Jaganmohan Palace

Jaganmohan Palace is a palace in Mysore, in the state of Karnataka, India. Its construction was completed in 1861 and was initially used by the Wodeyars, kings of Mysore as their home. It was later converted into an art gallery.cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/archives/apr192005/spectrum1137332005417.asp|work=Online Edition of The Deccan Herald, dated 2005-04-19|title=Of Monumental value|author=Priyanka Haldipur|accessdate=2007-09-20]

History

The Jaganmohan Palace was constructed in the year 1861 by the king, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III as an alternate retreat for the royal family. The Mysore Palace, which was the original home of the royal family was burnt down in a fire and the construction of a new palace in its place was started in the year 1897. Till the new palace was completed in 1912, the Jaganmohan Palace was used by the royals as their home. In 1902, the king Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was installed to the Mysore throne, in a ceremony that took place in a pavilion inside the Jaganmohan Palace. This ceremony was attended by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India. The palace was used for his daily durbar by the king and also the special "Dasara durbar" during the dasara period. In 1915, the palace was converted into an art gallery, which was later renamed in 1955 in the name of Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, as the "Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery" .cite web|url=http://www.mysore.nic.in/tourism_JaganmohanaPalace.htm|work=Online webpage of the Mysore district|title=Jaganmohana Palace|accessdate=2007-09-20] The early convocations of the Mysore University were also held in this palace. The first session of the Legislative Council of the Mysore state was held here in July 1907.cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul62007/state2007070611245.asp|title=Upper House turns 100|work=Online Edition of The Deccan Herald, dated 2007-07-06|accessdate=2007-09-20] The Legislative Council was then called as the "Representative Council" and was presided over by the Diwan. Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar converted the palace into a trust and opened it for public viewing.

Architecture

The palace is built in traditional Hindu style and has three stories. In 1900, an external facade with a hall behind it was added to the palace. This facade has three entrances and the entablature has religious motifs and miniature temples crafted on it.cite web|url=http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/starofmysore/palaces.htm|work=OurKarnataka.com|title=Mysore, City of Palaces|accessdate=2007-09-20] The walls of the interiors are painted with murals. These mural paintings which follow the traditional style of the "Mysore school of painting" depict the Dasara scene and the canvas depicting the sequence of the Jumboo Savari stretches across three walls.cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/11/stories/2004101102700300.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2004-10-11|author=R Krishna Kumar|title=Priceless souvenirs of Mysore Dasara|accessdate=2007-09-20] This mural is the earliest known picture of the Mysore Dasara and has been painted using vegetable dyes. A family tree of the Wodeyars tracing the lineage of the royal family is also painted on a wall. Two wooden displaying Dashavatara, the ten incarnations of the Hindu God, Vishnu is also present in the palace.

Art Gallery

The art gallery contains one of the largest collection of artefacts in South India. Most of these artefacts are paintings, prominent among which are those by Raja Ravi Varma, some of which demonstrate scenes from the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha. The collection of paintings in the gallery exceed 2000 in number and these belong to different Indian styles of painting like Mysore, Mughal and Shantiniketan. 16 paintings of Raja Ravi Varma were donated to the gallery by Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar. Another important painting present here is the "Lady with the lamp" which was painted by the artist Haldenkar and is placed in a dark room where it is the only exhibit. This is to give an illusion that the glow of the lamp is illuminating the face of the woman. Some other painters whose works are exhibited here include Nikolai Roerich, Svetoslav Roerich and Rabindranath Tagore.cite web|url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2221/stories/20051021005211600.htm|work=Online Edition of The Frontline, Volume 22 - Issue 21, Oct. 08 - 21, 2005|author=Ravi Sharma|title=Tourism delights|accessdate=2007-09-20] Another collection of paintings by a British Army Officer named Col. Scot on the wars between Tipu Sultan and the British army are said to be the only visual representation of the wars.

Other exhibits here include weapons of war, musical instruments, sculptures, brassware, antiques coins and currencies.cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/yw/2004/02/14/stories/2004021400630300.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2004-02-14|title=The rare and the regal|author=R Krishna Kumar|accessdate=2007-09-20] Some other unique artefacts exhibited here is a French clock which has a mechanism in which a parade by miniature soldiers is displayed every hour; beating drums mark the seconds and a bugle marks the minute.cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1998/98nov01/sunday/travel.htm|work=Online Edition of The Tribune, 1998-11-01|title=Pomp and show of a royal age recreated|author=Kuldip Dhiman|accessdate=2007-09-20] Paintings made on a grain of rice which can be viewed only through a magnifier are also displayed here.

Restoration

A new hall was built in the year 2003 because there was insufficient space available to exhibit all the paintings.cite web|url=http://thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/03/20/stories/2003032005180300.htm|title= Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery set to get a facelift|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2003-03-20|accessdate=2007-09-20] The original paintings of Raja Ravi Varma which are over 100 years old are being restored by the Regional Conservation Laboratory (RCL). "Syrendri" (which had a hole in the canvas), "Victory of Meganath" and "Malabar Lady" were some of the paintings of Ravi Varma to be restored.cite web|title=Restoration: Half kilo of dust stupefies Ravi Varma’s work|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/Archives/jun32005/state1920200562.asp|work=Online Edition of The Deccan Herald, dated 2005-06-03|accessdate=2007-09-20] Unscientific stretching of the canvas on which the paintings were drawn was one of the major problems noticed including unprotected exposure to dust, heat and light. Even the murals on the walls had been damaged because of water seepage and these were also restored by RCL.

Auditorium

Jaganmohan palace also has an auditorium which is used for traditional dance performancescite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/10/14/stories/2005101403590300.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2005-10-14|title=A music and dance feast|accessdate=2007-09-20] , music festivalscite web|url=http://thehindujobs.com/thehindu/fr/2005/12/23/stories/2005122303590400.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2005-12-23|title= Notes of nostalgia|accessdate=2007-09-20] and other cultural programs mainly during the period of dasara.

Notes