Pramoda Devi Wadiyar takes scribes around renovated Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery; pitches for restoration of other heritage structures.

Mysore: The official opening of the fully renovated Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery is slated in the month of July 2019. However, the soft launch of the opening will be done on June 2 during the launch of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Foundation by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev at Jaganmohan Palace auditorium at 6 pm, said Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the Mysore Royal family.

She was addressing a press conference at the Art Gallery here this morning, after taking the visiting press persons around the Gallery and said that 90 percent of the restoration work of the Art Gallery has been completed.

This is a building which was built in 1861 and hence, the restoration of the nearly 160-year-old structure was a challenge which the dedicated team of heritage experts and workers have achieved, she said.

There were four to five or even six layers of paint on the walls and the pillars which had to be peeled off. Only three colours including gold, white and ash colour has been used for the whole building. The wooden beams and pillars which were also painted have now been varnished and they are all gleaming, she said and added that the whole idea was to restore it to its originality. The Gallery is going hi-tech with the installation of CCTV cameras, fire alarm system and audio guides to take the visitors around, she said.

Entry tickets

The price of the entry tickets is likely to be enhanced from Rs.75 to Rs. 125 or Rs.150. After having visited various art galleries, the decision is being taken to hike it without really discouraging the visitors from entering the Gallery. When compared to other galleries, people would happily pay to see some of the finest collections of paintings and artefacts in the world, said Pramoda Devi.

When it comes to the students, there will be definitely concession for them, she added.

The nearly 2,000 paintings and artefacts have been neatly categorised and displayed. Though there are more such artefacts in the storeroom they cannot all be displayed due to lack of space, she said.

Bengaluru-based GN Heritage Matters led by Principal Conservation Architect Sarath Chandra is in-charge of the restoration work and they have toiled day and night to bring it back to its past glory, she said.

Devaraj Market, Lansdowne building

The restoration work of the Art Gallery is an exhilarating experience and I strongly feel that even the Devaraja Market and Lansdowne building, the two iconic heritage structures can be restored to its past glory. If the State Government plans to preserve and conserve both these structures which they should do, then our team of experts will be able to restore them, said Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.

The other heritage structures like the Gun House, Summer Palace, Chamundi Vihar Mansion, Rajendra Vilas Palace, Vani Vilas Ursu Boarding School are all in the process of restoration, she said.

Proposal to State Government

Since the GN Heritage Matters consists of a team of leading heritage experts, the Karikallu Thotti inside the Mysore Palace will also be taken up for restoration. The ceiling and flooring of the magnificent Palace also needs repair and restoration.

The SDN Wadiyar Foundation will be ready to take up the restoration work as the sentiments of these buildings can be understood by the people who have been involved in such work. Hence, a proposal will be prepared shortly and sent to the State Government, Pramoda Devi said.

Madhuvana to be open for tourists

Madhuvana, the burial grounds on Nanjangud Road, where the rulers of Wadiyar dynasty and their family members have been buried, will be cleaned and the landscaping done. The samadhis (tomb stones) of Maharajas will be restored so that the tourists and visitors can dwell into the rich history of the Wadiyars, she said.

On the terror threat to Mysore Palace, she said that there is already a Palace Security team in place with CRPF on standby and if the patrolling is done correctly and screening of visitors strictly, then nothing much needs to be done. Moreover, the awe and immense love visitors have for the Palace will deter any terrorist to strike, she added.

Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery Trust Secretary M. Lakshminarayan, SDN Wadiyar Foundation  Secretary Reginald Wesley, Architect Sarath Chandra and others were present at the press meet.