Kaveri Falls. - Bar Chukki on east branch.

This photograph of the Kaveri Falls, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'. The Kaveri Falls are otherwise known as the Sivasamudram Falls. The branches of the stream which enclose the island of Sivasamudram from the picturesque falls of the Gagana Chukki ("Sky Spray") on the Mysore side, and of Bhar Chukki ("Heavy Spray") on the Coimbatore side, each of which makes a descent of about 300 ft in succession of beautiful rapids and broken cascades. The Bhar Chukki is on the eastern branch of the river.

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The Law Courts, Mysore

This photograph of the Law Courts, Bangalore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'.This note taken from the Album reads, "The courts of the district and sessions judge, the sub judge, and the munsiff (a junior-grade judge) are held in these buildings, which are built in the new portion of the city named Chamarajpuram after his late Highness."

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Moti Talab, Mysore

This photograph of the Moti Talab, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'."Moti Talab, or lake of pearls, near the French Rocks, is formed by the embankmant carried across a gap between two hills which stems the water of the Yadava River. The bund is 78 cubits high, 150 long, and 250 broad at the base, and is said to have been built by Ramanujacharya, the Srivaishnava reformer of the 12th century. The tank was breached by Tipu Sultan in 1798 to prevent its being of use to the enemy, but was restored by the British and is maintained in good order." This note comes from the album. 'Souvenir of Mysore'.

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Pupils attending Maharani's Girls' College, Mysore

This photograph of pupils attending Maharani's Girls' College, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'.A note with the photograph reads, "This College, named in honor of H.H. the Maharani-Regent, was established in 1881. The institution is unique in its class in Southern India, educating, as it does, young ladies of the middle and higher classes of the high caste Hindus, and providing new walks of life for their widows...A Lady Superintendent selected in England, with University honors, presides, and the standard of education includes the first in Arts Degree of the Madras University. There are also special classes for preparing Brahmin widows for the Education Department and for the instruction of married ladies in subjects of domestic economy and accounts."

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The Dasara Hall with Throne, Palace, Mysore

This photograph of the Dasara Hall with throne, Mysore Palace taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'.The note with the photograph reads, "This throne is one of the articles of interest in the palace. The original structure, which was of fig-wood overlaid with ivory, is generally stated to have been sent by Aurangzeb to Chikka Deva Raja in 1699. The Palace legend, however, runs that it had once been the throne of the Pandus, that Kampula Raja brought it thence and buried it at Penugonda, from which place the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire, to whom its locality was revealed by an ascetic, recovered it, and that it was handed down from dynasty to dynasty until it came into the possession of Raja Wodeyar. It is certain that the ivory throne was used by Chikka Deva Raja and his successors up to the accession of Tipu Sultan, and that, after the downfall of Seringapatam, it was employed at the Coronation, by the British, of Krishna Raja Wodeyar III."

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Maharani's Girls' College, Mysore.

This photograph of the Maharani's Girls' College, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'. A note with the photograph reads, "This College, named in honor of H.H. the Maharani-Regent, was established in 1881. The institution is unique in its class in Southern India, educating, as it does, young ladies of the middle and higher classes of the high caste Hindus, and providing new walks of life for their widows...A Lady Superintendent selected in England, with University honors, presides, and the standard of education includes the first in Arts Degree of the Madras University. There are also special classes for preparing Brahmin widows for the Education Department and for the instruction of married ladies in subjects of domestic economy and accounts."

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The Raja of Mysore's bathing ghat on the River Puckshewan, a branch of the Cauvery at Shrirangapattana

Photograph of the Raja of Mysore's bathing ghat on the River Puckshewan, a branch of the Cauvery at Srirangapatnam from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections: India Office Series (volume 21, 'a' numbers), taken by by Henry Dixon in the early 1860s. Srirangapatnam is an island set in the River Kaveri in the modern day state of Karnataka in the south west of India. The Vijayanagar rulers built a fort here in 1454 and in 1616 it became the capital of the Mysore Wadayar Rajas. Later it was the capital of the renowned Rajas of Mysore, Haidar Ali (c. 1722-1782) and Tipu Sultan (1753-1799). Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan were responsible for turning the small state of Mysore into a major Muslim power. The heavily fortified island boasts attractive formal gardens and many interesting buildings such as the Jami Masjid and the tomb of Haider and Tipu which suitably reflect the wealth and power of the Rajas.

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Marimallapa's High School, Mysore.

This photograph of the Marimallappa's High School, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'. The view shows pupils and staff posed in front of the school, built to European designs. A caption note gives the following details, "Marimallappa was a Bakshi, or head of a department of the palace under Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, who, having no heirs, left his wealth for the promotion of education. The building was erected in 1886 and educated boys up to the Matriculation standard."

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Elephant in Mysore

The picture of an elephant in Mysore was taken by Joe Heydecker during one of his journeys in February 1957. Elephant leaders are presenting a white-headed state elephant of the Maharadja of Mysore to an audience of children (technique: black-and-white negative). Born as a son of a liberal family in 1916, Joe Heydecker was educated as a photographer. In 1941, Heydecker documented the inhumane conditions and the inconceivable misery of the Jewish population in the Warsaw Ghetto with a miniature camera. These photographs are painful testimonies of the National Socialist atrocities. After the Second World War, Heydecker worked as a photographer and journalist for several media and undertook various journeys, which he documented extensively. This particular picture was taken during a journey to India and Sri Lanka for the magazine “Deutsche Illustrierte” with the actresses Romy and Magda Schneider in 1957

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Jagan Mohan Palace, Mysore

This photograph of the Jagan Mohan Palace, Mysore taken in the 1890s by M. Burahnudin, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'. The view is from the garden looking towards the main façade of the Jagan Mohun Palace. Notes accompanying the album read, "..is a lofty building with tall Ionic columns in the verandah, reaching to the second storey. It was built by Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, as an ornament to the town and a place of amusement for European officers. The walls of the upper storey are painted with pictures, verging on the grotesque, representing the Raja in procession at Dasara and on shikar expeditions."

