<p>Two museums — the warship museum in Karwar and the folk museum in Mysore’s Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion — are symbols of the State’s rich culture and heritage. While the warship museum reveals fascinating details of the functioning and achievements of the Navy, the folk museum reveals a forgotten way of life, and throws light on how we once were.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Beautiful, eye-catching beaches, tiny islets that stand out like rare gems and the spell that nature casts on you...We are talking about Karwar in Uttara Kannada district. What adds more sheen to the Ravindranath Tagore beach is a rare warship museum. The presence of Seabird Naval Base, which is one of the most important navy bases in the country, was what led to the establishment of the warship museum.<br /><br />The major attraction of the war museum is the warship, INS Chapal. This weighs nearly 245 tonnes and is 38.6 metres long and 7.6 metres high. It was commissioned by the Indian Navy in 1976 and decommissioned in 2005. It was transferred to the district administration in April, 2006. The present museum was started in November 2006 and was set up at a cost of Rs 1.73 crore.<br /><br />Minor changes have been made to the warship, but it largely remains unaltered. A 50-inch LCD television has also been installed inside the warship. The air-conditioned auditorium has a television that displays video clippings related to the Navy, its operations, and its war-time activities.<br /><br />There is a list of navy rankings, the rest of the staff and the captain, giving one the feeling that the warship is a real, functional one.<br /><br />Engineering students, especially of the mechanical engineering branch, should make it a point to visit the museum. Once you step into the warship, you can enjoy the beauty of nature around and watch the waves splashing the beach. The tickets to the museum are reasonably priced. The revenue is channelised towards the development of the museum.<br /> Another speciality of the museum is the statue of Major Rama Raghoba Rane. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery during the war against Pakistan. The recipient was born in Karwar, and adds to the pride of the beach town’s residents.<br /><br />A plaque that lists the achievements of Rane is in the vicinity of his statue. Apart from the plaque is an inscription which lists out the names of 20 brave men who served the Indian Army. Also, this museum has a simple park, some benches for relaxation, a small fountain, a mini-tower that provides shelter from rain and summer heat, models of missiles, a swing etc, all to ensure that visitors have a good time here.<br /><br /> It won’t be a mistake to call the war museum, which has been set up next to the National Highway 17, an important tourist centre. Close to this warship museum is an aquarium and the district science centre. The district centre is home to creative models relating to the Kaiga power plant.<br /><br />The key tourist centres in and around Karwar are Sadashivgad fort, Kali sangama, Devbagh beach, Kurmagad, Kali island, Kadra reservoir, and the Vajra waterfalls of Kadra. <br />Shivanand S Bhat<br /><br />Mysore is known for its many attractions, from the palace to Chamundi hills, but not very well known is the fact that the City is home to one of South-east Asia’s biggest museums. The museum was, at one point, a palace where princess Jayalakshmi Ammanni lived. The palace, therefore, got its name, Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion. <br /><br />The construction work of the palace started in 1901 and was completed in 1905. Teak wood has been used in the entire museum. The palace has 290 doors and 398 windows. There are 96 wooden pillars. All the ceremonies of the royal family were held here. There is a glass house too, inside the palace. It has been decorated with glass from Belgium. <br />When there were plans to buy 300 acres for the Mysore University, this palace was also bought. <br /><br />Folk museum<br /><br />The royal palace is home to a folk museum which has an old chariot, Yakshagana costumes, a mantapa that holds Navarathri dolls, leather puppets etc. Folk instruments, weapons, cradles, cooking utensils made of wood, all depict the life and times of an earlier, lost era. <br /><br />The folk museum, which was established in the late sixties, was further developed by Lalita Kala Academy Chairman P R Thippeswamy. His pieces of art have been preserved at the museum.<br /><br />This museum is an eye-opener and an important resource centre for students of history. <br /></p>
<p>Two museums — the warship museum in Karwar and the folk museum in Mysore’s Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion — are symbols of the State’s rich culture and heritage. While the warship museum reveals fascinating details of the functioning and achievements of the Navy, the folk museum reveals a forgotten way of life, and throws light on how we once were.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Beautiful, eye-catching beaches, tiny islets that stand out like rare gems and the spell that nature casts on you...We are talking about Karwar in Uttara Kannada district. What adds more sheen to the Ravindranath Tagore beach is a rare warship museum. The presence of Seabird Naval Base, which is one of the most important navy bases in the country, was what led to the establishment of the warship museum.<br /><br />The major attraction of the war museum is the warship, INS Chapal. This weighs nearly 245 tonnes and is 38.6 metres long and 7.6 metres high. It was commissioned by the Indian Navy in 1976 and decommissioned in 2005. It was transferred to the district administration in April, 2006. The present museum was started in November 2006 and was set up at a cost of Rs 1.73 crore.<br /><br />Minor changes have been made to the warship, but it largely remains unaltered. A 50-inch LCD television has also been installed inside the warship. The air-conditioned auditorium has a television that displays video clippings related to the Navy, its operations, and its war-time activities.<br /><br />There is a list of navy rankings, the rest of the staff and the captain, giving one the feeling that the warship is a real, functional one.<br /><br />Engineering students, especially of the mechanical engineering branch, should make it a point to visit the museum. Once you step into the warship, you can enjoy the beauty of nature around and watch the waves splashing the beach. The tickets to the museum are reasonably priced. The revenue is channelised towards the development of the museum.<br /> Another speciality of the museum is the statue of Major Rama Raghoba Rane. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery during the war against Pakistan. The recipient was born in Karwar, and adds to the pride of the beach town’s residents.<br /><br />A plaque that lists the achievements of Rane is in the vicinity of his statue. Apart from the plaque is an inscription which lists out the names of 20 brave men who served the Indian Army. Also, this museum has a simple park, some benches for relaxation, a small fountain, a mini-tower that provides shelter from rain and summer heat, models of missiles, a swing etc, all to ensure that visitors have a good time here.<br /><br /> It won’t be a mistake to call the war museum, which has been set up next to the National Highway 17, an important tourist centre. Close to this warship museum is an aquarium and the district science centre. The district centre is home to creative models relating to the Kaiga power plant.<br /><br />The key tourist centres in and around Karwar are Sadashivgad fort, Kali sangama, Devbagh beach, Kurmagad, Kali island, Kadra reservoir, and the Vajra waterfalls of Kadra. <br />Shivanand S Bhat<br /><br />Mysore is known for its many attractions, from the palace to Chamundi hills, but not very well known is the fact that the City is home to one of South-east Asia’s biggest museums. The museum was, at one point, a palace where princess Jayalakshmi Ammanni lived. The palace, therefore, got its name, Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion. <br /><br />The construction work of the palace started in 1901 and was completed in 1905. Teak wood has been used in the entire museum. The palace has 290 doors and 398 windows. There are 96 wooden pillars. All the ceremonies of the royal family were held here. There is a glass house too, inside the palace. It has been decorated with glass from Belgium. <br />When there were plans to buy 300 acres for the Mysore University, this palace was also bought. <br /><br />Folk museum<br /><br />The royal palace is home to a folk museum which has an old chariot, Yakshagana costumes, a mantapa that holds Navarathri dolls, leather puppets etc. Folk instruments, weapons, cradles, cooking utensils made of wood, all depict the life and times of an earlier, lost era. <br /><br />The folk museum, which was established in the late sixties, was further developed by Lalita Kala Academy Chairman P R Thippeswamy. His pieces of art have been preserved at the museum.<br /><br />This museum is an eye-opener and an important resource centre for students of history. <br /></p>
