Mysore

Understand

Name and history Mysore's recorded history dates back over a thousand years. Its name has a mythological origin. According to Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura was slain by the Goddess Chamundi at the place where present-day Mysore is. A statue of Mahishasura stands on Chamundi Hill on the outskirts of the city. In later times, the city rose to prominence when it became the capital of a breakaway vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire, ruled by the Wodeyar family in 1584. In 1610, the king Chamaraja Wodeyar shifted the capital to nearby Srirangapatna. Hyder Ali, who was a commander in the army, usurped power in the late 18th century. Hyder Ali was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan, who fought and lost a war with the British, dying in battle in 1799. The British restored the Wodeyars as their puppet rulers and shifted the capital back to Mysore. The Wodeyars had substantial internal autonomy and the Kingdom of Mysore (which comprised a large portion of present-day Karnataka) was one of the best administered in India. After independence, the kingdom was merged into the Indian Union and the capital of Mysore state was moved to nearby Bangalore where the British maintained their army. The state's name was eventually changed to "Karnataka" in 1973. The dynasty is still well-loved and the people of Mysore are still nostalgic for the grandeur of the earlier times. The palaces built by the Wodeyars and the annual celebrations of Dasara are holdovers of that period. Mysore has evolved from being a sleepy and quiet city to one that has become the most important in the state after Bangalore. The malls, flat complexes, new and improved roads, supermarkets the advent of IT and BPO firms and a growing young and dynamic workforce reflect the transformation of the city in the 21st century.

Climate Mysore has a tropical savanna climate with three main seasons - summer (March to May), the monsoon (June to October), and winter (November to February). Temperatures are generally warm year-round, with average highs ranging from about 28 degree Celsius in the coolest months to a high of 35 degree Celsius in April, the hottest month. The city experiences moderate to heavy rainfall during the monsoon season [1].

Orientation The different areas of Mysore are usually understood by the locals in the following way:

Mysore North: Gokulam, Hebbal, Metgully and Bangalore Road. Mysore South: Mananthavady Road, Ooty Road, J.P. Nagar and Kuvempu Nagar. Mysore East: Bannur Road, Siddhartha Nagar, T.Narasipura Road, Teresian College area, Zoo Garden, Karinji Lake and ATI. Mys

Getting there

By plane 1 Mysore Airport (MYQ IATA) (10 km south of the city centre). Mysore has its own airport. Commercial scheduled passenger service has been on and off since the airport's refurbishment in 2010. However, as of September 2017, the regional airline TruJet links Mysore to Chennai, with a connecting service to Hyderabad. (updated Nov 2023) The nearest international airport is in Bangalore (BLR IATA), 185 km northeast.

By train

2 Mysuru Junction SWR is the city's main station, and daily trains are plying the route to Bangalore. Mysore is well connected to Bangalore, with about 18 pairs of trains plying between them daily. Express Trains like 12007/08 Chennai Shatabdi, 16231/32 Mayiladuthurai Express (via Trichy), 16215/16 Chamundi Express, 16235/36 Tuticorin Express (via Madurai), 16021/22 Chennai Kaveri Express, 16591/92 Hampi Express, 16219/20 Tirupati Express, 16535/36 Gol Gumbaz Express (via Hubli, Bagalakot), 16557/58 Rajya Rani Express, 17307/08 Basava Express (via Kalaburagi, Solapur), 12613/14 Wodeyar Express, 16023/24 Malgudi Express, 17325/26 Vishwamanava Express (Hubli), 16227/28 Talaguppa Express and 3 sets of passenger trains connect Bangalore to Mysore daily. Apart from the above, 16209/10 Ajmer (via Kalyan Ahmedabad, Vadodara Biweekly express, 22817/18 Howrah (via Tirupati, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar Weekly Express, 12257/58 Bagmati Express (weekly)(via Chennai, Nagpur), 22681/82 Chennai Express (weekly), 16229/30 Varanasi (Via Guntakal, Daund, Itarsi)Express (bi-weekly), 16217/18 Shirdi Express (weekly), 12975/76 Jaipur Express (via Secunderabad, Nagpur, Bhopal) (bi-weekly), 16517/18/23/24 Karwar Express (tri-weekly) also connect via Bangalore to Mysore. Mysore is connected to Mumbai through 11035/36 Sharavathi Express (weekly), Delhi through 12781/82 Swarna Jayanti Express (weekly), Shimoga by 16201/02 Intercity Express (daily) & Dharwad/Hubli by 17301/02 Express (daily) apart from few other passenger trains to Shimoga, 4 pairs of passengers to Chamrajnagara, and one passenger to Bangalore via Shravanabelagola. Though 16021,16232,16236,16591 & 16535 are night-time trains, having Sleeper accommodations, day time AC chair car fare of ₹260 is levied on all these trains between Bangalore and Mysore, to attract more passengers to travel by train on this section in 3-tier AC class. Shatabdi fare between Bangalore and Mysore has also been fixed at a flat fare of ₹300 for the same reason The fastest and possibly the most comfortable way to travel between Mysore and Chennai is by the Vande Bharat Express, which covers the Mysore–Bangalore

