A Day in the Royal City of Mysore

Mysore Palace

Mysore is a city that retains a lot of old-world charm. Mysore is the city of silk and sandalwood.

There are some areas in the city that seem to have been caught in a time warp as if time has stood still and life goes on at a leisurely and unhurried pace. However, things are changing and Mysore too is changing gears. But, one can still bask in the old world elegance even today.

Mysore

Mysore
Mysore which is now officially known as Mysuru is a city situated in Karnataka a Southern State of India. It is about 145 Kilometers by road from the State capital of Bangalore. The city has a rich history and culture and is known for its magnificent palaces and the pomp and gaiety of the festivities that take place during the festival of Dasara.

The festivities are marked by royal splendour and colourful programs with the city brightly decorated for a grand procession. The Palace of Mysore is brightly illuminated and shines like a bright diamond at night, during the festivities.

If Bangalore is your base, you can drive to Mysore or hire a cab. You also have the option of hopping on to one of the frequent buses that ply between the cities or travel by train from Bangalore to Mysore. If you need a guided tour, you can go in for a one day trip to Mysore offered by KSTDC.

When in Mysore, the sights that you should not miss are listed below:

Mysore – Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace

Mysore is also known as the city of palaces as it has several palaces in its fold. The historical main Palace has been the seat of power and the residence of the Wodeyars -The Maharajahs of Mysore. This main palace lies close to the city centre.

The Palace is a three-storey structure of grey granite with marble domes and embellished with beautifully carved and placed arches and pillars. Construction of this palace is a blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic styles of architecture and is a magnificent work both from the inside and the outside.

In the Palace, there are two gigantic halls where the King held court and is a fascinating collection of courtyards, buildings and gardens. The descendants of the royal family still live in a section of the palace which is off bounds for the public.

Mysore Palace

This palace has on display fascinating paintings, weapons, thrones etc. and gives a glimpse into the grand lifestyle of the Royalty of Mysore. It takes about a couple of hours to tour this palace. The Palace is open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on all days.

There is an entrance fee of INR 200 for foreign nationals and Photography inside the Palace is strictly prohibited. But photography is allowed in the Palace grounds. The main highlight of this palace is its illumination during the evenings.

Mysore Palace

The palace is illuminated on Sundays and Public holidays between 7 p.m. to 7.30  p.m.

Mysore – Mysore Zoo

Mysore Elephant

Mysore zoo is one of the oldest Zoos in India. The original Mysore Zoo was created way back in 1892 on 10 acres of land by a German horticulturist named G.H. Krumbeigal. The official name of this Zoo is Sri Chamrajendra Zoological gardens and today it is spread over 157 acres of land.

This Zoo houses more than 164 species of animals including lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, white Rhinoceros, peacocks, bears, different species of birds etc.. The Zoo is a fun place for children.

Mysore Peacock

Entry for children below 5 years is free. There is an entrance ticket of INR 50 per adult on weekdays and INR 60 during weekends and public holidays. There is also a separate charge for cameras of  INR 20. The Zoo is open to the general public between 8.30 a.m.to 5.30 p.m.on all days except Wednesday.

Mysore – St. Philomena’s Church
Mysore

This is one of the landmarks of Mysore. It is a Catholic Church. The Church was built in 1936 and the architecture of the Church has been inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

The Patron saint of the Church Saint Philomena was a Latin Catholic saint who was martyred. She was a girl who was not more than 14 years and her remains were discovered in 1802 in Rome. Once you are inside the Church, you will realize that it is built in the shape of a Cross, with the long part of the Cross being the congregation hall.

This church is open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all days of the week. There is no entrance fee for this Church.

Mysore – Chamundi Hills

Mysore Chamundi hills

Chamundi hill is located about 13 Kilometers from the city of Mysore. It has an average elevation of about 3,300 Feet. This hill has a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess called Chamundi after whom the Hills are named. One can take a bus up to the summit.

There are frequent buses plying from Mysore to this hill. If you love hiking then it is more exciting and interesting to walk up the hill through an ancient stone stairway that has about 1008 steps.

On the way to the hilltop, one comes across a giant statue of a Bull, which is 7.6 meters long and 4.9 meters tall. The Bull is called Nandi. It is said to be the vehicle used by the popular Hindu God Shiva.

Mysore

In the vicinity of the temple, there is a huge statue of a demon with a sword in one hand and a snake in the other hand. Legend has it that this demon named Mahishasura symbolizing evil was vanquished by the Goddess Chamundi symbolizing good at this very spot.

Mysore Chamundi hills

While on the summit,  do not miss to treat your eyes to a panoramic view of Mysore city.

Mysore Chamundi hills

The Chamundi temple is open from 7.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no entry fee for this temple.

Mysore – Brindavan Gardens

Mysore

Brindavan Gardens are located near a dam built across the river Kaveri. The Dam is known as the Krishna Raja Sagara dam. It is the primary source of water for the cities of Bangalore, Mysore and Mandya. It was built in 1924.

