By Mohan Kayaka

Mysuru, the cultural capital, now shimmers with a new attraction that blends art, illumination and the city’s timeless charm — the ‘Glow Garden’ — unveiled right within the premises of the Mysuru City Corporation’s (MCC) Main Office on Sayyaji Rao Road.

By day, the Corporation building stands amid manicured greenery; by night, it transforms into a glowing spectacle where lifelike elephants, deer, rabbits and squirrels delight the senses. The vibrant garden is fast becoming a magnet for curious visitors, families and tourists who pause to admire the dazzling blend of flora and illuminated fauna.

Far from being real wildlife, these glowing creatures are carefully crafted models — so convincing that passersby often pause in wonder, half-expecting a squirrel to scurry past or a tiger to pounce. The garden is part of the MCC’s efforts to add fresh appeal to the heritage structure and its surroundings, cementing Mysuru’s status as one of Karnataka’s most tourist-friendly cities.

First in Mangaluru

Following Mangaluru’s lead, Mysuru is now the second city in the State to host such a themed garden. Developed by the Corporation’s Electrical Division at an estimated cost of Rs. 25 lakh, the ‘Glow Garden’ features 15 meticulously illuminated installations.

Visitors are greeted by two elephants flanking the building entrance, while a playful mix of deer (two fawns and an adult), a rabbit, a squirrel, a tiger, three colour-stone birds and three glowing cherry blossom trees create a fairy-tale ambience after dusk at the park in the MCC premises.

The contractor, Lexa Lighting Technologies Pvt. Ltd., was entrusted with designing and executing these radiant displays. All models use energy-efficient LED lighting, sourced from Mangaluru and Pune, ensuring that the installation remains eco-friendly while delivering maximum visual impact.

Illumination from 6 pm to 9 pm

According to A.E. Deepak, Executive Engineer of the Electrical Division, MCC, the Mysuru ‘Glow Garden’ marks the city’s first pilot project in this genre and is inspired by similar attractions in Mangaluru Smart City, Pune and Mumbai. Plans are already underway to replicate the concept in major city circles and parks in the coming months.

The lights come alive daily from 6 pm to 9 pm and will be given special thematic illumination during major occasions like Mysuru Dasara, national holidays and other significant celebrations, making the garden a year-round treat.

Landscaping with natural grass around the animal figures further enhances the illusion of free-roaming wildlife, adding an educational dimension for children who get to see — and learn about — different animals in an engaging setting.

For a city known for its palaces, processions and a deep sense of heritage, the ‘Glow Garden’ is yet another feather in Mysuru’s cap, one that brings smiles to faces, young and old alike.