No signs of majesty now in Mysuru’s iconic Lalitha Mahal Palace

Bengaluru One of Mysuru’s most famous landmarks on the foothills of Chamundi Hills, the iconic Lalit

One of Mysuru’s most famous landmarks on the foothills of Chamundi Hills, the iconic Lalitha Mahal Palace, is now attracting attention for the wrong reasons. Tourists and residents, who complain about the structure being in a poor condition, are urging the government to maintain the 100-year-old heritage hotel.

According to tourists and locals, the exterior of the buildings is damaged and there is little maintenance.

Prasanth Kumar, a resident of Siddhartha Layout, said: “The exterior is in a bad shape. If we notice the pillars of the palace, it clearly shows that the maintenance has been skipped by the authorities. The garden area is also not being maintained”.

The Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel is maintained by the Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), a unit of the Karnataka Tourism Department, which runs resorts across the State.

Tourists also feel that the exterior has not been repaired and maintained well. Rajive Krishnan, a tourist from Kerala, said that he was enthusiastic to see the palace, but after seeing its, condition, felt it was pathetic.

“The authorities charge ₹100 to visit the palace, but a lack of maintenance is evident. Since it is a heritage building, the government has the responsibility to protect the structure, and at least paint the building exterior and interior well,” he added.

The heritage hotel, commissioned by the then Maharaja, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, has 52 rooms which are airy and spacious, and is among the most beautiful heritage properties in Karnataka.