‘Doddagadiyara’ stopped chiming years ago! Does MCC really care about Nalwadi’s time ?

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4 years ago mysoorunews

Mysuru: As the Mysuru City Corporation and various other organisations are gearing up to celebrate the 135th birth anniversary of 24th Maharaja of Mysuru ‘Rajarshi’ Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar today (June 4), it has royally forgotten something that was very close to the erstwhile king. Nalwadi was born on June 04, 1884.

The Silver Jubilee clock tower that stands majestically in front of the Rangacharlu Purabhavana (Town Hall) has stopped chiming sometime ago. At the completion of every hour the clock used to chime equal times, till it was stopped a decade ago.

For the uninitiated, the clock tower was built to commemorate the silver jubilee celebration of the reign of then king Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in 1927. The civic body is responsible to maintain the clock.

The clock tower is also called ‘Doddagadiyara’, means “big clock tower”. There is the “small clock tower” Dufferin Clock Tower located next to Devaraja Market near K R Circle.

The Silver jubilee clock tower stands tall in bustling area adjacent to Chamaraja Circle and the Town Hall. The ever-busy Ashoka Road starts from this locality. So is the Harsha Road. A little north of the clock tower is the Gandhi Square.

Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the clock tower is 75 feet tall. Its design boasts of different architectural schools. The curvilinear chhajja ( overhanging waves supported on carved brackets) is of Rajasthani tradition. The tall double arches and framing slit windows reminds us of early English church architecture. The 5 feet diameter clock spots Kannada numericals. The cost of the tower was borne by the then palace staff.

Yet, this heritage treasure has been neglected by its own ‘guardian’. Fixing it at the earliest would be the true tribute they could offer than some lofty programmes to the erstwhile king who is still revered for laying foundation to modern Mysuru.

– Team Mysoorunews