The name Mysore (Mysuru) comes from the Anglicized version of ‘Mahishuru’ (Mahisha) wherein Goddess Chamundeshwari killed the mythical demon. With the famous history of many Rulers / Maharajas Mysore owns its own fame for Mysore Silk, World famous Dasara festival, its Palaces, Sandal Soap, Jasmine (Mysore Mallige), betal leaves and much more. The scenic beauty of Mysore stands in its heritage buildings, Palaces, temples, and the Chamundi Hills. Mysore attracts visitors & tourists from all the corners of the World.
Table of Contents
- 1. Mysore Palace
- 2. Lalitha Mahal
- 3. Jaganmohan Palace – Art Gallery & Auditorium
- 4. Melody World Wax Museum
- 5. St. Philomena Church
- 6. Chamundi Hills and Chamundeshwari Temple
- 7. Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens
- 8. Brindavan Gardens
- 9. GRS Fantasy Park
- 10. KRS Dam
- 11. Shree Shvetha Varaha Swamy Temple
- 12. Kukkarahalli Lake
- 13. Government Silk Factory
- 14. Karanji Lake
- 15. Lingabudi Lake
- 16. Nanjundeshwara Temple
- 17. Melukote
- 18. Talakadu, Near Somnathpur
- 19. Shravanabelagola
- 20. Cheluvamba Mansion
- 21. Shuka Vana
- 22. Lakshmiramana Swamy Temple
- 23. Chunchanakatte Falls
- 24. Chennakesava Temple
- 25. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
- 26. Shivanasamudra Falls
1. Mysore Palace
It is the former Palace of the Royal Family of Mysore wherein it is now the Official Residence of the heirs. Built by the 24th ruler of the Wodayar Dynasty in 1912, it is the serene example of Indo-Saracen architecture. It is also known as Amba Vilas Palace. The world-famous Mysore Dussera Festival is held at this Palace every year.
Location: 140 km from Bengaluru | 2.6 km from Mysore Main City (via Mysore – Kollegal Road) | 1.9 km from Mysore Railway Station (via Irwin Road & Sayyaji Road)
Timings: 10.00 AM to 05.30 PM of all the days of a week.
Illumination Timings: 07.00 AM to 07.45 PM on Sundays, National Holidays & State Festivals | 07.40 PM to 07.45 PM on all weekdays (Monday to Saturday) after the Sound & Light Show
Entry Fee: INR 40 per person (Adult) | INR 20 per person (Children of 10-18 years) | INR 10 per person (Students with Letter from School) | INR 200 per person (Foreign Tourists with Audio Kit)
2. Lalitha Mahal
Built by the Maharaja of Mysore Krishnaraja Wodayar IV for the royal stay of Viceroy of India in 1921, Lalitha Mahal is the 2nd largest Palace in Mysore. The Palace shows the lines of London St. Paul’s Cathedral style of architecture. In 1974, it was converted into Heritage Hotel and run by Ashok Group of India Tourism Development Corporation. After 2018, it is transferred to the unit of Karnataka Government.
Location: To the east of Mysore city, the Palace is located near Chamundi Hills. It is 15 kms from Mysore Airport, and 8 kms from Mysore Railway Station.
Timings & Entry Fee: Since it is converted into Heritage Hotel, you can visit the website http://www.lalithamahalpalace.co.in/ for further details.
3. Jaganmohan Palace – Art Gallery & Auditorium
Built by the Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodayar III in 1861 as an alternate retreat for the Royal family, is one of the marvelous seven Palaces of Mysore. The Palace tells about the traditional Hindu style with 3 stories. In 1955, the Palace is converted into Art Gallery in the name of the Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodayar. Added to that, the 1st session of the Legislative Council of Mysore state was held at this Palace in July 1907. Later then, Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodayar converted the Palace into a trust and opened for public view.
