Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace to get Rs 6-cr facelift

Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace, which houses one of the oldest folklore museums in the country, will soon get a facelift. The University of Mysore (UoM) has decided to restore the 113-year-old heritage structure.

The Palace, which was constructed in 1905 during the reign of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar for princess Jayalakshmi Ammani, is in a dilapidated state and is badly in need of restoration. The Palace, which is located on the Manasagangothri campus of the university, was handed over to the varsity during the tenure of poet Kuvempu as vice-chancellor in 1959 to establish a postgraduate centre.

The Palace, which is spread over six acres, has three wings and one of them was restored in 2002 by Infosys Foundation at a cost of Rs 1.17 crore. The Palace is constructed using lime mortar, wood and iron.

According to sources, the building has been leaking during rainy season in the last five years and the seepage was heavy this time as the city received more than normal rainfall. Restoration work is the need of the hour to preserve the monument.

UoM executive engineer Kishore Chandra told DH that the varsity had approved the restoration works and had sanctioned Rs six crore for the works.

“The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has prepared a detailed project report and the tender process is underway. As the Assembly election model code of conduct was in place, the tender process was delayed. The works should be taken up by professionals as the palace is a heritage structure,” he said. The work on the walls, roof and floor will be taken up. The original style and design of the structure will be retained . No artefact or precious item will be damaged in any way, he said.