Mysore
the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, lies
140 kms away from the state capital Bangalore. The city
was the erstwhile capital of the Mysore Maharajas, who
ruled over the city for several centuries. The royal
patronage, artists, writers and craftsmen who flourished
in the city over the years have made it the cutural
epicentre of Karnataka. Mysore still retains its old
charm alongwith the modernity. In the 'Sandalwood City',
you will find yourself enveloped with the lingering
aromas of sandalwood. Due to its proximity to famous
wildlife sanctuaries, Mysore is also a popular
destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Travel to the
beautiful Mysore city that spreads across an area of
80.5 sq. km and the city has a population of 1,038, 490.
Kannada is the official language of the city while
English and Hindi are other main spoken languages.
Climate & Clothing
Because of its high altitude location Mysore enjoys a
wonderful weather throughout the year. During summers
(April-June), temperature ranges between 23 and 35°C,
while in winters (November-February) temperature falls
below 16°C. Monsoon arrives by July and remains till
September. Winter months, however, are best to visit the
city. Light cotton clothings are recommended for
summers, while woollens are required in winters.
Accommodation in Mysore
Stay during your travel in some of the popular hotels in
the city include Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel (Heritage
Classic, Siddhartha Nagar ), The Viceroy Hotel (3 Star,
Rajendra Enterprise, Sri Harsha Road), Hotel Ramanashree
(3 Star, B.N. Road, Hardinge Circle), Hotel Palace Plaza
(Govt. Approved, Sri Harsha Road) and Hotel Paradise (Govt.Approved,
Vivekananda Road) among others.
Tourist Attractions of Mysore
»
The Mysore Palace : The beautiful palace was built
in 1897, but it was burnt down and was rebuilt in
1911-12. The existing palace was designed by Henry Irwin
who combined the Hindu and the Arabian style of
architeture. The palace contains a lovely garden and
temples dedicated to Goddess Gayatri, Goddess
Buvaneshwari, Lord Gopalakrishna and Navagraha.
» Jaganmohan Art Gallery : Also known
as Chamarajendra Art Gallery, it houses beautiful
potraits displaying eminent historic personalities. The
Gallery also has a good colletion of musical
instruments.
» Lalitha Mahal Palace : Once the
residence of the royal family of Mysore, the palace is
now converted into a hotel. Situated at the highest
point in the city, the beutiful palace offers a
panaromic view of the city.
» Chamundi Hill : The hill can be
reached by a flight of 1000 steps. At the top of this
hill a temple stands which was built by Krishnaraja
Wodeyar III. The temple is dedicated to Goddess
Chamundeswary who killed the demon Mahishasur to save
the humankind.
» Mahabala Temple : The temple built
during the 10th century is located close to the Chamundi
Hill. A massive monolithic statue of Nadni, the sacred
bull of Lord Shiva, can be seen on the way to the
temple.
» Somnathpur : Situated at a distance
of 40 kms from Mysore, this place is known for three
anceint temples, known as 'Trikuta'. Built by Somnath
Dhandanayaka in 1268, the environs of the temple complex
are beautified by the confluence of the rivers Cauvery
and Kabini.
Airport
Mysore does not have its own airport. Nearest airport is
located in Bangalore at a distance of 139 kms. Domestic
airlines operate flights to and from Bangalore to all
the major cities of India. International flights to the
Middle East are also available from Bangalore. From
Bangalore one has to take the road or rail journey to
reach Mysore. There are regular buses from Bangalore to
Mysore and it will take around 3 hours to reach Mysore.
Local Modes of Transport
Auto
Rickshaws, private taxis and cars are reliable and
affordable modes of transport for moving around within
the city.
Shopping
Mysore is known for carved sandalwood, ivory items,
inlay works, silk sarees and incense (agarbatti). The
best place to buy this whole range of items is the
Kaveri Arts and Crafts Emporium on the Sayaji Road.
There are several other craft shops along the Dhavantri
road. Leading shopping centres of the city are Devaraj
Urs Road, Dhanvantri Road, Ashoka Road, Kalidasa Road, K
T Street, Mannars Market and Santhepet.
