Palaces in India: The spectacular Mysore Palace

With the spectacular Mysore Palace and many smaller glorious structures it is only appropriate that Mysore in the Southern state of Karnataka is known as the City of Palaces. Our visitors guide gives you all the details you need to plan your sightseeing.

Mysore-Palace

A trip to the city of Mysore gives travellers the chance to visit the glorious past of Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali, who put up a great fight against the British rule and were responsible for laying the foundation of places like Bangalore and Mysore over four decades. As the seat of power for the father-son duo and then later the Wodeyar King, Mysore is a historian’s delight.

Burj-Mysore-Palace

Apart from the Jaganmohana Palace, the Jayalakshmi Vilas, Lalitha Mahal, Chamundeshwari Temple and St. Philomena’s Church, the biggest attraction of the Mysore is the Ambavilas Palace or better known as the Mysore Palace.

How to get there

The city of Mysore is about 4 hours from Bangalore and can be accessed by road and rail conveniently. Mysore also has its own airport now but has limited flights at the moment.

About the Palace

Standing just after Taj Mahal in statistics, the palace has seen over 2.7 million visitors. It serves as the residential quarters of the erstwhile royal family, Wodeyars. The first palace of the royal family was built in the 14th century but was demolished and subsequently rebuilt & expanded many times over till 1940. The Mysore palace saw a lot of restructuring due to inevitable circumstances like being struck by lightning, a fire in the later years and of course by Tipu Sultan. The current style of the palace is shaped by British architect, Henry Irwin, who was commissioned by Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhna.

Mysore-palace-from-far

Following the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the building brings together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. The palace is a three storied structure built of gray granite with deep pink marble. An impressive sculpture of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, good luck, and abundance with her elephants stands on the central arch of the palace.

Dussehra

Dusherra is the most important festival of the city of Mysore, and the palace becomes a focal point of all cultural activities that are showcased on this day. The ten day festival is presided over by the King. On the tenth day of Vijaya Dashami, an extensive parade with elephants and local floats passes through a well guarded city. The festival commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon, Mahishasur.

Mysore-Palace-in-Night

Entry Fee

International visitors are charged Rs 200 while national tourists have to pay an entry fee of Rs 20/-. Cameras are not allowed inside, but you can capture the grand structure from the gates. (This information is subject to change).

Opening Times and Days

The palace is open on all days from 10.00 a.m to 5.30 p.m. On Sundays, national holidays and Dusherra the palace is beautifully lit with strings of light bulbs. The timing of the lit palace is between 7.00 p.m and 8.00 p.m (This information is subject to change).

Best time to Visit

October through February is a good time to visit Karnataka. If planning in October, don’t miss to catch the Dusherra festival.

Karnataka Tourism: Things to do in Mysore

Replete with history, this erstwhile Kingdom of Tipu Sultan still promises a royal experience and the opportunity to relive the glorious past of Karnataka. If visiting the South of India, there are lots of things to do in Mysore! Starting from Bangalore, here’s what you can do on a weekend break in Mysore!

1. Roll into Mysore

If travelling from Bangalore, try the train to Mysore! Why? Because this is where you get to mingle with the spirit of the place – the co-travellers, the food vendors and the hustle-bustle is sure to give you a more intimate experience. There is a huge assortment of 21 trains that ply on the route for your convenience. It is also a better way to spend 3 hours in the train than on the road with more traffic!

2. Palace by Night

Predictably put but this one is sure to make your trip worthwhile. Incidentally Mysore is also called the ‘City of Palaces’, and houses one of the most famous monuments in India, after Taj Mahal. The 1912 structure built by the Wodeyars is a wonder made out of white marble, fine gray granite and deep pink granite. There is an entry fee to go inside and photography is prohibited, but you can get a picture from the outside. The palace is lit beautifully every night and is sight which is sure to be etched in your memory making it one of the top things to do in Mysore! Try and visit during the Dusherra festival in October when the King leads a parade on caparisoned elephants and the whole town comes alive with music and dance performances of Karnataka.

Mysore_Palace_Night

3. Market Mania at Devaraja

A photographer’s delight, the Mysore Devaraja market is heady mix of sound, smell and colours! Flowers, idols, street food, vegetables and more line the street. A treat for the lenses and senses, this one is great in the morning hours!

Mysore-Market

4. Filling Station

The famous Vinayaka Mylari is where you would want to be for breakfast or lunch. The set up is decades old and has a host of veteran go-ers who line up for crisp dosas and idlis each morning! You cannot get more authentic food, so add this to the list!