The laying out of Brindavan gardens was started in 1927 and was completed in the year 1932. This garden is spread over 60 acres of land. Close to 2 million people visit this garden every year.

The garden has been landscaped in the form of three terraces and is dotted with fountains, flowering plants, trees and foliage of different species. The main attraction of the park is the Musical Fountains which come to life every evening as the sunsets.

The fountains sway to the music in a kaleidoscopic display of colours. The musical fountains are operational between 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. on weekdays and 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. during weekends i.e. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Mysore

The Brindavan gardens are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.on all days. There is an entrance fee of INR 15 for adults and INR 5 for children between 5 to 10 years of age.

While in Mysore, do not miss to check out the following:

Mysore silk – especially Mysore silk sarees. Watch these short videos to get an idea of what Mysore sarees look like:

roopa iyer…ksic mysore silk

she even directed the add!!!!!!!!!

Video credits: mythri kumar and unnati silks

Sandalwood and sandalwood items

Mysore Sandalwood items

Mysore is also famous for its sweets like Mysore pak. Click here to find out about the 10 best restaurants in Mysore. And click here for a list of best hotels to stay in Mysore.

Mysore

Infosys, one of the renowned IT companies, has built the world’s biggest corporate training facility (Video credit – tejastej100 ) in Mysore.

Mysore

Today, Mysore is a city where heritage and technology blend harmoniously. If you are visiting the southern part of India, do make sure you pop into Mysore, a place where the different planes of time overlap, a place where Royalty beckons.

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Pinit
Pinit
Mysore tower

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TA CJA Day in the Royal City of Mysore

50 thoughts on “A Day in the Royal City of Mysore”

  1. Once again you’ve introduced my to another place I’ve known nothing about.

    At first when I saw the fully illuminated palace I thought ‘eyesore’, however the image a little later in the post was a little less bright and not at all as offensive! lol

  2. There are so many beautiful architecture here! I would love to go see this place in person someday. The structures are just breathtaking.

  3. I had great memories in Bangalore and Mysore. My husband had an IT project there for a month and I took the opportunity to visit and explore. It was oh so green. We did as you have suggested, we hired a cab to tour Mysore. One of my fondest foodie memory was a quick stop at a road side joint for a delicious masala dosa breakfast with chai and hot coffee. It was the yummiest masala dosa I have ever had and so inexpensive too. Wish I could go back to India again one day.

  4. Mysore is a beautiful place, I love the buildings, especially the palace at night – beautiful! I would personally not visit the Zoo though due to my opinion on them but there is still plenty to see and do!

  5. I honestly never heard of this place before but you did share to us many wonderful places in India already. I have been to Mumbai, Goa and Lakshadweep but never to the places you posted lately. I will surely take note of that when I visit India in the future.
    JM of MAN OF WANDERS

  6. Great photos as usual and another example of how fascinating India is. I didn’t know there were many Christian churches in the country! Mysore looks like another place I need to add to my list!

  7. Great photos! I am curious as to the condition of the zoo though. I personally don’t encourage animals kept in confinements. Mysore looks like such a varied place though, would love to go.

  8. I had not heard of the city of Mysore previously. It certainly sounds like a great addition to your itinerary if you will be in Bangalore anyway. I would definitely like to the see the palace at night. The illumination makes it look otherworldly.

  9. Wow, I have never heard of Mysore before I read your post. And am I flabbergasted!?

    The palaces are just staggeringly beautiful, the sandalwood looks mesmerising, and the food – pure delicacy!

    And it seems reachable if it stands only 150km from Bangalore!

    Thanks for this thorough article!

  10. Your post includes places of European, Hindu, and modern architecture; and this is the first time I hear about this city – so thanks for sharing with us about Mysore :)! @knycx.journeying

  11. Spectacular and eye-pleasing place we’ve got here. I wonder how the name/spelling change was constituted. I think they’ve captured the most out of what I think is the best with India, and those are traditional visuals emitting an aura of modern beliefs.

  12. I forever will be baffled by India’s need to put a fee on camera usage. It’s so strange and seems like a tourism tax. Mysore does look amazing though… and is one more place in India that I must go to!

  13. I hadn’t really considered Mysore as a travel destination but it certainly looks like there’s a lot history and culture to see there. I’ll put it on my list for next visit.

  14. The great image really captured my attention immediately! And the building structures are superb. It’s really nice to see those historic buildings. I would love to visit them sometime. 🙂

  15. I’m always stunned by the incredible detail work in the architecture of the temples and palaces that you have explored. It’s truly spectacular! The Palace illuminated at night is an absolute “must see” for me now, and I’m eager to explore it during the daylight hours, too. But the entire place looks fascinating from the temples to the Brindavan Gardens. Thanks for sharing!

  16. Thanks for capturing the essence of the city. Till now I had known Mysore as the city of Haider ali and Tipu Sultan and their tales of bravado. But now i know a lot more about Mysore and its cultural heritage. I didn’t know that Mysore Zoo is one of the oldest zoo in India! thanks for the pearls of wisdom.

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