December 2013:
The erstwhile kingdoms of Travancore and Mysore said their final words as their 2 kings departed.
On the 10th of December Maharaja Srikanta Wadiyar of Mysore died - a part of a dynasty which can trace its lineage back to 1399.
"The state plunged into gloom on TuesÂÂday when the revered scion of the Mysore royal family, SrikÂÂaÂÂnÂÂtadatta NarsimhÂÂaraja WadÂÂiyar, and the last member of the Mysore Yadu vamsha that traces its lineage back to 1399, passed away at a city hospital Tuesday afternoon, after he suffered a major cardiac arrest."
"Stunned by the sudden demise of the scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the city decided to voluntarily shut down on Wednesday to mourn the last of its kings, who had ruled between 1399 and 1950. A man of many interests the 60 -year- old Wadiyar was not only a four term Member of Parliament, but also a known philanthropist, fashion designer, animal lover, a great patron of the arts and a promoter of Mysore silks."
"The only son of JayachamaÂÂrajendra Wadiyar, the last ruling Maharaja of Mysore and his second wife, Tripura Sundari Ammani Avaru, he succeeded his father as head of the royal family in 1974 when only 21. Survived by his wife, Maharani Pramoda Devi Avaru, he leaves behind no heirs as the couple had no children, something which old-timers often blamed on the 400 -year-old “Talakad curse.â€Â
The 16th of December brought a further blow as news spread that Maharaja Uthradom Thirunal of Travancore had passed away, at the age of 91; a revered king and friend of the people.
"Thousands of people paid their last tribute to Travancore Royal family titular head Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma at the Levy Hall close to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple here on Monday and after 2.30 pm at the Kowdiar Palace. Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma died at 2.20 am due to age-related ailments on Monday. He was admitted to the SUT Hospital on Dec 6 following gastro-intestinal bleeding and was on ventilator support. He was the younger brother of the last ruling monarch of the Travancore Kingdom Maharajah Chitra Thirunal Rama Varma."
"The state government declared a public holiday as a mark of respect to the late Maharajah. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who was in Delhi for official work has planned to cut short his trip to attend his funeral here at the palace in the afternoon, though delayed he is expected to take part in the cremation."
"An epitome of kindness and simplicity...
He was known for his varied talents from being an ardent lover of photography to keen sportsman as he used to play tennis, hockey, golf, football and polo."
Ceremonial gun salutes have been carried out and statue funerals ordained.
The kings' heirs are likely to be crowned in the coming days.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Palace_of_Trivandrum.jpg)