KobyQ0272234 at 18:38, 9 March 2026

2026-03-09T18:38:39Z

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{{Short description|Royal residence and luxury hotel in Mysore, India}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Lalitha Mahal
| image = Palais-Mysore.jpg
| caption = Lalitha Mahal, Mysore
| pushpin_map = Karnataka
| coordinates = {{coord|12.298|76.693|region:IN-KA|display=inline,title}}
| location_town = [[Mysore]]
| location_country = India
| architect = [[E.W. Fritchley]]
| client = [[Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV]], Mysore Kingdom
| engineer =
| construction_start_date = 1921
| completion_date = 20th century
| demolished_date =
| cost = {{INR}}1.3 million
| structural_system = Stone masonry and marble
| architectural_style = [[Renaissance architecture]]
| size =
}}

The '''Lalitha Mahal''', now renamed '''Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel''', is a luxury hotel located in a former royal residence, and the second largest palace in the [[South India|southern Indian]] city of [[Mysore]], Karnataka, after the [[Mysore Palace]]. It is located near the [[Chamundi Hills]], east of the city. The palace was built in 1921 by Maharaja [[Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV]] for the exclusive stay of the [[Governor-General of India]].<ref name="mahal">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lalithamahalpalace.in/|title=About Lalitha Mahal|accessdate=2010-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617045521/http://www.lalithamahalpalace.in/|archive-date=17 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Built on a raised ground, the palace was fashioned on the lines of [[St Paul's Cathedral]] in [[London]] and is [[List of Heritage Buildings in Mysore|one of the imposing structures]] in Mysore.<ref name="Cannadine">{{Cite book|last= Cannadine|first= David|title= Ornamentalism: How the British Saw Their Empire|work=Lalitha Mahal|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ornamentalism00davi/page/54 54]–55|accessdate=2010-01-02|url= https://archive.org/details/ornamentalism00davi|url-access= registration|quote= Lalit Mahal.|publisher= Oxford University Press US|year=2002|isbn=0-19-515794-X}}</ref><ref name="Raman">{{Cite book|last=Raman|first=Afried|title=Bangalore – Mysore|work=Mysore Palace|pages=87–88|accessdate=2010-01-02|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BIGvZqG2JG4C&dq=Mysore+770&pg=PA110|publisher=Orient Blackswan|year=1994|isbn=978-0-86311-431-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524130549/http://www.google.co.in/books?id=BIGvZqG2JG4C&pg=PA110&dq=Mysore+770&as_brr=3&sig=67NNbsZctrs2F4gKoFlUphWdkYM#v=onepage&q=Mysore%20770&f=false|archive-date=24 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="samachar">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mysoresamachar.com/palacesinmysore.htm|title=Palaces of Mysore: Lalitha Mahal Palace|accessdate=2010-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510081741/http://www.mysoresamachar.com/palacesinmysore.htm|archive-date=10 May 2018|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="Bruyn">{{Cite book|last=Bruyn|first= Pippa de |author2=Niloufer Venkatraman |author3=Keith Bain |title= Frommer's India|work=Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel|pages=[https://archive.org/details/frommersindia0000debr/page/266 266]–267|accessdate=2010-01-02|url= https://archive.org/details/frommersindia0000debr|url-access=registration|quote=Size of Lalit Mahal Palace.|publisher= John Wiley and Sons|year=2006|isbn=0-7645-9899-6}}</ref>

The palace is painted pure white. It was converted into a heritage hotel in 1974.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Lalitha Mahal|url=http://www.lalithamahalpalace.in/|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617045521/http://www.lalithamahalpalace.in/|archive-date=17 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was run as a part of the [[Ashok Group]] of the [[India Tourism Development Corporation]] (ITDC) under the [[Government of India]] until 2018 when it was transferred to a unit of the [[Government of Karnataka]].<ref name="lalitha 1">{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Laiqh a |title=Jungle Lodges and Resorts set to take over Lalitha Mahal Palace |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/jungle-lodges-and-resorts-set-to-take-over-lalitha-mahal-palace/article22810394.ece |accessdate=13 June 2018 |work=The Hindu |date=21 February 2018 |language=en-IN}}</ref> However, a veneer of the original royal ambience of the palace is maintained.<ref name="mahal" /><ref name="Raman" /><ref name="Ashok">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theashokgroup.com/hotels/lalithamahal.html|title=Lalitha Mahal Palace (A Heritage Ashok)|accessdate=2010-01-02|publisher=Ashok Group Hotels|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513225748/http://theashokgroup.com/hotels/lalithamahal.html|archive-date=13 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
The Lalitha Mahal palace dates to the early 20th century, built during the [[Kingdom of Mysore]] and [[British Raj|British India]]. The palace was constructed with a reasonable amount of money out of the kingdom's annual income of two million pounds at that time.<ref name=mahal/><ref name= Cannadine/> The palace was built in 1921 initially for the exclusive stay of the [[Viceroy of India|Governor-General of India]] and subsequently used as a guest house for European guests of the Maharaja.<ref name= Cannadine/><ref name=Raman/>