Getting around

Getting around in Mysore is cheaper than in most Indian cities.

By thumb Taking a lift, most of the locals (mainly 2-wheelers) are very helpful and generally stop to give a lift. It might be difficult on the main arterial roads because of the Traffic Police, as helmets are compulsory for pillion riders as well.

By bus City buses originate from the City Bus Stand, 2 km from the Railway Station. Frequent bus services are available to all major city tourist and residential areas. Bus stops and departure times are visible on online map services. Volvo air-conditioned buses are available to Chamundi Hills, KRS-Brindavan Garden, Zoo, Infosys, and the European Quarter (Gokula).

By car Tourist cabs are your best option if you plan to tour the city all day or go to neighbouring towns like Srirangapatna. Costs about ₹9 or ₹10 per km. A day-long hire to cover the most popular points, ending with Brindavan Garden, may cost ₹1200 to ₹1600 for a non-AC Indica-type vehicle. App-based cab services like Ola Cabs and Uber are also available. There are many car rental companies available.

BookCab, ☏ +91 92 4100 4100, [email protected]. 24 hr.

By auto-rickshaw Auto-rickshaws have meters, but drivers politely refuse to turn down the meters, especially at railway stations, bus stations, etc. The more the driver suspects that you are a tourist judging based on your attire, looks and luggage, the less the chance that they will agree to use the meter. The price is ₹11 per km, with a minimum fare of ₹25. Try to insist on using the meter; threatening to call the police sometimes works when the rickshaw driver pretends that the meter is broken and wants a flat fee. At the railway station or city bus stand, go straight to the prepaid auto-rickshaw counter and tell them your destination (you have to pay a rupee (₹1) for this service). They will give you a slip with the fare printed, along with the destination and auto rickshaw registration number. When you arrive at the destination, you just pay what is printed on the slip. You can always get the help of a traffic police officer to negotiate with the auto driver. They are really helpful.

By horse-drawn carriage Horse-drawn carriages (known as a tanga) are a common sight and way of getting around the tourist hotspots in Mysore, especially the landmarks surrounding the palace.

See

1 Mysore Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens), Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Zoo Main Road Indiranagar, ☏ +91 821 252 0302, [email protected]. W-M 8AM-5:30PM. The zoo was established under royal patronage in 1892, making it one of the oldest in the world. Mysore Zoo has had a successful breeding program and houses animals from more than 40 different countries, along with native Indian fauna, including Royal Bengal tigers, white tigers, elephants, fallow deer, Himalayan black bears, Gaur (Indian bison), white peafowl and African rhinos. The zoo is also home to many other exotic creatures from around the world, like Barbary sheep, giraffes, hippos and gorillas. The zoo encompasses Karanji Lake, which attracts several species of migratory birds during the breeding season, including painted storks, pelicans, and darters. Other attractions include the botanical garden with 35 species of exotic ornamental plants and 85 species of trees from India and abroad. Visitors can treat themselves to snacks and tender coconut that are available inside the zoo. Excellent mementoes are available in a souvenir shop. Vehicle parking is available in an open area opposite the zoo. The parking fee collected is ₹50 for buses, ₹30 for mini-buses or tempos, ₹10 for cars and ₹5 for two-wheelers. ₹40 for adults, ₹10 for children over 5, battery operated vehicle tour ₹100, ₹20 for camera and ₹50 for video camera (camcorder).

