Refurbishment work at Mysore Palace begins for Navaratri
Mysuru: With just over 19 days left for the grand inauguration of Dasara-2026, preparations at the Mysore Palace are progressing in full swing, with officials and workers racing against time to complete the works before Oct. 5.
On that day, the Golden Throne will be assembled at the Durbar Hall for the private rituals of the erstwhile Mysore Royal Family.
Ahead of the Navaratri festivities, the Mysore Palace Board has taken up the upkeep of the priceless chandeliers adorning the ceilings of the Public Durbar Hall, Private Durbar Hall and Kalyana Mantapa.
Dusting and washing of the chandeliers are being carried out, including thorough cleaning with soap and water to ensure dazzling illumination.
Scaffolding has been erected to access the high ceilings with their unique floral designs. The work includes cleaning the grand chandeliers as well as the dome and pearl chandeliers in white, red and green hues.
These exquisite chandeliers were imported from Czechoslovakia around 1926, making them nearly a century old and invaluable pieces of heritage.
More than 150 chandeliers of different shapes and sizes are being cleaned. They add to the grandeur of the Palace interiors, with dome-shaped chandeliers complementing the ornate ceilings decorated with intricate paintings and Italian marble flooring.
Old mats are being removed to make way for fresh red carpets in the Durbar Hall. More than 25,000 flower pots featuring various colourful species have been cultivated and arranged across the Palace compound.
The plant topiary structures in the shapes of elephants and the mythical Gandabherunda, which were pruned back in August, have now grown into shape and are ready to welcome visitors.
Painting of the interior compound walls and entry gates is also in full swing, with more than 30 painters deployed to complete the work by Sept. 30.
Palace bulb replacement
Inspection and replacement of fused incandescent bulbs in the Palace’s signature illumination are underway.
An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 bulbs are expected to be replaced so that all one lakh decorative bulbs will shine when the celebrations begin.
A team of skilled workers is engaged in the task, working in shifts and using high-powered cranes to reach elevated sections of the Palace.
Despite the global shift towards LED lighting, the Mysore Palace has retained its traditional 15-volt thread-type incandescent bulbs, known for their distinct golden glow that gives the illumination its unique charm.
Palace officials have instructed that all internal work be completed before Oct. 5, ahead of the assembly of Golden Throne and well before the inauguration of Dasara festivities on Oct. 11.
This post was published on September 22, 2026 7:30 pm