Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion, situated in the lush green campus of Manasagangothri, was built during the regime of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV for Chamaraja Wodeyar's eldest daughter, princess Jayalakshmi Ammanni, in the year 1905. A sum of Rs 7 lakh was spent on building this structure. This mansion reflects Greco-Roman architectural style.
The mansion, which was in a dilapidated state earlier, has been renovated at a cost Rs 1.17 crore. Sprawling over six acres, it has 300 windows, 125 rooms and 287 elegantly carved doors along with some priceless artifacts. The renovated structure has been provided with separate drainage for rainwater and used water.
This mansion was initially acquired by the University of Mysore to establish a postgraduate centre in its campus. However an Archaeological and Folklore Museum was established here. It features a sequence of Corinthian and Ionic columns while the interior has a traditional Indian appearance.
There is also a dance hall with a wooden floor and a viewers' gallery. Its roof is about 40 feet high and is decorated with painted glass. The kalyana mantapa measures 40x40 and has a 12-pillar square, designed like a petal shaped dome.
The northern portion of the mansion has a sculpture of goddess Lakshmi, and in the south, under a domed canopy is goddess Bhuvaneswari. Arched colonnades connect different parts of the building. . The entrance on the northern side has stairs that were once used as an alighting platform for cars and chariots. The mansion also has a 100-year-old lift. This edifice is illuminated only on special occasions.
Antiques galore
At the entrance on the left side is the Archaeological Survey of India museum. At the entrance of this museum stand beautiful sculptures of Ganesha and Natya Saraswathi. The inner quadrangle has paleolithic stone implements, upper paleolithic tools from Salavadagi Village of Bijapur District, Neolithic axe, Indus valley antiquities of 2500 BC, stone statues of 12th century AD, Konark sculptures, Gandharva statue of Badami, etc.
There are also gold coins, a Skanda idol belonging to fourth-century Banavasi, a lion of 15th-century Shimoga district, Bhairava statue of Chamarajanagar, saptamatrikas of Varahi, a veeragallu (hero stone) belonging to 17th century-Mysore, idols of Jain teerthankaras, lime stuccos and burial urn of Rajaghatta, a Buddha Chaitanya hall and Vihara rooms. There is a folklore museum next to the ASI museum.
It houses life-size dolls. Some of the dolls have dresses and head gears of the Doddata, Moodalapaya and Yakshagana forms. Garudi dolls, dolls of a Kodava couple in their traditional attire, Dasara dolls and stringed puppets of Bellary district find a place in the museum. There is also a boat made of a mango tree which was used by landlords and an exclusive gallery housing leather puppets.
The museum has several stone vessels and measures used in times gone by. Agricultural and animal husbandry tools also find a place in the museum. Indigenous board games and folk art paraphernalia including budabudike and chowdike find a place in the museum.
The wedding invite of princess Jayalakshmi Ammanni has been placed alongside letters and books of famous personalities. A gallery has been dedicated to Rashtrakavi Kuvempu.
The museum is open on all days except Monday from 10 am to 1 PM and 3 pm to 5 pm. There is no entrance fee. Cameras are strictly not allowed.