Golden glow at risk: Mysore Palace's glow relies on sole manufacturer

By - Shyam Sundar Vattam

CH NEWS

Mysuru

When the Maharaja of Mysore commissioned the majestic Amba Vilas Palace in Indo-Saracenic style and adorned it with one lakh incandescent bulbs, he likely never imagined that the production of such bulbs would eventually decline due to cost-effective alternatives.

Today, the palace—one of Mysore’s most iconic attractions—is illuminated on weekends, public holidays, and all ten days of the Dasara festival. This grand display relies on a single manufacturer in Tamil Nadu, the last remaining producer of screw-type incandescent bulbs in the country.

While incandescent bulbs have been phased out elsewhere, they are still used at the Mysore Palace and the Dasara Exhibition Grounds. Over the years, many manufacturers have tried to replicate these bulbs but failed to match their signature golden glow. Previously, these bulbs were produced by Mysore Lamps, a government-run company in Bengaluru, but the factory closed after heavy losses.

T.S. Subramanya, Deputy Director of the Mysore Palace Board, said nearly one lakh incandescent bulbs are used to light the palace. “The specialty of these bulbs is their ability to emit a golden glow without any shade, adding unmatched grandeur to the palace,” he explained.

Attempts were made 10–15 years ago to replace them with LED bulbs, but they couldn't replicate the golden hue. Now, the Tamil Nadu-based company is the sole bidder for the annual tender, supplying 10,000 to 15,000 bulbs each year to replace those that burn out.

Replacing the bulbs is a challenging task due to the palace’s height of 172 feet. Unlike weather-resistant LEDs, incandescent bulbs are highly sensitive to rain and heat, often fusing after long lighting sessions.

As the palace is a protected heritage site, changing its lighting system is not feasible. Subramanya warned that if the sole manufacturer stops production, it could jeopardize future illuminations. He suggested the state government should explore ways to ensure an uninterrupted supply of these rare bulbs and preserve the palace’s luminous legacy.