The famed city of Mysore is located in Karnataka state. Mysore known for its rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings , temples, museums and tree lined boulevards is the cultural capital of Karnataka.
Mysore is the second biggest City in the State. The name Mysore is derived from Mahishuru which means abode of Mahisha. According to the legend a demon named Mahishasura who was ruling this place was slayed by Goddess Chamundeshwari. It was the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyars dynasty and remained their capital until 1947. The city is also called the city of palaces because of the number of palaces built by the Royal family. Another name given to Mysore is the Sandalwood city because it is surrounded by sandalwood and rosewood forests and sandalwood soap and perfume is quiet popular. In addition to this Mysore is also famous for its beautiful silk sarees known for its quality and everlasting lustre. Apart from there are many other things that are popular like the Mysore paintings, sandalwood and rose wood carved articles , the sweet called Mysore Pak and the Mysore Peta which is a traditional turban made from silk.
Dasara is the most extravagant festival of Mysore. It is a 10-day festival in the region which culminates on Vijayadashami or tenth day. The illuminated Mysore Palace and the procession during the Dasara celebrations draw tourists from all over the world.
Top Tourist Places to Visit Near Mysore
Mysore is a major tourist’s destination today. Tourist from far and wide come to see the splendour of the city of Mysore.
Mysore Palace
Mysore palace is situated in the centre of city. Also known as Amba Vilas Palace, this place is the most visited palaces in India. This was the residence of the Wodeyar Maharajah's of the Mysore state. The present Palace built in Indo-Saracenic style was rebuilt in the year 1912 when the original palace built of wood got burnt down in 1897. At the entrance of the palace there is Gombe Thotti or the Pavilion for the Dolls. The main attraction here is the Golden Howdah. The Kalyan Mantap and Diwan-e-Aam that faces the south and Diwan-e-Khas, the golden throne made of 200 kg of gold are the prime attractions of the Mysore Palace. It is a three-storied stone structure surrounded by a large garden which was designed by the well-known British architect, Henry Irwin.
Jaganmohan Palace
Jaganmohan Palace was the alternate retreat for the royal family which lived in this palace till the construction of the new Amba Vilas Mysore Palace in 1912. The installation of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV was conducted here in 1902. The palace was also witness to several musical festivals, cultural activities and convocations of Mysore University. In 1915 the palace was converted into an art gallery which was later renamed in 1955 in the name of Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar as the Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery.
Chamundi Hills
Chamundeshwari temple was built in the honor of Goddess Chamundi. It is situated on the top of Chamundi hills. The goddess is the family deity of the Mysore Maharajah Krishnaraja III during the latter part of the 18th century built this temple tower. The shrine is known for its intricate carvings and statues. The golden idol of the Goddess and the silver-plated doorway add to the magnificence of the temple. A 16 foot colorful statue of the demon Mahishasura near the temple is another highlight here. Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar built the colossal Nandi which is 16 ft. tall at the front and 25 ft. in length. This Nandi is one of the largest in India. The panoramic view of the Mysore city from the top of Chamundi hills is also spectacular.
Brindavan Gardens
Brindavan Gardens is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mysore. Then called the Krishna Rajendra Terrace Garden this is one of the most beautifully laid out terrace gardens in the world. Brindavan Gardens is situated about 20 km from the city. Brindavan Gardens is located adjoining the Krishna Raja Sagara dam built across river Cauvery. The dam is built close to the confluence of the rivers -Cauvery, Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha. The KRS dam which is a civil engineering wonder was built by Sir M. Visweswariah, one of India's finest engineers. The dam is named after Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV during whose rule Sir M. Visweswariah.
The Brindavan garden is spread over an area of 150 acres. The illuminated dancing fountains that come to life after sunset is a major attraction here. This garden was constructed during the period of Krishnaraja Wodeyar and was designed by Sir Mirza Ismail.
Mysore Zoo
Mysore Zoo located at the foothills of Chamundi temple has an excellent collection of animals. The zoological gardens in Mysore were set up by Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar. The official name for the zoo is Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens and it is one of the biggest zoological gardens in India.
St. Philomena's Church
Built in the gothic form of architecture this is one of the oldest chapels in India. The foundation stone for the church was laid by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV in 1933 and it was completed in 1941. This church preserves the 3rd century relic of St. Philomena in a catacomb below the main altar. Sanctum sanctorum has idols of St. Philomena and Holy Christ placed on the marble altar.
