Visit to Mysore-Bangalore

Dancing Fountains
These fountains Developed over six decades ago by Sir Mirza Ismail, when he was the Dewan of MysoreState under Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the unique terraced garden had suffered in its charm and look of recent. Its eye-pleasing illumination and myriad of fountains had reached pathetic state with neglected care and maintenance, often resulting in publiccomplaints.

Responding to the public criticism, the Government of Karnataka entrusted the face-lift project to the CNN, eight months ago. The face-lifted garden was expected to be thrown open by the Dasara but, financial and other constrains delayed the work and the garden and fountains sporting a new look are now drawing bigger crowds.

The Chamundi Hills

The Chamundi Hills are located in India, close to the palace city of Mysore. Its average elevation is 1,000 meters.
Legend has it that the demon Mahishasura, the king of the area that is currently Mysore, was killed by the Goddess Chamundeswari (also Chamundi) after a fierce battle. The hills hence got their name and a temple of the Goddess was built on the top. The Goddess is also known as MahishasuraMardini meaning She who slayed Mahishasura. The temple has a very beautiful Idol of the Goddess wearing a garland of skulls.

The temple has always been patronised by the rulers of Mysore. In earlier days, the Maharajas of Mysore would ride the ceremonial Dasara elephant during the annual Dasara festival, but after India gained independence, the Idol of Goddess Chamundi is taken on an elephant. , For other uses, see Mysore (disambiguation). ... Temple of Hephaestus, an Doric Greek temple in Athens with the original entrance facing east, 449 BC (western face depicted) For other uses, see Temple (disambiguation). ... A panoramic view of the city is seen from the top of the hills. Among other landmarks, you can see the Race Course, the Lalitha Mahal palace, the Mysore Palace, the Karanji and Kukkarahalli lakes. At dusk, the view of the city is especially beautiful, and on Sunday evenings and during the Dasara festival, the illuminated Mysore Palace glitters like gold.

There are steps leading to the top of the hill. There are around 1,000 steps in all, and climbing the first 400 or so steps takes some effort. Enroute to the top, the steps pass the large monolithic statue of Nandi the Bull. Nandi is the vahana (Vehicle) of Lord Shiva. Climbing gets easier soon afterwards

The St. Philomena's Church

A church at the same location was built in 1843 by the then Maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. An inscription which was there at the time of laying the foundation of the present church n 1933 states. This church is built 1843 years after the incarnation of Jesus Christ.In 1926, Thamboo Chetty who was a secretary to the Maharaja of Mysore, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar obtained a relic of the saint from Peter Pisani, Apostolic Delegate of the East Indies.[1] This relic was handed over to Father Cochet who approached the king to assist him in constructing a church in honour of St. Philomena.[3]. The Maharaja of Mysore laid the foundation stone of the church on October 28, 1933.

The Chamundeeswari temple

The Chamundeeswari temple is located on a hill in the vicinity of Mysore and is accessed through a motorable road. Chamundeeswari the tutelary deity of the Mysore Maharajas has been held in reverence for centuries, and the Wodeyars of Mysore have made extensive contributions to this shrine.

Mysore Palace
The Palace of Mysore(Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು ಅರಮನೆ) is a palace situated in the city of Mysore,

southern India. It was the official residence of the former royal family of Mysore, and also housed the durbar (ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court.

The palace was commissioned in 1897, and its construction was completed in 1912

The Kingdom of Mysore was ruled by the Wodeyar dynasty from 1399 until the independence of India in 1947.The Wodeyar kings built a palace in Mysore in the 14th century, but this palace was partially damaged by a lightning strike in 1638. It was repaired and expanded, but fell into neglect by the late 18th century. It was demolished in 1793, and a new palace was built in its place in 1803. This palace was destroyed in a fire in 1897 during the wedding of Princess Jayalakshmanni.
The regent of Mysore at the time, Maharani Kempa Nanjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, commissioned a British architect, Henry Irwin, to build yet another palace in its place. The architect was directed to combine different styles of architecture in the construction of the palace.

The palace complex includes twelve Hindu temples. The oldest of these was built in the 14th century, while the most recent was built in 1953.
Some of the more famous temples are:
Someshvara Temple, dedicated to God Lord Shiva
Lakshmiramana Temple, dedicated to God Lord Vishnu

The architectural style of the palace is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic, and blends together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. It is a three-storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145 ft five-storied tower. The palace is surrounded by a large garden.
The three storied stone building of fine gray granite with deep pink marble domes was designed by Henry Irwin. The facade has seven expansive arches and two smaller ones flanking the central arch, which is supported by tall pillars.

The palace houses several rooms of importance. These include:
Audience Chamber: This was Hall of Private Audience, where the king would confer with his ministers. It was also the chamber in which he gave audience to people deserving special attention.
Public Durbar: The Diwan-e-aam was a public hall where the general population could meet the king at prescribed times with petitions.
Royal wedding hall
Armoury: The palace houses an armoury, which contains a collection of different types of arms used by the members of the royal family. These include weapons that were used in the 14th century (lances, cutlasses, etc), as well as weapons that were used in the early twentieth century (pistols, etc).

Gombe Thotti (Doll’s Pavilion)
Entry to the palace is through the Gombe Thotti or the Doll’s Pavilion, a gallery of traditional dolls from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The pavilion also houses a fine collection of Indian and European sculpture and ceremonial objects like a wooden elephant howdah (frame to carry passengers) decorated with 84 kilograms of gold.

TIPU SULTAN DEATH PLACE

Tipu Sultan ruled Mysore from the death of his father, Haidar Ali, until his own death at Seringapatam on 4th May 1799. Described by one Scotsman, Major Dirom, as 'an able, intrepid general,' Tipu was known as The Tiger of Mysore, identified himself with tigers, and decorated all his personal possessions with tiger motifs or a stylised tiger stripe (bubri). His soldiers wore the 'tyger jacket' and painted bubris decorated the walls of his throne room and mausoleum

Tipu was also a strongly religions man, following the precepts of the Suni Muslims.'God give me victory as long as the Sun and the Moon shine,' was inscribed on his family seal, while his weapons are often inscribed with a Koranic text, or a dedication to Mohammed. On his green standard, the intertwined Persian characters proclaim 'asad allah al-ghalib' ('The Lion of God is Conqueror').

Death place of Tippu where the body of Tippu was found. Lalmahal Palace (ruins of ancient palace), Thomas Inman's Dungeon and an Obelisk of war memorial are also located nearby. The Jamia Masjid is also situated on the way to these places.