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Granite bull on Chahmundy [Mysore]

Photograph of the granite bull on Chahmundi Hill in Mysore.Chamundi Hill overlooks the town of Mysore and is named after the shrine dedicated to the homonymous goddess, the guardian divinity of the ruling Wadiyar family who built the temple in the 17th century. On the road ascending the hill there is a huge monolithic statue of Nandi, the mount of the god Shiva, with ceremonial bells and garlands. It dated from 1659.

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Interior of Karikal Thotti Palace, Mysore

This photograph of the interior of the Karikal Thotti Palace, Mysore taken in the 1890s by M. Burahnudin, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'. Text with the album reads, "The room is at the extreme end of the Palace on the west. Its construction is in the Hindu style, with carved wooden pillars, spaced 10 feet every way, connected at top with arched carved panels, and roofed with ceiling planks. It is furnished in the European style, and is the room chiefly used by the late Maharaja for receiving visitors and the chief officers of state." 

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Interior of the Amba Vilasa of the Palace, Mysore

This photograph of the interior of the Amba Vilas Palace, Mysore taken in the 1890s by M. Burahnudin, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'. A note with this photograph reads, "The hall is used on all minor festive occasions for holding durbars, and, during the ten days devoted to the Dasara feast, the Goddess Chamundi is installed here and daily worship offered."The Dasara festival is celebrated in most parts of India in commemoration of Lord Rama's victory over the demon-king Ravana. In Mysore however, it is held in celebration of the goddess Chamundi who killed the demon-king Mahishasura. 

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The Temple Car, Chamundi Hill, Mysore

This photograph of the Temple Car, Chamundi Hill, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'.The view shows a temple car in the foreground with the gopura (the great pyramidal tower over the entrance-gate to the precint of a temple. S India) of the Chamundi Temple beyond. The car was presented to the temple by the Maharaja of Mysore in 1848. This temple was dedicated to the goddess Chamundeshwari, who was believed to have killed the evil demon-king Mahishasura

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Ancient photo of The Palace, Mysore

This photograph of the Palace, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'.The note accompanying this photograph reads, ''The view shown here is the east face of the palace which was burnt down in 1897 immediately after the marriage of the first Princes[s]. It was built in the ultra Hindu style. The front, which was gaudily painted in primary colours, and supported by elaborate carved wooden pillars, comprised a spacious porch [seen here] and in rear the Dasara Hall, an open gallery, where the Maharaja showed himself to the people on occasions of state seated on his throne." The courtyard is crowded with mounted state troops and other officials. 

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Ancient photo of Temple on Chahmundy, Mysore, India

Photograph of the temple on Chamundi Hill in Mysore. The Chamundi Temple complex is situated on the homonymous hill that overlooks the town of Mysore and is dedicated to the guardian goddess divinity of the ruling Wadiyar family who built the shrine in the 17th century. Two gopuras constitute the access to the temple. The outer gateway, which can be seen in this photograph, is a steep pyramid built over an earlier stone wall. A mandapa leads to the shrine where the goddess is enthroned. 

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Ancient photo of Jubilee Institute, Mysore, India

This photograph of the interior of the Jubilee Institute, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'. "Constructed in 1887, in commemoration of the Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, Empress of India, as a museum for exhibiting the arts, economic and other products of the country. It contains a library of ancient oriental literature and the latest productions of the west. The foundation stone was laid by H.H. the late Maharaja on the 20th June, 1887. The exterior of the building is decorated with figures of Hindu mythology.", reads the note accompanying this photograph. 

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The Public Offices, Mysore

This photograph of the Public Offices, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'.A caption note accompanying this photograph reads, "Designed and built by Col. (now Sir) Richard Sankey, 1864-1868, for the Mysore Chief Commissioner's offices. The Mysore Government now holds its offices in the building, and the Council of Regency meets weekly in the large central hall upstairs." 

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General Wellesley's House, Mysore.

This photograph of General Wellesley's House, Mysore taken in the 1890s by an unknown photographer, is from the Curzon Collection's 'Souvenir of Mysore Album'.A note accompanying the photograph reads, "This building, though not pretentious architecturally, awakens interest from the fact that is was built, and for some time occupied, by the great Duke of Wellington, then Colonel Wellesley. It is situated opposite the west gate of Government House." 

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Tank near Government House, Mysore, with Chamundi Hill beyond

Photograph from the Elgin Collection: 'Autumn Tour 1895. Vol II', taken in 1895. This is a view of the tank near the Government House in Mysore with Chamundi hill in the background. Mysore is situated in Karnataka in Southern India in a valley with two ridges on either side. Government house was begun in 1800 by Colonel Wilks and completed in 1805. It is a fine example of a European style house of the period. Chamundi Hill is approximately 3000 feet high, situated to the southeast of Mysore and is topped with a temple dedicated to the guardian deity of the Mysore Rajas, the goddess Chamundi, or Durga. 

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