Location: Opp. To City Bus Stand, Jagan Mohan Palace Road, Chamrajpura, Mysore. The Palace is 19.1 kms from Mysore Airport (via Mysore – Hadinaru Road) | 1.8 kms from Mysore Railway Station (via Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai Road & Krishna Vilas Road) | 140.8 kms from Bengaluru
Timings: 10.00 AM to 05.30 PM of all the days of a week.
Entry Fee: INR 20 per person for Adults and INR 10 per person for Children.
4. Melody World Wax Museum
An IT professional Mr. Shereji Bhaskaran with the help of Wax World (Ooty) & Wax Museum (Goa) conceptualized and developed this Melody World Wax Museum. With the theme of music, the museum is enhanced with advanced computer technology. The building of this museum is said to be 90 years old which is a heritage building of Mysore.
Location: #1, Vihara Marga, Siddhartha Layout, Mysore | 5.1 kms from Mysore city (via MG road, Mysore – Kollegal Road, Mysore – Trichy Road) | 21.02 kms from Mysore Airport (via NH 766) | 5.0 kms from Mysore Railway Station (via T. Narsipura Road) and Just 3 kms from Mysore Maharaja Palace.
Timings: 09.30 AM to 07.00 PM of all the days of a week.
Entry Fee: INR 30 per person (both Adults & Children) and INR 10 for Camera (Still)
5. St. Philomena Church
For the European residents in the city, Mysore Maharaja laid the foundation in 1933 and the Church was ready in 1936 in Neo Gothic style. Daly, a Frenchman designed the architecture with the inspiration from Cologne Cathedral, Germany. It is a Catholic Church and Cathedral of the Diocese of Mysore. The full name of the Church is Cathedral of St. Joseph & St. Philomena which is also called as St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The Annual Feast will be held on August 11th of every year.
Location: Lashkar Mohalla, Ashoka Road, Mysore | The Cathedral is just 2 kms away from Mysore Palace | 3 kms from Mysore City Bus stand | 20.6 kms from Mysore Airport (via Mysore – Hadinaru Road) and 2.6 kms from Mysore Railway Station (via Irwin Road).
Timings: The Cathedral will be opened from 05.00 AM to 06.00 PM all the days.
Entry Fee: Entrance is free for all.
6. Chamundi Hills and Chamundeshwari Temple
About the place: Chamundi Hills’ average elevation is 3300 ft wherein this rocky hill was known as Mahabalachala in the mythology. You can find two ancient temples at the hill, the Mahabaleshwara (place of pilgrimage) and Chamundeshwari.
The Chamundeshwari temple is named after the Goddess Chamundeshwari – one among the 18 Maha Sakthi forms. The temple is thought to have been built in the 12th century by Hoysala Rulers and have been completed by the Vijayanagar Rulers in the 17th century. It is located at the elevation of 838 feet from the sea level.
Nandi Temple is located at a small hill town with 5m tall idol of Nandi – the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. The idol of the Nandi is exquisitely carved from a single rock said in the ancient history of Mysore.
Location: Chamundi Hills (Chamundi Temple) is 3.6 kms from Mysore City | 20.2 kms from Mysore Airport | 15.8 kms from Mysore Railway Station
Sri Nandi Temple is just 5 minutes’ walk from the Chamundi temple.
Timings: 09.00 AM to 06.00 PM all the days of a week.
Entry Fee: No Entry Fees, if you want to do any Pooja, charges are applicable as per the Temple Board.
7. Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens
Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysore Zoo) is a 157 acres home for more than 200 species and it is one of the oldest & most popular zoos in India. It was established in the year 1892 by the Maharaja Sri Chamarajendra Wodayar Bahadur.
Location: 2.7 kms from Mysore City Bus stand | 3.1 kms from Railway Station (via Albert Vicot Road) | 19.9 kms from Airport (via Mysore-Hadinaru Road)
Timings: 08.30 AM to 05.30 PM all the days except Tuesdays.
Entry Fee: INR 50 for Adults (week days) & INR 60 for Adults (week end) | INR 30 for Children (5 – 12 years) all the days | INR 20 for Still Camera and INR 150 for Video Camera.