==Architecture==
[[File:Lalitha mahal mysore ml wiki.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Lalitha Mahal at Mysore – now a five-star hotel – is a host to visiting dignitaries and VIPs]]
Set amidst sprawling landscaped gardens below the Chamundi hills, the palace was planned by Edwin Wolleston Fritchley, the architect from [[Bombay]] (Mumbai) and <><ref>http://www.inmysore.com/lalitha-mahal-palace constructed</ref> by [[B Munivenkatappa]]. Work started in 1921 and completed in 1930. The palace built in [[Renaissance]] [[architectural style]] is considered an adaptation of the [[St Paul's Cathedral|St. Paul's Cathedral]] in London, particularly the central dome. The architecture of the palace reflects English [[manor house]]s and Italian [[palazzo]]s.<ref>https://mysore.ind.in/lalitha-mahal-palace|title=Lalitha Mahal Palace - Mysore</ref> It is a two storied structure.<ref name=lalith>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mysore.org.uk/royal-buildings/lalith-mahal-palace.html|title=Lalitha Mahal Palace Mysore|accessdate=2010-01-02}}</ref> The supporting structure of the palace is of Ionic double column. At the ground level, there is a projecting porch. Spherical domes with the dominating central dome sets the front elevation of the palace. Decorative stained glass has been extensively used both in the exterior facades and in interiors doors, windows and ceilings.<ref name=Raman/><ref name=tour>{{Cite web|url=http://mysoretourism.org/Lalith%20Mahal.htm|title=Lalith Manhal|accessdate=2010-01-02}}</ref>

The palace has a viceroy room, a banquet hall, a dancing floor and an Italian marble staircase (has an arresting curve) and also embellished with small ornamentations, which are said to be replicas from various palaces in [[United Kingdom|Britain]]. The full length portraits of the Wodeyar Kings, Italian marble floors and [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[crystal]] [[chandeliers]], cut glass lamps, heavy ornate furniture, mosaic tiles and a couple of exquisite [[Persian carpet]]s gives the palace its regal ambience. With conversion of the palace into a heritage hotel, interiors have been modified to provide for modern conveniences but most of the earlier sections of the palace such as the dancing and banquet halls have been retained in their original elegance but adopted as dining halls and conference halls for holding meetings and conventions; these have polished wooden flooring and three stain glassed domes in the ceiling. The ball room in particular, which has been converted into the Dining Hall of the hotel, is a [[baroque]] hall with immensely high ceiling with domed skylights made of Belgian glass. A swimming pool is now an additional provision.<ref name=Raman/><ref name=samachar/><ref name=Bruyn/> The elevator, carpeting and the Ottoman, upholstered with tapestry are treasured items in the palace.<ref name=Bindloss>{{Cite book|last=Bindloss|first=Joe|author2=Sarina Singh |title=India|work=Lalith Mahal|page=[https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari/page/900 900]|accessdate=2010-01-02|url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari|url-access=registration|quote=Lalith Mahal.|publisher= Lonely Planet|year=2007|isbn=978-1-74104-308-2}}</ref>

[[File:Lalitha Mahal Palace , Mysore - The Ball Room converted to a restaurant in the Palace 07.jpg|thumb|320x320px|Lalitha Mahal - Palace to stay for the VIP as well ordinary citizens]]

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" heights="120" perrow="5">
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace , Mysore - The Entrance Reception Area.jpg|The Reception Hall of the Palace
File:Dining Hall of Lalitha Mahal.jpg|The Grand Ballroom which is now the Dining Hall of Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore.jpg|The main stairway made of [[Italy|Italian]] marble.
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore1.jpg|The Ballroom - Three Domed skylights made of [[Belgium|Belgian]] glass
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore2.jpg|Lalitha Mahal Palace
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore3.jpg|Lalitha Mahal Palace
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore6.jpg|Lalitha Mahal Palace
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore7.jpg|Lalitha Mahal
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore8.jpg|The Ottoman or Buggy
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace hotel.jpg|Lalitha Mahal Hotel
File:Mysore India.jpg|Garden from the terrace of the Lalitha Mahal Palace
File:Mysore si0878.jpg|Lalitha Mahal Hotel
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace , Mysore - Main Hall Staircase.jpg|The Primary Stairway of the Palace and Porch
File:Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel.jpg|Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel
File:Interior of the Lalitha Mahal hotel in Mysore.jpg|interior
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of Heritage Buildings in Mysore]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Commons category|Lalitha Mahal}}
{{Mysore topics}}

[[Category:Palaces in Mysore]]
[[Category:Hotels in Mysore]]
[[Category:1921 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1921]]
[[Category:Hotels established in 1974]]
[[Category:Heritage hotels in India]]
[[Category:Royal residences in India]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]

Lalitha Mahal - Revision history

KobyQ0272234 at 18:38, 9 March 2026