A city that's placed right in the foothills of Chamundi Hills, which is known for Somnathapura Temple, and Mysore Palace

Mysuru

Architecture

Karnataka

23°C / Clouds

Mysore, officially known as Mysuru is the second-largest city in the state of Karnataka. The city is placed right at the foothills of Chamundi Hills which is famous for its history related to yogis and Siddhas. However, if we talking about travel, then, Mysuru can really stun you with various surprises. For instance, one such interesting tourist spot would be the Mysore Palace. Besides the palace, Mysore Dussehra is another well-known event that defines Mysore in its full glory. If you are looking for reasons to travel and explore then all we can say is that Mysuru won't disappoint you.

Mysuru has a tropical climate in general. However, if you are planning a trip to Mysuru then the monsoon and the winter seasons would be the perfect time to visit Mysore with your family and friends. The climate during this time is pleasant and it will be a fantastic opportunity for you to click some really good snaps.

History of Mysuru

Mysuru has acquired titles like ‘the city of palaces’ and ‘the ivory city’ in its honour and for its unique culture and rich history. While tracing the annals of Mysore one will come across the fact that this city was ruled by many charismatic leaders and great emperors once upon a time. Starting from the 10th century, the region was ruled by the Chola kingdom, then the Chalukyas, and then by the Hoysalas in the 13th century.

During the 14th century, Chamaraja Wodeyar III rebuilt the Mysore fort also called the Mahishuru Nagara. The fort was such a big attraction for the surrounding empires that the entire region became very popular among the tourists. Historically, the Wodeyar kings are known to be the most prominent kings ever to rule Mysore. By the 17th century, Mysore became the most powerful region in all of Southern Deccan. From 1761 to 1799, Mysore was ruled by Hyder Ali and his successor Tipu Sultan who played a significant role in the freedom struggle of India against the Britishers.

As a result of the Anglo-Mysore war, Mysore came under the Britishers who continued ruling it till India’s independence in 1947. After 1947, Mysore gradually started gaining its charm back and today it is considered one of the historically, and culturally rich states of India.

Also Read: Historically speaking, this city has been the epicentre of Portuguese influence since 1843

Major Attractions in and Around Mysuru

1. Mysore Palace

You won’t be regretting visiting this place. Here, you will be witnessing an extremely breath-taking architectural style that is amazing enough to mesmerize you. This palace was built in the year 1912 and is considered as one of the largest and the biggest palaces to exist in our country.

2. Somnathapura Temple

This village is named after Somnath who was the chief commander of the Hoysala army. If you want to see someplace drastically phenomenal then you must consider visiting this temple with your loved ones. Furthermore, this place is a very classic example of the stone carvings found in the Hoysala architectural style.

3. Mysore Zoo

The Mysore Zoo is just the right travel getaway to enjoy with your kids. This zoo was founded in the year 1892 by Maharaja Chamaraja who belonged to the Wodeyar dynasty.

4. Chamundeshwari Temple

This temple was built around the 12th century. The idol which has been placed in this temple is made of pure gold. This temple also features an intricately engraved seven-story Gopuram which is a silver-plated entrance. It is indeed a great fusion of art, architecture, and spirituality at its best.

5. GRS Fantasy Park

This is a theme-based park and the kind of place that your children will absolutely love to visit. The park is home to some of the most amazing rides along with several fun activities. Locals and tourists visit the park with their friends and family to unwind from the hectic schedule.

6. Shopping

You must not miss the shopping experience. From the bazaars, you can check out Mysore silk saris, artifacts as well as handicrafts.

How to Reach Mysuru

Mysuru is indeed one of the most amazing places to visit in Karnataka. This is a place that is replete with incredible nuances of history. While on your trip to Mysuru, you can explore various things like sandalwood, sarees made of silk, historical tourist spots. Here is how you can reach Mysuru via the following routes.

By Air. Although Mysore has its own airport of the same name, it is not well connected with other cities. Along with the Mysore Airport, another option to visit here would be the Bangalore International Airport (BLR).

Bangalore International Airport is situated at a distance of 150-180 km whereas the Mysore Airport is located at a distance of 8-9 km from the city centre. The Mysore Airport was constructed in the 1940s during the kingdom of Mysore.

Thus, your best option to reach here would be Bangalore Airport a.k.a Kempegowda International Airport. This is an international airport that serves Bengaluru and nearby areas. Many airlines like Air India, IndiGo, GoAir, AirAsia operate to and fro with fairly good connectivity.

After you deboard at the airport, you will need to travel 180-190 km. For this, you can hire a cab or some other means of public transportation.

From Delhi - Board Air India, Go Air, IndiGo, Spicejet from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The starting airfares are from Rs.3,500
From Jaipur - Board Air Asia, Air India, Spicejet from Jaipur Airport. The airfares are starting from Rs.4,000
From Hyderabad - Board Air India, Air Asia, Spicejet, Vistara from Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The starting airfares are from Rs.3,000
From Mumbai - You can board Air Asia, IndiGo, Air India, Vistara from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

By Train. The Mysore Railway Junction is the nearest train station. It is located 3 km from the city centre. This station is situated on the Mysore Bangalore Railway line. Previously, this station was connected to a single line meter gauge. Then it was only later on that this place was converted into a non-electrified broad-gauge line. After you deboard at the station, you will need to take some sort of public transportation to reach your respective destination.

From Bengaluru - Board Shatabadi Express from KSR Bengaluru and deboard at the Mysuru Junction
From Coimbatore - Board Mysuru Express from Coimbatore Junction and deboard at the Mysuru Junction
From Madurai - Board Mysore Express from Madurai Junction and deboard at the Mysuru Junction
From Mumbai - Board Sharavathi Express from Dadar and deboard at the Mysuru Junction

By Road. You can also consider travelling via road as well, whether by your own vehicle or by bus. From Bengaluru, the bus fares are starting from Rs.635. From Tirupati, the starting bus ticket price is Rs.300-400. From Visakhapatnam, the fares are starting from Rs.1,500. Otherwise, here is the route to travel here via road.