8. Brindavan Gardens
About the place: Built by Sir Mirza Ismail, the Diwan of Mysore the Garden attracts close to 2 million visitors in a year. Designed symmetrically with terrace gardens clustered with gazebos, pergolas, glass houses, and topiaries, it is one of the serene places to visit. Fruit orchards and horticulture farms near the garden win the hearts of people to the core.
Location: Krishnaraja Sagar Dam Road, Srirangapatna, Mandya district | 143 kms from Bengaluru Railway Station | 143.9 kms from Bengaluru Main city | 196.4 kms from Bengaluru Airport | 19 kms from Mysore City.
Timings: Garden Timings: 07.00 AM to 08.00 PM (weekdays) & 07.00 AM to 09.00 PM (weekends) | Musical Fountain Show: 06.30 PM to 08.00 PM (weekdays) & 06.30 PM to 09.00 PM (weekends)
Entry Fee: INR 50 for Adults & INR 10 for Children | Boating: Round Trip (from North Garden to South part of the Garden) | INR 30 for Boating before 06.00 PM and INR 60 after 06.00 PM | Vehicle Parking: INR 100 (incl. of Toll)
9. GRS Fantasy Park
It is one of the National Award won amusement water theme parks, located outside Mysore city. You can enjoy Snow Park here along with separate rides for kids and family. You will also enjoy thrill rides here.
Location: GRS Fantasy Park, Off KRS Road, Metagali, Mysore | 6 kms away from Mysore City Center (on Mysore Ring Road & off KRS Main Road)
Timings: 10.30 AM to 06.00 PM (Monday to Saturday) | 10.30 AM to 07.30 PM (Sundays)
Entry Fee:
Entry Fee before 3.30 PM: INR 699 for Adults of height above 4’ 6” | INR 599 for Children of height ranging 3’ to 4’ 6” | INR 449 for Senior Citizens (above 65 years) and No Fees for Infants (below 3’)
Entry Fee after 03.30 PM: INR 549 for Adults of height above 4’ 6” | INR 449 for Children of height ranging 3’ to 4’ 6”
10. KRS Dam
Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam was constructed by Krishna Raja Wodayar IV – the Maharaja of Mysore in 1931 with 18 main gates and the dam’s Architect was Chief Engineer of Mysore M. Visvesvaraya. The high-level river Cauvery canal helps irrigating 120,000 acres in Mysore. The height of the dame is 130.80 ft and the gross storage capacity is 49.452 TMC.
There is a legendary belief that sage Kanva lived here once and a Shiva temple got submerged after the completion of dam. It is been built on the river Cauvery and there is a belief that three rivers namely Cauvery, Hemavathi and Laksmanathirtha meet near the dam.
Location: Krishna Raja Sagara, Srirangapatna, Mandya district, Mysore | 22.7 kms from Mysore Railway Station | 23.5 kms from Mysore City Bus stand (via Hunsur Road/Mangalore – Mysore Highway & KRS Road)
Timings: 06.30 AM to 09.00 PM of all the days of a week.
Entry Fee: INR 15 per person (Adult) | INR 5 per person (Children of 5 to 10 years)
11. Shree Shvetha Varaha Swamy Temple
About the place: Shree Shvetha Varaha Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Varaha (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) resembles Hoysala style with exquisitely carved wooden works on the doorways,pillars & towers.
The temple was demolished for some reasons and the current temple was built by Mysore Diwan Purnaiah.
Location: Agrahara, Chamrajpura, Mysore (Inside Mysore Palace Grounds) | 3 kms from Mysore Railway Station and 2 kms from Mysore Bus Station
Timings: 10.00 AM to 08.00 PM (open all the days) | Entry Ticket counter opens at 10.00 AM | Tourist Entry into the Palace closes by 03.00 PM
Entry Fee: INR 40 for Adults | INR 20 for Kids between 10 to 12 years | No entry fees for Kids less than 10 years
12. Kukkarahalli Lake
About the place: The lake spreads across of 58 hectares with shoreline of 5 kms. This ‘J’ shaped lake is such a serene place with lush greenery on its all the sides. You can view the Chamundi Hills at the backdrop of the lake leaves you forget to breathe. The beauty of this lake can be read through the works of many poets and writers.
