PALACES

Mysore Palace , south gate view

Summer Palace Mysore Palace , front view

Used in the summer months by the imperial rulers of China , it provided a break from another entry on this list , the Forbidden City . The ‘ palace ’ is actually a complex of gardens , lakes and buildings that cover an area of 2.9 sq km . It dates back to the 12th century , when Jin Dynasty emperor Wányán Liàng built the first palace on what is now Longevity Hill .

Mysore provides a truly stunning scene at night , illuminated by more than 10,000 bulbs during the Dasara Hindu festival in September and October . Commissioned in 1897 to replace the old building destroyed by a fire , it is the most impressive example in a city of many palaces , and in no way an eyesore !

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