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Known as the City of Palaces, Mysore houses a large number of palaces which reflect the past grandeur of the city. A former kingdom of the Wodeyars, most of the palaces in the city have been built by them. A must while sightseeing in Mysore is the Jayalakshmi Vilas which is situated in the lush green landscape of the University of Mysore. Built in 1905, the Jayalakshmi Vilas was the mansion of the eldest daughter of Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar. The total building cost of the mansion was 7 lakh rupees. An official property of the University of Mysore, the Jayalakshmi Vilas is situated on the top of Kukkarahalli Kere, a small hillock in the outskirts of Mysore city. Formerly known as the ‘First Rajkumari Mansion', the Palace includes a three-wing structure that features a sequence of Corinthian and ionic columns. The first floor of the building consists of regal pediments on the roof top. The interior of the Jayalakshmi Palace in Mysore is extensively ornamented in Indian decor. The north and south portion of the Jaganmohana Palace is connected by an over-bridge. The other important feature of the mansion is the dancing hall which is called the Kalyana Mantap. The 40 feet high roof of the Jayalakshmi Palace and is adorned with painted glasses. The dance hall consists of 12-pillar square and an eight-petal shaped dome. The palace also consists of a gold -plated tower known as the 'Kalasha". The mansion also boasts of a sculpture of Goddess Lakshmi in the northern part of the palace while the southern side has a sculpture of Goddess Bhuvaneswari. The mansion interiors have rich mouldings in wood and are the best examples of ancient design of India. The Jayalakshmi Palace also features residential rooms that are well decorated. The mansion is just 3 kilometers from the City Bus Stand in Mysore and is easily accessible by the tourists.
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