Palaces

2 Mysore Palace. Definitely the number one attraction in Mysore. Intricately carved rosewood doors and ceilings, some with inlaid ivory work, marble figurines, collections of caskets, paintings of the members of the royal family and other objects of personal use exhibit such opulence, and over time have been preserved remarkably well. The guards quick out the public from the palace premises (gardens) around 18:00 to prepare for the 'light and sound' show in the evening. It starts at 19:00, lasts 40 minutes and is in Kannada language only, making it less interesting for foreigners, were it not for the impressive illumination of the whole palace at the end (19:40-45) with 100,000 bulbs. The ticket counter opens at 16:45 for the show (₹100). Entry is on the south side. You are required to leave your shoes outside before entering at a cost of ₹2 per pair. ₹100 for both Indian and foreign adults. (updated Oct 2024) 3 Cheluvamba Mansion. (updated Apr 2026) 4 Chittaranjan Palace. (updated Apr 2026) 5 Jayalakshmi Vilas, Manasagangotri. F-M 10AM-5PM. It was built by Maharani Regent Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, wife of Chamaraja Wodeyar, for her

Do

Rabindranath Nath Tagore Layout, Near Lingam Budhi Lake, Ring Road (10 km). Beautiful modern township. Ideal for evening walks. This surprisingly spacious location has become the target residential area of the rich and famous. Their interior alleys are as wide as highways. (updated May 2015) Climb the Chamundi Hills by steps. Only for fitness freaks. Start early in the morning to get a good view of the city as it rises from slumber while getting good exercise at the same time. Bus 94 or 204 from city bus stand will bring you to the crossing to NH766. It is then only 800 m to the first step, just follow the signs. Rajayoga at Brahmakumaris, Yelwal (15 km). Yoga classes, meditation practice and free food. Many beautiful buildings set in a lush green surroundings. The Mysore facility is the south India headquarters of the Brahmakumaris. (updated May 2015) Ride the Toy Train, Children's Park at Banni Mantap Grounds. Take any bus going to Bangalore side and get down at St. Philomena's college. You can walk inside the Banni Mantap grounds which is extremely spacious. (updated Apr 2015) City watch at Hardinge Circle, Aarugatu junction. Hardinge Circle has been renovated with marble seats on three sides and cement seats on three sides. It is very pleasant to sit in this intersection watching the traffic of six roads merge without signal and other types of control. The seats on the southern side are more sylvan and shady. The seats on the northern sides are modern and with a background of manicured lawns. The eastern side is only for people awaiting a bus to Bannur village. (updated Jan 2017)

Events

Dasara. The state festival of Karnataka, carried over from when it was celebrated by the Wodeyars in grand style. On all ten days of the festival (celebrated in September and October), the Mysore Palace is illuminated with over 100,000 lights. Music and dance events are held during the period too. On the final day, a procession of the state's guards led the Goddess "Chamundi" seated on a golden "howdah" mounted on an elephant. The procession is followed by various tableaux, a visual treat rarely seen anywhere else in the world. (updated Apr 2026)

Parks and gardens Mysore has about 180 parks and playgrounds. Most of the residential areas have their own small parks: e.g. Ambedkar Park in Jayanagar has a 500-metre perimeter footpath. The newly built Andolan Circle Park has a walking track that takes five minutes for one round. This park is near Kuvempu Nagar. But many Mysoreans prefer to walk around the many lakes which pepper the landscape such as the centr

Buy

Mysore is famous for silk sarees (Mysore Silk), sandalwood carvings and the many varieties of perfumed incense sticks. Mysore's marketplaces can be a good place to start, like Ashoka Road, and Sayyaji Rao Road and from a mix of Western and Indian traditional shopping head to Devaraj Urs Road. To experience one of India's best markets head to Devaraja Market where tourists and locals alike shop for daily fruit and vegetables as well as the rows and rows of flowers and various spices. Devaraja market is on Dhanwanthri Road. On the east row of the Devaraja Market, there is an oil shop with two brothers, Azam and Adil, who always pull in tourists for a nice conversation and maybe some chai. They have some good recommendations for food and things around the city so give them a visit. Their shop has a row of the watercolour powder, about 1/3rd from the north end. Be warned, however. There are quite a lot of perfume sellers that sell inferior goods, don't be tempted by nice boxes and free gifts. As a rule, if it looks like a bargain, the perfume is poor quality. The real stuff is normally found further from the centre, but is mostly for export.

