One of the largest cathedrals in India, St. Philomena’s Cathedral in Mysuru is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture. The majestic church, built to honour the memory of Saint Philomena, a Latin Catholic Saint of the Roman Catholic Church, draws inspiration from the beautiful Cologne Cathedral of Germany. Remains of St Philomena are preserved at the cathedral. St. Philomena’s Cathedral is one of the tallest churches in Asia.
St Philomena’s Cathedral was built by Maharaja of Mysuru Mummudi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in 1843 in memory of 4th-century saint and martyr St. Philomena. The cathedral was built as a gift to a large number of European populations residing in Mysuru in the 19th century. As the need for a larger church was felt due to the growing population of Europeans, the foundation for the new church was laid in October 1933 by the then king of Mysuru, Krishnarajendra Wodeyar.
St Philomena’s Cathedral was designed by a French architect, Daly, to resemble Cologne Cathedral in Germany.
Movie: Various scenes of 1977 Bollywood movie, ‘Amar Akbar Antony’ featuring Amitabh Bachchan were shot in Mysuru’s St Philomena’s Cathedral.
Place to visit near St.Philomena’s Cathedral: Mysuru city offers a host of tourist attractions such as Mysuru Palace, Mysuru Zoo, Chamundi Hills, Karanji Lake, Jaganmohan Palace and more.
Places to Visit in Mysuru: Mysuru is about 150 kms from Bengaluru and well connected by air, road and rail. Mysuru city has an airport 12 kms from the city Centre with flight connectivity from cities such as Bengaluru, Hydrabad, Goa, Chennai, and Kochi. St Philomena’s Cathedral is walking distance away from Mysuru city centre.
Places to Stay in and around Mysuru: Mysuru city has a budget and luxury hotels suiting all budget ranges.