About Mysore

Country: India | State: Karnataka

Ideal Trip Duration: 2 Full Days

Nearest City to Mysore: Mysore

Best Time to Visit Mysore: October to February

Peak Season: October & December to January & May to June

At a distance of 128 km from Ooty, 139 km from Bangalore, 203 km from Coimbatore, 247 km from Mangalore, & 476 km from Chennai, Mysore is the 2nd biggest city in Karnataka. It is one of the top places to visit near Bangalore, and among the must include places in Karnataka Tour Packages.

Mysore is the erstwhile capital of the Mysore Maharajas, who ruled the Mysore State between 1399 & 1947. Mysore is also the stopover for Coorg Tour Packages. Mysore still retains its old-world charm with its palaces, heritage buildings, traditions, and temples. At an altitude of 763 meters surrounded by hill ranges from north to south, it is known as the City of Palaces. Mysore Palace is among the must include place in your Mysore Tour Packages.

According to this story in the mythological Devi Purana, Mysore was ruled by the demon-king Mahishasura. He was called Mahishasura because he was a buffalo-headed monster. Hearing the prayers of Gods and Goddess to save them from the monster, Goddess Parvathi took birth as Chamundeswari and killed the monster. Hence, this place came to be known as Mahishuru, later became Maisuru & Mysore.

The Mysore Kingdom, ruled by the Wodeyar family was initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire. After the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, Mysore became independent and the region was ruled from Srirangapatna. The power of Mysore moved into the hands of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan between 1761 and 1799. After the death of Tipu Sultan in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore war, the power was handed over back to the Wodeyar family.

Mysore has several tourist attractions including palaces, museums, temples, gardens, etc. Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill Temple, Mysore Zoo are the most famous places to visit in Mysore. Srirangapatna and Brindavan Gardens are major attractions close to Mysore. Mysore can also be visited along with Wayanad as part of Wayanad tour packages, and Ooty tour packages. If you are planning to visit Bandipur or Nagarhole as part of your Mysore trip, staying at Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR) properties is the best way to explore these parks as they offer guided safari tours.

Bangalore Airport is the nearest airport which is about 184 km from Mysore. It has regular flights from Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, Mangalore, Pune, and Thiruvananthapuram. Mysore Junction Railway station is well connected by train from Bangalore, Bagalkot, Tirupati, Tuticorin, Hubli, Chennai, Dharwar, and Arsikere. Mysore has direct bus connectivity with Chennai, Bangalore, Ooty, Coorg, Coimbatore, Kochi, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, and Hyderabad.

Mysore Dussera is the celebration of the victory of good over evil. The month-long Dussera celebrations, with its colorful processions, fireworks, and the beautifully lighted palace, give an enchanting look to the city. During the Wodeyar rule, Mysore reached the peak of its glory.

Mysore has pleasant weather throughout the year, though October to March is the best season to visit. It usually takes about 2 full days to visit the important places in Mysore.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Very Good
STD Code: 0821
Languages Spoken: Kannada, Tamil & English
Major Festivals: Dusshera (Sep/Oct)
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Mysore

By Air

Nearest Airport: Bangalore - Bengaluru International Airport (182 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Mysore Junction (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Mysore Central Bus Station (2 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Mysore

Heritage

#1 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

About Mysore Palace

At a distance of 2.5 km from the Mysore Railway Station & 2 km from KSRTC Bus Station, the Mysore Palace was the official residence of the former royal family of Mysore, and also housed the durbar. It is one of the largest palaces in India, and among the best tourist places to visit in Mysore.

History of Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace is the venue for the famous Mysore Dasara and it is often used to promote Mysore Tourism. It is one of the top attractions you must include in Mysore Packages. The Mysore Palace was built-in 1912 after a fire burnt down the old wooden palace. It was built by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and was further expanded by his son Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. The palace was designed by British architect Henry Irwin.

Architecture of Mysore Palace

The architectural style of the palace is commonly described .....

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Heritage | Pilgrimage

#2 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

About Chamundi Hill Temple

At a distance of 8 km from Mysore Zoo & 13 km from Mysore Railway Station, Chamundi Hill Temple is a Hindu temple located in Mysore. It is one of the major places of pilgrimage in Karnataka, and among the must-visit places as part of Mysore tour packages.

Mythology

The Chamundi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeswari, an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi who took this form to destroy Mahishasura. Regarded as one of the best places to visit in Mysore, the temple is also known as Krouncha Pitham and is one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas representing the hair of Sati Devi.

History of Chamundi Temple

Perched at an altitude of 1065 m, the Chamundi Hill Temple was believed to be built in the 12th century by the Rulers of the Hoysala Dynasty while the temple tower was probably built .....

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Wildlife

#3 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

At a distance of 3 km from Mysore Railway Station, the Mysore Zoo is a zoological park situated in Mysore. Also known as Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, it is one of the oldest zoo parks in South India, and among the must include places in Mysore packages.

The Mysore Zoo was established in the year 1892 by Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar and designed by German Landscaper and Horticulturist Mr. GH. Krumbeigal. It is one of the best Mysore tourist places, and often used to promote Mysore Tourism along with Mysore Palace.

The zoo was originally 10 acres and has expanded to over 250 acres currently. Mysore Zoo provides shelter to a large number of animal species. The Zoo is famous for breeding some very rare animals in captivity. It has a fine collection of animals like lions, tigers, hyenas, deer, elephants, rhinos, king cobras, and birds. The highlights .....

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Park

#4 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

About Brindavan Gardens

At a distance of 16 km from Srirangapatna, & 19 km from Mysore, Brindavan Gardens is a famous & beautiful garden laid out below the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam in Karnataka. This is one of the best tourist places to visit in Mysore, and among the must-include places in Srirangapatna Tour Packages.

