Every Vijayadashami day, the Dasara Procession starts from Mysuru Palace and reaches Bannimantap ground with great pomp and fanfare. The golden howdah with Goddess Chamundeshwari majestically walks accompanied by the Karnataka Armed Reserve Police mounted company unit. The personnel of this unit participate in the Torch light parade held in Bannimantap ground. This unit turned 100 in 2019.
I remember when Mysuru would be brimming with people from around the globe during Dasara, the mounted police would patrol the main roads like Sayaji Rao Road, Dhanvantri Road, and Devaraj Urs Road. The handsome and well maintained Khatiawadi horses with the smartly dressed police were a sight to behold and gave a sense of confidence in the people of the Mysuru.
In 1920 the then Maharaja of Mysore, HH Nalwadi Krishnaraj Wodeyar formed the mounted police unit and was named as His Highness Maharaja’s bodyguard. Later it was renamed to Mysore state police, Mysore state troupe, and Mysore Armed Reserve police. Finally it came to be known as KARP (Karnataka Armed Reserve Police) mounted company, Mysuru. The unit serves as security for the visiting VVIP, crowd control, traffic duty, night patrol and training of officers from Karnataka Police Academy and others.
The office of the KARP mounted company is a heritage building of Mysuru. It takes you back to the bygone era. It is built on 120 acres on Narasimharaja Boulevard. The foundation stone was laid on 1 April 1918 by HH Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. The English architect EW Fritchely designed the building. Cheluvachar undertook the construction and completed it in 1920 at a cost of 80,000. The building contains 100 stables, museum, horse park, and an administrative block.
The unit has participated in many competitions in India and abroad and have won many accolades.
Place statistics:
Type of place: Heritage statues
Situated: KARP Mounted Police Headquarters, Mysuru
Distance: 3 Kms from Suburb bus station, 6 Kms from Railway station
Transport: Mysuru city is well connected by road, rail, and air
Facilities: Mysuru city has many hotels to suit all budgets
