Lalitha Mahal Palace is the second largest palace in Mysore district of Karnataka state. It is located near Chamundi Hill in the city. This palace was built in 1930 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Lalitha Mahal was built during the Mysore Empire.
Lalitha Mahal is about 151 km from Bangalore and 45.6 km from Mandya and just 06 km from Mysore. It is only 07 km from Mysore railway station.
Built amidst extensive landscaped gardens beneath the Chamundi Hills, the palace was started in 1921 and completed in 1930. Built in the Renaissance style of architecture, the palace is magnificent, especially with its central dome. It is one of the magnificent structures of Mysore.
Lalitha Mahal Palace, now renamed as Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, is a luxury hotel housed in a erstwhile royal palace.
Built on a high ground, this palace is made of pure white color. It was converted into a heritage hotel in 1974. It was transferred till 2018 as a part of Ashok Group of India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under Government of India. However, the original royal administration of the palace is maintained.
The palace was built with the proceeds of Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel. The palace was built in 1921 for exclusive stays and was later used as a guest house for the guests of the Maharaja. Mysore’s Lalitha Mahal is now a five-star hotel that hosts visiting dignitaries and VIPs.
Palace Architecture
Lalita Mahal is a two storied palace. At ground level, there is a projecting porch. Spherical domes with a dominating central dome set the facade elevation of the palace. Decorative stained glass was used extensively in exterior facades and interior doors, windows and ceilings to enhance the elegance of the palace. A beautiful view of Chamundi Hill to the left and a beautiful view of Mysore city from the upstairs balcony in front of the palace. The central dome towers over the central entrance with a magnificent view. The corners of the shape also feature spherical domes.
The palace has a viceroy’s room, a banqueting hall, a dance floor and an Italian marble staircase, and is decorated with small ornaments said to be replicas of various palaces in Britain. Full-length portraits of Wodeyar kings, Italian marble floors and heavily ornate furniture, Belgian crystal chandeliers, cut-glass lamps, mosaic tiles and a couple of exquisite Persian carpets adorn the palace.
With the conversion of the palace into a heritage hotel, the interior has been modified for modern conveniences while the earlier sections of the palace like the dance and banquet halls have been retained in their original elegance while the dining halls and conference halls have been modified for modern day conveniences. It has polished wooden flooring and three stained glass domes on the ceiling to hold meetings and conventions. The ballroom in particular has been converted into the hotel’s dining hall, a baroque hall with an immense high ceiling with domed skylights made of Belgian glass. This dream-like palace was built in 1921 for special guests of the Maharaja.