Vinayaka-Mylari

5. For the Artist in You

The royalty of Mysore was known to patronize many artists and local skills. Taking a leaf from the lineage, the town still imbibes a discretionary taste for art. This can be experiences at the Jayachamerajendra Art Gallery. Built in 1861, the gallery houses memorabilia from the past – rare instruments, Japanese art, paintings by Ravi Varma and regal artefacts.

Sri-Jayachamarajendra-Art-Gallery-Mysore-karnataka

6. Chamnudeshwari Temple

One of the more noted places to see, Sri Chamnudeshwari Temple sits atop the namesake Chamundi Hill at a height of over 1000 meters. It will easily take you half a day to visit and come back. Regular autorikshaws ply from the town or alternatively you can take the local bus or a cab.

Chamundi_Hills

7. Brindavan Gardens

This huge stretch of neatly manicured gardens with fountains provide a lush respite during the warm months in Mysore. The gardens are about half an hour away from the city.

Brindavan_Gardens

8. Silk Factory

Mysore and the adjoining region is known was silk breeding and weaving. In fact, if you drive from Bangalore, you can see the silk worms on concentric mats being bred for silk making. A state run silk factory is open for visitors where you can also pick up saris and materials.

Silk-breeding-and-weaving

9. Rail Museum

Mysore can safely boast of an impressive collection of railway engines and more rail paraphernalia. The Rail museum is a good one for children for an educative and fun experience.

Rail-Museum Mysore

10. The Craft Museum

Mysore has an extensive University campus which also houses the Crafts Museum where a plethora of local art and craft is on display. While the Cauvery shop in town might be more suitable to shop for souvenirs, visit the museum to know more about the famous wooden inlay work and more.

Most bizarre encounters with wildlife in India

And you thought that the only place where you could see a tusker or have a tête-à-tête with a cobra would be in the wild? Hold your breath, as the wildlife in India is not confined to the jungles. It is not surprising to see an elephant ambling between traffic or a decorated camel strolling in the streets. Strip your senses of any order and be prepared for the most bizarre encounters with wildlife in India. Here are some of the places where you might meet your jungle friends.

Mysore Dusherra 

The festival of Dusherra is celebrated amongst fervid excitement in the southern city of Mysore. One of the fascinating parts of this festival is a parade of richly decorated elephants that takes place in the city over two days. Amongst such a grand show, it’s not hard to miss the King who takes the royal ride atop the main elephant.

Wild Elephant in Mysore Dusherra

Camel Fair in Pushkar

One would think of the camel as an elusive creature making painstaking journeys in the arid deserts of Rajasthan. If you want a more intimate meeting, head straight to the Pushkar Fair where camels are traded amidst a hullabaloo of dealers from all over the state.

Resting Camel in Camel Fair in Pushkar

Spot a Tiger 

The very lucky can see the famous Indian tiger is in the wild. Ranthambore in Rajasthan, Corbett in Uttarakhand and all the national parks in the Deccan state of Madhya Pradesh are known for tiger sightings.

Royal Bangal Tiger casual walk

Kambala Buffalo Race 

Though the buffalo is largely a domestic animal in India, a fascinating festival in south India sees them in cut throat competition of races in the beginning of the year. These buffalo races are over 1000 years old and very traditional to these regions.

Wild Buffalo in Kambala Buffalo Race

One-horned Rhinoceros 

Some special species like the one horned rhinoceros can only be found in the north east national park, Kaziranga, where the population of these is over 1500 with a strict conservation programme. Its examples like these that put faith in India’s conservation systems for the dwindling population of various animals.

One Horned Rhino in North east national park, Kaziranga

Snake Charmers of India

Less common than they used to be, you may still encounter the snake charmers with their baskets and assortment of snakes. Many of them often carry cobras which are made to dance to the tune of an instrument and used to collect money. If not on the streets, you can find them near temples.

King Cobra in Rajasthan

Kokkare Belur 

A fascinating village off Bangalore hosts hundreds of pelicans, which have made this village their permanent home. With no trace of a water body close by for fish or any other reason why they should adopt this village, these pelicans are permanent residents here.

Resting Pelican in Kokkare Belur

The best way to see wildlife in India is in the widespread national parks of the country. Names like Gir, Ranthambore, Corbett, Pench and Bandhavgarh are just a few where conservation work is in full swing but the rest of India is also dotted with many of them.

The zoos of India are ideal for entertaining children and you are guaranteed to at least see some of India’s rarer wildlife that is hard to see in the wild. Ask locally about the reputation of the zoo and choose responsibly which you visit.