Today's Indian Palace: Mysore

The palace at Mysore was built in 1897 to 1912 for he Wodeyar rulers. It is one of the most flamboyant masterpieces of the Indo-Saracenic style; the architect was Henry Irwin. The palace has a cast iron frame and stained glass windows, both innovations in India.

Hard to think that anyone could run out of space in such a building, but Krishnaraja IV felt so cramped that he added a new wing in 1932.

For special occasions the complex is illuminated using 50,000 light bulbs.

The Amba Vilasa, or hall of private audience, is particular famous; it certainly mixes Asian and European styles with wild abandon.

This is the Darbar Hall, for public audiences, uses a more traditional south Indian style.