Mysuru is a city which is beautifully planned with many ornate roundabouts. There are several traffic circles in Mysuru which happen to have a history behind them. They’re decorated either with impressive statues or with elaborate lamps. Most importantly, these circles play a major role in streamlining the traffic and this is why Mysuru is called a well-planned city. Few of these circles are listed below.
Chamaraja Circle
Chamaraja Circle is located in front of the palace’s north gate and was built in 1920. It has a marble statue of Chamaraja Wadiyar, a popular and hospitable erstwhile king who was a keen horseman and a patron of sports and arts. It has a gilded Indo-Saracenic canopy with stairs leading up to the statue from four sides.
Krishnaraja Circle (KR Circle)
Krishnaraja Circle is located at the intersection of Sayyaji Rao Road, Albert Victor Road and Devaraj Urs Road. It has a statue of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV on an elevated hexagonal base. It is popularly known as KR Circle. This statue was unveiled by Dewan Sir M.Vishweshwaraiah in 1952.
Hardinge Circle (Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Circle)
Hardinge Circle was built to commemorate the visit of the Viceroy Lord Hardinge to Mysore in 1913. The circle acts as an axis for six roads and hosts a flowerbed, a decorative lamp and piers decorated with flowers. In 2016, the statue of Jayachamaraja Wodeyar was unveiled in this circle as a mark of respect to the last King who ruled Mysuru.
Ramaswamy Circle
Ramaswamy Circle connects JLB Road on two sides, Chamaraja Double Road on one side and Krishnaraja Boulevard Road on the other side. This circle is named after Ramaswamy, a brave student who gave away his life at the same place while fighting during the Mysore Chalo movement.
Five Light Circle
Five Light Circle connects Suburban Bus stop, Nazarbad main road and the road which connects to St.Philomena’s circle. This circle is named after the vintage lamp post which has five lights in it.
Fountain Circle
Fountain Circle houses an artistically designed fountain named the ‘Elgin Fountain’ which has historical importance. This fountain was initially erected at the present K.R.Circle in honour of the visit of Lord Elgin, the Viceroy to Mysuru during 1895. The fountain was shifted from there to the present Dhanvanthri Road Circle where Dewan’s Road meets after the statue of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV was installed there by the Mysuru City Corporation. Following the relocating of the fountain, the circle came to be known as the ‘Fountain Circle.’
Three Circles to remember Wodeyars.
There are three circles in line at the heart of the city which are built as a mark of our respect to our erstwhile Wodeyars. All the three circles fall on one straight stretch of road with the statues facing north.