140 Kms from Bangalore lies the abode of untold grandeur and glory. Mysore,the capital city of the Wodeyars has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm,rich heritage, magnificent palaces,beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings,broad shady avenues and sacred temples. There's an old world charm about the city that reaches out and leaves no one untouched.

Mysore,or Mahishur as it was called then, traces its history back to the mythical past,when Goddess Chamundeshwari of Chamundi Hills killed the wicked buffalo-headed demon, Mahishasura. Mysore Dasara is the celebration of this victory of good over evil. Mysore also has associations with the Mahabharata and King Ashoka of the 3rd century B.C. During the Wodeyar rule Mysore reached the Zenith of its glory as a fabled centre of oriental splendour.

Mysore is one of the major cities of Karnataka. Today, Mysore is a vibrant city teeming with tourists and visitors. It is known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks.Its grand and imposing palaces,majestic temples,gardens leave an ever-lasting impression on the visitor.

Situated 770m above sea level,Mysore has a warm and cool climate throughout the year.

City Info

Area: N/A
Climate: Temperature (deg C): Max: 25.8, Min: 15.2 Winter: Max: 28, Min: 10
Rainfall:N/A
Clothing: Summer- Light cotton dress, Winter- Light woollens
Best Season: June to August-Monsoon, September to May Cool and Pleasant.
Languages Spoken: Kannada, Tamil, English.
Population: N/A

Places of Interest

The Mysore Palace: Once the residence of the Wodeyars, this structure is one of the largest of its kind in India. Built in 1912 in the Indo Saracenic style, this place excludes a grandeur that is unmatched. The Golden Royal Elephant Throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mantap and the Gallery are the main attractions here.




The Jaganmohan Palace:This is a converted art gallery which houses paintings that date back to the late 19th century. Paintings of Raja Ravi Verma of Travancore and the Russian Painter Svetoslav Roerich are on display. Paintings in the traditional Mysore Golden leaf style can also been seen here.





Chamundi Hill:Perched atop a hill is a 12th century temple of Chamundershwari. About 13 Kms from Mysore by road these is also a 1000 step walking track for all those young at heart to try. The gigantic 4.8 meter tall monolith of Nandi the sacred vehicle of Lord Shiva is a marvel to watch. Also close to the temple stands a gigantic statues of the demon Mahishasura.







St. Philomena's Church: This beautiful Cathedral was built in 1956 and is one of the largest churches in the country. It has been built in the Gothic style with beautiful stain glass windows and lofty towers. The illuminated church in the evening is a wonderful site not to be missed.




The Mysore Zoo: One of the county's best zoo, this is famous for rare animals bred in captivity and is housed in lush green surroundings.








Brindavan Gardens: 19 Kms north west of Mysore is the famous KRS dam. Built by the famous engineer Sir. M. Vishvesvariah this was one of the first multi purpose dams built in India. Adjacent to the dam is the beautiful Brindavan Garden. With lighting and musical fountains this place transforms it self into a fairy land in the evenings.


Excursion

Daria Daulat Bagh

Tipu's Summer Palace,built in 1784,is located here.Made of teak,this Indo-Sarcenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescos.It is now a museum and tells eloquently of Tipu's valor and his losing battle against the British.

Fort

It is here that Tipu charged at the British soldiers with his legendary sword.An obelisk in the fort marks the place where he fell -betrayed by his own men.The fort holds within it,a mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple.Outside the fort is the Gumbaz,Tipu's tomb with splendid ebony doors inlaid with ivory.

Himvad Gopalaswamy Hills

This is a popular hill resort and a trekker's delight as well.It is situated in the verdant western ghats of Mysore District.The temple here is dedicated to Lord Hoysala.

Melkote

Situated 50 Kms.north of Mysore,Melkote is a sacred pilgrim centre,known for its Vairamundi festival in March-April.More than one lakh devotees congregate here for the festival.Melkote is also famous for its handlooms.Ramanucharya,the Shrivaishnava saint-philosopher,took shelter here from his persecutors.

Talakad

48 Kms from Mysore,It is situated on the banks of the river Cauvery and is completely buried beneath sand dunes.Only the Dravidian style Vaidyeshwara temple is visible above the ground.Its temples are opened for ceremonial worship on special occasions -once in twelve years.

Shivsamudra

85 Kms east of Mysore,where the river Cauvery cascades down in two picturesque waterfalls,is Shivsamudra.Falling down from a height of 75 m into a deep gorge,these falls are best during the monsoons.1.5 kms.away is Asia's first hydro-electric power project set up in 1905.

Nagarhole National Park

93 kms.from Mysore, in the forest of Nagarhole,is a National Park.Abounding in a rich variety of wildlife,one can find elephants,antelopes and even leopards here.

Kabini River Lodge

Situated 80 kms.from Mysore in the Karapur forests is the old hunting lodge of the Maharajas and Viceroys.The lodge on the banks of the river Kabini arranges jeep rides into the jungle and coracle rides on the Kabini for bird watching.A naturalist guide helps you identify the many varieties of birds and wild beasts.

B.R. Hills

This picturesque hill range,at a height of 5091 ft.,is 120 kms.from Mysore and is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.The temple on the hill,dedicated to Biligiri Rangaswamy attracts devotees round the year.

How to get there

By Air

The nearest Airport is Bangalore (139 Kms).

By Rail

Mysore is again connected with many trains to Bangalore. Also the prestigious luxury train, Shatabdi Express connects it to Madras.

By Road

Mysore is located 139 Kms. to the south west of Bangalore. The state highway that connects the two cities could provide a pleasant ride through rustic country side. A bus or car ride from Bangalore would take approximately 3 hours.

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