Mysore Travel Guide
Mysore is situated in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is situated on the base of Chamunda hills and has an average elevation of 763m. Mysore was the former capital of Karnataka. It is also the cultural capital of the state of Karnataka. Earlier this place was known as Puragere. It is believed that this place was ruled by the demon Mahishasura and later he was killed by the goddess of the Chamunda hill “Devi Chamundeshwari”. It is also known by the name of ‘City of Palaces’ and sometimes people even call it as the Sandalwood City. The scent of jasmine, for which the city is famous, fills the air in the spring.
Dussehra is one of the most popular and major festival here. It is celebrated in a grand scale for over a span of 10 days. The celebrations of the Dussehra festival starts on the Mahanavami by worshipping the royal Imperial sword. Huge processions of beautifully decorated horses, elephants and camels are a major part of the festival. The language spoken here is Kannada. The handicrafts of Mysore comprises of a number of things of which the Mysore Silk is world famous. It is also famous for its unique carvings of teak wood, rose wood, sandalwood, ivory and others.
How to Reach Mysore
- By Air – Just 12 km from the center of the city is the Mysore Domestic Airport. The nearest International Airport is at Bangalore. Taxis are available to the city from all these airports.
- By Rail – Mysore Rail-head is the nearest railway station to Mysore. Taxis will take you the distance of 3 km from Mysore Rail-head to the city.
- By Road – The tourists can choose from a variety of options that include Volvo, luxury and super fast or the buses run by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation.
Distance of Mysore from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Bangalore |
146 |
|
Ooty |
126 |
|
Hyderabad |
719 |
|
Kochi |
395 |
|
Chennai |
482 |
Weather
Mysore Temperature
- Summer (Mar to May) – Temperatures are high and range between (20°C) to (35°C)
- Monsoon – (Jun to Sep) – With heavy rainfall happening at regular basis, this is not a good season for tourists
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are mild and range between (18°C) to (31°C)
- Best Time to Visit – Dec to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See In Mysore
Mysore Palace is also known by the name of Maharaja Palace. It is located at the heart of the city of Mysore. The Palace gives the clear picture of the culture during the 1399 which was then ruled by Krishnaraya and Yaduraya. The Palace was designed by Henry Irwin. It is in the Indo – Saracenic style in grand proportions, with domes, arches and colomades of carved pillars and shiny marble floors. It is one of the largest Palaces in India with some art treasures, it is beautifully restored and maintained.
Brindavan Gardens is one of the best attraction of Mysore. The Garden is located across the River and below the Krishnarajasagar Dam. The dancing musical fountain is the greatest attraction of the Garden. The Garden is beautifully decorated with different types of flowers. There is also a statue of Goddess Cauvery located in the center of the garden. The garden also have a small boating lake and a bathing pool.
Ranganathswamy Temple
It is a temple situated in Srirangpatnam, the then capital of Mysore. It is one of the five pilgrimage places near the river Cauvery. The prime deity of the temple is Adi Rangnath, a form of Lord Vishnu. Inside the main sanctum of temple, there are the images of Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi with the Lord of the snakes Sheshnag forming a canopy behind him. This temple is specimen of the Vijaynagar style of architecture.
This is temple was built 4 centuries ago by the ruler Wodeyar of Mysore. It is dedicated to a divine form of Goddess Durga. The term Nimishamba is derived by uniting the words ‘nimisha’ meaning minute and ‘amba’ the Goddess. It is believed that those who worship here will get their wishes fulfilled within one minute. The statue of the deity is carved out of black stone.
Situated at the West of Mysore palace is the Jagmohan Palace. Inside the palace is the Jayachamarajendra Art gallery. It is a three storied building with memories of Mysore rulers, music instruments, Japanese paintings by R. Varma.
It is a lovely lake surrounded by a nature park that includes interesting spots like butterfly park and a walk through aviary. It is spread out over a total area of 90 hectares. The Regional Museum of natural history located on the banks of the Karanj Lake. Avian species found here include pelican, sunbird etc.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state with an area of 40 acres. It is situated at a distance of 16 km in the north of Mysore. One can find attractive flora like the Eucalyptus tree. Birds like painted stork, cormorant etc. could be seen here.
Chamundeshwari Temple is located in Chamunda Hill. Chamunda Hill can be viewed from all corners of the Mysore City within a radius of 8km to 10 km. The temple is dedicated to Devi Durga celebrating her victory over the buffalo god. She became the guardian deity of the Wodeyar Dynasty . There is a trail from the temple to the giant Nandi.
Mysore Zoo also known as Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens is another important attraction of Mysore. This zoo is said to be one of the ancient zoos in India. It is home of a variety of wild species and is more than 100 years old. The zoo is famous for its ecological balance that is maintained here.
St.Philomena’s Church is one of the most important and distinctive building in Mysore. This church was built to dedicate St.Philomena. The church was built in 1956 but the foundation stone was laid in 1933 by the Maharaja of Mysore. The church is built in Neo Gothic style. This church was inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. The Church was designed and planned by a Frenchman named Daly. The most attractive feature of the church is the twin spires, each of 175 m in height. The church can accommodate 800 people at one time. The glass window with paintings on it depicts scenes from the birth of Christ till the Crucification, the Ascension and the Resurrection of Christ.
Railway Museum
Railway Museum is situated near to Mysore Station. It is the second oldest Rail Museum after the museum in Delhi. The museum exhibits the locomotives in India. The museum has some very important and royal carriages belonging to the royal families in Mysore. Sri Ranga pavilion which is a two coach carriage is one of the famous one. There is a Maharani saloon dating back to 1899 comprising of a kitchen, dining car and a royal toilet. The museum also has some rare paintings which depicts the growth of Indian Railway. There is also a toy train here which is operated by battery, kids take a ride here.
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery
Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery is another very important centre of attraction. It is the house of Indian miniature paintings including Ravi Verma and Nicholas Roerich. It also exhibits some very rare and antique musical instruments. There is wide range of ivory, sandalwood, ceramics and stone carving furniture along with utensils belonging to the royal family.
Other Details
What to Do
Walk around the town and absorb its historic feel. The walks are arranged by specific groups. Groups are organized based on history, Mysore silk, yoga and spirituality.
Hiking lovers can go to the Chamundi Mountains. In the evening, refresh yourself with a walk by the Kukkarahalli and Karanji Lake.
Where to Eat
- Malgudi Cafe — This is the best place to spend an evening solemnly, with excellent coffees and Himalayan tea. Snacks, cakes and bread are the other snacks available in this area.
- Vinayaka Mylari — Street 769 Nazarbad Main Rd. This food joint offers a range of South Indian items. Masala Dosa and Idli are is very popular among locals and tourists.
- Bombay Tiffanys — Sayyaji Rao Road. Sweet items are most popular.
- Parklane Hotel –Street 2720 Harsha Rd. The restaurant offers a nice ambiance for the guests with garden style tables and numerous lanterns that brighten up the place.
What to Buy
- Sandalwood
- Silk
- Incense or perfume
Devraja Market on Dhanwantari Road is a one stop shop for all of these.
Get Around
There are various means to travelling in and around the city of Mysore. One can opt for buses or auto-rickshaws if you want to go cheap. If not opt for a taxi or auto.
Top Destinations - Karnataka
– Bangalore
– Mysore
Popular Tour Plans - Karnataka
4-6 Days
1. Bangalore-Mysore-Ooty (6N/7D)