Location: Kukkarahalli Lake, Saraswathipuram, Mysore (Adjacent to the University of Kalamandir & Mysore) | 4.3 kms from Mysore Bus station | 3.5 kms from Mysore Railway Station
Timings: 06.00 AM to 06.00 PM (open all the days)
Entry Fee: There is no entry fee to visit the lake.
13. Government Silk Factory
About the place: Government Silk Factory (Mysore Silk) has world famous recognition, which is produced under the board of KSIC (Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation). The Maharaja of Mysore Sri Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodayar founded this factory in 1912, in which the source of silk is from Ramanagara district – the largest market for silk cocoons in Asia.
Location: Room 8, K R Circle, K R Circle, Krishnamurthy Puram, Chamrajpura, Mysore | 3.6 kms from Mysore Railway Station | 2.9 kms from Mysore City Station | 12.8 kms from Mysore Airport
Timings: 07.30 AM to 12.00 PM & 12.30 PM to 04.30 PM (Monday to Saturday)
Entry Fee: There is no entry fee unless you make any purchase.
14. Karanji Lake
About the place: Surrounded by nature’s lush greenery the lake is of 90 hectares with 55 hectares of water spread and 35 hectares of foreshore area. Consisted with beautiful butterfly park and India’s largest aviary (walk-through), Karanji Lake is under the control of Mysore Zoo Authority.
Location: Chamundi Hills, Adjacent to Mysore Zoo | 2 kms away from Mysore Palace and 5 kms away from Mysore Railway Station
Timings: 08.30 AM to 05.30 PM all the days except Tuesdays
Entry Fee: INR 10 per person (Adults) | INR 5 per person (Children of 5 to 15 years & Senior Citizens) | INR 10 for Still Camera and INR 25 for Video Camera
15. Lingabudi Lake
About the Place: Lingabudi Lake (Lingambudi Lake) is one of the largest as well as oldest lakes constructed by Mysore Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in 1828. During the migratory season more than 250 species of birds visit this lake and different varieties of avifauna spotted near the lake and those are the noticeable about this lake.
Location: Srirampura, just 8 Km from Mysore | 8.6 kms from Mysore City Bus Stand (via Sayyaji Rao Rd) | 8.3 kms from Mysore Railway Station (via Adichunchanagiri Rd) | 14.9 kms from Mysore Airport (via Ring Rd)
Timings: 06.00 AM to 06.00 PM of all days of a week.
Entry Fee: No entry fee
16. Nanjundeshwara Temple
About the Place: Nanjundeshwara Temple (SriKanteshwara Temple) is located on the banks of River Kabini and it is also called as ‘Nanjangud’. Built based on the Dravidian style, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva drank the poison churned out from the holy ocean in search of immortal nectar. The Chariot festivals Dodda Jathre and Chikka Jathre happening here twice a year is quite famous.
Location: 27 kms away from Mysore | 25 kms from Mysore City Bus Stand (via NH150A/ NH766) | 2.6 kms from Mysore Junction (Sheshadri Iyer Rd) | 15.6 kms from Mysore Airport
Timings: 06.00 AM to 01.00 PM and 04.00 PM to 08.30 PM (Monday to Friday)
Entry Fee: No entry fee
17. Melukote
Melukote is an ancient town in Pandavapura Taluk of Mandya district. The town is constructed on rocky hills known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri. In the 12th century, the great saint Sri Ramanujacharya resided here for 14 years and thus the town turned into famous center of the Srivaishanva sect of Brahmins. There are two eminent temples reside in this town, one is Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and the other is Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple.
Location: Melukote is 51 kms away from Mysore | 44 km off the Mysore-Bengaluru highway NH27 | 53.4 kms from Mysore City Bus Stand (via NH150A) | 52.1 kms from Mysore Junction |72.9 kms from Mysore Airport (via vidyaranyapura – Nanjangud Rd & NH150A).