Agarbattis (Incense) Cauvery Arts and Crafts Emporium, Sayaji Road - Sandalwood figurines and caskets Chenapatna dolls and wooden toys Traditional deck of playing cards Devaraja Market Labyrinth (1 km). The covered Devaraja Market near the railway station is a sight in itself. There are numerous tiny stalls selling foodstuff, vegetables, jewellery and colour powders. Walking inside the market gives you a maze experience. You need one hour to explore it fully and night is the most suitable time for a gentle stroll inside the market. (updated Jun 2015) Sapna Bookstall, near Railway Station. For books, toys and other gifts. (updated May 2015) New Dolphin Bakery, Water Tank Junction. For cakes coffee and snacks. (updated Jan 2021)

Eat

Mysore is known for the traditional sweet, the Mysore Pak. Mysore Pak is a sweet dish generally cut into rectangular pieces and is made out of gram (chickpea) flour, sugar (or jaggery) and lots of ghee. Sold all over the city although arguably the best Mysore Pak from Guru Sweets near the small clock tower. South Indian breakfast favourites like idlis, sambars, masala dosas are widely available and quite good. It is not clear if the Mysore Masala Dosa (a fermented crepe made from rice batter, black lentils, potato, and onions) originated in Mysore, but you can try asking. You can find some of Karnataka's specialty dishes like:

Bisibele Baath - Made of rice and lentils with a lot of local spices. This is one of the most sought after dishes of Mysore. It is served hot and usually costs ₹25 in an average restaurant. Idli Sambar - Different from Idli and Sambar. Since the idlis are put in a bowl with steaming sambar poured over them, the aroma and spicy effect is marvellous and costs less than ₹20. Masala Poori - This is the most favourite food item of the Mysorean people. You can see young boys selling these 'chat' items on the sides of the pavement with all the ingredients beautifully arranged on wicker stools. For ₹15, you get crispy poories along with ten to twelve spices mixed in a hot 'pani' background. The whole thing is an experience to undergo. Some restaurants have separate 'chat' sections selling Pani Poori, Masala Poori, Bombay Chat and other varieties. Raagi and Akki Rotis - They are similar to tortillas but made of raagi (English: coracan, finger Millet) or rice flour along with black cumin, asafoetida, fresh coriander, green chillies and finely chopped onions. Raagi Mudde – A staple food in some of Kannadiga households in the Cauvery Basin. It is made by cooking raagi flour in water and later rolling it into thick consistency balls. Raagi Mudde is swallowed and not chewed after dipping into ghee and sambar.

Vegetarian restaurants 1 Gayathri Tiffin Room (GTR), Chamundipuram Main Road, Narayan Shasthri Rd, Chamundipuram, Bettadpura, ☏ +91 90081 87913. Tu-Su. Tasty snacks, dosas and coffee. Popular for breakfasts. The ambience and design of the restaurant is a bit basic but it retains an old school charm. (updated Sep 2017) Suvarna Shanthi Sagar, Kuvempu Nagar Complex (5 km). Vegetarian lunchː 12:30PM to 3PM, vegetarian dinnerː 7PM to 11:45PM. (updated Oct 2016) Dosa Point Restaurant. Opposite Dolphin Bakery, Water Tank Junction, Infosys Road. (updated Jan 2021) Adayar Ananda Bhavan, Railway Station front gate, ☏ +91 750 004 736. to 11PM.

Drink & nightlife

Mysore is in Karnataka state where the liquor laws are among the most liberal in the subcontinent. Most international brands are readily available. The city is lined with bars and other restaurants serving liquor; there are around ten pubs in the city. Some of the recommended places include:

1 Bopy's Pub, Hunsur Road, behind Infant Jesus church.. Cocktail Circuit Lounge Bar, Near Mysore University. Dynasty Restaurant --Sri Harsha Road Fluid Pub, near HSBC bank, Kalidasa Rd. Keg Pub, opposite the Suburb Bus Stand. Lobo's, Kuvempunagar Double Road, opposite Bake Point, Saraswathipuram. Opium Pub, Pai Vista, opposite to the Suburb Bus Stand. Pelican Pub, Hunsur Road (near St.Joseph's State School), ☏ +91 99015 00055. Daily 11AM-11PM. Rasooi Magic (Rasooi Magic), #16, Kalidasa Road, J.L. Puram, ☏ +91 821 4252228. Daily 11AM-10:30PM. A North Indian vegetarian restaurant, also serving North Indian food, Chinese dishes, tandoori delicacies and chaats. 150. Road Pub, Hotel Sandesh The Prince, Nazarbad Waves Lounge Bar, B.N. Road, Hardinge Circle (0.5 km from bus station), ☏ +91 821 2522202. One of the best lounge bars in Mysore.

