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.
Tourist Offices
