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The city of Mysore is situated in the south eastern Indian city of Karnataka. Located 130 kilometers from the state capital Bangalore, it is the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyars, Royal Family of Mysore. Known as the ‘City of Palaces', the history of Mysore is clearly reflected in the rich architecture of the city. Few of the historical attractions in Mysore are the Amba Vilas, Rajendra Vilas also known as the summer palace and Jayalakshmi Vilas. The palaces in Mysore exhibit a mixture of Dravidian and Oriental style of architecture. The city derives its name from Hindu Mythology. The word Mysore means the town of demon king Mahishahsur. The city of Mysore was ruled by Mahishahsura or the buffalo headed king during the Tenth Century. But due to his growing atrocities, the Hindu Goddess Chamundeshwari vanquished the demon king atop the Chamundi Hills at the outskirts of the city. Since then the Royal family of Mysore has worshipped the deity at the temple atop the Hill. The city has been mentioned in the famous Hindu epic - Mahabharata. The earliest written record is in the form of stone carvings which can be found in the various towns nestled around the city. The city has also been referred in historical documents as the center of contest during the rule of Tipu Sultan, one of the most famous Indian historical characters. Another celebrated ruler of Mysore is Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar who expanded the kingdom. During his 31 year reign, the city of Mysore flourished like never before. It was later during the early 1900s that Mysore emerged as a modern urban city and earned the encomium 'Ramarajya'. Since then Mysore remained a part of the Wodeyar Kingdom. During the British rule, the administrative center was shifted from Mysore to Bangalore. In 1881 Mysore regained its status as the state capital. But with India's independence in 1947, the princely states of Karnataka were fused with the Indian Union. It was during this time that the city of Mysore lost its identity and the state became a part of the Indian Dominion. With the merger the reign of the Wodeyars, the Royal family of Mysore came to an end and the city state became a Kannada-speaking state. In 1973 the name of was altered to Karnataka. Recently, the city has witnessed a distinct industrial growth which also led to a new network of railway lines that improved connectivity in the region. Since then the city of Mysore has developed into a major historical and cultural hub of Karnataka. Though it is not as commercially powerful as Bangalore, Mysore has seen a recent growth in recent times.
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