Introduction to city Mysore
- In Karnatka
Situated at around 140 km from Bangalore, the city of
Mysore extends from 12°18’ North to 76°42’ East. In spite
of being close to the industrialized city of Bangalore,
Mysore hasn’t been touched so much by modernization and
still retains its serenity and old-world charm. A visitor
to Mysore has always been fascinated by the city’s quaint
charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully
laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues
and sacred temples.
Mysore was ruled by the Wodeyars since the 14th century
except for a brief period of 40 years in the later 18th
century when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan ruled over the
city. The Wodeyar family managed to get back the kingdom
when, in 1799, Tipu Sultan surrendered to the British. The
benevolent rule of the Wodeyar kings is evident in the
city’s meticulous planning. The city’s architectural
heritage and its long-held tradition of music and dance,
art and literature were nurtured under their patronage.
You can visit the city at any time in the year but it is
advisable to avoid the rainy season. The city has pleasant
weather throughout the year. The summers are warm, with
temperatures varying between 21°C and 34°C, while the
winters cool, with the temperatures ranging from 16°C to
27°C
Sightseeing :
Places to visit in destination - Mysore
The city of Mysore offers a visitor an insight into the
lifestyles, cultures and traditions of its erstwhile
rulers. The palaces and temples around the city speak
volumes about heritage and architecture of the medieval
times and the kind of patronage the city received from its
rulers. Some of the interesting places to visit around the
city are the
Mysore Palace, Chamundi, Hills Srirangapatnam, Brindavan
Gardens
and
Lalitha Mahal Palace.
Mysore Sightseeing : Places to
visit in destination Mysore
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Places to visit in the city Mysore |
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CHAMUNDI HILLS -
Mysore
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Forming the backdrop of the city is the
1,100-feet-high Chamundi Hill. On the top of the
hill stands the temple dedicated to the Goddess
Chamundeshwari, the royal family\’s patron deity. To
reach the temple one can either drive through the
13-km stretch up to the summit or climb the 1,000
stone steps. Nearby the temple stands the huge
statue of Mahishasura, the demon slain by the
Goddess. Halfway up along the stone steps stands the
majestic 4.8-metre monolith of Nandi the Bull, Lord
Shiva\’s chosen mount. The statue is believed to be
300 years old and its chief attraction, apart from
its size, is the meticulous craftsmanship of its
ornaments—from its delicate anklets to the
magnificent pendant bell around its neck.
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SRIRANGAPATNAM -
Mysore
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About 15 km from the royal city of Mysore lies the
town of Srirangapatnam. There are many interesting
places here of which the summer palace of Tipu
Sultan is a must visit. Built in 1784 in the Indo-Saracenic
style, the palace also has a small museum where Tipu\’s
trivia, including a gold-embroidered tunic, old
paintings and a coin collection, are displayed. A
little away from the palace is the Gumbaz, the
mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his father, Hyder Ali.
Another famous place to visit is Jami Masjid. The
slender minarets of this mosque are visible from
several kilometres. |
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BRINDAVAN GARDENS -
Mysore
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A half-hour\\’s drive from the city takes you to the
Brindavan Gardens. The well-manicured steps of these
world famous terrace gardens are bordered by
watercourses. Musical fountains with soft coloured
lights add to the visitor’s delight. The view of the
gardens during the nights is a thing to be seen.
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LALITHA MAHAL PALACE
- Mysore
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The snow-white Lalitha Mahal was built in the 1930s
for the guests of the Wodeyars. The main attraction
of the palace is a staircase of Italian marble
branching off from a landing to reach the first
floor hall. Surrounded by velvety green lawns and
stately trees, the Lalitha Mahal is now a
prestigious hotel of the India Tourism Development
Corporation. |
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MYSORE PALACE -
Mysore
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Built in around AD 897 in Saracenic style, the
Mysore palace has both Hindu as well as Muslim
influences. The palace, designed by an English
architect and completed in 1912, was built in place
of an earlier palace which was burnt down in 1897.
The main palace building is made of massive grey
granite with a tower covered by a gilded dome.
Colours abound the palace architecture. The huge
rooms and the floor tiles are covered with colours
like turquoise blue, magenta, golden yellow and leaf
green. The central hall, incredible in its beauty,
was used for marriages and other major gatherings. A
temple is also situated within the royal courtyard.
The Dussehra procession, an annual affair in the
city in the month of October, starts from here. The
palace also houses a museum which has a collection
of musical instruments, children\’s toys, many
paintings, costumes, weapons, etc., belonging to the
Maharaja\’s family. |
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Excursions :
Places nearby city - Mysore
A visit to the places around Mysore casts light on the
region’s rich heritage. The temples of Somnathpur, Belur
and Halebid give an insight into Hoysala dynasty and the
Bandipur National Park and the Ranganathittu Bird
Sanctuary showcase the region’s bio-diversity.
Mysore Excursion : Places
nearby Mysore - Karnatka
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Places to visit nearby destination - Mysore |
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Bandipur
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On the way to Ooty, about 80 km off Mysore, is
situated the Bandipur National Park. The park,
spread over an area of 875 km, is a famous tiger
reserve. Besides tiger, the other animals you can
see here are the barking deer, tuskers, and bison. |
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Belur
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One of the three major Hoysala temples still in
daily use today is the Channekeshava Temple of Belur.
The construction of the temple, which took almost a
century, was started in 1116 to commemorate the
Hoysalas’ victory over the Cholas. Enclosed in a
paved compound, the temple complex includes a well
and a bathing tank. It is believed that every major
deity of the Hindu pantheon is represented in the
temple. |
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Halebid
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The Hoysaleswara temple at Halebid has a history
dating back to around AD 1121. Though its
construction spanned 80 years, it was never
completed. The temple is set in a well-tendered
garden. A small museum adjacent to it houses a
collection of sculptures. The Kedareswara temple and
three small Jain temples are also located at Halebid.
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Ranganathittu
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For bird lovers, Ranganathittu is worth a visit.
This bird sanctuary is situated around 18 km from
Mysore and offers a close view of the exotic and
common birds. |
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Somnathpur
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Thirty-five kilometres east of Mysore lies
Somnathpur, a town famous for the temple built by
the Hoysala kings. The beautiful building of the
Keshava temple built in 1268 is the major attraction
here. The walls of this star-shaped temple are
covered with sculptures in stone depicting various
scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the
Bhagavad Gita and the life and times of the Hoysala
Kings. |
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Sravanabelagola
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Sravanabelagola, meaning the Monk of the White Pond,
is the oldest and the most important pilgrimage
centre for the Jains in the country. The town is
also the home to the world’s tallest monolithic
statue, the 17-metre-high naked statue of Bahubali.
Besides the statue, the town also has several
interesting Jain temples and monasteries.
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