Mysore

Continuing on my travel blog, next in the list is Mysore. The heritage city is where I started my professional career and I enjoyed every bit of it. Mysore is known for its palaces and the famous Chamudeshwari Temple.

Mysore is located in the southern state of Karnataka and one of the biggest cities of the state. Mysore has got a domestic airport and the nearest international airport in the Bangalore International airport. Mysore is easily reached from Bangalore and the journey takes around 2 to 3 hours.

Mysore is well connected by Bus and Train to most important places of the country.

The most important aspect of the city is it is one of the cleanest cities in India only next to Mohali. The climate is Mysore is hot in the summer and it gets cold during the winter.

Below are some of the most important places to be seen in Mysore

Mysore Palace, beautifully lit at the night

The Mysore Palace: The well-known Mysore Palace is the official residence of the erstwhile royal family, the Wodeyars. The palace is built in the heart of the city and it is huge and grand. Any one visiting the palace for the first time will certainly be in awe given the majestic construction and size. A person needs atleast 3 hours to see the whole of this palace. Inside the palace is the rich artifacts, prizes and gifts given to the Rajas and most beautiful of them all is the durbar hall, something similar to court. The paintings on the wall certainly add attraction to the already beautiful palace. The palace is best seen during the Dussera when the famous 10 day Dussera festival takes place here. The palace will be lit beautifully and it will be a treat to watch the elephants decorated with various ornaments.

Mysore Zoo: One of the attractions of the city is the Mysore Zoo. It is beautiful and the major attraction is the Gorilla. Mysore Zoo is the only zoo in India which has Gorilla. The zoo is closed on Tuesdays and it is not far away from the palace.

Chamudeshwari Temple: The famous Chamundeshwari Temple on top of the Chamundi Hills should certainly be on the list of must see places in Mysore. Certainly one of the most beautiful temples I have seen. On top of the hill gives a beautiful panoramic view of the city. On the way to temple is the big Nandi the bull which is believed to be growing in size.

Brindavan Gardens

Brindavan Gardens: One of the earliest and most beautiful gardens of India, the Brindavan Gardens. It is located near the Krishna Raja Sagar dam in the outskirts of Mysore. The best time to visit the garden is in the evening when it is pleasant and one can witness the dancing fountain late in the night. When I visited the place, it was bit dirty with plastic covers and I hope the authorities have taken corrective actions and have cleansed the garden. Its high time plastic is banned within the garden premises or at least enough dust bins be provided so that the public do not pollute the beautiful garden.

Devaraja URS Road: The road which leads to the palace is the place to be in the evening. Buzzing with people everywhere, this is the place for shopping in Mysore. The famous Mysore Silk is sold in almost every shop that is there in this road. Some of them are government subsidies while some are private shops.  Apart from this, there are lots of places to eat (both veg and non veg) in and around this place.

Tipu Sultan Summer Palace

Srirangapatnam: The land of Tipu Sultan, Srirangapatnam is hardly 30 mins drive from Mysore and certainly the place to be. There are loads of places to see here like the Tipu Sultan Palace, the Ranganathar temple, sangamam, the place where Tipu Sultan’s body was found by the British, the underground prison, Gumbaz (the tomb of Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali and his mom) and Nimishambal Temple.  Atleast 3/4^th of the day is required to see the whole of this place and I would suggest reaching this place in the morning. On visiting the place one would get to know the valor of the ‘Tiger’ Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali.

Travelling with in Mysore is easy as it is not as big as Bangalore and lots of autos are available and should be enough to cover all the places. However, I would suggest not to hire auto to Brindavan Gardens and Srirangapatnam as they will charge exorbitant prices to these places.

Mysore is best visited in the month of October during Dussera when one can see the palace at its best. The climate during January and February is superb and is an ideal time for those who do not mind missing the Dussera festival.