Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar

The making of the cultural ethos of modern Karnataka owes a debt to the efforts of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar (1884-1940). As the Maharaja of Mysore for nearly four decades, between 1902 and 1940, he cultivated a humanistic vision of community co-existence that shaped old Mysore culture in important ways.

Maharaja Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar-IV – Quick Facts

• 24^th Maharaja of Mysore Kingdome
• 1 February 1895 was the coronation date
• Period of reign- 28 December 1894 – 3 August 1940
• Preceded by Chamarajendra Wadiyar X
• Succeeded by Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar

Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar – Early Years

Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV was the firstborn of Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar X and Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhana. He was born on June 4^th, 1884 in the Mysore Palace. His early education was under the tutelage of P. Raghavendra Rao at the Lokaranjan Palace. The yuvaraja was instructed in western studies, Kannada, Sanskrit, Indian and western classical music and horse riding.

Maharaja Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar-IV – Reign (1902-1940)

Krishnaraja Wodeyar took over the reins of the Mysore state from his mother on February 8^th, 1902. He was invested as the 24^th Maharaja of Mysore by Viceroy Lord Curzon on August 8^th, 1902 at the Jaganmohan Palace. He ruled over the state for 39 years which were often described as the ‘Golden age of Mysore’.

Gandhijji once remarked that Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar – IV was a Rajarishi. He was also compared to Emperor Ashoka by British nobility. So well-recognised was his administration of the state that Princes from other parts of India were sent to Mysore for their training. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar respected all religions equally and a number of temples, mosques, and Churches were built during his reign.