Payana Museum: The Tyre-Shaped Building Near Mysore

We know what you are thinking right now. A tyre-shaped building? Well, the whole building is not in the shape of a tyre. But, the front facade of the Payana Museum resembles the tyre of an automobile.

This exceptionally designed establishment located in Srirangpatna near Mysore is spread across 23 acres of land housing 63 vehicles maintained in pristine condition making it an excellent family day outing from Bangalore.

The much-anticipated brainchild of Mr. D Veerendra Heggade was opened to the public on 1 April 2024. The museum is on quite an upswing since its doors were opened to the common man. If you are planning a weekend trip with kids, you can’t afford to miss out on this.

Further in this blog post, we shall look into some of the most iconic cars that roamed the streets of Mysore and other parts of the country. And, quite interestingly, these are not just random vintage cars.

Car Museum

Some of these cars belonged to prominent historical figures of this country, from Maharajas of Mysore to top brass of the British Empire stationed here, and renowned Indian physicist - CV Raman and a Kannada film industry star late Dr. Vishnuvardhan. Mr. Heggade has outdone every car museum in the country by carefully putting these beauties together under one roof.

Payana Museum is every automobile enthusiast's fantasy come true. It lets you view fabulous vintage cars, bikes, and some trucks in their full glory. These well-preserved automobiles are a testament to the engineering marvels that pioneered the early days of automobiles in India.

Speaking of the early days, allow me to walk you through the history of the Indian automobile scene. You can skip this part if you do not like history. But, let me tell you, you will find some interesting facts that are bound to fascinate you.

So, without further adieu,

Early Days of Automobiles in India

India was a late bloomer in terms of the automobile industry. While countries across the globe were racing towards developing better cars, India saw its first car in the year 1897. An Englishman imported the car while he was in Kolkata. Sources suggest that Indians were baffled at the sight of a car moving around on its own without a bull having to drag it.

A year later, industrialist Jamshedji Tata, imported a car into Mumbai, which is believed to be a French De Dion Bouton model. After this, several other wealthy Indians also started importing cars. Traveling in a car at that time was considered to be a symbol of status. All cars were being imported into the country until the GOI saw the need for industrial revolutionization.

The government of India in collaboration with private companies established manufacturing plants that gave birth to car brands such as Hindustan Motors (1942), Premier (1944), Mahindra & Mahindra (1945), Standard (1948), and Tata (1945) with a vision to develop automobiles indigenously and fight the import culture.

Even after establishing automobile brands in the country, cars were still being imported right until Ambassador Mark 1 was made completely indigenously. This was the car that put India on wheels. This car ruled the Indian roads for decades due to its, sturdiness, comfort, and reliability.

Well, if you are reading this, you must be old enough to know how legendary the car was and have heard all the stories associated with it, following this car, many others roamed the Indian roads. Baby boomers had the opportunity to witness such majestic cars in their early days. But, what about the millennials and Gen-Z? Are they going to be unaware of the Indian Automobile History?

To make sure this does not happen, Mr. Veerendra Heggade devises a plan to ensure the current generation witnesses these magical machines today as they roamed the earth in their prime back in the day.

Quite the thought, Huh?

Allow us to bring you up to speed on who exactly Veerendra Heggade is, whose brainchild is this marvelous Payana Museum.

About Veerendra Heggade - The Genius behind Payana Museum

The man behind this ambitious project is Mr. Veerendra Heggade. He is the Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, a member of Rajya Sabha, a philanthropist, and most importantly a car enthusiast.

Who believes in preserving the gems of automobile history. Mr. Heggade has shown unparalleled love towards these age-old machines that narrate a story of innovation and true craftsmanship.

This museum also houses a restoration unit where more cars could be restored to their glory. So, our guess is, that more cars are going to join this car sanctuary in the coming days.

