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Lalitha Mahal Palace, Mysore
Lalitha Mahal is Mysore's second-largest palace: a white Renaissance-style building below Chamundi Hill, raised for the Viceroy of India and run as a heritage hotel since 1974. It is a working hotel, not a museum: Karnataka Tourism says visitors who are not staying pay an entry fee, but does not give the amount. A simple way in without a room is to order tea or a meal, which brings the marble staircase, the stained glass and the old ballroom along with it.
White and gleaming on the slope below Chamundi Hill, Mysore's second-largest palace went up from 1921 so that Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV would have somewhere fitting to put the Viceroy; the central dome was modelled on St Paul's Cathedral in London. Since 1974 it has run as a state heritage hotel, and that is the useful part: no room is needed to get in. Order tea or a meal and the Italian-marble staircase, the Belgian glass and the ballroom turned dining hall come with it. From the lawns the building stands against the hill in the classic view of the place.
Afternoon tea under a dome copied from St Paul's, with no room booking required
History: a palace for the Viceroy
Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV of Mysore had the palace built for the exclusive use of the Viceroy (Governor-General) of India; later it served as a guest house for the Maharaja's European guests. Work began in 1921 and, by most accounts, finished in 1930; the hotel's own site gives 1931.
The architect was E. W. Fritchley of Bombay. He set the building on raised ground and modelled it, above all its central dome, on St Paul's Cathedral in London, with something of the English manor house and the Italian palazzo about the rest. The palace was turned into a hotel in 1974 and run by the central government's India Tourism Development Corporation until 2018, when it passed to a unit of the Government of Karnataka.
What to see
- The facade. Twin Ionic columns, a projecting porch and spherical domes crowned by the big central one, all painted pure white. The classic view is from the lawns, with the palace standing against the slope of Chamundi Hill.
- The staircase. Italian marble with a sweeping curve, the most photographed thing inside.
- The old ballroom, now the dining hall: a very high ceiling with domed skylights of Belgian glass and polished wooden floors. Eating here is the simplest way to see it.
- The details. Stained glass in doors, windows and ceilings, Belgian crystal chandeliers, full-length portraits of the Wadiyar kings and heavy period furniture.
The hotel has 54 rooms and suites, including Viceroy and Vicerine suites, and rents out its spaces for film and advertising shoots.
Visiting without a room
Lalitha Mahal is a hotel, not a museum, and publishes no visiting hours. Karnataka Tourism states that non-staying visitors pay an entry fee and mentions guided palace tours, but gives no prices or times. The other way to see the interiors is to order tea or a meal in the restaurant. If you are coming specially, call the hotel first (0821 247 0444) to check the current fee and rules.
Afternoon is a good time: tea in the old ballroom, then the lawns as the light goes soft on the white facade.
👣 How to get there
The palace stands on a low ridge in the Chamundi foothills, east of the city centre.
- From Mysore Palace
About 5 km, according to Karnataka Tourism; an auto or cab is the easy way.
- From the railway station
8 km from Mysore railway station, according to the hotel.
- From the airport
15 km from Mysore airport.
❓ FAQ
What is the entry fee for Lalitha Mahal Palace?
Karnataka Tourism says visitors who are not staying pay an entry fee, but the amount is not published. You can also see the interiors by ordering tea or a meal; call the hotel to check the current fee.
What is the history of the Lalitha Mahal?
Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV built it from 1921 for the Viceroy of India; it became a heritage hotel in 1974.
Which building inspired Lalitha Mahal?
St Paul's Cathedral in London, especially for the central dome.
Is Lalitha Mahal used for film shoots?
Yes. The hotel rents out areas of the palace for film and advertising shoots.
How far is Lalitha Mahal from Mysore Palace?
About 5 km, on the slope below Chamundi Hill.