Night life There is no night life in Mysore and no one understands the phrase 'night life'. Shops and restaurants down their shutters before 10PM. Restaurants do not open early in the morning, shops take three-hour lunch breaks, and even buses are few between 1PM and 4PM because the drivers and conductors are having their lunch. This laid back lifestyle can irritate people, although some can accept it within a few days.

Sleep

Budget conscious visitors are advised to stay near Jagamohan palace because the hotels are cheaper here and the city bus station is only 300 metres away. Taking a daily bus pass of ₹50 can save you hundreds of rupee worth waste on autorickshaws. Around 25 hotels are available in this locality all in the range of ₹400 to ₹600.

Budget 1 Mysore Youth Hostel, Hudco, 2nd Stage, Gangothri Layout, Saraswathipuram, Opp Maruti Temple, Gangothri Layout (Near Maruti temple), ☏ +91 821 234 3144. Very economical and clean dorms with a pretty and peaceful campus. Available for both male and females ₹125 per bed for non-AC dorms. Green House Valley Service Apartment, Near Infosys, Opposite to Damden Solarium Apartment, on Ring Road, Vijay Nagara II stage, ☏ +91 9886594321, +91 821-6527802, +91 8880777033. Hotel Aashraya, Dhanvantri Road,Near Railway Station, ☏ +91 821-2427088, +91 821-2426570. ₹500. Hotel Airlines, 1064, CH 16, Jayalakshmi VIlas Road, Chamaraja Puram, ☏ +91 821-2330745, +91 821-2330475. Hotel Bombay Tiffanys, No. 313, Sayyaji Rao Road Cross (Opposite Main Bata Showrooms), ☏ +91 821-2435255, +91 821-2435256. Check-in: 24 hours. Very clean A/C or non-A/C rooms. Avoid the room service food; it is not safe. ₹1000 for non-AC and ₹1600 for AC rooms. Hotel Darshan Palace, Lokaranjan Mahal Road, Opposite Regency Theatre, Nazarbad, ☏ +91 821-2520794, +91 821-2564083. Hotel Dasaprakash, Gandhi Square, ☏ +91 821-2442444. Very nice and efficient with restaurant and ice cream parlour on site. Single ₹500 (also for 2), double ₹700. Hotel Dasharath, Opp. Zoo Garden -10, ☏ +91 821-2449121. Good rooms. ₹500. Gayathri Lodge, Near Sapna Bookstall, Dhanavantri Rd, ☏ +91 821-2425654, toll-free: +91 821 2420464. Good rooms with television in a period building. Lounge with sofas on each floor for meeting friends. Bathrooms are old Indian type. ₹500. Hotel Govardhan, Sri Harsha Rd, ☏ +91 821-2434118, +91 821-2429422, +81 821-2431960. Hotel Indra Bhavan, Dhanvantri Rd (near Railway Station), ☏ +91 8212423933. ₹300. (updated Apr 2015) Hotel Kalinga, K R Circle (Opposite City Bus Stand), ☏ +91 821-2431310. Hotel Komfort Suites (Komfort Suites), NO. 66,66A, Vivekananda Road, Yadavagiri, ☏ +91 9164068000, fax: +91 821 2412445, [email protected]. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. An intimate owner managed budget hotel on Vivekananda Road. ₹2450. Hotel Luciya International, near Dasprakash, No. 1771, Old Bank Rd, ☏ +91 821-2420261. Hotel Parimala Lodge, Opp. Primary School, Near Poarakala Mutt, Krishnavilas Road, Behind Jagamohan palace

Go next

Bandipur National Park — A tiger reserve around 90 km south. Bangalore — Karnataka's state capital, a shopper's paradise and cosmopolitan metropolis. Bylakupee — One of the biggest Tibetan settlements outside of Tibet. Madikeri — A pleasant hill station with many resorts on hills, Talacauvery. Somanathapura — Marvellous architecture and stone sculptures. Ooty — Major hill station, a little bit expensive. Shivanasamudram — Twin waterfalls formed by the Kaveri River Srirangapatna — Tipu Sultan's summer palace, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. Mangalore — A coastal city with many fine beaches on the shores of Arabian sea.