Mysore

Mysore is believed to have got its name from Mahishuru or Mahishasurana Ooru, the meaning of which is the town of Mahishasura, the mythical demon king who is believed to have lived here. Mysore is located at a distance of 139 kms from Bangalore. It is the second largest city of Karnataka and is known as the city of palaces, most famous palace being the Mysore Palace of Wodeyar rulers. The history of Mysore can be traced back to the mythical past. Mahishasura the wicked buffalo-headed demon king of Mysore was killed by Goddess Chamundeshwari of Chamundi Hills. Mysore is now a city with a large number of tourists and visiting every year. It is known all over the world for sandalwood and rich silks which are exported from here. The city has grand imposing palaces, majestic temples and a number of gardens which makes it a place worth visiting. There are historical monuments also that once belonged to Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Mysore is situated 770 m above sea level and has a warm and cool climate throughout the year.

Tourist Attractions

Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace is one of the most important sights in Mysore. It was the official residence of the former royal family of Mysore and had the durbar which is the ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court. This majestic Durbar Hall is absolutely excusite with ornate ceiling and many sculpted pillars. It built in the Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades. It also showcases exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. There are intricately carved doors and luxuriously furnished rooms. It is during the Dasera festival which is celebrated in the months of September and October that the magnificent jewel studded golden throne of the Wodeyars is displayed. The whole palace is illuminated on Sundays and public holidays and offers a spectacular view.

Brindavan Gardens

The Brindavan Gardens are located at the KR Sagar Dam. The work of laying out this garden was started in the year 1927 and it completed in the year 1932. The garden is visited by around two million tourists every year. It is one of the major attractions in the city of Mysore. The garden is spread over 60 acres close to 2 million tourists per year, the garden is one of the major attractions near the city of Mysore. Adjoining the garden is a fruit orchard spread across 75 acres and there are two horticultural farms namely Nagavana which is spread in 30 acres and Chandravana in 5 acres. The Brindavan Gardens is one of the best gardens in South India. The main attraction of the garden is the musical fountain with synchronised music of songs. There is also a lake which provides boating facilities to visitors.

Chamundi Hills

The Chamundi Hills is located at a height of 335 metres and can be reached by a 13 km road or by climbing up the 1,000 steps which were installed by the Mysore Maharaja Dodda Devaraja in the 17th century. Around halfway on the steps is the majestic monolith of Lord Shiva's Bull Nandi, the statue measures around 4.8 metres. On top of the hill is the 12 century temple of Chamundeshwari. The goddess Chamundeshwari is the patron goddess of the Wodeyars and they have made extensive contributions to this temple. Chamundeeswariis a fierce form of Shakti who vanquished the demon Mahishasuran in a fierce battle. There is a colorful image of the demon at the summit of the hill. There are some other temple also in the Chamundi Hills, these include the temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu.

St. Philomena's Church

St. Philomena's Cathedral is located on the north of Mysore city. It is one of the largest churches in the country and is built in the medieval architectural style. The Church has an imposing structure with stained glass windows and lofty towers. It is also known as St Joseph's Church and was designed after the Cologne Cathedral by Rev Rene Feuge, the bishop of Mysore in 1933. There are two crosses at the church measuring 120 feet. The church itself stands at a height of 165 feet with its twin spires touching the sky. Inside the church is the beautiful image of Philomena placed in an underground chapel. The glass windows of the church adorn pictures from the birth of Christ, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ.

Mysore Zoo

The Mysore Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world. The official name for the zoo is Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens. It was set up under royal patronage during the nineteenth century and is set up in lush green surroundings. The zoo houses a large variety of wild species.  The Zoo has been very popular breeding some very rare animals in captivity.

The Art Gallery

The art gallery was once the home of the Wodeyars, the Kings of Mysore. The construction of the palace was completed in 1861. The Jaganmohan Palace was later converted into an art gallery in 1875. The gallery houses exhibits and paintings which date back to that period. Some of the famous paintings exhibited in the gallery include the traditional Mysore gold leaf paintings, oil paintings of contemporary artists like Raja Ravi Varma, Rabindranath Tagore, Svetoslav Roerich etc. The other exhibits include weapons of war, musical instruments, sculptures, brassware, antiques coins and currencies. An unique exhibit here is the French clock which has a mechanism in which a parade by miniature soldiers is displayed every hour, beating drums mark the seconds and a bugle marks the minute.

Travel

Air: Bangalore is the nearest airport.

Rail: The city is connected by three railway lines to the cities of Bangalore, Hassan and Chamarajanagar.

Road: Mysore is well connected by a large network of roads.

Related Topics
Karnataka