Uneven footpaths, litter, urine stench and a closed subway await facelift
Mysuru: With Naada Habba Mysuru Dasara less than two months away, the surroundings of Mysuru Palace, the epicentre of the celebrations, present a sorry picture to tourists and the public.
Lack of regular maintenance has resulted in uneven footpath slabs, damaged heritage-style railings and poor upkeep along stretches of the Bengaluru-Nilgiri Road and Albert Victor Road.
At Pailwan Mooga Junction, in front of Sahukar Channaiah Kusti Akhada, vehicles from the main road in front of the Varaha Gate, the Palace’s main entrance, often intersect with vehicles coming from the opposite direction.
The situation has led to accidents on occasions, damaging the heritage-style stone railings. The authorities concerned are yet to restore them.
Public urination menace
Public urination, particularly during late-night hours, and littering around the Palace premises are also a common sight, highlighting the lack of adequate facilities to discourage such practices.
Apart from a pay-and-use public toilet near Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Circle, formerly Hardinge Circle, there is no other public toilet in the immediate vicinity for tourists and the general public. The only other facility nearby is at the City Bus Stand.
There are also no adequate dustbins or alternative arrangements for collecting and disposing of waste, much of which is left behind by tourists. This often forces people to dump waste on the footpaths, it is said.
The shortage of public toilets near major tourist spots raises a question: Instead of spending crores of rupees on temporary toilets during Dasara, why not use the same funds to construct permanent public toilets?
Closed subway
The subway connecting the Dasara Exhibition Grounds and the Jayamarthanda Gate of the Palace remains closed, once again due to lack of regular maintenance. Non-functional streetlights and inadequate signboards add to the list of pending issues.
“Mysuru Palace is synonymous with the pride associated with the city. However, it is a matter of regret that the surroundings are not maintained properly. Instead of focusing on cleanliness only during Dasara, the outer periphery of the Palace should be maintained throughout the year, like the former royal residence,” said V. Giridhar, a tourist.
This post was published on August 23, 2026 7:30 pm