Mayo College

Mayo College is not a college but a school that was built in 1875 by the British and hence named after the then viceroy of India, Richard Bourke, who also happened to be an Earl of Mayo. Modelled after the Eton College, it was meant to be Eton of India—an elite boarding school for educating the nobles and royals of Rajputana. Today it is the oldest school of its kind in India and one of the most prestigious ones. The alumni of the Mayo College count amongst the who’s who of India. What’s of interest to the traveller is its lovely building with a marvellous marble façade—a fine example of the ostentatious Indo-Saracenic architecture. A very ornate central tower stands tall as the pride of the building. A series of small domed pavilions line the rooftop. The building has found itself on postage stamps on its centenary. You can not miss the colourful coat of arms of this college, which has all the elements of the Rajputana: the sun and moon to represent the Suryavanshis and Chandravanshis, a Bhil tribal with a bow and arrow, and a warrior with a sword, and a colourful peacock sitting on top. The motto reads ‘Let there be Light’. Mayo College also houses a museum inside its premises with some antique artefacts in its collection. You can only visit Mayo College with prior permission.