Bharat is known for its historical forts and palaces, some of which have managed to make a distinct identity in tourism due to their magnificence. One such palace is of Mysore, whose beauty and magnificence can be seen both day and night. Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is a historic building located in the city of Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka. In the sunlight during the day, you can clearly see its red-colored dome and a wonderful view of the vast complex. At night, the decoration of colorful lights in Mysore Palace makes it shine like a diamond. This palace is much preferred by the people as compared to other tourist places located in Karnataka. Today in this episode we are going to tell you about interesting information related to Mysore Palace.

History of Mysore Palace
Mysore Palace has a rich history of its own which was built by the Wadiyar dynasty in the 14th century. In the year 1638, the palace suffered a lot of damage due to lightning falling from the sky, which was renovated by the rulers there. In 1793, Hyder Ali's son Tipu Sultan overthrew the Wadiyar king and took over Mysore, during whose rule the palace was converted into a Muslim architectural style. When Tipu Sultan died in 1799, the five-year-old prince of the Wadiyar dynasty, Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, was placed on the throne, after which he rebuilt the palace in the Hindu architectural style, which was completed by 1803. In 1897, a fire broke out in this palace during the marriage ceremony of Princess Jayalakshmani, due to which the entire palace was ruined. For whose reconstruction Rani Kempa Nanjamani Devi appointed the famous British architect Henry Irwin. Henry Irwin started building the palace in 1897 and completed it in 1912 and handed it over to the Queen after about 15 years.

Structure of Mysore Palace
The architectural style of the domes in the Mysore Palace is modeled as Indo-Saracenic with a mixture of Hindu, Rajput, Mughal, and Gothic styles. This three-storied building of Mysore Fort has a marble dome and a 145 feet high stone structure. The fort is surrounded by a magnificent garden. In the structure of the palace, the length of the main complex is estimated to be 245 feet and the width is 156 feet. The palace has three gates – the eastern gate, the south gate, and the west gate. Many important tunnels remain inside the Mysore Palace. Apart from this, the idol of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fortune is also located.

The dome located in the upper part of this palace is made of pink-colored gray stone. The dome of a big fort built inside this palace is decorated with gold sheets. In this Mysore Palace, there are separate rooms for the kings to stay in and separate rooms for the common man to stay. The first ray of morning falling on the palace enhances its beauty. A collection of many mythological dolls is also seen in a part of this Mysore Palace. At present, about 97000 bulbs are installed in this entire Mysore Palace, which enhances the beauty of this palace with its light.

Earlier this palace was made of wood.
It was not in its original form as it appears in its present form. Earlier this palace was completely made of wood. The palace is believed to have burnt down in 1897 during the marriage of Princess Jayalakshmi. It is believed that at that time Darasa festival was being celebrated in Mysore.

12 temples are built inside the palace
Some 12 temples are built in this Royal Palace and one temple is from more than 14th century. Prominent among these are the Kodi Bharravaswamy Temple, the White Varahaswamy Temple, and the Trinayaswara Swamy Temple. The architecture of these temples also attracts a lot.

Second most visited palace in India
Mysore Palace is also known as Amba Vilas Palace. It is the second most visited palace in the country after the Taj Mahal. Except for the time of lockdown due to Corona infection, there is an influx of tourists throughout the year to see this grand historical building. Especially during the celebration of Dasara, the enthusiasm of the tourists can be seen here.

Best time to visit Mysore Palace
If you are thinking about visiting Mysore Palace, then you should go here during Dussehra. Because Dussehra is celebrated with great pomp here. The best time to visit here is considered to be between October to March. Apart from this, if you want to see the beauty of Mysore Palace, then you come here in the evening, and you will see this palace in some other form. It is open daily for visitors and its timing is from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. Whereas its illumination time is from 7 pm to 7:45 pm.

How To Reach Mysore Palace
By Flight: The nearest airport to Mysore is the New Bangalore International Airport, Which is located at a distance of about 170 kilometers from the palace.

By train: If you have chosen a train to visit Mysore Palace. So tell that Mysore city is well connected to all the major railway stations of India through rail routes. Mysore Railway Station is located at a distance of about 2 kilometers from the city center.

By Car or Cab: It takes only 3 hours to reach Mysore from Bangalore by car or cab. If you want, you can take a bus, train, or taxi from Bangalore. If you want to drive yourself from Bangalore to Mysore, then take the Mysore Road ie SH 17 route. Apart from this, you can also take the route of Kanakapura Road (NH 209).