Mysuru: The city is touted as city of Palaces, heritage city, cultural city, pensioners paradise and a must-visit tourist destination. However, it is sad to see that there are hardly any sign boards that gives history and details about the place except in a few places. And, if there are sign boards or plaques they are in a pathetic condition with fading letters. One display board, which is in a rundown condition is in the ‘Doddagadiyara’ or the Big Clock Tower precincts. The beautiful heritage clock tower installed by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in 1927 after completing 25 years of his rule and hence in its memory was named Silver Jubilee Clock Tower. It is 70 ft. in height. But the board installed providing detailed information has faded and rusted. Though the tourists are deprived of information as it is in such a sorry condition, it does not seem to bother the authorities concerned. A laser show was held during the Dasara festivities and the officials of District Administration and others were present. In spite of this, it is a sad reflection, they have not thought to do something about it. According to city-based Horologist M.S. Chandrasekhara Iyer the clock was installed on August 8, 1927. The construction expenses of this historical clock tower was Rs. 7,500, which was built in just six months. He said that on four sides at the tower, the clock establishment, date, month, year and other details were engraved in Sanskrit, Kannada, English and Persian languages in marble stone in golden letters. “When the clock was striking, the sound could be heard from a distance of nearly two kms. However, the chiming of the clock has stopped from many years,” he said speaking to Star of Mysore.
