Mysore is a city in the state of Karnataka in Southern India and is considered the cultural capital of the state. It is 140 KM from Bangalore. Till the indenpendence, it was the erstwhile capital of present day Karnataka State and was ruled by the Wodeyar dynasty. Mysore is a city of palaces, gardens, shady avenues and sacred temples and still retains some of the charm of the old world. The Wodeyar dynasty is still well-loved and the people of Mysore are still nostalgic for the grandeur of the earlier times, retainig Dasara, a 10 day celebration to showcase the rich culture and heritage of the state. It’s still celebrated with the same old enthusiasm during the month of Oct/ Nov and a spectacular event to watch.
Main Languages: Kannada, Hindi and English
City Telephone Code/ STD Code: 0821
Best time to visit: October to March
Tourist Information: Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation (PH: 2423652) and Private tour operators.
Distance from other cities: Ahmedabad – 1561 kms,
Kolkatta – 2020 kms, Bangalore – 140 kms, Chennai – 470 kms,
Delhi – 2200 kms, Hyderabad – 701 kms, Mumbai – 1064 kms,
Trivandrum - 598 kms
Getting there and away
By Air: The nearest domestic and international airport is Bangalore airport.
By Rail: Mysore is well connected with rest of the country by an extensive railway network.
By Road: State transport and Private Operators have extensive services in Karnataka and connects Mysore to the neighboring states.
Getting around
By Bus: The local bus service with its extensive network connects important places within the city and to most of the tourist attractions, with a good frequency.
Other mode of transport: Apart from the local buses, you may also avail the services of taxis and autos.
Attractions in Mysore
- Mysore Palace
- Chamundi Hills
- Mysore Zoo
- St. Philomena’s Church
- Rail Museum
- Jaganmohana Palace
Besides these attractions, there are many more places that are worth visiting in Mysore like Sandal Wood Factory, Karanji Lake, Datta Peetham, Lalitha Mahal Palace and local markets for shopping local artifacts.
Around Mysore
Brindavan Garden (KRS): 19 KM from Mysore is the famous reservoir Krishnarajasagara (KRS), also called Brindavan Garden. This Dam is built across the river Cauvery. Just below the Dam is the beautiful Brindavan Gardens are laid out. There are varieties of fountains, illuminated at night by colourful lights. The Musical fountain is of special interest which has spectacular harmony of water, colours and music and must watch for every tourist.
Ranganathittu: Ranganathittu, 18 KM from Mysore, is a Bird Sanctuary that houses exotic birds. It is a group of small islands in the Cauvery River. It is home to a variety of water birds, including cormorants, herons, egrets and spoonbills, many of whom migrate here annually from Siberia and North America, to nest and breed. Crocodiles basking in the sun are also a familiar sight.
Srirangapattana: Just 16 KM from Mysore is Srirangapattana. Once the capital of Tipu Sultan, it is located on an island between two branches of Cauvery River. The fort, Tipu's Summer Palace, Gumbaz (Mausoleum built by Tipu for his parents), Juma Masjid, Sri Ranganathaswamy temple built in 894 AD etc. are places worth visiting.
Belur: 155 KM from Mysore is Belur, a small town situated on the banks of River Yagachi. Once the capital of Hoysala Dynasty, it is the home of several beautiful Hoysala Temples with a great artistry. Particularly intriguing are the angles bracket figures depicting women in ritual dancing poses and Hindu gods. Plentiful decorative work also lines the internal supporting pillars with every major Hindu deity.
Halebidu: 150 KM from Mysore and just 5 KM from Belur is Halebidu, a temple town. It has Hoysaleswara temple and Kedareswara temple, which are sculptural extravaganza and fine examples of Hoysala temple art. Halebidu was the capital of Hoysala rulers on the banks of Lake Dwarasamudra and was named after it. It was shifted to Belur when Malik Kafur of Delhi Sultanate ransacked the city and then Dwarasamudra was referred as Halebidu meaning old (hale) capital (bidu).
Sravanabelagola: 93 KM from Mysore is Sravanabelagola, is an unspoiled township between the Indragiri hills and Chandragiri hills; Sravanabelagola is a great Jain Centre. Thousands of pilgrims flock to see the gigantic statue of Jain Saint, Lord Gomteswara also known as Bahubali. Carved from a single block of stone, it is one of the largest monolithic statutes in the world the statue and stands 17 meter tall and is visible from 30 KM away. There are several Jain temples and monasteries on the Chandragiri Hills those are worth visiting as well.
