Mysore(Mysooru) is a city that has a very rich history. Evidence of this rich historical past is found all over the city in the form of palaces, temples and are carefully preserved in different museums of Mysore(Mysooru) city. There are two museums in Mysore(Mysooru) that are storehouses of its rich cultural past and have art and artifacts of the Royal family. The Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery or Chamatrajendra Art Gallery or the Jaganmohan Art Gallery that is housed in the Jaganmohan Palace is a treasure house of art, artifacts, paintings including portraits, murals and priceless pieces that are found no where else in the world.

The ground floor has painting depicting the genealogy of the Kings of Mysore(Mysooru). The first floor has paintings of famous painters from India and the world over. The second floor houses various musical instruments. The third floor has paintings of the Dasara procession in all its grandeur. A visit to this museum gives you an ideas of the great patronage extended to arts by the Mysore(Mysooru) Kings. The Private Residential Museum gives you a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Kings of Mysore(Mysooru). On display are some of the rooms and personal items of the Kings of Mysore(Mysooru). Some of the objects from the personal collection of the Kings have been thrown open to the public. Visiting the museum gives you an idea of the grand life lead by the royalty and the exquisite craftsmanship of the people who built the various rooms and objects on display.

The Regional Museum of Natural History is a modern museum in Mysore(Mysooru) that gives the visitor information on the natural environment and ways to conserve and protect it. The Railway museum in Mysore(Mysooru) was the first to be established in India and displays the history of the development of the railways in Mysore(Mysooru) and displays the Royal carriages as well. The Folklore Museum or the Folk Art Museum houses objects and artifacts of folklore from all over Karnataka and the tools used by different folk artists.


Private Residential Museum Mysore(Mysooru)
Mysore(Mysooru) was the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyars when they ruled over Mysore(Mysooru) State. Mysore(Mysooru) is often called the 'City of Palaces' because of the many palaces and royal buildings that dot the different parts of the city. A museum that gives you an insight into the life and lifestyle of the Wodeyars of Mysore(Mysooru) is the Private Residential Museum. This museum is attached to the Mysore(Mysooru) Palace and is located in the old portion of the Palace. Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar the heir of the Mysore(Mysooru) royal family has set up this museum.

On display are some rooms of the Palace and objects that are part of the personal collection of the Royal family. The living room of Krishanraja Wodeyar is on display. The room has intricately carved doors and the pillars of the room have gold leaf painting, stained glass windowpanes and have marble and tiled floors. From the personal collection of the Wodeyars on display are objects like crystal chandeliers and furniture, silver thrones, utensils and priceless paintings of the old Mysore(Mysooru) School, palanquins, oriental furniture, Chinese inlay chairs, pooja items, costumes, uniforms, trophies and the personal armory of the erstwhile rulers.

Objects worth paying attention to include a replica of an elephant, silver clock with a photo of Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wodeyar, 'Vajra Mushti' wrestling trophies of the Maharaja, birthday (Vardhanti) throne, silver wedding throne of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, photographs including those of a polo championship, of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and his brother Narasimharaja Wodeyar and of the 1940 Dasara procession and the silver throne of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III used for religious purposes (Bhadra Peeta) with lion shaped legs. On display is an excellent collection of royal artifacts from the personal collection that is worth seeing.