Located 140 Kms from the state capital Bangalore-- Mysore is the erstwhile capital of Wodeyars, the rulers of Mysore state. The Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century except for a short period of 40 years when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers. Mysore has never failed to mesmerise the tourists with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. The charm leaves no one untouched.

Mysore traces its history into the mythological books where there is reference of Mahishasur (Mahishasura) or the buffalo-headed demon king who is believed to have lived here. Goddess Chamundeshwari of Chamundi hills killed this demon and hence the Dussehra, the festival of the victory of good over evil, is celebrated with unprecedented grandeur. Today Mysore is one of the major cities of Karnataka. Mysore has emerged as a thriving market for exotic sandalwood & incense, the Mysore silk sarees and stone carved sculptures.


Place to See
Mysore Palace
The Mysore Palace was the former residence of the Wodeyar rulers. This palace was built in 1912 and is a splendid structure in the Indo-saracenic style. The Mysore Palace is one of the largest of its kind in India. The major attractions of this palace is the magnificent golden royal elephant throne with diamonds and other precious stones which is displayed during the Dussehra festival, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mandap with detailed murals, gallery and a carved silver door.

Chamundi Hills
The other major tourist attraction in Mysore is the Chamundi Hills. The Chamundi Hills are about 1000 feet high and can be seen from any part of the city. As you drive up the hill, you will come across a 4.8 m monolith of Nandi, the Lord Shiva’s sacred bull. On these hills, the statue of the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasura with a cobra in one hand and a scimitar on the other hand is also situated. Right on the top of these hills, there is a 2000 year old temple which is dedicated to the goddess Chamundeshwari, the patron goddess of the royal family. According to the legend, the goddess killed the evil demon Mahishasura on these hills. There is a splendid view of the city from the top of the hill.

Folklore Museum
This fine museum is housed in the magnificent Jayalakshmi Vilas mansion in the Mysore University campus at Manasagangotri. It has rich collection of over 6500 folklore articles andis perhaps the biggest of its kind in Asia.

Sri Jayachmarajendra Art Gallery
Jayachamarajennndra Art Gallery is located in the Jaganmohan Palace. This art gallery houses a collection of exquisite paintings of the 1875 period. This celebrated collection includes paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, the Russian Svetoslav Roerich and the traditional Mysore gold leaf style of painting. Besides paintings it also has a vast collection of musical instruments, curios, medieval playing cards and other antiques.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is located about 18 kms. from Mysore. This bird sanctuary is located on the lush island on the Cauvery River. This bird sanctuary is a home to various exotic varieties of water birds and crocodiles. Some of the birds migrate during the winter from Siberia and North America. It is possible to see them at a very close range through boats. The best period to visit this sanctuary is between June and February.

How to Reach
Air : Bangalore Airport (139 km) is the nearest airport. The airport is connected to major cities of India and Middle East countries.

Rail : Mysore railway station is connected to Bangalore and Chennai. Major railhead is Bangalore which has trains from important places of India.

Road : A good network of roads connects Mysore with Bangalore, Hassan, Ooty and other cities of India. KRTC (The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) and private buses run from Mysore to other cities of Karnataka