Jaganmohan Palace: The Retreat Resort of the Wodeyars

Niharika Lakhmani

Jaganmohan Palace: The Retreat Resort of the Wodeyars

Nestled in Mysore, Jaganmohan Palace served as the royal resort during the reign of the Wodeyar kings. It was later converted into a beautiful art gallery that continues to host exquisite events for the public and is counted amongst the seven palaces of Mysore.

The ornamental façade of Jaganmohan Palace; Source: Trawell

Initially, the palace was constructed as a resort for the royal family that served more purposes than one. From hosting coronations in the time of the Wodeyars to serving as an art gallery in the present day, the premises of Jaganmohan have seen it all. However, this sprawling retreat mansion became the permanent residence of the Wodeyar royals for some time due to an unfortunate incident.

It was in the year 1897 when the wedding ceremonies of Princess Jayalakshmi Ammani, the eldest sister of the king, were being held in Mysore Palace. During the celebrations, the interiors of the palace, which were fabricated majorly with wood, caught fire and were considerably damaged. This incident brought the royals to Jaganmohan Palace, which served as their home till the new palace was constructed.

In 1902, when King Rajarshhi Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar ascended the throne, his coronation was held at Jaganmohan Palace and was attended by Lord Curzon, the then viceroy and governor general of India.

The external façade of Jaganmohan Palace makes way for three entrances that are beautifully embellished. A series of horizontal mouldings above the columns, known as entablature, feature religious carvings and miniature temple elements that depict the culture of ancient Mysore.

If you look at the main doors, the central one is intricately carved, attention having been paid to the smallest of details. The dashavtara, or the ten incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu, have been incorporated in the form of ornamental embellishments on the other two doors.

The façades of Jaganmohan Palace are an immaculate blend of cultural and architectural richness, but the interiors of this massive structure are no less. The Mysore style of art, which put together scenes from the famous Mysuru Dasara festival and Jamboo Savari (the elephant procession) grace its interior walls. So does a family tree of the Wodeyars, which represents their lineage and takes the viewer through the myriad rulers that reigned the kingdom of Mysore for more than five centuries.

Amalgamating culture and architecture

Besides its historical richness, Jaganmohan Palace boasts intricate architectural details that are a treat to the eyes. The three-storied magnificent marvel houses features that follow the Hindu style of architecture.

As an addition to the original structure, an ornamental façade was created in the year 1900 during the wedding of Krishnaraja Wodeyar. Owing to this reason, this particular portion came to be known as the Wedding Pavilion.

In 1915, Jaganmohan Palace was reinvented as an art gallery that continues to serve its purpose as one of the largest art galleries in South India. Most of the paintings featured in this art gallery are those by Raja Ravi Varma and demonstrate scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

Located opposite the City Bus Stand, Jaganmohan Palace hosts a plethora of cultural activities, conferences, and exhibitions that bridge the gap between the historical tales of Mysore’s history and the common people of today’s times.