Karanji Lake
Karanji Lake is located at the foot hills of the Chamundi Mountains just behind the Mysore Zoo. The lake spread across 90 acres is home to thousands of resident and migratory birds. Boating facilities are available here. This place also has the India's biggest walk-through aviary. Karanji Lake also has a butterfly park with a large variety of plant species to attract butterflies.
Lalitha Mahal Palace
Lalitha Mahal Palace is situated 11kms from Mysore city. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV commissioned this two-storied Palace in 1921 to host his most important guest, the Viceroy of India. This Palace meant for special royal guests has a sprawling terrace and landscaped gardens. This has now been converted into a heritage category five-star hotel.
Srirangapatna
Srirangapatna is situated about 14 Kms. from Mysore. This place is on the banks of river Kaveri. The town derives its name from the presiding deity of Ranganatha Swamy temple. Srirangapatna was the capital of the Mysore state, while Tipu Sultan was ruling Mysore. This place is of great religious, cultural and historic importance. Tipu’s palace known as Lal Mahal, Dariya Daulat Baugh-the summer residence of Tippu Sultan, Gumbaz, Ranganatha swamy temple, Nimishamba temple, Water Gate, two Dungeons etc. are some of the main attractions here.
Nanjangud
Nanjangud is 25kms from Mysore. Nanjangud is on the banks of the River Kapila and is named after its famous temple the Nanjundeshwara temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Also known as the ‘Dakshina Kashi' (southern Kashi) the large temple complex structure is built in the Dravidian style. The temple is spread around 1 Acres and there are 121 statues of Shiva in different avatars, 65 Lingas and 200 big and small shrines inside the temple. Near Nanjangud there is a confluence of the rivers - Kapila and Gundlu. This confluence is called "Parashurama Kshetra". Nanjangud is also an important industrial hub of Mysore district.
Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary
Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary is around 30kms from Mysore. The sanctuary is spread across a series of small islands in the river Cauvery. Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary is the important nesting and breeding ground site for several bird species. Birds from far off places like Siberia, Australia and even North America can be spotted here. The Marsh Crocodile also called the Mugger Crocodile is a common inhabitant of the river. The Department of Forests offers boat tours of the islands.
Somnathpur
Somnathpur is some 35 kms from Mysore. This place is known for one of the last and the grandest of Hoysala monuments - Chennakeshava Temple. The construction of the temple devoted to Prasanna Chennakeshava was started by Somanatha, a high-ranking officer under Hoysala King Narasimha III. This sculptural extravaganza built on a star shaped base foundation was erected in 1268. Somnathpur’s temples adhere to the typical Hoysala style architecture and outer walls have beautifully carved exquisite figures of gods and goddesses. The central sanctum sanctorum housed beautifully carved idol of Kesava, while the other two shrines housed idols of Janardhana and Venugopala.
Shivasamudram falls
Shivasamudram falls is 85 km from Mysore near Kollegal. Here The river Cauvery branches into two streams and gushed down in the form a mesmerising waterfall. On the one side, it forms the Gaganachukki falls and on the other side are the Bharachukki Falls. The sight of these falls is captivating.
Nagarhole National Park
Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary is 90 km from Mysore. It is home to many wildlife species like elephants, bisons, tigers, panthers etc. and about 250 species of birds. This is a Nilgiri biosphere reserve and the park has been recently renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
Bandipur National Park
Bandipur National Park is around 80 KMs south of Mysore City. It is an important Project Tiger reserve and is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Here animals are free to move in their natural habitat and this sanctuary is home to many Elephant, Tigers, Cheetah, Deer and Indian Bison. The Bandipur National Park includes the neighboring wildlife sanctuaries of Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala.
Talakad
It is 45 km from Mysore. This place was once the capital city of Ganga Dynasty. Talakad is a town known for its sand dunes and is located on the banks of the river Cauvery. Talakadu has a number of temples that are buried under the sand dunes. Viadyeshvara, Pataleshvara, Maruleshvara, Kritinarayana, Gourishankara and the Anandeshvara are the important temples here.
Apart from this there are many other places worth visiting like Belur, Halebidu, Shravanbelagola, BR Hills, Melkote etc.
How to Reach Mysore
The nearest airport to Mysore is Bangalore at a distance of 139 km from here. There are many train services operating between Bangalore and Mysore. The super-fast luxury train the Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Madras. The state highway connects Mysore with Bangalore. The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has excellent bus service to Mysore from Bangalore and other cities and towns in the state. Many private buses also ply regularly to and from Mysore.
Where to stay in Mysore
Since Mysore is a famous tourist’s destination numerous accommodation options are available in the city catering to different budgets. The tourists can choose from luxurious five star hotels to budget hotels and 3-star hotels to resorts.