Mysore is one of the garden cities of south India famous not only for its antiquity, but for its rare monuments of art and scenic beauty. Situated around 770 meters above sea level it enjoys a climate that is pleasant and accelerating in summer as well as in winter. No wonder there is a constant stream of tourists all round the year from different parts of India and abroad adding to the colourful pageantry of its processions and popular festivals. Mysore is also noted for the peace loving nature of its inhabitance and for its overall communal harmony.

Among the most noteworthy architectural glories of Mysore is its palace. The palace of the Maharaja is a gem built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. Intricately carved doors open on to luxuriously furnished rooms. The majestic Durbar Hall has an ornate ceiling and many sculpted pillars. The magnificent jewel studded golden throne of the Wodeyars is displayed here during the Dasara festival. Illuminated on Sundays and public holidays, the palace presents a spectacle of breathtaking beauty.

About five kilometers from this magnificent work of art is the new shrine dedicated to the Infant Jesus at Pushpashrama. The architecture of some facets of the new Shrine have taken inspiration from the Maharaja's Palace and the visitor to the new Shrine may be struck by the similarities. The road leading from Bangalore to Mysore meets the ring road that will take you to Naidu Nagar near the tollgate. From the Naidu Nagar bus stand a brief walk of five minutes brings you to the imposing gateway opening to the Shrine

The Gateway: Anyone who has visited the Maharaja's palace or even seen a photo of it will immediately notice the resemblance of this gateway to that of the Maharaja's Palace. The gateway stands 30 feet high and has a width of 20 feet. It is flanked by two small side gates. Through the main gate of the Palace the VIP's found their way to the erstwhile Maharaja who would welcome them in his own dignified fashion. Here, everyone is a VIP desiring an interview with the King of Kings and craving His blessings. "The more you honour Me, the more will I bless you."

The Grotto: To the right of the main gate is the grotto. Its architectural style recalls to mind the monument raised to one of the best known Maharajas of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar at the circle that bears his name: K. R. Circle. Here at the Shrine a life-sized statue of Infant Jesus is waiting to welcome you and prepare your mind and heart to receive His blessing more abundantly when you enter the shrine itself to worship Him along with the assembly of the faithful during the sacred liturgy.

The Church: The church itself patterned on an octagonal diamond built on granite stones the eight sides referring to eight directions of the world. People from all corners of space are invited to enter through the three ornate porticos. The three huge teakwood doors have artistically carved into them sacred figures. Into the main door is insculpted a depiction of the Holy Family. The door on the right side presents carvings of the reformers of Carmel, St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross. The left side entrance has carvings representing St. Therese and St. Edith Stein.

Three layers of stonework rise on top of the Shrine area. The three layers signify earth, air and heaven respectively. Apart from the main dome covering these three layers there are four other domes that take the tourists through flights of fancy back to the Moghul period when the Carmelites first set their feet on Indian soil. These domes clad with white Ital tiles on top which is the traditional symbol Kalasa of an Indian crown. The main dome on the other hand is crowned by a ten feet high stainless chromium coated Cross. On entering the main portico the dime glass immediately captures the eye. Four hands are depicted there in four different colours clasping one another's arms. They symbolize the universality of human brotherhood transcending differences between cultures, classes and creeds. As you go step by step towards the sanctuary you find yourself walking on Indo-Italian Marble slabs. Under the solemn vault which is supported by eight massive pillars decorated with Indian Capitals. Looking up above the sanctuary you can behold a fresco replica of the Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece, the Last Supper. The stained glass on the upper fringes of the life-size painting contains the representation of the Holy Spirit. We have now reached the entrance to the sanctuary. What meets our eyes immediately is the altar under which the globe representing the whole world is standing. The altar itself seems to stand not only on its four pillars but also on this globe. The messageof the alter design is that the Infant .

Jesus has become the proprietor of the whole world and its ruler having purchased it for Himself after His last supper through the sacrifice of the cross. The sacrifice itself as consummated on the first Good Friday constitutes the background of the Altar. The tree of which the crucifix forms a part, recalls first the tree of knowledge that deceived the first parents Adam and Eve and then the tree of the cross through which new life came for the salvation of the world. The backdrop of the tree of life has for its material, the Bamboo finishing of the Eurocon tiles. The lowest of the three layers is circumscribed by fourteen windows with grills depicting fourteen Old Testament themes. Each window is topped by one of the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross in stained glass. There are thirteen diamond-shaped windows in the second layer containing hand depictions of Biblical scenes including the luminous mysteries of the rosary introduced by Pope John Paul II.

The top-most layer is decorated with symbols of the world's major religious beliefs particularly followed in Mysore. These symbols arouse in the hearts of those who pray here a sense of brotherhood and solidarity in Christ with all who seek truth and salvation. The terrain and view around the Shrine imparts to the visitor a feeling of serenity and peace. The greenery in nature awakens in the heart of the contemplative hopes and expectations for a more prosperous and grace filled tomorrow.

Architects, Engineers, Designers and Contractors:The original vision of this magnificent monument comes from Mr. Balan of happy memory. This vision was concretized by Alphonse and Aditya of Alphonse Associates. The contract for the execution was undertaken by J. J. Construction under the able direction of Mr. John Kunnel. Others who enhanced the ornate interior aesthetic of the Shrine: Mr. Cyril Antony Moyalan (Moyalan Stained Glass) for Stained Glass and Tree of life Woodwork; Mr. Karpu Swamy,Teakwood Doorcarvings and Carpentry; Akaar Granites for theAltar; Bhavana Granites for Marbles and Granite Works; Hinkal Tiles for Tile Works; Shades Interiors for Cornice and Capitals; Italia Glass Mosaics; Simon and Co. for Statues; H. N. K. Gowda and Sons for Brass Works and theCross; Sharada Engineering Works for Window Grill Designs; J. P. Lightings for Light Arrangements; DXX Acoustics for Sound System; Nandi Marketing for Floor pavements.