Tourists with visual impairment can soon feel the majestic architecture of the iconic Amba Vilas Palace or the Mysore palace, which is in its centenary year.

A satin-lined wooden replica of the architectural wonder is being made, and it will be placed at the entrance of the palace (near Gombe Totti) so visually impaired visitors can touch the model to get an idea of the structure.

Braille guides

As the popular tourist destination also attracts a limited number of visually impaired visitors, the Mysore Palace Board, the caretaker of the structure, recently published the Palace Guide in Braille.

The Braille guides are available at the office of the board, and are given for reference on request.

The Braille guides were released at the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on the palace premises.

Ready soon

Deputy Director of the board T.S. Subramanya told The Hindu that the replica of the palace may be ready in a fortnight.

“Though the number of visually impaired visitors is very low, we do not want to deprive them of knowing more about the palace by going through the Braille guide and feeling the wooden replica,” he said.

Mr. Subramanya said: “The model is roughly three ft long and two ft wide. It is being designed by a person who has experience in making intricate handicrafts.”

He said an association of persons with visual impairments based in Mysore took nine palace guides in Braille for their library. At present, the board has five Braille guides that were printed at the Government Printing Press for Braille here. “Each book cost us Rs. 300. If necessary, we will order more such guides.”

Guiding devices

Sources in the board said it had plans to introduce wrist-mounted electronic devices for visitors with visual impairments, for navigation inside and outside the palace court.

“The information about the attractions and how to access them will be fed into the device, which will guide the visitors. Two such devices would be procured soon,” they added.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Shankar Bennur / Mysore, August 02nd, 2012