Mysore is the second biggest city in the State of Karnataka lying 130 kms from the State Headquarters, Bangalore. Mysore is said to have derived its name from this the demon-king, Mahishasura, who once lived here and was vanquished by Goddess Chamundi. It is a city of palaces, gardens, and sacred temples. The city is famous for its silk and is also a thriving sandalwood and incense centre.

This lovely city will cover you up under a spell of sandalwood as soon as you set foot in it. Besides that, it is also the paradise for incense lovers. Whatever sort of scent you're looking for, there is a vendor stall that’s sells it. What Varanasi is to the north of India when it comes to silk, Mysore is to the south. Several streets are lined with silk emporia where you can buy nice pieces of silk and then you can go to a tailor and let them have a go at it.

Places to See in Mysore:

•Srirangapatnam

About 15 km from the royal city of Mysore lies the town of Srirangapatnam. There are many interesting places here of which the summer palace of Tipu Sultan is a must visit. Built in 1784 in the Indo-Saracenic style, the palace also has a small museum where Tipu's trivia, including a gold-embroidered tunic, old paintings and a coin collection, are displayed. A little away from the palace is the Gumbaz, the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his father, Hyder Ali. Another famous place to visit is Jami Masjid. The slender minarets of this mosque are visible from several kilometers.

•Mysore Palace

The Mysore Palace was built over one thousand years ago, in 897 AD. Saracenic in style, the palace has both Hindu as well as Muslim influences. After a fire in 1897, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV rebuilt the palace as we see it today, under the supervision of architect Henry Irwin. The main building is of massive gray granite with a tower covered by a gilded dome. A temple is situated within the royal courtyard.

•Brindavan Garden

This garden is situated 19 km northwest of Mysore. The garden is open daily, but the fountain show is held only in spring. The main attraction is the 'dancing musical fountains'. The garden is fully illuminated during the night.

•Chamundi Hill

The temple on the hill, which is 2000 years old, is dedicated to Durga Devi or goddess Chamundi (avatar of Parvathi, Shiva's consort) for celebrating her victory over the demon Mahishasura. From the top of hill you can have a panoramic view of Mysore. There is a giant statue of Mahishasura, the demon who was killed by the goddess Chamundi (Durga Devi) near the temple. Halfway up the hill an ornamented monolithic statue of the Nandi Bull can be found.

•Government Silk Weaving Factory

The Maharaja of Mysore created this factory in 1932 to obtain the finest hand-loomed silks for himself and his royal family. Today the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation runs it. Here you can see craftsmen at work and also buy silk, fresh from the looms.

•Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery

Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery was established in 1875 and has a rare collection of some beautiful paintings from the same era. The gallery is located in Jagmohan Palace and exhibits paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, Svetsolav Roerich and traditional paintings from Mysore.

Excursions of Mysore:

•Somnathpur

Thirty-five kilometers east of Mysore lies Somnathpur, a town famous for the temple built by the Hoysala kings. The beautiful building of the Keshava temple built in 1268 is the major attraction here. The walls of this star-shaped temple are covered with sculptures in stone depicting various scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita and the life and times of the Hoysala Kings.

•Belur

One of the three major Hoysala temples still in daily use today is the Channekeshava Temple of Belur. The construction of the temple, which took almost a century, was started in 1116 to commemorate the Hoysalas' victory over the Cholas. Enclosed in a paved compound, the temple complex includes a well and a bathing tank. It is believed that every major deity of the Hindu pantheon is represented in the temple.

•Bandipur

On the way to Ooty, about 80 km off Mysore, is situated the Bandipur National Park. The park, spread over an area of 875 km, is a famous tiger reserve. Besides tiger, the other animals you can see here are the barking deer, tuskers, and bison.

Shopping Attractions:

The Mysore shopping highlights are sandalwood products, oil, and fine silk fabrics featuring the hand-woven silk sarees and garments along with rosewood and sandalwood handicrafts, copperware, stoneware, brassware, wooden furniture, sandalwood powder, perfumes and lacquer ware. Sayaji Rao Road is the best market place of the town. However, during the festival season, wares from all over the country are available here.

How to get There:

By Air

The nearest airport is Bangalore that is a mere 140km away. All domestic airlines are operating flights to and from Bangalore to all major cities of the country. A few international flights to the Middle East are also operated from Bangalore.

By Rail

There are many train services operating between Bangalore and Mysore. The Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Chennai. The ideal route to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.

By Road

State Highways connect Mysore to the national Highways and to all parts of the country. Bus services by Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and transport corporations of the neighboring states as well as private tour operators make it easy to reach the city without any difficulty. It is only a 3 hour journey from Bangalore.