Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery
About Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery
Constructed in 1861 by Maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, this stunning three-story palace is a prime specimen of traditional Hindu architectural design. It famously served as the primary residence of the Mysore Royal Family from 1897 to 1912 after the original wooden Amba Vilas Palace was destroyed by fire.
In 1915, it transitioned into a royal treasury of art, formally renamed the Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery in 1955. The entry facade features a masterpiece wooden door carved over 70 days with intricate illustrations of the Dashavatara (the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu). Inside, the repository houses over 2,500 historical artifacts and paintings spanning the Mysore, Tanjore, Shantiniketan, and Mughal schools of art.
Its crowning glory is an elite gallery of 16 original canvases by Raja Ravi Varma and the globally celebrated watercolor marvel 'Glow of Hope' by S.L. Haldankar, which is curated in a dedicated dark room to emphasize its striking illumination effect. Additionally, the ground-floor pavilion holds immense historical gravitas as the original meeting place for the early Mysore Legislative Council and initial convocations of the University of Mysore.
Jaganmohan Palace Road, Subbarayanakere, Chamrajpura, Mysuru, Karnataka 570024
Generally peaceful on weekdays; moderate to high footfalls on weekends and during the annual Dasara festival season.
How RutMe scores this
Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery is one of Mysuru’s strongest cultural attractions, pairing royal architecture with a major collection of South Indian art and iconic Raja Ravi Varma works. It is best enjoyed at a calm morning pace, with a guide if you want deeper context for the paintings and palace history.
- +Excellent cultural value and strong historical significance
- +Reasonably priced for a major heritage attraction
- +Indoor experience works well in hot or rainy weather
- +Accessible enough for many visitors, with parking and guided visits
- –Not ideal for visitors seeking interactive or high-energy activities
- –Limited family/kid-specific amenities and no food or Wi-Fi on site
- –Can become crowded later in the day with school groups
- –More contextual information would help first-time art visitors
Suggested itinerary
Admire the exterior Dashavatara wooden entrance doors. Walk through the ground floor to explore old hand-colored royal photographs, heavy antique furniture, ceremonial weapons, and the massive canvas depicting the grand Durbar of Maharaja Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar.
Head up to the first-floor gallery space dedicated to legendary Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma. Study 16 of his original Oil-on-Canvas realism classics, including iconic paintings like 'Harishchandra in Distress', 'Lady in Moonlight', and 'Victory of Meghanada'.
Step inside the custom-designed, low-lit viewing room to see S.L. Haldankar’s world-renowned 1945 watercolor masterpiece, 'Glow of Hope' (frequently referred to as the Lady with the Lamp). Observe how the strategic use of back-lighting highlights the delicate texture of her traditional Indian saree.
Conclude your tour on the upper levels by exploring a whimsical assortment of global musical instruments (such as the Mayuri Veena), complex longcase clocks, and rare miniature carvings before exiting via the front courtyard garden.
Opening hours
| Monday | 09:00:00 – 18:00:00 | |
| Tuesday | 09:00:00 – 18:00:00 | |
| Wednesday | 09:00:00 – 18:00:00 | |
| Thursday · Today | 09:00:00 – 18:00:00 | |
| Friday | 09:00:00 – 18:00:00 | |
| Saturday | 09:00:00 – 18:00:00 | |
| Sunday | 09:00:00 – 18:00:00 |
