About Jaganmohan Palace:
The Jaganmohan Palace in Mysore is one of the oldest buildings in Mysore. This Palace is more that 150 years old. Like the Mysore Palace this Palace too is a beautiful and ornamental Palace built by the Kings of Mysore. In the 150 years of its existence this Palace has witnessed a number of important events that have been instrumental in shaping the destiny of the modern State of Mysore today known as Karnataka. This Palace was built in 1861 and was initially an ornate wooden one and was being used by the Royal family when a fire destroyed it in 1897. The Royal family lived in this palace till the main Mysore Palace was built. The coronation of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV was held here in 1902. The then Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Lord Curzon, attended this ceremony. At the time of the wedding of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the ornamental front portion with a hall was added to the main building and is therefore called the Wedding Pavilion. The wedding pavilion was also used as the Dubar Hall where Krishanraja Wodeyar IV held his annual birthday and the Dasara Durbars till the completion of the new Sejje or Durbar Hall in the main Palace in 1910. The pavilion was used, as the venue for the Representative Assembly after 1923, a democratic institution consisting of the people’s representative to deliberate on the affairs of the state, this representative assembly was the first of its kind in a princely state, an arrangement made by the Mysore Maharajas. Initially the convocation ceremonies of the Mysore University were held in this attractive hall. The hall was also used as an auditorium for staging plays and other cultural activities for the members of the royal family. Many important meetings and sessions were held in this hall till alternative venues came up in the city. To this day many cultural activities and conferences are held in this hall as it is in the heart of the city. This includes the cultural programmes held during the Dasara festivities. This hall has two huge wooden doors on which is carved the Dashavatharas or ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The main structure of Jaganmohan Palace consisting of three stories has been converted into the famous Jayachamarejendra Art Gallery during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. It displays the paintings and artifacts that belonged to the Kings of Mysore. Today this art gallery is considered one of the best in South India.
General Information about Jaganmohan Palace:
Location: Mysore
State: Karnataka
Capital: Bangalore
Language: Kannada, Malayalam, English
Temperature: Max 30˚C, Min 21˚C (summer), Max 21˚C, Min 11˚C (winter)
Best Season: November to April
How to Reach Jaganmohan Palace:
By Air:
The nearest airport to Mysore is Bangalore (139 km). All the domestic airlines in the country operate their flights to Bangalore from all the major cities in the country. Some international airlines too have flights to Bangalore. Bangalore is to have an international airport shortly.
By Rail:
Mysore is connected with a number of trains to Bangalore. The super fast luxury train the Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Madras. The quickest and most comfortable way to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.
By Road:
Mysore is 139kms to the south west of Bangalore. The state highway that connects these two cities is very well maintained. Travelling from Bangalore to Mysore by road is a pleasant experience and will take about 3hrs. The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has excellent bus service to Mysore. There are ordinary buses, semi-luxury buses and luxury buses operated by the Government of Karnataka. Every half an hour there is a non-stop bus to Mysore from Bangalore Bus Station. Corporations of other states and private tour operators have buses plying to Mysore as well. All these facilities have made Mysore extremely accessible by road.