Mysore

1. About the Place

770 m above sea level and 140 kms from Bangalore, this imperial city was the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyars.

Also known as the City of Palaces, Mysore retains a quaint charm that never fails to enchant.

2. What to see?

Mysore Palace: 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 palace exudes a grandeur that is unmatched. The Golden Royal Throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mandap, the Gallery and the Ambavilas are the main attractions here.

Sir Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery: Housed in the Jaganmohan Palace, this gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings dating back to 1875. The collection includes paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, the Russian Svetoslav Roerich and the traditional Mysore gold leaf style of painting.

St. Philomena's Church: In the Gothic style, this is one of the largest churches in the country and has beautiful stained-glass windows.

Mysore Zoo: The zoo houses some rare animals bred in captivity, and exotic species of plants.

Chamundi Hills: Towering over the city, these hills are 13 kms away from Mysore. Half way up is the Nandi Bull, a 4.8 m monolith. Right on top is the 2000-year-old Chamundeswari Temple, dedicated to the patron goddess of the royal family.

Brindavan Gardens (Mandya District): 19 kms north-west of Mysore is the KRS Dam and the ornamental Brindavan Gardens. The musical fountains and colourful lights transform this place into a fairy land in the evenings.

3. Around Mysore

Srirangapatna (Mandya District): is 14 kms north-east, of the Bangalore-Mysore highway. This island fortress, once the capital of the warrior-kings Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, has magnificent monuments that are well worth a visit.

Daria Daulat Bagh: Tipu's Summer Palace built in 1784 was his favourite retreat. Made of teak, this Indo-Saracenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescoes. It is now a museum and tells eloquently of Tipu's valour and his battle against the British.

Fort: It is from here that Tipu charged at the British soldiers with his legendary sword. An obelisk in the fort marks the place where the fell-betrayed by his own men. The fort holds within it, a mosque and the Ranganatha Swamy Temple. Outside the fort is the Gumbaz, Tipu's tomb with splendid ebony doors inlaid with ivory. Sangama is 3 kms south of Srirangapatna where the two branches of river Cauvery re-unite in joyful exuberance.

Bandipur: Situated 80 kms from Mysore, the Bandipur National Park is one of the most beautiful wildlife centres. Rare species of animals and birds can be seen in this natural habitat. Bandipur has also been chosen as a centre for the Project Tiger Scheme launched in 1973 by the WWF to save the tiger.

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

Ranganathittu (Mandya District): 4 kms from Srirangapatna and 18 kms from Mysore is a Bird Sanctuary that houses exotic birds. Birds from as far away as Siberia and even North America make their home here. Crocodiles basking in the sun is also a familiar sight. Best season-May-Sept/Oct.

Nanjangud: is 23 kms south of Mysore. This is an important pilgrim centre and is famous for its Srikanteswara Temple. Built in the Dravidian style, the temple is one of the biggest of its kind in Karnataka.

Somnathapur: 35 kms east is famous for its 13th century Hoysala Temple. The temple is in excellent condition, has frescoed exteriors depicting episodes from the epics.

Melkote: 50 kms north, is a sacred Vaishnavas pilgrim centre, known for its Vairmudi festival in March-April. More than one lakh devotees congregate here for the festival. Melkote is also known for its handlooms.

Talakad: is situated on the banks of the river Cauvery and is completely buried beneath sand dunes. Its temples are opened for ceremonial worship on a special occasion called Pancha Linga Darshan-once in twelve years.

Cauvery Fishing Camp: 82 kms from Mysore Bhimeshwari is a paradise for anglers. Mahasheer, the finest game fish is found here. This camp is also accessible from Bangalore (100 kms).

Shivasamudram (Mandya district): is 85 kms east of Mysore, where the river Cauvery cascades down in two picturesque waterfalls. Falling down from a height of 75 m into a deep rocky gorge, these falls are best during the monsoon. 1.5 kms away is Asia's first hydroelectric project set up in 1902.

Nagarhole National Park and the Kabini River Lodge: are perfect get-aways for nature lovers. Abounding in rich variety of wildlife, one can find elephants, tigers antelopes and even leopards here.

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.

Mahadeshwara Hill: About 142 kms from Mysore, this is a popular pilgrim centre. Atop the hill is a temple dedicated to Lord Mahadeshwara which is in the form of a Linga.

4. Shopping

Sandalwood, its products and silk are Mysore's specialities, sold in Government-owned emporia at fixed prices. The government Silk Factory offers silk straight from the looms.

5. Festivals

The Dasara celebrations in Mysore bring back the glory and grandeur of a bygone era. During Sept-Oct the entire city rejoices with colour and gaiety. The 10-days festivity culminates in a grand procession on the last day-Vijayadashami.

6. Where to stay?

Budget:

Mid-Range:

Top End:

7. Local Food Specialities

Mysore is famous for Mysore Pak-a sweet rich in ghee. Other delicacies include spicy rice preparations, idli, dosai and vada.

8. How to reach?

Mysore is connected by rail and road to Bangalore, Mangalore and Chennai. Accessibility. Tourist spots around Mysore City are well-connected by road.

Air:

There are no flights to Mysore but Indian Airlines Tel.:421846 has an office next to the Hotel Mayura Hoysala.

Bus:

The Central bus stand handles all of the KSRTC long-distance buses. Reservations can be made six days in advance. The City bus stand, on KR Circle, is for city, Srirangapatnam and Chamundi Hill buses. Private long-distance bus agencies are clustered around the road junction near the Wesley Cathedral. Bus service is available for Bangalore, Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola, Sravanabelagola, Channarayapatna, Hospet, Hampi, Ooty, Mangalore, Ernakulam, Gokarna and Chennai.

Train:

There are daily express trains to Bangalore and Chennai. Passenger services between Mysore and Bangalore stop in Srirangapatnam, an alternative to catching the bus.