A land of grandeur! A land filled with richness in every form. A land
of glory which reaches out to you and pulls you into its folds and leaves
you with an enriching experience of an old world charm which one yearns
for in this day and age. Captivating, breathtaking, do these words do
justice to the capital city of the Wodeyars. The magnificent palaces,
beautifully laid out gardens and imposing architecture, sacred temples
and institutions, the richness of sandalwood and the aroma of incense
sticks. All this just add to the love story that this city builds around
you when you step foot into this magical paradise.
There’s just something about this place which beckons you to get
into the laidback mode. The grandeur the way of life, the old world
charm weaves you into its loop and promises you an experience worth
your while an experience which leaves you with a profound sense of contentment.
History
Mysore is thought to have been named after the demon Mahishur, who
according to legend was slain here by the goddess Durga. From 1400, Mysore
was the main city of the Hindu kings, the Wodeyars. The Wodeyars were
under the Vijayanagar Empire till it collapsed in 1565, upon which they
declared themselves independent. They ruled from Mysore ever since, till
in 1956 the princely state joined the Republic of India. There was a brief
interlude though in the 18th century with the power of Hyder Ali and Tipu
Sultan in the ascendant, they could hardly resist this rich kingdom, only
15 km from Srirangapatnam. However, on defeating Tipu, the British handed
Mysore back to the Wodeyar kings.
What to see
Blue Lagoon
Hire an auto from Brindavan Gardens to this picturesque island created
in the backwaters of the KRS Dam. But be careful when stepping in there
are tiny whirlpools. Blue Lagoon is 2 km from KRS Dam.
Kukkaranahalli Lake
For more fun by the waters, drive to this lake in Manasa Gangotri. Frequented
by bird watchers, water sport enthusiasts and nature lovers, it offers
boating facilities. The lake is close to the railway station and the
city bus stand, so commuting is easy.
Karanji Lake
At the foot of Chamundi Hills and close to the city center, the lake
is home to over 90 species of birds. It also houses India's largest
walkthrough aviary. There are boating facilities available. The lake
is open all days except Tuesdays.
Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and Brindavan Gardens
You have just got to see these. About 15 km from the city, this dam
has been built across the Kaveri. The brain child of Krishnaraja Wodeyar
IV and completed with help from Sir. M. Vishwesharaya, it is still considered
an engineering marvel. The Brindavan Gardens are laid out below KRS,
using the water from the dam. Stay on till dusk, when the garden is
lit up and the dancing fountains begin their tricks.
Jayachamrajendra Zoological Gardens
One of the best and largest zoos in India, the JZG has more than 2,000
species of animals and birds. It has reproduced some rare and endangered
animals in captivity. The zoo is open 8 am-5pm and it is about 15 km
northeast of Mysore city on the Mysore-Bangalore State Highway.
Mysore Palace
Mysore's biggest attraction, this was from where the Wodeyars ruled
over their thriving empire. Don’t miss out on the main Durbar Hall
(Diwan-e-Khas) and the Personal Durbar Hall, the paintings of Raja Ravi
Varma, Siddalinga Swamy and K. Venkatappa are rare visual treats.
You can visit the palace daily between 10 am and 5.30 pm. Photography
is prohibited and shoes have to be left outside. The palace is lit up
entirely between 7 pm and 8 pm on Sundays and public holidays and also
during the 10 days of Dasara celebrations.
Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery
Take a peek at the state and personal memorabilia of the Wodeyars and
a collection of rare musical instruments. The Jayachamarajendra Art
Gallery attached to the palace has a rich haul of Ravi Varmas and Roerichs.
You can also see traditional gold leaf paintings of Mysore. The Jaganmohan
Palace, incidentally, was built in 1861 as an auditorium for the royal
family.
Talakad
Once the capital of the Ganga Dynasty, the Archeological Survey of India
is now unearthing a whole lot of temples submerged in the sands of the
Kaveri here. The river bank makes an ideal picnic spot. There is also
a temple to Shiva as Vaidyeshwara.
Chunchanakatte Falls
Watch the Aghanashini River create this water cascade which screams
down from a height of about 450 feet. It is near Yellapur, 19 km from
Mysore. Called Mini Niagara, Gokak Falls is another pretty sight. Though
only a 170 feet fall, it is famous for its spread and shape. The Falls
must be visited in July-August when it is in full force.
Getaways
Srirangapatnam
Also known as Seringapattanam, this was the island- fortress city that
also served as the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore. It was from this
city that the great Tipu Sultan ruled a major part of south India. About
15 km northeast of Mysore, the city was built on the Kaveri River. Not
much remains of the old fort now, because it was razed to the ground
by the British Army before Independence. The fort holds the dungeon
where Tipu during his heydays held British officers captive. There is
an old mosque and the Sri Rangaswamy Temple. Daria Daulat Bagh, Tipu’s
summer palace with its frescoes is definitely worth a dekko.
Kabini River Resort
Kabini , River flows about 80 km away from Mysore through the wonderful
Karapur forest. It used to be the hunting grounds for the erstwhile
rulers of Mysore. The old hunting bunglow has now been renovated by
the Karnataka Tourism department and is the Kabini River Resort, rated
among the five top wildlife resorts in the world by Tattler’s Travel
Guide. You can watch the deer and the elephants coming down to the waters
for a drink. And if you are really lucky you can spot the tigers. The
best time to visit the place is between October and March, though the
park is open all year round.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
About 20 km from Brindavan Gardens, the bird sanctuary is on the backwaters
of the Kaveri. Nature has created miniature islands on the water as
a perch for migratory birds from as far off as Siberia and North America.
May and September are the best months for bird watching. Accommodation
is available at Ranganathittu in the form of three riverside cottages.
Bandipur National Park
A national game reserve on the road to Ooty, Bandipur straddles across
the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. If luck (plenty of
it) is on your side, then the park’s elephants, tigers, and cheetahs
may give you darshan. Otherwise be content with deer, boars and bisons.
The best time to visit is between April and October. You can opt for
the elephant safari organised by the park authorities. 
Shivanasamudra
Drive 85 km east of Mysore to see the Kaveri plunge down a 75-m deep
gorge in the form of two waterfalls, Gaganachukki and Bharachukki. These
falls are at their glorious best during the monsoons.
Bhimeshari
If in mood for some angling, then try trapping the darting mahseers
at Bhimeshwari. River Kaveri meanders mysteriously through the forests
and perched on its banks is the Cauvery Fishing and Nature Camp. The
waters are home to the great mahaseer, one of the most challenging and
the largest tropical sporting river fish known to man. Bhimeshwari is
82 from Mysore.
Dining Out
Mysore is home to some hot and spicy concoctions. Treat your taste
buds to the hot and sweet sambars called huli, the bisebelle baath,
the signature sweet Mysore Pak and the wafer thin dosas.
Walk into Bombay Tiffanys, among the best places in Mysore to go sweet
shopping. Gopika Restaurant and Om Shanthi are the local favourites
for vegetarian delicacies. For Kerala fish curry, walk into Dynasty
on Sri Harsha Road.
Shilpashri Restaurant & Bar at Gandhi Square is the ideal eat-out
if you feel like digging into a Continental breakfast.
Shopping
Mysore silk is world famous. The saris come in jewel colours laced with
a thin gold border. The cost depends upon the amount and purity of gold
and the weight of the silk. You can buy these at the Government Silk
Factory (Lakshmibai Road) or the showrooms in Manandavadi Road and the
shopping area of KR Circle. Government Silk Factory (Mananthody Road,
Ashokapuram) is open Monday through Saturday. You can see weavers at
work and buy the silk you want from the small shop inside the factory.
Mysore also makes articles of sandalwood, rosewood and teakwood. These
include figurines of gods and goddesses, jewel boxes, table tops, and
furniture. Stone carving, gold-leaf painting and ganjifa painting (painting
on leather) are other local arts. The Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium run
by the Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation is an ideal place
for buying handicrafts and artifacts.
The Government Sandalwood Oil factory is where oil is extracted and
incense made. You can visit this place from Mon - Sat (0800 - 1700).
This shop sells soaps, incense sticks etc.
Visiting
Mysore enjoys a moderate climate. The summer maximum and minimum
temperatures are 33C and 21C, while the winters promise to be a very
pleasant experience. Most of the city’s rainfall occurs between
June and October. The ideal time therefore is from October to March.
If you come around October, you can be part of the famed Dussehra festival.
The now defunct Rajah winds his way across the city in a royal grand
procession with much fanfare and trumpeting never mind his plebeian
status!
Tourist Offices
the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) office
is on Irwin Road, in the Old Exhibition Building. It is open Monday
to Sunday from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
Tel: 442096. Fax: 441833. It has branches at the railway station and
the main bus stand.
How to get there
Air
Mysore doesn’t get any air traffic. The nearest airport at Bangalore
is quite well connected to the rest of the country and to some places
abroad. The distance is very easily covered; there’s a host of
rail and road options to choose from.
Rail
More than four trains ply between Bangalore and Mysore everyday. Mysore
is pretty well connected to the rest of the local area and it also has
weekly connections to Chennai and Mumbai.
Road
Mysore is quite close to the southern border of Karnataka. Road distances
are really more manageable from tourist places in northern Tamil Nadu
and Kerala than to a place in even central Karnataka. There are buses
plying all around, deluxe, super deluxe, express and super fast. It
is also possible to hire chauffeur driven cars, which would make the
longer journeys a little less never-ending and tedious.
