Top Things to do in Mysuru (Mysore)
Top 10 Things to do in Mysuru (Mysore), Karnataka
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. 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.
3. Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,286 reviews
Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popularly known as ‘Mysuru Zoo’, is one of the oldest zoos of the country established in 1892, by His Highness, the erstwhile Ruler of Mysuru Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar Bahadur. Mysuru Zoo holds an important place in Karnataka. In 1909 the Palace Zoo was named as Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens to commemorate the illustrious founder and since then it bears the nomenclature. Mysuru Zoo has gradually grown into tourist centre, imparting wildlife values. It has got 123 years of history exhibiting wild animals in the near natural enclosures. Despite majority of the zoos have been shifted from the original place to the new places, Mysuru Zoo could modernize the zoo, without shifting the zoo. The zoo is well compacted unit, with modern animal enclosures including heritage buildings attracting tourists all over the world.
Reviewed By Ramse1955 - Bengaluru, India
1. We visited Mysore Zoo a couple of days back. This zoo is world class. It is neat, clean and the upkeep of the animals & surroundings is extremely good. The animals are well fed and they look healthy. 2. We visited the zoo in the afternoon and most of the animals were outside the cages and visitors could watch the animals. 3. The full circuit within the zoo is ~ 4 Kms. For those who find it difficult to walk, there are electric cars to take them around. The entire trip takes about an hour. 4. You can see all the big cats, elephants, rhinos, hippos, bears, gaur, different types of monkeys, parrots & lots of birds ....... 5. The boards give you valuable information about the anmals. 5. I have visited this zoo after ages with my grandson and it was a pleasure going to the Mysore zoo. 6. Kudos to the zoo staff for their hard work & dedication in maintaining the zoo and taking care of the animals.
4. Devaraja Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 222 reviews
Reviewed By cnomis - Chorley, United Kingdom
you are bedazzled with colour, scents , people , fruits, flowers, everything is home grown except for the apples, we bought incense sticks after being shown how they are made, cows wandering around, cats , fabulous place
5. 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
6. 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.
7. Forum Centre City Mall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
From leading fashion houses to new designers, discover a world of luxury with over 50+ boutique, 15+ cuisine, multiplex, supermarket and gaming arcade... all under 1 roof @ Forum Centre City.
8. Sri Chamundeshwari Temple
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,397 reviews
Reviewed By EatTravelStay
We started early morning at 7:30. The roads are beautiful, well built, wide, well managed. They have kept it all clean, so please help them to keep it so. When we reached temple premises at 8:00 already temple is thronged with devotees. Our plan was to take just round of the premises and take an aerial view of city from the hills. The temple is beautiful, evident from the spirit of 100s of devotees in long Q which seemed to take at least two hours to reach inside temple. The mahishasura statue is in high demand for photo shoots. The parking structure newly built is very good and huge enough. We enjoyed the surroundings and then on way back stopped at the much awaited city view point. You can see the Mysore palace (Amba Vilas) and other major structures, don’t miss it. You will not see much monkeys around as it used to be around 20 years back when I visited last time. Overall a must visit.
9. GRS Fantasy Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 139 reviews
GRS Fantasy Park is one of Mysore city’s favorite tourist destinations. It is an amusement and water park for the entire family!Just 15 minutes drive from the city of Mysore, GRS Fantasy Park is spread across a sprawling 35 acres of lush greenery on the Mysore-Bangalore highway. Mysore’s only Amusement and Water Park, GRS Fantasy Park has served memorable holidays to a countless number of families and people over the past 18 years. Come enjoy the breath taking ambiance and exhilarating array of rides at GRS Fantasy Park. Make your next holiday the one you have always dreamed about.
Reviewed By VIJAYKUMAR_CB - Bengaluru, India
Good place to take a break from the touristy activities (Palace / Brindavan gardens / Chamundi Hill etc).. Clean and well maintained Has rides for all age groups Has few dry-rides for those who want to stay away from water --- but in that why come here at all :) No specific dress requirements here... there were women in sarees, girls in salwar suits, men in jeans etc... whatever works for you. However, for those who want to wear more appropriate clothes for the wet rides, they sell swimwear at reasonable rates Decent food options available inside All rides are covered in the ticket price However you need to pay for food, photo prints etc. Opt for the band that they provide - for cashless transactions within the park You can pay any amount upfront and load it in the band which can be used for cashless transactions at various places within the park This way you dont need to carry your wallet / cash within the park -- not recommended especially when going for wet rides Once done with your visit, they will refund the entire balance amount Very good option.... thumbs up...
10. Brindavan Garden
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 2,521 reviews
Reviewed By tomjohnbeena - Bengaluru, India
No tour of Mysore is complete without a visit to Brindavan.It has all the ingredients for a perfect spectacle . An engineering marvel - KRS dam, tastefully designed garden, a joyful boat ride and of course the musical fountain. Best time to visit is the evening as the garden is lit up . However beware of the traffic jam while coming out. It took one and half hours to cover 500 meters across the bridge. carry food if you visit the gardens on the weekends and the holidays as you will be stay put in the vehicle to go out
