Mysore

The former Wodiyar Maharaja’s huge fairytale castle palace was built at great cost by a British architect in 1912 in the Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades was designed by Henry Irving in 1897. A part of it is still the residence of the current Maharaja. The Palace of Mysore also known as as the Amba Vilas Palace, is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. During weekends and festivals thousands of light bulbs enliven the palace’s stern grey exterior.

St. Philomena's church is a Catholic church built in honour of St. Philomena was constructed in 1936 using a Neo Gothic style. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV laid the foundation of this church and this Neo-Gothic structure with a stained glass interior was completed in 1959 with a Frenchman named Daly designed the church. Its architecture was inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany and its one of the oldest churches in India. It is over 200 years old. 

The Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, housed in Jaganmohan Palace to the west of Mysore, is considered one of the best art galleries in South India as it has excellent collection of paintings and artifacts that once belonged to the Wodeyars of Mysore. The Jaganmohan Palace was converted into this art gallery in 1875. It houses an interesting collection of disparate objects including antique furniture, musical instruments, ceramics and ivory.

The gallery also has the rare and valuable art collection made by Col. Scott, a British Army Officer who served in the British Army that fought against Tipu Sultan. On its top floor is a splendid collection of musical instruments as well as magnificient paintings by the renowned 19th century artist from Kerala, Raja Ravi Verma. The walls of the third floor of the gallery are covered with rich colorful paintings relating to the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III.

The Brindavan Gardens on the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam site is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world famous for its symmetric design. It is located 19 kms outside Mysore and the dam complex creative beautification has been the achievement of Sir Mirza Ismail, the then Dewan of the princely State of Mysore. This dam is India’s first irrigation dam built in 1924 and designed by engineer Sir.M.Vishweswariah. The dam is named after the then Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar, who financed it. The garden is designed based on the Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir in the Mughal style. Thousands of visitors flock to the gardens each year during the evenings to watch the illuminated dancing musical fountains.