Best places visiting in Mysuru 

1.Jaganmohan Palace

Built in 1861 by Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, in the style of the Indian style of traditional temples. The unique aspect of this palace is that the intricate wood carvings cover the whole building. Visitors will be bewitched by quality creativity at entrance of the palace itself. A fine piece of art, the main entrance of the palace has nicely carvings on its both sides. The carvings are depicting Dashavatara about ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Its schemes have remarkable carvings of distinctive thing such as trumpets mini temple and motif of Hindu religion. On the other hands, the breathtaking carvings on the walls of Jaganmohan Palace display royal history, lineage of the Mysore royal family along with murals on the Mysore Dusshera.

Timings, Entrance Fee

10 AM to 5.30 PM, all the days.

Entrance Fee :
Rs. 20/Adult | Children [5 to 10 years]: Rs.10

2.Railway Museum

Situated at Princess Road (across the main gate of CFTRI), it was born in the year 1979 with the initiative of PM Joseph. This museum shows graphics on the emergence of Indian Railways, photographs and paintings. In the Sriranga Mantapa section of the museum are showcased the royal train compartment in use by the Kings and Queens of Mysore, pillar of the Old Srirangapatna railway station and wired fence usage in the yester years. Some of the old steam locomotives are also exhibited here.

The Mysore railway Museum in India is outdoor large exhibition of ancient railway engines. Set up in 1979 by Indian Railways, it is the second one of such kind after the National Railway Museum in Delhi. The Museum is located opposite to Central Food Technology and Research Institute on Krishnaraja Sagar Road. Besides the locomotives it has a photograph and painting gallery showing growth of railways in India. Railway signals and lights are shown also. The museum also boasts a children’s battery operated mini-train for which takes a small ride around the grounds.

Timings & Entrance Fee

Timings :
09.30 am to 05.30 pm

Entrance Fee :
Rs. 20 Adult | Children [5 to 10 years]: Rs.10

3.Chamundi Hill

Chamundeswari temple is located at the top of the Chamundi hill about 3,489 ft above the sea level and at a distance of 13 Kms from Mysore. The temple is devoted to Sri Chamundeswari, the tutelary deity of the Mysore Royal Family and all the same appellate as “Mahishasura Mardini” thanks to for killing the buffalo headed demon Mahishasura.

Krishnaraja Wodeyar III constructed a Gopura with golden crest, put up statues of his self and his three queens. In 1827, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III plans for festivals, procesions and gifted Simhavahana in 1843.

There are two other shrines to Narayana Swamy and Mahabaleswara. Before beginning of Hoysala reign, Sri Mahabaleswara temple was constructed. The oldest epigraphical significations show this area as Mabhala or Mabbala theertha and refers to Hoysala. This temple has received donations from King Vishnuvardhana in the year 1128 A.D.

Nandi: The largest of Nandi in the country, one 16 ft. (4.8 m) high at the front and 25 ft. (7.5 m) long. Those magnificent pendent bell all round neck are magnificent Doddadevaraja came up with this massive bull.

4.Srikanteshwara Temple

Nanjangud is located on the right bank of Kapila or Kabini River, one of the tributaries of Cauvery River. Nanjangud popularly known as Garalapuri is Sangaralingeshwara famous mainly due to the big ch missile centre south of Nanjangud, but also on account of the large Nanjundeswara or Srikanteswara temple. The name Nanjunda means the Shiva who had consumed elixir – Halahala, and it is he who becomes Vishakanta or Shrikanta by digesting it. Thus, he is known as Nanjundeswara and Srikanteshwara. He is also said to be a curer of diseases of his followers.

The Muslim ruler Hyder Ali Khan had high regard for God Nanjunda and named him as ‘Hakim Nanjunda’ as a remedy had been administered for the elephant that had a severe disease in its eye by taking the holy water (theertha) from the temple. Dakshina Kashi or South Varanasi for that is the name of this place. The ancient temple is famous to have close connections with both Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan.

As per the Mythology, Sage Gauthama installed Hashaningangai or a Linga-the image form of Shiva. Near the town is the Sangam, the confluence of Kapila and Gundlu rivers at a place called “Parashurama Kshetra” is believed to be the spot where Parashurama is said to have performed a penance to atone for beheading his own mother in a Churnavati stream which joins Gundlu/Gundlyya or Kaundinya river. Parashurama temple, shrines of Maruthi and a new erected Basaveshvara temple are some of the places of interest.

The grand Nanjundeswara or Srikanteswara temple was constructed by Gangas in 19 century. There are several minor shrines suggesting the temple with Narayana with consorts, Chandikeswara, Parvathi, Natya Ganapathy and others. There are a large number of lingas, mantapa, Vahanas (idols mounted on chariots), Uthsava Murthis (idols used during procession) here.

Tall nine-storied Gopura or tower is attributed to the queen (Devarajammanni, wife of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1849)) of Mysore kings. The 120ft tower boasts of stucco images, decorations, 7 gold kalashas, each 3 meters tall exhibiting the Dravidian architecture.

Another important center in Nanjangud is Raghavendra Math which is located at right side of Nanjundeswara temple on the way to the right. It was established in the later part of 15th century and renowned gurus of inmates or heads such as Sudheendra Thirtha and Raghavendra Thirtha presided this temple. It maintains a good collection of wood engravings and Sanskrit manuscripts as well as copper plates.

Nanjangud Rasabaley, commonly known here as a variety of banana, has also made the Nanjangud famous all over the circle.

