Lalitha Mahal Palace, Mysore, Karnataka India

The Lalitha Mahal Palace is the second largest palace in Mysore. It is located near the Chamundi Hills. Lalitha Mahal Palace was built by the Maharaja Krishna Raja Wodeyar Bahaddur IV to host his most important guest, the Viceroy of India. Designed by E.W.Fritchley, a much patronised Mumbai-based architect of those days and constructed by B. Munivenkatappa, the building was built in 1931 at a cost of Rs.13.00 lakhs. Built on a raising ground, the palace was fashioned on the lines of the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and is one of the imposing structures of the Mysore city.The palace is pure white in color and also has a sprawling terrace and landscaped gardens. The palace has exquisitely designed viceroy room, a banquet hall, a dancing floor and an Italian marble staircase (has an arresting curve) and also embellished with small ornamentation's, which are said to be replicas from various palaces in Britain.
The Lalitha Mahal palace was converted into a heritage hotel in 1974. The hotel has maintained the Palace well and its splendor is intact to this day. Now a popular venue for local film shoots and other social gatherings, a visit to the palace may help you understand the mystique of royal Mysore.