Page 525 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

K ARNA T AK A  523

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
Ramvilas Rd.
Tel (0821) 242 2620.
Open 10am–5:30pm daily.
& 8 0 ^
_ Royal Dasara (Sep/Oct).

The magnificent Amba Vilas Palace, Mysuru
Golden Throne
Originally made of fig-wood overlaid with
ivory, this jewelled throne was later plated
with gold and silver. It is now brought out
only during the Dasara celebrations.
Seating gallery for
viewing the annual
Mysore Royal Dasara
procession (see p521).

stands beneath a pavilion. The Mysuru, is Lalitha Mahal Palace, Krishnaraja Wodeyar. The numerous
Sayyaji Rao Road that leads out built in 1930. Formerly a private fountains are illuminated every
from this circle is the principal royal guest house, it is now a evening with beautiful multi-
shopping centre of the town. hotel. About halfway up the coloured lights.
A short distance away is the hill is the Nandi monolith, dating
Government House, the seat of to 1659. Carved out of a single
the British Residents from 1805. boulder, it is 7.5 m (25 ft) long
Nearby, the Cathedral of St and 5 m (16 ft) high. The richly
Philomena, with a stained-glass decorated bull is depicted
interior, is a Neo-Gothic structure crouching. The Chamundeshvari
that was completed in 1959. Temple, at the summit of the
In the western part of the city hill, was built in the 17th century
is the Neo-Classical Manasa by the Wodeyars and was
Gangotri, the campus of Mysore later refurbished. It houses a
University. The Oriental Research beautifully decorated idol of
Institute here houses a collection Chamundeshvari, the family
of Sanskrit manuscripts, while the deity of the Wodeyar kings.
Folklore Museum has one of the
most important ethnographic Environs
collections of South Indian toys, The picturesque Brindavan
puppets and household objects, Gardens are 16 km (10 miles) to
as well as two wooden chariots. the north of the city. This popular
On the way to Chamundi Hill, picnic spot was laid out below Striking façade of the Cathedral of
8 km (5 miles) southeast of the Krishnaraja sagar Dam by St Philomena

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