The district administration of Mysuru, in collaboration with the tourism department, has announced plans to conserve the 129-year-old DC’s office building located in the heart of the city. This historic structure, featuring Indo-Saracenic and Indo-Islamic architectural styles, will be transformed into a museum that narrates the rich history of Mysuru to visitors.
District minister HC Mahadevappa shared, “I held discussions with tourism minister HK Patil on conserving this heritage building. We will preserve this structure to tell the story of Mysuru, including the contributions of Mysuru Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the Miller committee report recommending reservation for oppressed classes in public service, and the first hydro-electric power project in the erstwhile Mysuru state. It will be a new addition to the tourist destinations in Mysuru city.”
The DC’s office was relocated to a new building in Siddartha Nagar in 2023, shortly after Siddaramaiah assumed the chief ministerial position for the second time. Since then, the old building has been awaiting conservation.
Conservationists have raised concerns about the misuse of this landmark building for various anti-social activities. Mahadevappa assured that conservation works will commence soon. NS Rangaraju, a member of the heritage committee, welcomed the idea of preserving the building to showcase Mysuru’s history. He described the structure as a secular building with unique features, including a spring staircase. Rangaraju suggested utilizing different compartments within the building to narrate the stories of various rulers of Mysuru and to highlight the kingdom’s efforts in popularizing vaccination. He emphasized the urgency of conservation works, stressing the importance of using the same materials as the original construction during the restoration process.
