Palace garden to get Dasara makeover

MYSORE: With an eye on the fast approaching world famous Dasara festivities, Mysore Palace, which recently received Rs 25 crore special grants from the state government, has started the renovation works.
The Palace Board, the custodian of the property, is redesigning its sprawling gardens giving shape to a concept developed during the reign of Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.The board found the designs, which, according to the deputy director T S Subramanya, are the basis for the Rs 27-lakh project.
“The garden in front of the palace was the concept of the Maharaja and we have designed it factoring in the present-day needs. The designs were developed when Harsh Gupta was the executive officer of the board. Considering the importance of the structure, we are developing the gardens and giving heritage touch to the site,” he told TOI.
The state government has awarded Rs 25 crore for the development of the palace given that it has completed 100 years since it is declared completed in 1912.
N J Venugopal, the assistant horticulture officer, attached to the Palace Board, said the three-acre garden is getting a modern look with new lawn spread out with Mexican grass, ornamental and flower plants.
The authorities are investing Rs 22 lakh for plants and development of the lawn. They are building two lilly ponds of 9 sq ft each at the far end near the Jayamarthanda gate. There will be 50 different palm plants like acalapa, nooda, rosia, twisted, iranthimum, igzora and goldiana.
Separate beds for seasonal flowers will add seasonal beauty to the site with flowers like antaranium, flaxo, chrysanthemum, salvia, marigold, alyssum, petunia and zenia. In the middle of the garden, new Italian-made sprinkler sets are fixed. They can sprinkle water in a radius of 100 metres.
The board is also lying concrete at Bidadi gate where Dasara procession will be inaugurated. It is also building five sheds to house Dasara elephants which stay in the city for over two months. The sheds will match the heritage look of the structure, officials said.