The Payana Museum is a true example of innovation and nostalgia blending together to showcase the relentless beauty of these marvelous vintage vehicles. Visitors can spend some time reading the details of each car in their wide spacious galleries. There is even a section at the beginning of the tour that shows the evolution of wheels right from its inception.

Amenities at Payana Museum

Free Entry for Army Personnel:

Yup! You read that right. Army and Ex-Army personnel can enjoy complimentary entry to the museum.

Cafeteria:

Amidst the classic automobiles on display, visitors can savor a delightful array of refreshments and light bites. Whether indulging in a freshly brewed cup of coffee or enjoying a delectable pastry, you have the chance to unwind and reminisce amidst the captivating atmosphere of the vintage car museum.

Open theatre:

Nestled within the sprawling grounds of the vintage car museum lies an enchanting open-air theater.

Parking space:

There is an ample amount of parking space to accommodate both two and four-wheelers.

Restoration Unit:

Although this unit is not open to visitors, however, you may rejoice at the fact that the magic happens here.

Show stoppers

This mind-boggling museum is a house to vintage cars belonging to various manufacturers, the lineup is quite impressive. Some of the cars that are on display here belong to brands like - Morris, Daimler, Chevrolet, Hindustan Motors, Citroen, Peugeot, Studebaker, and Fiat.

However, there are a few cars in this museum that have caught our attention big time. Not because of the brand, make, or model. They have caught our attention for one main reason - the personality these cars belong to.

First up on our list of show stoppers is,

The 1949 Daimler DE 36 model, originally from the United Kingdom, was owned by the erstwhile Mysore King Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. Featuring an 8-cylinder inline engine with 5,460 CC capacity, it boasts a 4-speed Daimler Fluid Flywheel Transmission with Preselector.

The Studebaker Champion of 1947, originating from the USA, holds quite a significance as it was once driven by Nobel Laureate Physicist Sir C.V. Raman. This car was generously donated to the Museum by his son, this car features a 6-cylinder inline engine, boasting 2,789 CC capacity, and is equipped with a 3-speed manual transmission.

The Nissan Bluebird 910, made in Australia, has a rear wheel drive configuration with a 4-speed manual gearbox and could reach speeds as high as 167 Kph. Belonged to the Kannada superstar Dr. Vishnuvardhan.

Do’s and Dont’s at the Payana Museum:

Dont’s:

Carrying your baggage: Baggage is not allowed inside the museum. However, small bags or pouches are subject to security checks.
Being too loud: Try not to be too loud while at the museum, and maintain a respectful environment.
Eating inside the museum: As much as well all love a quick snack. But, you have to avoid doing that here.
Smoking: This one is no no-brainer.
Bringing your pet: We all love taking our furry friends along with us wherever we go. But, they will have to sit this one out.
Do’s:

Immerse yourself in a time-traveling journey back to the age of vintage cars.
Use designated pathways to move around the museum.
Make sure to read the details of the cars on display.

Let’s Plan your trip:

Distance from Bangalore - 130 Km via Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway.
Timings - 8 AM - 9 PM, Everyday.
Entry Fee - Rs. 50 for adults and children above 12 years of age.
Time required to complete the museum’s tour - 2 Hours.

Payana Museum is a one-of-a-kind experience, located just a few meters off of the Mysur-Bengaluru Expressway, one can’t miss but notice this eye-catching structure. You can have a wonderful experience with your family, by taking them on this family day outing from Mysore.

And, for the folks from Bangalore, you can plan a trip to Payana Museum right away. Trust me you do not want to miss out on this.

Traveling with a big group? Fret not, we can get that covered for you. You can get a mini bus on rent from Tejas Tours and Travels. Or looking to take out your corporate team for a fun and nostalgic outing, we can help you with that too, check out our range of tempo traveler on rent.

All you have to do is Google search tours and travels near me and scroll down until you find Tejas Tours and Travels. From comfortable air-conditioned vehicles to more budget-friendly options. We got them all.

So? What are you still waiting for? Let’s go explore Payana Museum with Tejas Tours and Travels!