185. Mysore Palace

Gol Gumbaz, situated in Bijapur is an astounding engineering feat. Its enormous "Whispering" dome is second in size only to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The dome is the second largest in the world, 124 feet in diameter.The Mysore Palace, built is Indo-Saracenic style with domes turrets, arches and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world.

The tastefully decorated and inticrately carved doors open into luxuriously decorated rooms. The walls of the palace are painted with pictures of the Dassera processions and these paintings are painted in such a manner that from any angle you can see the procession coming towards you.

The royal throne of the Wodeyars is displayed during the Dassera festival. The palace has now been converted into a museum, which treasures the souvenirs, paintings, jewellery, royal costumes and other items, which were once possessed by the Wodeyars. It is said that the palace displays the largest collection of gold items, quantity wise.

The Durbar hall of the palace has an ornate ceiling and many sculpture pillars which are said to have been painted with gold. The palace was originally built of wood, which got burnt down in 1897 AD and was rebuilt in 1912 AD. The Palace Lit Up. This profusely decorated and gilded palace is illuminated every Sundays and on holidays.