For Mysore Palace, 2012 is a historic year. The iconic palace is in its centenary year.
The magnificent halls of the residence of the three previous maharajas of Mysore is attracting visitors in increasing numbers every year from all over. Their regal splendour continues to charm tourists - local or foreign.
Built literally on the ashes of an old palace, which was partially destroyed in a devastating fire during a royal wedding in February 1897, the present palace has retained the old fashion of the Hindu style structure, a portion of which can still be seen at the rear portion. Even the destoryed palace, built over five years from 1799, was modeled on the earlier structure that stood there dilapidated.
However, the new structure is modified on its exterior to Indo-Sarascenic style and hence the enlarged structure is more attractive than the fire-destroyed royal house. With domes, turrets, arches, and colonnades, it stands out as the best example of the Indo-Muslim architectural blend.
It is interesting to note that it was not the Maharaja who was responsible for the Palace, but it was the Maharani. Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar’s wife, who was appointed Regent of Mysore, as her son was very young, decided to build a new palace, reflecting the grandeur of the old Palace.
It was initially estimated to cost Rs 25 lakh. But, when it was completed in 1912, the expenditure had risen to Rs 41,47,913, a cost overrun of about 66 per cent compared with the original estimates. Considering the length of time of the construction period, it was not bad.
Henry Irwin (1841-1922), who had retired as the consulting architect of the Government of Madras, received the contract and his plans were approved. The const-
ruction work was inaugurated in October 1897 by Maharani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana — only eight months after the fire.
Irwin’s fee of Rs 12,000 amounted to just under 0.5 per cent of the estimated expenditure, modest by modern standards.
Though the palace was designed by a Britisher, actual construction was executed by Mysore engineers and was supervised by Mysore masons. Credit must go to Narayanaswamy, who was working as the civil engineer at the Mysore Palace then for designing the marvellous durbar hall and the imposing Jayamarthanda Gate.
It took nearly 15 years for the palace to be completed in stages. Though it was completed in its present form in 1912, the maharaja’s family had begun living a few years earlier alone in the newly-built residential portion. Turned into a visitors’ must-visit, it draws the highest tourist footfalls.
To mark the historic centenary, it was announced last year that the district administration would chalk out year-long programmes soon after the 2011 Dasara commencing with cultural programmes throughout the year on Sundays and during special occasions when it is splendidly lit up in the evenings.
The promised programmes are, however, yet to begin as the gorgeous palace enters the centenary mark.
