Lalitha Mahal Palace

Lalitha Mahal Palace is a heritage palace hotel located at the foothills of Chamundi Hills in Mysuru, Karnataka. Built in 1921 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV to host the Viceroy of India, it was designed by architect E.W. Fritchley in Italian Renaissance style. The white double-storey palace features twin Ionic columns, a central dome, stained glass and gardens. Now operated as a heritage hotel by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, it is notable for its architecture and hill views.

Visitors can expect a white Italian Renaissance-style palace set on elevated grounds at the foot of Chamundi Hills with manicured lawns and gardens. The exterior shows twin Ionic columns, a projecting porch and a central dome. Inside, public areas include a grand hallway, ballroom, stained-glass dome, vintage photographs and royal furnishings. As a functioning heritage hotel, guests can explore the gardens, lobby and restaurant areas, enjoy views of Chamundi Hills and Mysuru city, and experience heritage accommodation and dining.

Commissioned in 1921 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV of Mysore and designed by architect E.W. Fritchley, Lalitha Mahal Palace was built at a cost of Rs. 13 lakhs to host the Viceroy of India. Built in the style of an Italian palazzo with Renaissance influences, it served as a guest residence for the Viceroy and other dignitaries of the Mysore Kingdom and later as a state guest house before being converted into a heritage hotel.

The palace represents the Wadiyar dynasty's patronage of European architectural styles blended with Mysore's royal heritage. As one of Mysuru's prominent heritage palaces, it reflects the city's history as a princely capital and continues as a cultural landmark showcasing royal hospitality, period interiors and landscaped gardens.