Mysore Tourist Places | Mysore Travel Guide

Mysore Travel Guide

Various arts and crafts thrived under the king's patronage, leading to the city earning the sobriquet of the cultural capital of Karnataka. Mysore receives a large number of tourists most of whom visit the city during the 10-day celebrations that goon during the Dasara festival. Mysore is also known as the city of palaces due to the large number of palaces that are present in the city.

Mysore is famous for sandalwood, silks, ivory, rose & teak wood carved furniture, sandalwood oil, agarbathis, etc.

Mysore, the sandalwood city is situated at an altitude of 77m about 14 km from Bangalore, near the Chamundi hills. This imperial city was the capital of the Wodeyars. The Wodeyars were the rulers of Mysore since the 14th century, until the independence from the British except for the 40 years of rule of Hyder Ali & Tippu Sultan. It is a beautiful city of palaces, gardens & temples. The ten days and nine nights of the Dussera festival around October/November is the best time to visit Mysore. The city is full of color, lights, music &festivities. On the final day, on Vijayadasami, there is a procession of camels, horses, elephants all finely decorated, palanquins, coaches, led by the former Maharaja in a golden howdah on a decorated elephant.

Mysore was originally known as Mahisuru, for the demon king Mahishasuran was vanquished here by Goddess Chamundeswari. There is a shrine for Goddess Chamundeswari atop the Chamundi Hills. Culture of Mysore - Mysore, also known as the cultural capital of Karnataka, is well known for the festivities that take place during the period of Dasara, the state festival of Karnataka. The Dasara festivities which go on for 10 days were first started by king Raja Wodeyar 1(1578-1617 CE) in the year 1610[44].

On the ninth day of Dasara called Mahanavami, the royal sword is worshiped and is taken on a procession involving elephants, camels, and horses[45]. On the tenth day called Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as Jumbo Savari) is held on the streets of Mysore city. An idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari is placed on a golden mantapa on the top of a decorated elephant and is taken around in the procession, accompanied by tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses, and camels. The procession starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannirnantap where the banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped. The Dasara festivities culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with a torch-light parade (locally known as Panjina Kavayatthu).

Mysore is famous for rosewood inlay work, with an estimated 4000 craftsmen in Mysore involved in this activity. Mysore also lends its name to the Mysore silk saree, feminine wear, made using pure silk and gold zari.

Must Visit Tourist Places in Mysore

Brindavan Garden

Brindavan Gardens is one of the most beautiful gardens in Mysore and a center of tourist attraction. This garden was constructed during the period of Krishnaraja Wodeyar. It is built across the Cauvery river and below the Krishnarajasagar dam. The garden is decorated with huge lawns and various kaleidoscopical courses of flowers. The main attractive feature of the garden is the 'dancing fountain'. The lighting of the garden during Dussehra is done every day and on other days from 7 pm to 8.45 pm.

Chamundeshwari Temple

The Chamundeswari Temple is situated on a hill in the neighborhood of Mysore. Krishnaraja III during the latter part of the 18th century built this temple tower. He gifted the Nakshatramalika jewel which has Sanskrit poesies engraved on it. The temple is adorned with various epitomes of Nandi. The colossal Nandi is 15 feet wide and 24 feet long and was made during the reign of Dodda Devaraja. It also has a seven-floor 'gopuram'. The idol of the Goddess is made of gold and the entrance with shining silver. The dumbfounding construction appeals to the visitors' aesthetic senses.

Somnathpur Temple

Somnathpur temples in Karnataka are the windows to the rich historical past of Karnataka. As soon as you lay eyes on these temples you will notice that there is an exceptional kind of stillness in these temples making them eternal. Somnathpur is one of the most ancient villages of Karnataka thus earning it the name of heritage destination. At a distance of 40 km from Mysore and 180 km from Bangalore, the rural town is famous for its splendid and grand Keshava temple that has been built in the Hoysala style.

Lalitha Mahal Palace

Built-in 1921 by Maharaja Krishna Raja Wodeyar Bahaddur IV, this palace initially housed royal guests. Designed by EW Fritchley, an English architect, the palace is today a five-star hotel. Now a popular venue for local film shoots and other social gatherings, a visit to the palace may help you understand the mystique of royal Mysore.

Mysore Palace

The Maharaja's palace in Mysore is the epitome of grandeur and extravagance that was during the British Raj. Domes, parapet balconies, verandahs, minarets, cupolas, and arches combine harmoniously to make the structure a veritable masterpiece of lasting beauty. Built-in the Indo-Saracenic style on the exterior, but retaining the native Dravidian style, it was designed by the British architect Henry Irwin. The palace is illuminated from 7 pm to 8 pm on Sundays including public holidays and also during all the ten days of the Dussehra celebrations.

Palace of the Maharaja

Maharaj Palace, once a seat of the government, the Maharaja's palace in Mysore is the epitome of grandeur and extravagance that was during the British Raj. In 1897 the old wooden palace was completely burnt down in a fire mishap during the princess's marriage. So a new palace had to be built to match the royal stature of the Wodeyars of Mysore who had succeeded in making Mysore state, the model state of British India.

Shopping in Mysore

Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is the pond located near to Vandiyur Mariamman Temple and situated at a distance of about 2 km from the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Literally, Teppakulam means temple pond mainly used for devotional festivals. The tank is connected to the Vaigai River through an ingenious system of underground Channels. It has a total of 12 long stairs (steps) made of granite on all four sides. The temple as well as the stairs were built by the King Thirumalai Nayak. In the center of the tank there is a Mandapam called Maiya Mandapam (Central Mandapam) with Vinayakar temple and garden.