Mysore City Guide - Mysore Travel Attractions

Mysore City Guide – Mysore Travel Attractions

Mysore is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka. Mysore means the abode of Mahisha, a demon in Hindu mythology. The city is situated at the base of Chamundi Hills. Although tourism is the major industry of the city, information technology-related industry has been growing steadily. This city with majestic palaces, adorable temples, and enticing gardens is very popular for its sandalwood and silk products. Mysore has a pleasant climate with warm summers and cool winters. The temperatures range from 15 ?C during the winters to 35 ?C in summers. Some of the interesting locations of the city are described in the following sections.

Mysore Palace

The Mysore palace is about 100 years old and exhibits the south Indian architectural dexterity. It is a gigantic structure that soars to a height of 145 ft. The highlights of this palace include the open courtyard, the elephant gate, the kalyanmantap (Royal wedding hall), and the murals that adorn the pavilion. It is a perfect blend of the Hindu, Islamic, Rajput, and the Gothic styles of architecture. The palace complex has 12 Hindu temples, and the oldest of these dates back to the 14th century. Of the several important rooms, the audience chamber, the public durbar and the armory are the most fascinating ones.

St. Philomena Church

The northern part of the city houses the colossal cathedral of St. Philomena. Also known as St. Joseph’s Church, this magnificent building was designed in neo-Gothic style by Rev. bishop Rene Geuge in 1930s. The lofty crosses on the towers are about 120ft high.
Highlights of this church are the spiral towers that soar to a height of 165 ft, the stained glass windows, and a beautiful image of Philomena. The main hall depicts adorable scenes from the birth of Christ to crucifixion and resurrection. Photography is not allowed inside the church.

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Chamundi Hill Temple

The temple situated in the Chamundi hills is one of the main attractions in Mysore. According to the Hindu mythology this was the place where the goddess Durga slew the cruel demon Mahishasura. One eager to see the statue of Mahishasura has to climb atop the hill. There are bus services that make it easy for the tourists. The idol of Chamundi in the sanctum is made of gold. Anyone can visit this 12th century temple to admire the beauty of ancient workmanship.

Brindavan Garden

The Brindavan Garden is about 20 km away from Mysore on the banks of the Krishnarajasagar Dam across the River Cauvery. This well-planned garden has numerous pools and fountains that entice everyone. This is one of the best and well-maintained gardens of South India. The dancing or the musical fountains are the major attraction of this garden. During the nights the illuminated view of the garden reminds one the fairy tales of childhood days.

Some other places worth seeing in and around the city of Mysore include Lalitha Mahal Palace, Chamarajendra Art Gallery, Folklore Museum, Railway Museum, Mysore Zoo, Bandipur Sanctuary, Biligiri Rangana Hill, Gomatagiri, and many more.

Transport and Stay

Although there is no airport in Mysore, it is easy to reach the city from Bangalore airport, which has both domestic and international services. Mysore is well connected to other parts of the country by the railways. There are regular trains to Bangalore, Chennai, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar. The national highways NH 212 and the state highways 33 and 88 pass through Mysore making it accessible to many parts of the state.