal belongings could evoke this nostalgia.
