Top Things to do in Mysuru (Mysore)
10 Sights & Landmarks in Mysuru (Mysore) That You Shouldn't Miss
The kings of the Wodeyar dynasty set the bar high for the southern cultural capital of Mysore. Ornate palaces and the Gothic St. Philomena's Church with its 175-foot spires pack a visual punch; local institutions keep Carnatic classical music and dance in the public eye. A prominent 11th-century temple sits atop 1,000 steps on the city's outskirts. Dress to the nines and party like a rock star in celebration of Mysore heritage during the lively Dussehra festival, held for 10 days in October/November.
Restaurants in Mysuru (Mysore)
1. Mysuru Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,222 reviews
This 1912 structure is one of the largest palaces in the country and contains art from around the world.
Reviewed By monideepad - Bangalore District, India
We reached the Mysore Palace at 1pm sharp and after parking the car in the parking lot, we proceeded to buy the tickets at the counter by the side of the gate, the South Entrance. There are different categories of entrance fares with concessions for students and large groups. For Indian adults it is ₹50/- per ticket whereas for foreign nationals it is ₹200/- per ticket. The Palace, which is presently converted into a museum is one of the most visited tourist destinations of the country. Being a Sunday, there was a huge influx of tourists, predominantly large groups and we had to elbow our way to where we needed to obtain bags, to put our footwear into them and then deposit the bags at the counter after obtaining a token. Before entering in the palace, we spent some time trying to absorb the magnificence of its exterior and to know a bit about it. The historical Mysore Palace, also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, is a royal residence and also the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty at Mysore, Karnataka. It is located in the heart of Mysore and since the Kings of Mysore were devotees of Goddess Chamundi, the palace faces the Chamundi Hills in the eastward direction. The three storey stone structure with a five storey tower rising to the height of 145feet is made of fine grey granite with pink marble domes. It is said to be in the lines of the Inso-Saracenic style of architecture which is a blend of Hindu, Mughal, Neo-Classical and Gothic styles. The construction of the palace took place between 1897 and 1912, in order to replace the old wooden palace that was destroyed by fire.. Set amidst a large, lovely garden, the palace has three entrances, the East Entrance is opened for VVIPs and dignitaries and during Dasara while the West Entrances is opened only during Dasara and the South Entrance which is used by the public. The facade of the palace has several wide and beautiful arches adorning it with a central arch, supported by tall pillars and flanked by two smaller ones. A sculpture of Gajalakshmi with her elephants, the Goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, abundance is placed above the central arch. The entrance gate and arch hold the emblem and coat of arms of the Kingdom of Mysore. The magnificent palace houses two ornate durbar halls, several colossal courtyards and sprawling, splendid gardens. After the preliminary security formalities of passing through metal detectors and baggage check, we entered through a large door and went through the display of gold and silver statues, and many other stately artefacts. We went through the finely chiselled, beautifully embellished doors that led us through wide corridors which had on the walls, beautiful paintings on the wall depicting many processions and elaborate rituals of Dasara celebrations to richly and elegantly ornate rooms. The ceilings and the posts had beautiful patterns crafted on them. The large Durbar Hall with large with exquisite columns richly painted with gold and subtle colours, large candelabras and chandeliers hanging from ornate ceilings, the solid silver doors, the intricately carved mahogany ceilings and many other embellishments of the palace are overpowering in its magnificence and splendour. while giving an idea of the exuberant lifestyle of the royals. Displays in the palace include an array of superb paintings mostly of the kings, queens and their children, gift boxes received from other kings and dignitaries, royal dresses, souvenirs, musical instruments and weapons used by the Wodeyars. At the end of the tour, we come to where the Mysore Dasara Elephants Ornaments that adorn the elephants at the time of the Dasara celebrations are displayed. The size and splendour of the palace far exceeded my expectations... and after strolling through all the rooms open for viewing for almost two hours, we made our exit. Having had the opportunity of visiting some palaces and castles during my recent trip to the United Kingdom, I personally feel that the richness and opulence of the Mysore Palace is at par or even more. But we can go a long way and do much better in terms of managing the tourists, maybe with more manpower, offer better audio-visual aids and professional guides.
2. Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
3. Somnathpur Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 927 reviews
Reviewed By NS124
This temple is a must see for all who visit Mysore! The architecture and carvings are well maintained. Make sure to have a local tour guide who is able to speak upon the details of the carvings along the outer walls & within the sanctum; because those details help to put this temple into its historical context as well as provide a greater understanding & appreciation for key figures in the Hindu faith.
4. Melkote
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 227 reviews
Reviewed By tejesh0101 - Bangalore District, India
Especially the carved pillars inside the temple was amazing and how in 12th century they were able to pull this magnificent feat. If you are Rajini Fan this place is must watch, remember Subrammanya Swami pillar in the movie Padayappa starting Super star. yup the shooting was done here. If you are looking for a good Brahman food for lunch there was a Brahman mess within 500 m radius. Check it out. if you want a peaceful & calm atmosphere do visit Kalyani. And the view after you climb 350 steps was great to.. and lots more sightseeing.
5. Himada Gopalswamy Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 143 reviews
Reviewed By Mouli6783 - Mysuru (Mysore), India
Govardhanagiri is also known by the name Kamalachala, now popularly known as HIMAVAD GOPALASWAMY BETTA, Gundlupet Taluk, Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka State in South India. In in the Dwapara yuga, the wedding celebration of Girije, the daughter of Himavantha, the king of the snow-clad mountains, was to be held in a grand manner. Brahma, Rudra, all the great sages including Vyasa and Parashara, and the thirty three crore Devatas were excepted to attend the wedding, which was to take place in Kashi, in North India.
6. Trinesvaraswamy Temple
7. Avadhoota Datta Peetham
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 189 reviews
Founded by His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Avadhoota Datta Peetham is a world-renowned institution for the social, moral, cultural and spiritual welfare of mankind.
Reviewed By Aryan2007 - Mumbai, India
The Avadhoota datta peetham is a beautiful ashram complex of Sri Ganapthi Sachchidananda swamy. The complex is huge and has 5 major attractions - Shukavana which is a bird aviary, beautiful Bonsai Garden which is in the Guiness book of world records for its collection of bonsai plants from all over the world, Karyasiddhi Anjaneya temple with huge idol of Lord Hanuman, Sri Datta Venkateshwata Swamy Temple and a Museum. The ashram is very clean and well maintained. Its open for public from 9.30am to 12.30 pm and 3.30pm to 5.30pm. There is a small entry fee for the bonsai gardens, rest all attractions are free. We spent almost 3 hours at the place and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Must visit destination in Mysore.
8. Venugopala Swamy Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 154 reviews
Reviewed By Rahulsharma83 - Bengaluru, India
Venugopala Swamy temple is located in KRS back waters.. place is very beautiful - architecture and scenic.. temple about 30 mins drive from mysore #karnataka #Bangalore #bengaluru #KRS #krsbackwaters #venugopalaswamytemple #cauveryriver #mysore #chariot #panoshot #panooniphone6s
9. Srikanteshwara Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 166 reviews
Reviewed By martinhelmantel - Singapore, Singapore
It's a stunning temple on a very special location. You'll have great views of Mysore city. Mind the opening hours!
10. Namdroling Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,362 reviews
Reviewed By astroaadil - Mumbai, India
This is a lovely Tibetan Monastery close to Mysuru or Coorg in Bylakuppe. There are monks praying in here so be prepared to observe in silence without disturbing them. There are lovely paintings on the walls and ceilings besides the huge statues of the Buddha and it's different avatars that are worth seeing here. The Tibetan refugees have been given this place to settle down by the Indian government ever since they fled their home country. It is a very peaceful atmosphere even with all the beating of drums and playing of traditional horns by the monks chanting their devotional hymns. A must visit place for sure if you are in the vicinity.
