State archaeology department all set to open 200-year-old heritage building in Yelandur, Chamarajanagar which will also have tips for modern administration, besides wax statues

The state archaeology department’s first wax museum will be thrown open to the public in Yelandur, Chamarajanagar, with wax statues of historical personalities including Dewan Poornaiah, Krishnaraja Wadiyar III and William Bentinck. Some unseen paintings of the former Dewan of Mysore will also be on display at the 10,000 sq ft heritage building spread originally owned by Poornaiah’s family.

The 200-year-old building is being renovated into a museum by the department which has taken it on lease for 30 years. Poornaiah was Dewan or prime minister to Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and Krishana Raja Wadiyar III.

“The place is being designed to give a glimpse of Dewan Poornaiah’s life and the first wax museum with full-size statues and rare photographs,” an archaeology official told Bangalore Mirror. “The whole structure is divided into two floors, with wax statues on the first.” Paintings of Poornaiah with Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, other portraits and paintings will be displayed on the ground floor.

The museum will also house 27 manuscripts of letters from Poornaiah to Sringeri and Keladi mutts. “The translation in Kannada and summary will be displayed alongside the magnified images of these original scripts that we have obtained from mutts. This helps the visitors get an insight into what a well-organised manager Poornaiah was,” the official added.

“A documentary on the life and achievements of Poornaiah, relevant to modern day administration, will be shown to the visitors,” another officer said. “We are carrying out work and it will soon be open to public,” Dr R Gopal, director, state archaeology department, told Bangalore Mirror.

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Chetan R, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / January 06th, 2014