Lalitha Mahal Palace, a famous architectural icon built by the royals of Mysore originally for the residence of viceroys and other state guests and equipped with a hand-operated heritage elevator password England in 1921, turned 100 years old.
Exactly one hundred years ago on 18 November 1921, the cornerstone of this palatial building, said to be modeled after St Paul’s Cathedral in London and featured in many films, was laid by Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV , then it was the maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore.
The centenary of the once regal palace, now a heritage hotel, was opened though quietly on Thursday as management and other staff went about their daily business their own, but everyone there knows the meaning of this day.
“The bedrock is mounted in the lower part of the portico. The great Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the then king of Mysore, laid the stone and the palace was built to house the viceroys and other state guests of the royal family of Mysore. It has a regal charm on the outside and boasts high-quality luxury in its interior,” says Manjunath, manager of Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel. PTI.
The architect of the palace was EW Fritchley, carved in the bedrock.
The palace’s centenary anniversary, now a heritage hotel, was opened albeit quietly on Thursday as management and other staff went about their day-to-day business, but everyone there knows the meaning of this day. (Photo PTI / Kunal Dutt)
The palace’s centennial anniversary comes ahead of World Heritage Week held November 19-25.
The historic building with its shimmering white façade surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens is set within 40 acres of grounds, perched on a hill in the foothills of the venerable Chamundi, and a few steps from the main city of Mysuru. kilometer.
The majestic two-story structure reflects the style of English manors and Italian palaces with its projection porches. A double row of Ionic columns on both floors in the façade supports the structure, in which the central dome dominates and cupolas in the roof.
“We are delighted that this historic and iconic building has turned 100 years old. But no such celebrations are planned for the November 18 anniversary from now on,” said the person. management said on Wednesday.
The palace, which is said to have been under construction for almost 10 years, shone like an architectural jewel in its heyday, but has seen a period of waning glory after Independence. and later leased by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to operate as a heritage hotel. The hotel was inaugurated on September 13, 1974, according to a marble plaque mounted on the wall of the portico.
From 2018 on, it is operated by Jungle Lodges and Resorts, an organization of the Karnataka state government. The main heritage hotel has 22 rooms, including heritage suites – Viceroy Suite, Vicerine Suite, Duplex Suite, Heritage Suite and Turret Rooms, and 32 rooms in the annex that were added later, according to management officials physical.
Subbaih IN, manager, food and beverage department at the hotel, prides itself on presenting guests with the classic touches of the palatial building, whose interiors, rooms and lobby are exquisitely decorated.
“The precious legacy of this hotel is a hand-operated elevator that was brought to the palace by the Maharaja 100 years ago. There is another heritage elevator, a mechanical one, accessible from the foyer area, but the manually operated type is a rarity,” he told PTI.
According to a board placed on it by management, the one-ton lift was imported by Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV from the British company Waygood-Otis in 1921.
Subbaih IN, manager, food and beverage department at the hotel, prides itself on presenting guests with the classic touches of the palatial building, whose interiors, rooms and lobby are exquisitely decorated. (Photo PTI / Kunal Dutt)
“This elevator has been preserved without altering the architectural features of the heritage device,” reads the inscription on the board.
While the palatial building may now belong to a different administration, the signatures of its royal patronage in the past are still visible, from the royal coat of arms of Mysore on the pedestal of the main façade, the channel gate of the mechanical elevator and the ornate royal symbols. within the walls of the entrance area facing the foyer.
Krazveen, a native of Mysuru, who has worked at the hotel for more than three decades, said he has hosted many guests who have experienced Western luxury and Indian hospitality at Lalitha Mahal Palace.
“Bollywood megastars Amitabh Bachchan and the crew went to Mysore to shoot the movie ‘Mard’ (released in 1985). The actor filmed scenes here during his time in Mysore. The movie ‘Sadak’ was also filmed here,” he said.
The security guard then gave a list of Bollywood movies shot on the hotel premises, as well as popular Southern movies like ‘KGF’.
Krazveen says the hotel also has a vintage monocoque that is currently under maintenance. Visitors love to ride in it, and “when the palace turns 100 years old, its charms will be heightened by now”.
The interior of the hotel features a magnificent banquet hall that served as a ballroom before and a grand conference room and a grand staircase with heritage lights. Portraits of many Mysore kings, including Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, and rare works of art depicting the life of Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan and his family, hang in the vestibule and adjacent walls.
A visit to this heritage palace is enough to transport anyone to a bygone era.
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