History of Brindavan Gardens

Sir Mirza Ismail, the then Diwan of Mysore wanted to beautify the area around KRS Dam. Therefore, the construction of Brindavan Garden was started in the year 1927 by the Department of Horticulture and was completed in 1932. The designs of Brindavan Gardens have been inspired by the breathtaking Shalimar Bagh of Kashmir which was created in the ancient Mughal Style. Now, the garden is maintained by the Cauvery Irrigation Department, Government of Karnataka. The garden was .....

Distance (From Mysore Junction): 19 Kms
Trip Duration (From Mysore Junction - Including Travel): 2-3 Hours
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Museum

#5 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

At a distance of about 500 meters from Mysore Railway Station & 2.5 Kms from KSRTC Bus Station, Railway Museum is situated adjacent to the railway station on Krishnaraja Sagar Road. This Museum was established in 1979 by Indian Railways and it was the earliest railway museums set up in India. A visit to Railway Museum is one of the top things to do in Mysore.

The museum houses a great collection of different models of trains ran by India Railways throughout the history. This collection consists of engines running on narrow gauge, meter gauge and broad gauge tracks, inspection coaches, engines from different periods, a cart running with steam, etc. There is also a private train with two coaches used by Maharaja of Mysore exhibited in Sri Ranga Pavilion which has a Maharani's saloon carriage dating back to 1899. The Pavilion also houses several artifacts used during the initial days like different models of .....

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Pilgrimage

#6 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

At a distance of 2.5 km from Mysore Railway Station & 1 km from KSRTC Bus Station, St. Philomena's Church is a Catholic Church built in honor of St. Philomena in the Diocese of Mysore, India. This is one of the top places to visit in Mysore. Designed by the Reverend Rene Feuge, it was constructed in 1956 in a Neo Gothic style and its architecture was inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

The church is dedicated to 3rd century saint Philomena who was the daughter of the monarch of a small state in Greece. Her parents were childless for several years. They prayed Jesus to bless them with a child and the next year Philomena was born to them. Even in her childhood Philomena showed signs of piety. When Philomena was 13 years old her father took her to Rome to obtain the favour of Emperor Diocletian. The Emperor was enthralled by her beauty and wanted to marry her. But she refused and vowed to give herself .....

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Heritage | Museum

#7 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

At a distance of 2 km from Mysore Railway Station & 2 km from KSRTC Bus Station, the Jagan Mohan Palace which houses the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery is located near the City Bus Stand in Mysore. It is one of the best-preserved art galleries in Karnataka, and among the most popular Mysore tourist places.

The Jagan Mohan Palace was constructed in 1861 by Krishnaraja Wodeyar III as an alternate retreat for the royal family. The Mysore Palace, which was the original home of the royal family, was burnt down in a fire and the construction of a new palace in its place was started in 1897. Till the new palace was completed in 1912, the Jagan Mohan Palace was used by the royals as their home.

The Palace is a three-storied structure constructed in the traditional Hindu style of architecture. The original palace was extended in 1900 and an external .....

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Museum

#8 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

At a distance of 5 Kms from Mysore Railway Station & 2.2 Kms from Mysore Zoo, the Regional Museum of Natural History, located on the banks of Karanji Lake, is one of the best Mysore tourist places.

The museum exhibits plants, animals and geology of the southern region of India. The galleries of the museum are presented under the divisions of Man and the Environment, Ecology, Life through the Ages, Biological Diversity, and Conservation for Development. The galleries emphasize the conservation of nature and natural resources while depicting ecological interrelationship among plants and animals.

Visually challenged students can feel the exhibits of animals on the premises. The museum provides an extracurricular activity for schools and promotes environmental awareness. They also arrange film shows on topics related to natural history.

The lobby of the museum has beautiful art work of Elephants .....

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Wildlife

#11 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

At a distance of 5 km from Mysore Railway Station, Shuka Vana is a bird aviary situated in the serene premises of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama, Mysore. Located on Nanjanagud- Mysore Highway, it is one of the must-visit tourist places in Mysore, especially for bird lovers.

Literally means Parrot Park, the Shuka Vana Bird Aviary was established by Dr. S. Subramanya, a well-known veterinarian and ornithologist, in collaboration with Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji of Avadhoota Datta Peetham. The aviary was inaugurated in 2011 with the vision of providing shelter to injured & uncared birds, fostering their well-being, and conserving their habitats.

The Aviary is home to more than 450 species of parrots totaling over 2200 birds, making it, to the Guinness World Records for housing the largest number of bird species in an aviary. These birds hail from diverse habitats such as rainforests, .....

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Heritage

#9 of 54 Places to Visit in Mysore

At a distance of 7 Kms from Mysore Railway Station & 4 Kms from Mysore Zoo, Lalitha Mahal Palace is located close to Chamundi Hill Road. This is the second largest palace in Mysore after The Mysore Palace. It is one of the top Mysore tourist places and among the best palaces in Mysore. Built in 1921 by Maharaja Krishna Raja Wodeyar Bahaddur IV, this palace initially housed royal guests. It was designed by EW Fritchley from Mumbai in European & Indian styles.

The palace is beautifully designed and it is one of the most attractive palaces in South India. The lobby and corridors of the palace have beautiful paintings of Mysore rulers and historical events of Mysore kingdom, like The siege of Srirangapatna Fort, Tipus Sons, etc. The staircase of the palace is wonderfully designed. The most attractive part of the palace is the restaurant block. The curved .....

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Top 5 Mysore Packages