Palaces, Sandalwood Carvings, Silk Sarees, this sums up Mysore, the land of 'Mahishasur', the demon who gave his name to the city.
Mysore was ruled by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan for 40 years, before the British annexed it. Later, the Wodeyar family ruled Mysore till independence as a British protectorate. Mysore is today a thriving market for sandalwood, incense, silk sarees, and stone and wooden carved sculptures. It is also the headquarters of Mysore District.
The major attractions in the city are Chamundeswari Temple, Mysore palace, Lalitha Mahal palace, Saint Philomina's church, Daria Daulat, Folklore Museum, Railway museum, Mysore Zoo, Jaganmohan Palace and art gallery, Devaraja Fruit and Vegetable Market, and the art gallaries of Venkatappa and Jayachamaraja.
The nearby places of interests are Srirangapatna, Chamundi Hills, Somnathpur, Talkad, Brindavan Gardens and the wildlife sanctuaries of Bandipur and Nagarhole.
Dussehra is a major festival held at mysore, during October - November. It culminates with the famous Dussehra procession on the 10th day.
It is located 140 km southwest of Bangalore. The nearest airport is at Bangalore.
Mysore Junction Railway Station is linked by rail to Bangalore and nearby cities and towns.
National Highway 212 passes through the city. Mysore is connected by road to Srirangapatna (15 km), Somnathpur (35 km), Bandipur (80 km), Nagarhole (96 km) and Bangalore. The ideal time to visit is from May to June, or September to November.
