MYSORE

Mysore

About:-

 Mysore city was the capital of the old royal Mysore province. The word Mysore expands to "Mahishasurana Ooru" which means the town of Mahishasura. The story goes that the demon Mahishasura was killed by goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi hill near Mysore, hence the name. Ever since, the Mysore royal family has worshipped Chamundeshwari as the palace deity. Hills dedicated to her stand at the eastern end of Mysore town today.

The Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century except for a short period of 40 years when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers. Mysore has never failed to mesmerize the tourists with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. The charm of this city leaves no one untouched.

Tourist Attractions Mysore

The Mysore Palace

The Mysore Palace was built over one thousand years ago, in AD 897. Saracenic in style, the palace has both Hindu as well as Muslim influences. After a fire in 1897, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV rebuilt the palace as we see it today, under the supervision of architect Henry Irwin. The main building is of massive gray granite with a tower covered by a gilded dome. A temple is situated within the royal courtyard.

Visit Timing: Daily, 10:00 am to 5:30 pm

St. Philomena's Church

St. Philomena's Church is one of the oldest churches in Mysore. Built in Gothic style, the church is among the largest in India. Stained glass windows and lofty towers give this cathedral an imposing look.

Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery

Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery was established in 1875 and has a rare collection of some beautiful paintings from the same era. The gallery is located in Jagmohan Palace and exhibits paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, Svetsolav Roerich and traditional paintings from Mysore. 
The traditional gold leaf paintings and some exquisitely carved statues in sandalwood, ivory and stone are also exhibited in the gallery. The old paintings in the gallery have been done in mineral and vegetable dyes and paints.

The Mysore Zoo

The Mysore Zoo was set up by the royal family and houses some rare and exotic birds & animals. Situated amidst lush green surroundings, the zoo has acquired fame for breeding some rare animals in captivity.

The Chamundeshwari Temple

The Chamundeshwari Temple is one of the noted Hindu places of worship and is situated atop the Chamundi Hill. On way to the Chamundi Hills is the Lalitha Mahal, a guest palace now converted into a heritage hotel.

Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum

The city of Mysore is gifted with many interesting sightseeing places, making it an ideal holidaying destination. Sand Sculpture Museum is the most recent addition to the list of places to see in Mysore. Located on the way to Chamundi Hills, this unique museum is first of its kind in India.

An excellent example of creative brilliance, sand sculpture museum offers a creative setting with artistic works. Intricate carvings on the sand, delicateness of the sculptures and their unique themes make it a place worth visiting.

Railway Museum Mysore

The Railway Museum at Mysore, India is an outdoor exhibit of vintage locomotives.

The Railway Museum was established in 1979 by Indian Railways, the second such museum after the National Railway Museum in Delhi. The museum is opposite the Central Food Technology and Research Institute on Krishnaraja Sagar Road. It has locomotives and a gallery of photographs and paintings depicting the growth of railways in India. Railway signals and lights are also displayed. The museum has a battery-operated mini-train giving a short ride for children on the grounds.

Brindavan Garden

Brindavan Gardens of Mysore is undeniably one of the best terrace gardens in the world. A must sightseeing place of a Mysore tour, Brindavan Garden mesmerizes everyone. It is located about 12km towards the north west of the Mysore city. Brindavan gardens with its illuminated fountains, botanical park, extensive varieties of plants and fulfilled boating, is place for everyone.

Especially famous for its symmetric design and illuminate terrace gardens, Brindavan Gardens was built by Sir Mirza Ismail, the then diwan of Mysore state. He was the brain behind its modelling and conceptualization. Spread across an area of more than 60 acres, this garden is laid out in three terraces, and ends in a horseshoe shape.

Royal Mysore Walks

An excellent way to familiarise yourself with Mysuru’s epic history and heritage. Offers a range of weekend walks (themes include royal history and food) as well as cycle and jeep tours.

Fairs & Festivals

Dussehra in Mysore is a sight one would remember for a long time even after leaving the place. It is believed that the presiding deity of the city has the power to conquer evil forces and this has led the citizens to celebrate the festival with much gaiety and fervor.

Places Around Mysore

Situated around 19 km north west of Mysore are the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and the Vrindavan Garden. The garden attracts thousands of visitors every year who come to see its dancing musical fountains.

Fourteen km northeast of Mysore is Srirangpattnam, an island fortress and the capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu's summer palace, Daria Daulat, has now been turned into a museum.

Sangam, the confluence of two branches of the Cauvery River, is situated around 3 km off Srirangpattnam.

Ranganathittu is a bird sanctuary situated around 18 km off Mysore and allows a close view of exotic and common birds.

Somnathpur is situated around 35 km east of Mysore and is famous for the Hoysala Temples that are still in excellent condition.

Eighty-two kilometers away is the Cauvery Fishing Camp, a paradise for anglers where the mahaseer is found in abundance.

The Bandipur National Park is 80 km off Mysore on the way to Ooty and a famous tiger reserve. Spread over an area of 875 km, the park has a variety of animals such as the tiger, barking deer, tusker, and bison.

How to Reach

BY AIR - Mysore Airport also known as the Mandakalli airport, is an airport serving Mysore, a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located near the village of Mandakalli, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of the city, and is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). And The nearest airport from Mysore is 140 km away in Bangalore, from where one can take flights for most of the important cities in India.

BY RAIL - Mysore is connected with most of the metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai through regular trains.

BY ROAD - There is a good network of roads that connects Mysore to other important cities of the region. We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local transportations and also for the intercity drives too.