Mysuru, June 2(UNI) The renovated Jaganmohan Palace housing the famous Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery will be thrown open to the public in July, giving visitors a peek into the life of the royals of yore.
Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, informed UNI that about 90% of the work in the palace, built in the 1860s, has been completed.
Antique wooden furniture, cushions, and upholstery used by the royal family, are some of the about 100-odd artefacts that showcase the craftsmanship of the times. Renovation has brought into focus the aesthetics of the heritage structure.
Repeated paint work had damaged it and the renovation work involved not only peeling away multiple layers of paint from the walls, but also cleaning the intricately carved wooden doors and frames. The walls have been refurbished with lime and mortar, the original construction material. A good varnish has worked wonders on the wooden beams and pillars. A fire alarm system and CCTV cameras have also been installed.
The Jaganmohan Palace had housed the royal family after the wooden palace was destroyed in a fire, and when the Amba Vilas Palace was being built. It was here where the first representative Assembly of Mysore was convened in 1881 by the then Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar X.
The renovation work had been taken up by heritage experts G.N. Heritage Matters under the auspices of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Foundation.
Pramoda Devi had also informed that said that the Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Foundation (SNWF) have plans to submit a proposal to the State government for restoration work to be taken up in the Amba Vilas Palace premises.
the Foundation was ready to take up the conservation work necessary in parts of the palace including Karikal Thotti Gate and Kalyana Mantapa.
A portion of funds from the gate collection for palace entry can be used for the restoration work.
She said the expertise of the team of architects from GN Heritage Matters comprising experts in heritage conservation, who had renovated the Jaganmohan Palace, can be engaged in the conservation of not only Mysuru palace, but also Lansdowne Building and Devaraja Market.
She had also criticised the decision taken by the authorities to rebuild the two heritage structures – Lansdowne Building and Devaraja Market – Ms. Wadiyar said the authorities should consider using the heritage conservationists expertise to restore the buildings to their past glory instead of rebuilding them.
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