The Life & Times Of Maharajas

Let's go tale-hunting on a cultural and heritage trail around Mysuru.

- Anurag Mallick

It was indeed a grand Mysuru swagatham (welcome) with sandalwood tika, Channapatna lacquerware garland, mallige (jasmine) flowers, a rose-scented cold towel, and a welcome drink of panaka (beverage of jaggery and ginger). Traditional music played in the background as I soaked in the grandeur of Grand Mercure Mysore, a relatively new fivestar hotel in Karnataka’s heritage city.

The latest offering from AccorHotels, Grand Mercure Mysore mirrors the cultural reflections of the city and prides itself in its local connect through architecture, hospitality, food, and experiences. The massive pillars at the entrance, lit up every evening by mashaals (torches), represent Karnataka’s great dynasties while opulent chandeliers in the lobby hark back to the age of royalty—albeit with a modern contemporary styling thanks to the chain’s French parentage. Mysuru silk weaves drape the walls with local wood inlay art and lacquerware as decor accents. Silk scarves on sale reiterated the city’s position as India’s leading silk producer, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of India’s output. Like the lacquerware industry, the foundation of sericulture, too, was laid by Tipu Sultan, who imported the first silk cocoons from China in 1785.