5.Mysuru Palace

The Palace of Mysore (also known as Amba Vilas Palace) is a palace located in city of Mysore in Karnataka. Architecture of the Mysore Palace was done by the English Architect, Henry Irwin, towering the skyline of Mysore. A three storied building in Indo-Saracenic style constructed between 1897-1912, the palace sports beautifully designed square towers at cardinal points, on top of which are domes. The Durbar Hall with its ornate ceiling, sculpted pillars and Kalyanamantapa (marriage pavilion) with glazed tiled flooring, stained glass, domed ceiling are worth mentioning, Intricately carved doors, golden howdah, paintings and fabulous, bejewelled golden throne (displayed during Dasara) are the king of assets of the palace. The enclosed palace citadel, is the residential museum (in which some of the palace {rooms} are housed), temples and Shrines , among them the Shwetha Varahaswamy temple. The palace is lit on Sundays and Public Holidays as well as during Dasara Celebrations where 97,000 no of electric bulbs are used to light the same.

The Palace has four entrances. Main entrance is named as “Jaya Maarthaanda” towards the east, “Varaha” towards the west, “Jayarama” towards the north & ”Balarama” towards the south.

Timings, Entrance Fee

Timings : 10 AM to 5:30 PM, all the days.

Entrance Fee

• Adults Rs. 50
• Children below 7 years : Free Entrance
• Children between above 7 to 12 Years : Rs. 30

6.Mysuru Zoo

Mysuru Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden) was set up in 1892 by Chamaraja Wodeyar X, who was then the ruler of Mysuru. First started as a personal zoo of the zoo was then named as Khas-Bangale. It was also known as Thamasha Bangale, The zoo now spread in an area of 250 acres was initially built only for the visits of the royal family but it was throwing open to the public from as early as 1920.

Timings, Entrance Fee

Timings : 10.00 AM to 5.30 PM, Tuesday Holiday.

Entrance Fee :

Child : Rs. 50.00

Adult : Rs. 100.00

7.St Philomena’s Church

St Philomena’s Church
Built in 1804 in the Gothic style, with a main hall or mane to the statue of St. Philomena, with richly ornamented outside is one of the grandest churches of the Country. The building has twin spires, against each of which stand two Corinthian columns 175 ft. (52.50m) in height, stained glass, plastered niches, very ornate throughout.

Timings,Entrance Fee

Timings : 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM, All the days.

Entrance : Free

8.Talakadu

The Kaveri river takes a bold turn and on the left side at this bend is Talakad of Talakadu also. Located at a distance of 45 km Mysore and 185 km from Bangalore in Karnataka, India. Talakad historic site and of archaeological importance. It is not just a spiritual pilgrimage centre but has a beach view spanning across for kilometres.

History :

• The mighty and powerful ruler of Western Gangas ruled from 350 to 1050 AD when they were defeated by the Cholas in 11th century. Talakad was under the Hoysala Empire and came in 12th century. The Hoysala ruler constructed the impressive Vijayanarayana Chennakesava Temple in Belur. Followed by Hoysalas, the ruling power of Vijayanagara Kingdom Maharajas and the Maharajas of Mysore wilted the place.

The temples were buried under sand. Among the temples of Talakad the famous ones are, the five lingams never recognized as five faces of Shiva called Pancha Pathi. There are Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaidyanatheeshwara and Mallikarjuna. To commemorate the aforementioned five Shiva temples, a festival is organized once in 12 years, known as Panchalinga Darshana, held for the first time in 2006.

Panchalinga Darshana is organised on the day of New Moon in the month of Karthika which is a day when two stars combine, Khuha Yoga and Vishaka. People say on this day one has to shower holy bath in Gokarna theertham, worship Gokarneswara and Chandikadevi, and then worship Vaidyeshwara, Arkeshwara, Pataleshwara, Maraleshwara and Mallikarjuna, before finally paying respect to Kirtinarayana and concluding the journey in one day.

9.Kabini or Kapila River

Kabani known as Kabini or Kapila is a river in southern India. It begins in the Wayanad District of Kerala state by the joining of Panamaram River and Mananthavady River. It has its source situated around 96 kilometers to the west with the Ghats, and flows towards the east to join the Kaveri River in Tirumakudalu Narasipura Karnataka. The Kaveri river after supplying water to Karnataka eventually becomes the main water source to Tamil Nadu and is the major drinking water supply before emptying into Bay of Bengal near kaveripoompattinam.

Close to the town of Sargur it creates the big Kabani Reservoir. The backwaters of the Kabani reservoir have very good wildlife especially when summer falls and that decrease water levels to form lush grassy meadows. The Kabani dam is 696 m in length with an initial location of 19.52 tmcft gross generation but the storage is greatly reduced because of siltation. Kabani Dam is located between villages of Bichanahalli and Bidarahalli, which lies at a distance of 17 km, 6 km away from Sargur town, in Heggadadevana Kote Taluk, Mysuru district.

10.Karanji Lake

Karanji Lake in the heart of Mysuru is ideal for those who love nature and for bird lovers. Surrounded by luscious greenary and home to migratory birds of different species, the serene lake creates a calm get away from the urban life.

Timings and Entry Fee

Karanji Lake remains accessible to tourists from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM except Tuesday when it remains closed.

Entry Fee:

• Adults: Rs.10.00
• Children (5–15 years): Rs.5.00
• Senior Citizens: Rs.5.00
• Children (Below 5 years): Free
• Still Camera: Rs.10.00
• Video Camera: Rs.25.00

Why Visit Karanji Lake?

Bird Watching: Lake is host to more than 90 species of birds, swans, pelicans, herons, and storks.

Butterfly Park: Exclusive park inside the grounds which attracts a host of butterflies.

Nature Walks: Its trails and greenery provide good opportunity for a leisurely stroll.