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Mysore is one city that will leave you with many pleasant memories. I have been there almost every year of my life as my grand parents were from Bangalore and I have relatives staying in Mysore. Though
a bit commercialised from the tourists point of view at first glance, it still offers something unique and special to everyone who visits it. It would be a good idea to hire a car or a guided tour if language is a problem. People do understand hindi though.
Among the famous sights in Mysore are The Mysore Palace, the old city, Vrindavan Gardens, Sri Rangapatna, Tipu Sultan’s summer palace, St Philomena’s Cathedral, Chamundi Hills, Rangantittu bird sanctuary, Mysore Zoo and Sri Jayachamrajendra Art Gallery.
Mysore gets its name from Mahishur, as it was called in the 10th century, and is believed to be the place where Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura. A temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga, in the form of Goddess Chamundeshwari is set atop the Chamundi Hills. The view of Mysore city from atop the hill is excellent.
The Mysore Palace is one of the major attractions for tourists as it is one of the most well kept palaces in the country. The Raja still lives in the palace and takes care of its upkeep. It is the seat of the Wodeyar kings.The palace has magnificent carvings and paintings and you can see various aspects of court life here. There are also huge sandalwood doors with ivory inlays. Ideal to spend the morning there and you can then leave for lunch. This is also the place where you can see some weaponry and artillery. When I was a kid, we were allowed to see the palace from the front. But now there are restrictions. There is a golden throne in this palace which cannot be seen by the general public but once a year during the dassera procession ,the throne can be seen in a grand procession. The palace is also lighted with bulbs along its edges on public holidays and Sundays. This palace was built in 1912 in the indo saracenic style of architecture. Do take some time to walk around the palace’s surrounding area to get a glimpse of the local life. If you have a sweet tooth, then you cannot miss out on Mysore Pak. Food is reasonably priced.
Vrindavan Gardens is one place you cannot miss when you visit Mysore as it seems to have become the focal point for tourists. There have been innumerable film shootings here and the view as you enter the gardens and see the layout is fantastic. There are photo opportunities at every step and you can spend the whole evening leisurely here. Also make it a point to see the musical fountains. The actual name for the dam behind which the gardens are laid out is Krishna Raja Sagar dam or KRS for short. Standing on the dam, take in the wonderful sights of the Kaveri river and its environs.
Sri Rangapatna. Here you can view magnificent monuments. Three kms from here is Sangam, where two branches of the Kaveri river reunite. Fort is where Tipu fought his last battle with the British and was killed. His sword can be seen as also the place where he fell down. He was betrayed by his own men. There is a temple as well as mosque situated within the same fort. Opposite the fort is Gol Gumbuz, Tipu’s tomb which is also worth a visit.
Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace , or Dariya Daulat, is a palace built in 1784 and is made of teak wood. It has some wonderful frescoes. It is close to Gumbuz.
St. Philomena’s Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church which is built in the Gothic style. One of the largest churches in the country, and built in 1840. It is in splendid condition and merits a look see.
Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary and the Mysore Zoo are must see’s for those who like to see wildlife. The sanctuary gets visitors from as far as Siberia every year.
The Mysore zoo has a very good collection of animals and is one of the best laid out zoos in the country. There are white tigers to be seen here. I have once held tiger cubs here, amazing stuff. There used to be a gorilla who smoked cigarettes here, but he is no more.
The art gallery has a wonderful collection of paintings and sculptures. This infact is a palace, the Jaganmohan Palace although it is not as grand as the City Palace. There is another beautiful palace, the Lalit Mahal which has a lot of mirrors but it has been converted into a 5-star hotel.
Mysore is also the place to buy sandalwood items, soaps , perfumes and also Mysore silk sarees. The best place to buy these is the government run Cauvery Emporium.
Accesibility
Mysore is accessible by road from most cities in the south. Infact apart from Bangalore which is a 3 hour drive away, Ooty is another place that people go to from Mysore as it is quite close by. Mysore is also connected by rail to Bangalore.
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Pros: |
Tourist Haven
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Cons: |
None
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Type of Travel:
Road Trip
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Duration of Stay:
7 days approx
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Average Expenditure:
Budget (less than Rs.1000/day)
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Group Size:
Less than five
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Best Suited For:
Families
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Best Time to Travel:
Any time of the year
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