Mysore is a city that has a very rich history.
Evidence of this rich historical past is found all over the city in the
form of palaces, temples and are carefully preserved in different
museums of Mysore city. There are two museums in Mysore that are
storehouses of its rich cultural past and have art and artifacts of the
Royal family. The Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery or Chamatrajendra Art
Gallery or the Jaganmohan Art Gallery that is housed in the Jaganmohan
Palace is a treasure house of art, artifacts, paintings including
portraits, murals and priceless pieces that are found no where else in
the world.
The ground floor has painting depicting the genealogy of the Kings of
Mysore. The first floor has paintings of famous painters from India and
the world over. The second floor houses various musical instruments. The
third floor has paintings of the Dasara procession in all its grandeur.
A visit to this museum gives you an ideas of the great patronage
extended to arts by the Mysore Kings. The Private Residential Museum
gives you a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Kings of Mysore. On
display are some of the rooms and personal items of the Kings of Mysore.
Some of the objects from the personal collection of the Kings have been
thrown open to the public. Visiting the museum gives you an idea of the
grand life lead by the royalty and the exquisite craftsmanship of the
people who built the various rooms and objects on display.
The Regional Museum of Natural History is a modern museum in Mysore
that gives the visitor information on the natural environment and ways
to conserve and protect it. The Railway museum in Mysore was the first
to be established in India and displays the history of the development
of the railways in Mysore and displays the Royal carriages as well. The
Folklore Museum or the Folk Art Museum houses objects and artifacts of
folklore from all over Karnataka and the tools used by different folk
artists.
