MYSORE: The nucleus of Mysore Dasara, the palace turns 100 this year.
An architectural wonder, the palace was built at a cost of Rs. 41,47,970 over 15 years. The Dasara celebrations aside, the Mysore Palace has also been the venue for important functions such as weddings in the royal family. History shows us that the Palace - presently in its third version - has a tragic history, as it was destroyed twice.
The royal family’s palace at the same place was pulled down by Tipu Sultan and his troops who wanted to ensure that there was no mark of the Wadiyars left behind.
The Wadiyars who were left without a palace, installed Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar as king in front of a small house in 1799. They built a wooden palace with armoury, library, office rooms and dining and meeting halls, with a huge entrance arch.
Tragedy struck the palace a second time when the wooden palace caught fire during the wedding of Jayalakshmammani with M Kantharaja Urs held under the supervision of Kempananjamannani.
It is said that one of the oil lamps fell down and set a pillar to fire, which spread elsewhere and damaged the wedding hall, Amba Vilas and Rama Vilas. Palace staff shifted the valuables by the time the fire force arrived.
The present three-storeyed palace with a five-storeyed tower topped by domes with golden covers that symbolise fusion between the Hoysala and Greek styles of architecture was designed by architect H Irwin and was built from October 1897 to 1912.
Impressed with the Simla Viceroy Bungalow, Kempananjamannani invited Irwin to design and supervise the construction of the Mysore Palace.
The centre view of the palace was changed and elevation of the dome changed in 1932 as per Vaastu.