Mysore travel guide

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Mysore travel guide – tourist places in Mysore:
Mysore is a royal heritage city in the southern part of India which is located in Karnataka. It is the second largest city of Karnataka after Bangalore which is also the capital city. Mysore is about 150 Kilometers southwest of Bangalore. The anglicized version of Mahishuru is Mysore.  As per ancient mythology there was a famous demon called Mahishasura and he dwelled in this city. This is how the city was named after Mahishasura and anglicized to Mysore.

The city is located around the foot hills of Chamundi hills. Even before freedom of India when the princely states of India were not formed, present Karnataka was earlier known as State of Mysore. With this, one can imagine the city’s history and its importance. The local language of Mysore is Kannada, but one still can find a large number of people speaking in Hindi and English fluently. The city is famous for several things like Mysore Pak (A famous sweet dish), Mysore Mallige (Jasmine flower with great fragrance), Mysore Peta (A traditional turban of Karnataka made out of silk) and famous Mysore silk sarees.

Mysore is also renowned for the annual festival of Dushhera that is held during the nine days of Navarathri. During this time, the city attracts a lot of tourists from across the world. In the present times, the city is also flourishing as IT hub, as there are numerous software companies emerging in the city. The city is overall just two and a half hour drive away from Bangalore.

Mysore Climate

Mysore enjoys a beautiful climate where summers are not unbearable and winters are not too cold. Located on the foot hills of Chamundi hills to the west, it encompasses Western Ghats. The city has three main seasons namely summers, winters and monsoons. The average temperate during summers ranges from 19 degree centigrade to 35 degree centigrade accompanied by a few thunderstorms occasionally. Summer starts from the month of March and ends in May. During winters, the city experiences a temperature of 16 degree centigrade to 31 degree centigrade. Winters are generally seen from January to February. The city receives rainfall from both south-west and north-east monsoon. The ideal time to visit the city is from the month of September to December.

Places of Interest

Mysore, the city of glory and grandeur is the capital of Wodeyar rulers. The city was once ruled by the famous Wodeyar. This is a place with rich heritage, marvelous palaces, great gardens, sacred temples and marvelous buildings that has always attracted tourists from all over the world. Mysore city and surrounding has so much to see that the list goes on and on. Some of the main attractions include:

• Mysore Palace:
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  Located in the heart of the city, this palace is the main landmark for the city. The fully illuminated palace makes it an unforgettable moment for the vacationers, especially for those who visit this place for the first time. It takes around ninety seven thousand bulbs to illuminate the whole place and once it is lit up, it becomes a great treat to watch. This palace is imperial in its own kind and the marvelous structure of the palace is itself a national treasure.

Since Mysore was rich and the most popular city in south India, it was invaded many times. The palace was built four times at the same place. Earlier, it was built out of just mud and wood, but due to fire breakout during the marriage of Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar’s eldest daughter in the year 1897, the palace was greatly damaged. Post this accident, the famous English architect Henry Irwin took charge of the reconstruction of this palace and rebuilt it again at a cost of 41 lakhs (funded by Wodeyar family) which completed in the year 1912.

The palace is a true marvel in its own style. The towers of the palace are built up by gold, walls are covered with extraordinary paintings and the flooring is made of out of high quality marble and granite. The palace has displayed a wide range of carpets and ornaments that were used by the royal family. There is a big garden in the front which is well maintained and is a delight to watch. There are even cannon place in the front and temple in the premises. The main gate of the palace is called the elephant gate and that leads straight to the center of the palace.

The palace incorporates a vast collection of dolls, ornaments, royal armory, traditional dolls of nineteenth and twentieth century. The collection also includes a wooden howdah (structure placed on elephant to carry people) that has about 84 Kilogram of gold in it. The world famous Dusherra festival is hosted at this palace and the famous elephant ride during this festive occasion starts from this palace. The best part is that the royal palace is still in the custody of Wodeyar family and the royal family dwells in the here till date. Some other palaces of Mysore include Jagamohan Palace and Lalith Mahal Palace.

• Brindavan Garden:
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  Brindavan garden is the most visited place in Mysore by both the natives and tourists. This beautiful garden is famous for its colorful dancing fountain. This garden is built near the Krishna Sagar Dam which is also known as KRS or Kannambadi by the local natives. This place is about 19 Kilometers from the heart of Mysore. The dam itself is an engineering marvel that attracts a lot of tourists and it was built by India’s finest engineer known as Sir M. Vishveswariah in the year 1924. The dam has an automatic sluice gate that opens by itself when the water level in the dam raises to a danger level and this was the first design introduced for the first time.

Some of the excellent tourist attractions in Mysore include:

• For excursion: Bandipur National park, Talkadu, Biligiri Ranga betta and Shivansammudra
• Famous Temples: Chamundi Temple, Lakshmi Narasimha temple and Mahabaleshwar temple
• SriRangapattana Mysore: Dariya Daulat Palace and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Things to do

Mysore is famous for sight-seeing and shopping of some authentic handicraft made out of sandal wood. One can also shop fine silk and traditional turban made out of silk. The city is also known for silk saris and famous sweet called Mysore Pak. All those who love shopping can have a great time in this city.

Transportation and Stay

Local transport in Mysore includes local buses, auto rickshaws, taxis and tangas. Mysore has numerous hotels where people can stay and some of these incorporate Lalith Mahal Palace, Metropole Mysore, Hotel Royal Inn and Hotel Ramanashree Mysore to name a few.

One can really have a great time visiting Mysore with the family and can take a lot of cherished memories back home. So, if you also wish to enjoy and spend some quality time with your family, simply plan a visit to Mysore.

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