Mysore Palace Visitor Protocol & Illumination Guide
The complete insider blueprint to exploring Amba Vilas Palace: 6-chamber architectural atlas, Sunday 97,000-bulb illumination schedule, entry gate logistics, Sound & Light show timings, and visitor fee calculator.
Daylight Granite vs. 97,000-Bulb Golden Illumination
Drag the interactive divider handle to compare the Henry Irwin daylight Indo-Saracenic facade with the Sunday evening illumination.
The 6-Chamber Architectural Master Tour
Step inside the royal halls of Amba Vilas Palace, from the Belgian stained glass domes to the Golden Howdah.
Gombe Thotti gallery housing royal dolls, 84kg wooden Golden Howdah model, and brass ceremonial cannons.
Gombe Thotti (Dolls Pavilion)
The grand entrance gallery displays traditional 19th-century royal wooden dolls, European porcelain figurines, a ceremonial model of the Maharaja’s brass carriage, and surviving artifacts salvaged from the tragic 1897 wooden palace fire.
Architectural Highlights:
- Intricately carved rosewood doorways inlaid with pure ivory motifs.
- Ceremonial wooden elephant howdah decorated with 84 kg of 24k gold leaf.
- German and Scottish imported cast-iron pillars supporting the high ceiling.
Palace Entry Gates & Access Map
Navigate the correct entrance to avoid long detours around the 72-acre fortified palace complex.
Main Tourist Entry & Ticket Counter
Located on Purandara Road facing the exhibition grounds. The only public entrance featuring automated turnstiles, official ticket booths, free shoe deposit counters, audio guide rentals, and senior citizen battery golf-carts.
VIP & Evening Show Entrance
Located on Ashoka Road facing Town Hall and Chamaraja Circle. Dedicated entrance for the evening Sound & Light show, tourist coaches, VIP motorcades, and Sunday illumination lawn access.
Dasara Jumboo Savari Portal
The monumental multi-arched gateway facing the Dasara Exhibition grounds. Used exclusively for state ceremonial occasions and where the Golden Howdah procession exits on Vijayadashami.
Palace Illumination & Sound-and-Light Schedule
Witness 97,000 incandescent lamps illuminate simultaneously while the Karnataka Police Band performs royal marching tunes.
Sunday & Govt Holiday Illumination
The entire facade glows with 97,000 bulbs. Open to the public on the outer palace grounds.
Sound & Light Show (English)
45-minute son et lumiere dramatizing the 600-year history of the Wadiyar rulers.
Sound & Light Show (Kannada)
Narrated in dramatic classical Kannada featuring full palace illumination during the final 15 minutes.
Palace Visit Cost & Experience Calculator
Calculate your complete group ticketing cost including palace entry, audio guides, and evening Sound & Light show passes.
Tickets can be bought on-site at Varaha Gate counters or online on mysorepalace.karnataka.gov.in.
Mysore Palace Visiting FAQs
What days and times does Mysore Palace illuminate with 97,000 bulbs?
Mysore Palace is fully illuminated with 97,000 incandescent lamps every Sunday and on State/National Public Holidays from 07:00 PM to 07:45 PM. During the 10 days of Dasara, the illumination takes place every evening from 07:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Viewing the illumination from the palace outer grounds is completely free.
Which gate should tourists use for entry?
Tourists must enter via Varaha Gate (South Gate) on Purandara Road. It contains the primary ticketing booths, shoe deposit facilities, audio guide counters, and security scanners. Balarama Gate (North Gate) is primarily used for the evening Sound & Light show.
Is photography permitted inside the palace rooms?
No. Still and video photography inside the residential palace building and durbar halls is strictly prohibited by the Palace Board to preserve sensitive paintings and artwork. Photography is permitted in the outer courtyards and palace grounds.
What is the entry ticket price for Mysore Palace?
Entry is ₹100 for Indian adults, ₹50 for children aged 10 to 18 years, and free for children under 10 years. For foreign tourists, entry is ₹100, with an optional multi-language audio guide headset available for ₹200.
Is footwear allowed inside Mysore Palace?
No. Visitors must remove their shoes before entering the main palace building. Free, secure token-based footwear deposit stands are managed by the Palace Board right at the Varaha Gate courtyard entrance.