Mysore India Travel Guide

About one-hundred-and-thirty kilometers from Bangalore lies Mysore, the second largest city in the state of Karnataka. It is full of rich history and myths. Legend has it in the ancient text Devi Purana that Mysore was ruled by a monster with a buffalo head known as Mahishasura. Mahishasura was finally killed by Goddess Parvathi, wife of Lord Shiva, who took birth as Chamundeshwari. She took up Chamundi hills as Her abode. The city came to be known as Mahishuru, city of the demon Mahisha.

Mysore History

The earliest mention of any historic evidence of Mysore is with the rise of the Gangas, a warrior clan.. The Gangas established their power in the 2nd century till about the 10th century. After a fierce battle the Cholas rose to power and ruled for more than a century. The came the Hoysalas clan, who overthrew the Cholas in the 12th century and ruled for about two centuries, building magnificent temples and adding their own culture and customs to the land. Next to rule were the Vijaynagar, followed by the feudal clans the Mysore Yadu or as the Mysore Wodeyar as they were popularly known. The Wodeyars ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from the end of the 1300’s till India’s Independence, save for a span of thirty-eight years when their power was taken by Haider Ali and they were overthrown by Ali’s son, Tipu Sultan. The mighty Tipu Sultan, also known as Sher-E-Mysore or the Lion of Mysore, ruled for a short period of time. He made many beautiful places and monuments during his rein of power. Tipu Sultan’s historic battle with the British ended in defeat for the Indian power. The battle was a turning point for the British in their war for the conquest of India. After the death of Tipu Sultan, the Mysore district was handed back to the Wodeyars by the British. After Indian independence, Mysore was annexed by the country of India.

Mysore Today

Mysore is famous for its handicrafts, as it has some of the best craftsmen in India. The beautiful and elegant handicrafts are made from sandalwood, rosewood, and teakwood. Mysore is also famous for its silk. Mysore silk sarees, interwoven with gold, are worn on auspicious and religious occasions. These costs for these sarees vary with the amount of gold in them and the quality of the silk. Besides silk fabrics, Mysore is the largest producer of incense sticks or Agarbathis as they’re known. Mysore also has thriving artists from many fields, so it’s pretty good for finding good art like stone carvings and paintings.

Mysore Attractions and Things To Do

Mysore, often referred to as the City of Palaces, has more than its share of tourist attractions. It has one of the more majestic palaces in India, the Royal Palace that is the highlight of the city. The palace front has an open entrance with a circular column. The interior of the palace is breathtaking, with ornate ceilings, gleaming floors, beautiful paintings, and chandeliers. Oh, and there’s the two-hundred kilogram golden throne, too. The best view of the city of Mysore is from the Chamundi hills, named after the Goddess Chamundeshwari. You can reach the top either by road, or by climbing a thousand steps. Once you’re about two-thirds of the way up, you see a large five meter high granite monument of Lord Shiva’s mount, a bull called Nandi. On the hill is the temple of the Goddess Chamundeshwari, and right next to the temple is a massive statue of Mahishasura, the demon the Goddess to liberate the kingdom. You should also visit the Saint Philomena Church in Mysore, one of the largest churches in India. Designed in gothic style with beautiful stained glass windows, the church is a very popular Mysore attraction for tourists. The Vrindavan Gardens, with its terraced lawns and illuminated swirling fountains, is another attraction of Mysore tourism. One more popular Mysore thing to do is to visit the fort where Tipu Sultan famously charged the British with his sword. Outside the fort is Tipu Sultan’s tomb.Mysore is also famous for the festival of Dasara, which celebrates the vistory of Good over Evil.

Mysore Shopping

You won’t find many sky high malls here, but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy shopping in Mysore. Mysore is popular for its handicrafts made of sandalwood and rosewood at quiet reasonable prices. Mysore is a place with lots of bazaars, with loads of bargaining opportunities. The Sayyaji road and Dhanyantri road are the main shopping areas of Mysore.

Mysore Cuisine

Mysore is known for its South Indian cuisine, and you find a few high standard restaurants here. The Mysore Vada has made its mark on international cuisines, and this little snack is usually the tastiest thing on the menu.

Mysore Excursions

Located about fifty kilometers from Mysore is Talakhad, a town that is totally buried in sand dunes. Or, you can travel eighty kilometers to The Bandipur National park, one of the finest animal parks of southern India. If you love fishing then you can visit the Cauvery Fishing Camp, where can catch some fine game fish. Anglers from all over come here.

Mysore Nightlife

Mysore doesn't have much of a pub culture. There are a few bars in the five star hotels, but Mysore is not known for having a big nightlife scene.

Mysore Getting There and Around

This easy going city has its own charm and is one of the major India tourism attractions. It has moderate summers and nice winters. The best time to visit the city is Oct thru Jan. The city doesn’t have its own airport, so the quickest way to get to Mysore is to fly to Bangalore and then take either rail or road to the city. Mysore has a decent network of railways adjoining all the major cities of India. Traveling to and from Mysore is relatively easy.

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