Mysore Palace or the Maharajah's Palace located in the heart of the city at Mirza Road is the most attractive monument in Mysore. Designed in Indo-Saracenic style by the well-known British architect , Henry Irwin, it is an eclectic synthesis of architectural styles. The palace is one of India's most dramatic national monuments. Today it is a museum housing treasures from across the world reflecting the rich and colorful history of the erstwhile princely state of Mysore. It is also known as Amba Vilas.
The three storeyed building, 245 feet in length and 156 in breadth has a series of square towers with arches covered by domes. There is wide open space in the front and the open courtyard in the centre is covered by a gold-plated dome about 145 feet from the ground.
The entry to the palace is through the 'Gombe Thotti' or the Doll's Pavilion , a gallery of Indian and European sculpture and ceremonial objects. To the south, the magnificent 'Kalyana Mantapa' or the marriage pavilion has a centre octagonal gabled ceiling, covered by multi coloured stained glass with peacock motifs arranged in geometrical patterns and beautiful chandeliers . Multi-coloured stained glass with peacock motif, beautiful chandeliers from Czechoslovakia, tall iron pillars wrought at Scotland; glittering glazed tiles imported from London, oil-paintings are found in this Palace. Royal Wedding Hall and the Armoury are also some of the other attractions of the Palace.

On the second floor, the 'Diwan-I-am' Durbar Hall 155 ft. long and 42 ft. broad, has an ornate ceiling, a shining floor and many sculpture pillars which are said to have been painted with gold. On the same floor to the south is the smaller 'Amba Vilas' or ‘ Diwan-e-khas' (hall for private audience) that has beautifully carved doors at the entrance with inlay work. There are twelve temples surrounding the palace within the compound like the Someshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lakshmiramana Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
The palace now under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the Karnataka Government, has been converted into a museum               A silhouette of the Mysore Palace illuminated with ninety seven thousand bulbs shimmering against an inky black night is one of the most enduring images of the city which one can find on Sunday nights and Dussera.

The Mysore Palace is open all days of the week, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The palace is illuminated on Sundays, national holidays and state festivals from 7:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. The palace is illuminated between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. only during the Dussera festival. You can avail a certified guide at nominal fee to know the highlights of the Palace.

Access to Mysore Palace: :
AIR - the nearest airport is Bangalore which is connected to all major cities.

Train - Bangalore railway station is well connected to Delhi , Mumbai , Calcutta , Thiruvananthapuram , Kochi , Hyderabad , Madras and Mangalore by Express trains.

Bus - Bangalore is well-connected to many south Indian cities Mysore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai etc