Mysuru will soon get another landmark Circle with the life-size marble statue of the last Maharaja of Mysore, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. The statue is set for unveiling at Hardinge Circle in the city’s core heritage zone.
The work on constructing the Circle is almost done. Since the code of conduct is in force in view of elections to the Legislative Council from South Graduates’ Constituency, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) is planning to take special permission from the State Election Commission to inaugurate the Circle, on which work commenced last year.
Unveiling
The unveiling is expected to be held in the third week of May, depending on the permission. The statue will be mounted on an elevated pedestal with a ‘mantapa’ (tower) built in Indo-Saracenic architecture.
A sum of Rs. 5 crore had been estimated for the work. Sculptor Arun has readied the marble statue for installation, for which Rs. 30 lakh had been set aside.
Hardinge Circle will be renamed as Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Circle, developed on the lines of Sri Krishnarajendra Circle and Sri Chamarajendra Circle. This will be the third life-size statue of one of the former Maharajas to be installed in a public place.
MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath said the area around the Circle is being beautified, leaving a lot of space for the public to move. The circle is also referred to as ‘6 Gate Circle’ (six roads join the circle and each one of them had gates).
Under the project, Rs. 3.55 crore had been set aside for the foundation, concrete pavement, drainage work, construction of the mantap and granite work.
Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, who ascended the throne as the Maharaja of Mysore on September 8, 1940, at the age of 21, passed away on September 23, 1974.
