Tourist Places

Mysore Guide

Mysore Dasara is the celebration of this victory of good over evil. Mysore also has associations with the Mahabharata and King Ashoka of the 3rd century B.C. during the Wodeyar rule Mysore reached the zenith of its glory as a fabled centre of oriental splendour.

Pomp and Pageantry Relived Come to Mysore in October when the tranquil city awakens to ten days of Dasara festivities. Brilliantly lit up Palaces, decorated arches, festooned streets, colourful costumes and cultural shows…classical music, folk dances, Bharata Natyam, Yakshagana, Huthari, Torch Light Parade, Theppotsava… The culmination is the legendary Mysore Dasara Procession with caparisoned elephants, the golden howdah, decorated horses, stately coaches, troops in ceremonial uniforms, folk dancers and colourful floats.


Places of Interest in Mysore

Nagarhole
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep" 93 kms from Mysore in the Forest Department has a guest house here and arranges jeep rides into the forest ot enable visitors to observe the animals at close quarters. The season is between October and May.

Mysore Palace
Whre the Mharajas lived… You can't miss the Palace at Mysore, for all roads lead to the Maharaja's Palace. Built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. Intricately carved doors open on to luxuriously furnished rooms.

Biligirirangana Betta
Among tribal settlements This picturesque range of hills between two rivers, 108 kms from Mysore, takes its name from the temple of Biligiri Ranganatha Swami situated on the highest point of the range. The Ratha festival is held twice annually in January and April.

Belur - Halebid - Shravanabelagola
Where stones speak a language of beauty The famous Hoysal a temple of Belur and Halebid are situated 160 kms and 150 kms respectively from Mysore. The exquisite and elegant bracket figures of the Chenna Keshava temple at Belur, one of the earliest of the star-shaped temples of the Hoysalas, and the hoysaleshwara temple at Halebid present, in the words of the famous historian Percy Brown, "the supreme climax of Indian architecture".

80 kms from Mysore is Shravanabelagola, the famous 'Dasshina Kashi' of the Jainas. Situated on a hill here is the towering monolith of Gomateshwara, 17 metres high! The Mahamastakabhisheka held once in twelve years, attracts devotees from all over the country. With Mysore as your base, visit many more places of tourist interest.

27 kms away is the important polgrim centre of Najangud. 68 kms from Mysore and 8 kms from Maddur is the small bird sanctuary of Kokrebellur. 30 kms to the north-west of Mysore is the 4.88 metres tall monolith of Gomateshwara standing on a hillock at Gomatagiri. 10 kms to the south-west of Mysore is the scenic hill of Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.

Brindavan Gardens
What dreams are made of 19.2 kms north-west of Mysore City are the famous Brindavan Gardens with the musical fountain. They stretch below the Krishnarajasagara Dam on the river Cauvery, and present a breathtaking harmony of water, colour, light and music! Illumination

Somanathapur
A 13th century wonder in stone 35 kms from Mysore, in the small village of Somanathapur, is another temple of great architectural beauty built in the 13th century A.D. The star-shaped temple with three shrines named after Prasanna Chennakeshava is the latest and best preserved example of Hoysala architecture.

Shivasamudram
The Cauvery takes a leap ! 85 kms to the south-east of Mysore are the picturesque waterfalls, Ganganchukki and Bharachukki, at Shivasamudram. Asia's first Hydro-Electric Power Station ws set up here in 1902. The falls are at their best in July/August.

Ranganathittu
A haven for winged visitors 5 kms from Srirangapatna, lush green islands on the river Cauvery, are home for an astonishing variety of migratory birds from as far away as Siberia - Spoon bills, Open Bill Stork, White Ibis, Little Egret Darter, Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Cormorant, Wild Duck, Peafowl. A little boat takes you close to the islands where the trees are covered with birds of different species. The only sounds are the cries of birds, swoosh of wing and the ripple of water. Ideal for picnicking and bird watching.

Sri Jayachmarajendra Art Gallery
A treasure house of masterpieces The Jaganmohan Palace was converted into an art gallery in 1875 and exhibits paintings which date back to that period. The artists of that time used natural vegetable and mineral dyes. The famous traditional Mysore 'gold leaf' paintings are also exhibited in the gallery, as are oil paintings of contemporary Svetoslav Roerich.

Mysore is known the world over for its exotic silks. At the Government Sandalwood Oil Factory, you can buy Sandal Powder, Sandal Oil and scented incense sticks. At the Government Silk Factory you can see the master weavers at work. Buy shimmering silks straight off the looms.

Mysore Zoo
Home of rare species of fauna The Mysore Zoo was set up under royal patronage in the nineteenth century. Its fauna includes rare and exotic species which are housed in lush, green surroundings. The zoo is famous for breeding some very rare animals in captivity.