An Unforgettable Dussehra At Mysore Palace

The city of Mysore holds a very special place in my heart because that’s where I began a very important journey of my life. My corporate voyage began at a beautiful campus in the outskirts of Mysore, which spanned through many a hillocks and almost felt like a holiday resort. But the fact is that training at Infosys Mysore was anything but a holiday. For three months, we followed a grilling schedule that gave us little time to rest and almost no time to see the city. But that hardly matters if you’re bitten by the travel bug.

At first glance, Mysore comes across as a sleepy old town that has a distinctive laid back feel to it. Time almost stands still in its winding roads, dotted by trees on both sides. An old world charm hangs around in it’s lanes that now seem to be eagerly embracing the new. The three months I spent there were hardly enough to see everything Mysore has to offer but then I was not fortunate enough to witness the best thing this city has to offer – Mysore Dusshera. As I think about the old times, I can’t help but reminisce my visit to the Palace of Mysore.

One hot and humid weekend morning, I along with a friend decided to finally venture out of Infosys Campus. A rickety overpriced auto ride brought  us to the gates of Mysore Palace. Apprehension gave way to huge expectations as I saw the grand gates welcoming a huge crowd into the palace. The entrance gate and arch hold the emblem and coat of arms of the kingdom of Mysore, around which is embedded the kingdom’s motto in Sanskrit. Those were the days when not all cell-phones had cameras, but then my photography skills were practically non-existent too. Maybe that’s why I remember minute details of my little escapade, first one out of the campus in months.

Not knowing where to begin from, we followed the crowd that lead us to the palace. It’s sheer grandeur, beautiful architecture and distinctive colors made me instantly fall in love with the fairytale that this palace is. Mysore is also known as the City of Palaces, as there are seven palaces within its boundaries. However, Mysore Palace refers specifically to this one within the Old Fort. Built by the Maharaja Rajarshi His Highness Krishnarajendra Wadiyar IV, Mysore Palace is one of the most famous tourist attractions in South India, and has more than 6 million visitors annually.

King Yaduraya of Mysore first built a palace inside the Old Fort in Mysore in the 14th century, which was demolished and constructed multiple times. One such demolition lead to the Maharaja of Mysore commissioning British architect Lord Henry Irwin to build a new palace to replace the older one which was damaged due to a fire. Construction of the current palace took five years and was completed in 1912, but the fort continued to be beautified and its inhabitants were slowly moved to the newer extension built off the palace.

The architectural style of domes of the palace is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic which blends Hindu, Mughal, Rajput, and Gothic styles. The Palace of Mysore is a three-story stone structure with marble domes and a 145 ft five-story tower. Like all royal palaces, this one is also surrounded by beautiful well manicured lawns. I was already overwhelmed and transported into a bygone era, just looking at this beauty. A piece of architectural marvel, it’s no wonder that the Mysore Palace has almost become the symbol of the city.

The beauty of all things royal made sure I could not get my eyes off this pretty palace. So much so that I just wanted to stare at it rather than going inside. I couldn’t have imagined the kind of stories that were waiting for me inside and how fortunate I was to see the history, people only read about. Everything royal is on display starting from the clothes, the artifacts, the weapons, the jewellery, the utensils, the sculptures and everything else one can think of. Stepping inside Mysore Palace is like re-visiting chapters from the past. Even though roaming around the three floors of Mysore Palace left me a little exhausted, this one was worth the effort it took.

Mysore Palace campus has twelve temple complexes dating from 14th Century to the recent times and dedicated to various Hindu Gods. The temples are built in a unique South Indian style and undoubtedly, they are as beautiful as the palace. The royals were devotees of Goddess Chamundi, hence the palace is built such that it faces Chamundi Hills. These beautiful temples inside the Mysore Palace are a reminder of the traditions which might be fading today but come alive with the decorated walls of these pretty structures.

The royal family being a devotee of Goddess Chamundi, it comes as no surprise that the festival of Navratri, ending on the day of Dusshera is celebrated with great grandeur in Mysore. The palace is all lit up in the night and is a sight one cannot forget. I happened to witness this in all its glory and even though it has been a really long time, I clearly remember how grand it all was. Don’t they say that a thing of beauty is a joy forever!

Now that I have relived the memories, I think I will plan a trip to Mysore to witness the famous Mysore Dusshera. I’ve been itching go back to this town since a long time now. Though it might be too late to plan for this year, I am hoping I can do this soon. Maybe, add this to next year’s bucket list. A trip down south, beginning with meeting up friends at Bangalore and concluding with slow travel at Mysore would be perfect. Also, that one won’t be complete without visiting the Infosys Campus, and Ibis Bengaluru Hosur Road would be a perfect choice for a stay near the campus.

While the festival of Dussehra hasn’t meant much to me all these years, travel has made sure I see it in new light now. From the famous Dussehra celebrations of Mysore, Bastar and Kullu that last many days, to the celebration of Pujo in Bengal, to not celebrating Dussehra at all at Baijnath, there are so many fascinating tales about the festivities that make India such a diverse yet united culture. At Mysore Palace, I think it’s as grand as it can get.

Mysore Palace is also lit up on all public holidays and weekends from 7pm to 10pm. If you’re ever in town, Mysore Palace deserves at least two visits, one during the day and one during the night. This one is as grand as it can get, and it’s no wonder that the royal family fought a legal battle all these years to retain the palace. As of now, a legal suite is pending at the Supreme Court, between the royal family and the government of Karnataka for the ownership of the palace. The royal family occupies a small portion of the palace today and rest of is acquired by the Government of Karnataka.