Mysore or Mahishur as it was called then traces its history back to the mythical past, when Goddess Chamundeshwari of Chamundi Hills killed the wicked buffalo-headed demon, Mahishasura.

140 Kms from Bangalore lies the abode of untold grandeur and glory. Mysore, the capital city of the Wodeyars has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. There’s an old world charm about the city that reaches out and leaves no one untouched.

Mysore is the second largest city of Karnataka. Today, Mysore is a vibrant city teeming with tourists and visitors. It is known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks.Its grand and imposing palaces, majestic temples, gardens leave an ever-lasting impression on the visitor.

Mysore Dasara is the celebration of this victory of good over evil. Mysore also has associations with the Mahabharata and King Ashoka of the 3rd century B.C. During the Wodeyar rule Mysore reached the Zenith of its glory as a fabled centre of oriental splendour.

The word Mysore is derived from Mahishuru or Mahishasurana Ooru, meaning the town of Mahishasura, the demon king who is believed to have lived here. The history of Mysore can be traced back to the time of Mahabharata. It was ruled by the Ganga Dynasty from the 2nd century to approximately 10th century. Later it was ruled by the Cholas for a century which was followed by the Chalukyas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagar Empire and finally the Mysore Yadu rules in the 13th century.

During the reign of Chamaraja Wadiyar the city is said to have gained prominence. For a brief period the Wadiyars got dethroned, but finally returned to power under the British command at the end of the 17th century.

Situated 770m above sea level, Mysore has a warm and cool climate throughout the year.

Places of Interest in Mysore:

• Mysore Palace
• Brindavan Gardens
• Chamundi Hills
• St. Philomena’s Church
• Mysore Zoo
• The Art Gallery
• Rail Museum
• Karanji Lake Nature Park
• Kishkindha Moolika Bonsai Garden

Around Mysore

Daria Daulat Bagh

Tipu’s Summer Palace,built in 1784,is located here.Made of teak,this Indo-Sarcenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescos.It is now a museum and tells eloquently of Tipu’s valor and his losing battle against the British.

Fort

It is here that Tipu charged at the British soldiers with his legendary sword.An obelisk in the fort marks the place where he fell -betrayed by his own men.The fort holds within it,a mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple.Outside the fort is the Gumbaz,Tipu’s tomb with splendid ebony doors inlaid with ivory.

Reach Mysore

By Road
Mysore is 139kms to the south west of Bangalore. The state highway that connects these two cities is very well maintained. Traveling from Bangalore to Mysore by road is a pleasant experience and will take about 3hrs. The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has excellent bus service to Mysore. Every half an hour there is a non-stop bus to Mysore from Bangalore Bus Station. Corporations of other states and private tour operators have buses plying to Mysore as well. All these facilities have made Mysore extremely accessible by road.

By Train
Mysore is connected with a number of trains to Bangalore. The super fast luxury train the Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Madras. The quickest and most comfortable way to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.

By Air
The nearest airport to Mysore is Bangalore (139 km). All the domestic airlines in the country operate their flights to Bangalore from all the major cities in the country. Some international airlines too have flights to Bangalore international airport.