Timings: 07.30 to 01.00 PM and 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM (Cheluvanarayana Temple) | 09.30 AM to 01.30 PM and 05.30 PM to 08.00 PM (Narasimha Temple)
Entry fees: No Entry fees to visit the Temples. (Since it’s a town, the entre fees will be based on the places where you visit.)
18. Talakadu, Near Somnathpur
About the Place: Talakadu is a historical town situated on the left bank of river Cauvery. In the 16th century, a lady named Allemelamma curse the town to be filled with sand. Over the years ago Talakadu’s curse story is believed strongly. So it is called as mini desert in Karnataka. It is one of the important places to worship Lord Shiva. Many temples are buried under the bed of river Cauvery and are evacuated once in every 12 years for special worship called as Panchalinga Darshana.
Location: Talakadu is 45 kms away from Mysore | 47.9 kms from Mysore City Bus stand (via Mysore -Kollegal Rd/Mysore – Tirchy Rd/T Narsipura Rd) | 49.4 kms from Mysore Junction | 58.4 Kms from Mysore Airport (via NH766)
Timings: Temples will be opened from 6 AM to 6 PM all the days.
Entry Fee: Free
19. Shravanabelagola
About the Place: Shravanabelagola is a historical town located in Hassan district of Karnataka. The town is fixed between two rocky hills – Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri. It is prominent for its collection of Jain temples. The word ‘Belagoda’ means ‘white pond’ – which terms as an allusion as if there is a beautiful pond in the middle of the town. The town is famous for Bahubali Gomateswara temple, Bahubali statue is the tallest monolithic stone statue in the world, carved in a single block of granite.
Location: Shravanabelagola is 84 kms away from Mysore with an aerial distance of 66 km (via NH10A & SH47) | 83.3 kms from Mysore City Bus Stand | 102.8 Kms from Mysore Airport | 81.9 Kms from Mysore Junction and there are no direct flights/trains/buses available between Shravanabelagola to Mysore.
Timings: 6.30 AM to 11.30 AM and 3.30 PM to 6.30 PM all the days.
Entry Fee: Free
20. Cheluvamba Mansion
Cheluvamba Mansion is 104 years old heritage beautiful palace built by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV for his third daughter Cheluvajammanni in 1910 AD. It is located in the north-western part of the Mysore city. Now it is a home to Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), public is not allowed without proper permission.
Location: Mysore – Krishnaraja Sagar road, opposite to the Railway Museum | 2 kms from Mysore Railway Station & 3kms from KSRTC Bus Station | 15.4 kms from Mysore Airport (via Dr BR Ambedkar Rd)
Timings: 10.00 AM to 06.00 PM of all the days.
Entry Fee: Free
21. Shuka Vana
Shuka Vana is a rehabilitation centre for harmed, injured and abandoned birds. It is a place where you can find different species of birds from different nations. It is a unique park mainly famous for parrots and it is a part of the Avadhoota Datta Peetham of Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Ashram. It holds the Guinness Book of World Records for housing large number of bird species in an aviary.
Location: Avadhoota Datta Peetham, SGS Ashrama, Ooty Road, Datta Nagar, Mysore | Shuka Vana is just 4.7 kms from Mysore City Bus Stand (via Sayyaji Rao Rd) | 6.8 kms from Mysore Junction (via Albert Victor Rd) | 16.2 Kms from Mysore Airport (via Mysore-Hadinaru Rd)
Timings: 09.30 AM to 05.30 PM of all the days.
Entry Fee: Entrance fee is free but charges are applicable to take Photos with birds.
22. Lakshmiramana Swamy Temple
Lakshmiramana Swamy Temple is one of the oldest temples in the city located within the Mysore Palace complex. It is dedicated to Nambinarayan, a revered form of Hindu God Lord Vishnu. Nambinarayan statue is kept in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and the image of main deity holds conch in one hand and Sudarshana Chakra on the other. The idol of Goddess Lakshmi is located in a smaller cell towards the right of main deity.
