Places to visit inMysuru

The best places to visit in Mysuru range from royal palaces in the city to temples, gardens and Hoysala monuments a short drive away. This guide to Mysuru attractions lists entry fees and timings where official sources could be checked.

Mysuru, officially the name for Mysore, is a city in southern Karnataka and the administrative headquarters of Mysore district. As the traditional seat of the Wadiyar dynasty, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore for almost six centuries, from 1399 to 1947, and that royal history shapes most of what visitors come to see.

At the centre stands Mysore Palace, rebuilt from 1897, with Jaganmohan Palace, the Devaraja Market and St. Philomena's Cathedral spread around the old city. To the south-east, Chamundi Hill rises about 13 km from the city with the Chamundeshwari Temple on top, and below it the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens and Karanji Lake sit close together.

Day trips head north to the Krishnaraja Sagara dam and Brindavan Gardens, to the island town of Srirangapatna with its temple, fort and Tipu Sultan sites, and east to the Hoysala-era Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura, about 38 km from the city. Mysuru is compact enough to cover on foot or by auto within the centre, but the day-trip sites need a taxi or tour.

The Dasara festival in autumn brings the heaviest crowds and the grandest illuminations, so book stays early if you plan to visit then, and check fees and hours locally because several sources disagree.