REGAL SPLENDOUR: Sri Chamaraja Circle near the palace. — PHOTO : M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: Mysore has many classical structures and monuments than one can think of. At the last count, there were 137 monuments and heritage structures in the city. The authorities have constituted a subcommittee to ascertain if there are any notable omissions in the list.

The four-member subcommittee will meet frequently and carry out a survey to update the list of heritage structures. There are at least three buildings that have been left out in the original list but may acquire the heritage tag in due course, thus taking the number of heritage structures in Mysore to 140.

Disclosing this, N.S. Rangaraju of the Department of Studies in Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore, told The Hindu that the Heritage Committee, which met recently, submitted a list of monuments and structures in Mysore that also include natural ecosystems that have been recognised for their historical significance and heritage value. In all, there are 137 monuments and structures that qualify for the heritage tag, but a few structures are missing, he said.

They include Leela Vihar on the Manasagangotri campus which houses the Institute of Development Studies, the Vice-Chancellor's residence and Bidaram Krishnappa Rama Mandira. The subcommittee members include Prof. Rangaraju; Sudhir Vombatkere; M.S. Nagaraja Rao, former Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India; Ravi Gundu Rao, architect; and J.V. Gayatri, who is the member-secretary.

Measures

Prof. Rangaraju said the subcommittee members will ascertain if the heritage structures are under private occupation or in the hands of the Government and suggest measures to help conserve and protect the structures. The Heritage Committee was constituted last year following the Government's decision to recognise and promote Mysore as a heritage city. It constituted the Mysore Area Heritage Task Force to conserve the structures in the Mysore region, including Srirangapatana.

The subcommittee also has plans to revive some vacant areas with historical significance such as Madhuvana, which is the burial grounds of the royal family, Prof. Rangaraju said. A long-term action plan and a mission statement is also on the anvil, he added.

Oldest structure

The oldest structure on record is the Fort Wall dating back to 1780 and is a gateway on the Bangalore-Nilgiri Road. Interestingly, there are at least 29 heritage buildings in the list that date back to the 19th Century or earlier.

The Government House was erected in 1805 and was earlier a residency reserved for European guests. The architecture is credited to Major Wilks and reflects the Doric style. It was here that Sir John Malcolm began to write his well-known History of Persia.

The other notable buildings that were constructed in the 19th Century include Yelwal Residence (1806), Vani Vilas Waterworks (1896), Krishnarajendra Hospital group of buildings (1876), Jaladarshini group of buildings (1894), Vasantha Mahal (1842), Chamundi Guest House (1878), Sheshadri House (1878), Hardwicke Church (1895), Maharani's College (1881), Fire Station (1898), Chamarajendra Urs School (1892), Law Courts (1885) and St. Bartholomew's Church (1830).

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |