By road
~145 km from Bangalore
South India · Karnataka
Mysore, Karnataka
Palaces and old-world grandeur · ~145 km from Bangalore
Getting there
By rail
Mysore Junction (MYS), centrally located in the city
By air
Mysore Airport (MYQ), ~10 km, has limited flights; Bengaluru's Kempegowda International (~140-170 km) has far more options
Best time to visit
October (Dasara season) to February
Don't miss
Mysore Palace
Chamundi Hill
St. Philomena's Cathedral
Brindavan Gardens
Things to do
Palace light show
Devaraja Market wandering
Yoga shalas
Where to eat
Sources: wikimedia, Photo: Whistleraja · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Comfortable walking shoes, modest wear for temples
A quieter corner
The 1,000-step climb up Chamundi Hill past the Nandi bull
Questions travellers ask
When should I visit Mysore?
October, for Dasara, through to February.
How do I reach Mysore?
Mysore Jn is central. MYQ is 10 km out but has limited flights, so most people come the 145 km from Bangalore, about three hours.
What should I bring?
Comfortable walking shoes and modest wear for the temples.
What is worth the climb?
Chamundi Hill by the 1,000 steps, past the Nandi bull, rather than driving up.
Where should I eat?
Vinayaka Mylari for dose, Hotel RRR for ragi mudde meals, and Guru Sweets for Mysore Pak.
About Mysore
- Inland
Where it is
Mysore, officially Mysuru, is a city in southern Karnataka at the foot of the Chamundi Hills, lying between the Kaveri and Kabini rivers about 140 km south-west of Bengaluru.
History
Mysore was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore under the Wadiyar dynasty for most of the period from 1399 to 1947, though the capital stood at nearby Srirangapatna from 1610, and Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan held power in the late 18th century. After Tipu's death in 1799 the capital returned to Mysore, and the Wadiyars rebuilt it as a city of palaces, gardens and institutions.
People
Mysoreans speak Kannada, and the city is a centre of Carnatic music, Mysore painting, sandalwood carving and rosewood inlay. During Dasara, celebrated over ten days each autumn, an elephant carries the goddess Chamundeshwari in a golden howdah through the city in the Jamboo Savari procession.
Known for
- Mysore Palace
- The Mysore Dasara festival
- Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill
- Mysore silk, sandalwood and Mysore pak
- Ashtanga yoga schools
Did you know?
Mysore pak, the rich sweet made from gram flour, ghee and sugar, traces its history to the kitchens of Mysore Palace.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.