Location: Lakshmiramana Swamy Temple, Sayyaji Road, Mysore | Just 3 kms from Mysore Railway Station & 2 kms from KSRTC Bus Station | 19.1 kms from Mysore Airport (via Mysore-Hadinaru Rd)
Timings: 08.00 AM to 09.30 AM and 07.00 PM to 08.00 PM of all the days.
Entry Fee: Free
23. Chunchanakatte Falls
Chunchanakatte Falls is a famous waterfall on the Cauvery River where it splits into two small cascades at this place and joined as one after reaching the ground. It is about 60 feet height and approximately 300 to 400 feet wide waterfalls. It is a holy place where Lord Sri Rama stayed during his vanvas. The sound of the waterfall cannot be heard inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Kondarama temple. There is a belief that Goddess Sita Mata took holy bath in this place and till now water appears in three different shades looks like mixed with turmeric and other holy powder.
Timings: 07.00 AM to 08.00 PM (Sunday to Friday) and 06.00 AM to 09.00 PM (Saturday)
Location: 55 kms away from Mysore in Krishna Raja Nagar Taluk | 50.5 kms from Mysore City Bus Stand (via SH108/SH 120) | 49.6 Kms from Mysore Junction | 65.5 kms from Mysore Airport (via Ring Rd).
Entry Fee: INR 30 per person
24. Chennakesava Temple
The Chennakesava Temple is a Vaishnava Hindu temple located on the banks of Cauvery River at Somanathapura town. Somanatha Dananayaka, the General of Hoysala King Narasimha III built this temple in 1268 and the temple is now under the maintenance of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). You can see the carved inscription about the temple’s history on a one stone stab at the temple entrance.
Timings: 09.00 AM to 5.30 PM of all the days. From the month of October to March is the best time to visit the temple.
Location: 35 kms away from Mysore main city | 161 kms from Mysore Junction (via Arsikere-Mysore Rd) | 163.7 kms from Mysore Airport (via SH 57).
Entry Fee: INR 5 for Indians and INR 100 for foreign tourists.
25. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary also called as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka wherein this place was affirmed as a Bird Sanctuary in 1940. This bird sanctuary name is derived from the name of Hindu God Sri Ranganatha Swamy.
Timings: 09.00 AM to 06.00 PM of all days of the week.
Location: 19 kms away from Mysore City | 5 kms from Srirangapatna | 16.4 kms from Mysore City Bus Stand (via NH150) | 35.9 kms from Mysore Airport (via Vidyaranyapura-Nanjangud Rd) | 15 kms from Mysore Bus stand (via NH150)
Entry Fee: INR 50 per Adult and INR 25 per Child (Indians) and INR 300 per person (Foreigner)
26. Shivanasamudra Falls
About the Place: Shinvanasamudra falls is one of the most popular waterfalls, wherein an islet town divides river Cauvery into twin waterfalls – Gaganachukki and Bharachukki. It is also called by the name of Siva Samudram, literally mean Lord Shiva’s Sea. It is the place where Asia’s first hydroelectric power station was set up in 1902. It is the second biggest waterfall in India and sixteenth largest in the world.
Location: Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka | 60 kms east of Mysore | 71.4 kms from Mysore City Bus Stand (via Mysore-Kollegal Rd/Mysore- Tirchy Rd/T Narsipura Rd and Belakavadi –T Narasipura Rd) | 72.9 kms from Mysore Railway Station | 82 kms from Mysore Airport (via NH766 and Belakavadi –T Narasipura Rd)
Timings: 08.00 AM to 05.00 PM of all days of a week.
Entry Fee: Free
Final Thoughts Not only attracting the visitors and tourists from all the corners of the World, Mysore has its own name and fame for many festivals, celebrations and other cultural events representing the traditional legacy since decades. Visiting Mysore once will become one of the most precious time-spent in your life indeed.
