Mysore Tourism - Places of Interest

Brindavan gardens, the most popular tourist spot around Mysore, is famous for both its scenic beauty and its historical bacground.
Located 15kms from Mysore and below the Krishna Raja Sagar dam (KRS dam) falls under Mandya district jurisdiction. This huge garden is amazingly symmetric in design and hosts the musical fountain (water fountains that dance to the tunes of music). Brindavan which has become synonymous with heaven, looks like paradise in the evening with lighted up flowers, trees and fountains in the evening, immortalised in many old movies.

The music fountain shows are timed from evening 7-8.30 pm, where as the garden is open for visitors throughout the day (7am to 9 pm). There is a boating pond in the middle of the garden, wherein, the boatride takes people around the famous statue of Goddess Kaveri. Laser shows have been added off-late for visitor attraction.

Transport is available from Mysore and Mandya from both government and private operators and Dasara is the prime time when tourists visit Brindanvan. Lodging facilities are also available inside the garden premises. Eateries/hotels are also available.

Krishnaraja sagar dam (KRS) is the India's first irrigation dam built in 1924 under Sir M.Vishweswariah's guidance, is named after the then King of Mysore, Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyor. The dam is of 2621 meters lenght and of 39 meters height. The reservoir is spread over an area of around 130 sq.kms and provides water to Mysore and Bangalore cities as well as for irrigation purposes in the Kaveri basin area.

Chamundi hills gets its name due to the Chamundeshwari temple located on the hill top. This Chamundi hill is 13 kms from the Mysore city and is closer to the Mysore palace. The hill is about 800 feet above the city of Mysore. The legend has it that, the goddess Chamundi (Chamundeshwari aka Durga) killed the demon Mahishasura at this place. (Mysore is also named after Mahishasura - Mahishooru became Mysooru)

The beauty of Mysore city can be completely viewed from top of the hill. The hill can be trecked from below and is a good trek zone too.

A huge statue of Nandi (the bull) is visible on the way to the hill-top. This Nandi is over 15 feet high and 24 feet long. The other big statue of interest is that of Mahishasura, the demon, on top of the hill. The colourful Mahishasura attracts children and adults alike.

Chamundi temple on the hill top with a seven-storied 'gopura' with its intricate carvings is one of the powerful goddess temples in south India. The quadrangular structured temple has been expanded in recent times by the kings of Mysore, which is of historical/archaelogical importance.
Goddess Chamundi was the family diety(kula-devate) for the Mysore kings and so goes the legend that the goddess Chamundi has been bestowing Her blessings to the kings (and their kins) and to the layman since time immemorial.

The temple also has silver plated doorway with different images of the goddess, a small temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the obstacle-remover. There is also a 6-feet statues of Maharaj of Mysore, Sri Krishnaraja
Wodeyor III, and his three wives with their names carved on the pedestals.

Special days to visit the temple are Tuesdays and Fridays and all the 10 days of Dasara (Dussera).
Timings:7.30 am to 2 pm
3.30 pm to 6pm
Transport: There are governement buses(KSRTC) and taxies available from Mysore to Chamundi hills.

Also called as Chamarajendra Zoological Garden was started on 1892 by Chamaraja Wodeyar X.The maharaja was nature lover and set up many parks  and garden in mysore.It is also called as palace zoo.It has excellent collection of animals and beatiful lakes.It is located 3 km from the city.Many variety of rare animals can be seen in the zoo.

In the olden days, Maharajas who visited foreign countries, used to bring with them different animals,birds to be kept in the zoo.

Off late, there is a scheme of adopting the animals at Mysore zoo (also known as the Orphanage programme). The rearing of abandoned calves of different animals is done at the zoo.

The rare animals that can be found in the Mysore zoo are black bear,jungle cat,gaur,hippo,lion,tiger,elephant,hyena,
Leopard,Lion,Rhinoceros,Giraffe,Hippopotamus,Tapir,Zebra,Black Buck,Deer,Baboon,Chimpazee,macaque,
Niligiri langur,,Gorilla,Lemur,Marmosert,Bear,Macaw,Emu,Bird(Big and small),Python,Crocodiles,King kobra

Timings:8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Tuesday is holiday

Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens
Indiranagar, Mysore, Karnataka 570010
0821 2440752?
0821 2520302?

St. Philomena church, the other important tourist place is constructed in gothic form of architecture. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III  helped british people to construct church in mysore .It is one of the oldest church was constructed around 200 years ago and is also one of the largest churches in Asia.
The life story of Jesus Christ is drawn all over this church in the form of beautiful paintings. The 175 feet tall church has the capacity to seat 800 people. Dedicated to a 3rd century saint, Philomena from Greece, this church also has the statue of the saint and also a piece of her bone preserved at the centre of a beautiful shield.
 it is dedicated to a 3rd century saint, Philomena from Greece.

St. Philomena's church is located 3 km from city and is open for tourists from 8 am to 6pm.

There is no dearth of amusement too in the old city of Mysore!
Other then temples and dam you can see many amusents parks in Mysore

"If you dont wide open your mouth in awe looking at the Mysore palace, it means that you have a problem"

The architectural masterpiece called the 'Palace of Mysore' is one of the most visited places in India; second only to the Taj!!
'The number of visitors has been increasing every year and one of the years it might just surpass Taj', say the officials in-charge of the Mysore Palace.

Situated at the centre of the Mysore city, this palace marvel was built in 1897 in Indo-Sarcenic style. Earlier known by the name 'Ambavilas', this was the place where the Wodeyors of Mysore, ruled the state of Mysore.

The 3-storied mansion, is 245 x 156 feet and has four big gates. Surrounded by 12 temples, this palace has numerous rooms and pillars, each one surpassing the other in beauty. The durbar hall which is 155 ft is knkown by the name 'Diwan-e-am'. Ornate ceilings, sculptured pillars - painted by gold, paintings depicting scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavata, many paintings by the famous artist Raja Ravi Verma, idols and dieties of Goddess Shakti (Chamundi) worshipped by the Maharajas of Mysore, and much more are part of the museum-cum-palace.

The walls of the palace are painted with different processions, also show a glimpse of the societal life during those times. Granite floors with Marble domes with carvings of art from different part of the world, 'Diwan-e-khaas' the private audience and the 'Kalyana mantapa' - the marraige hall, the glory of the Mysore palace just doesnt stop!

The older palace of wood was replaced by the current mansion when the wooden palace got burnt during a fire. The palace which now hosts the museum exhibiting the rare paintings, ornamental jewelleries, costumes, seats used by the then Maharajas in the durbar, will take one full day to a keen visitor to enjoy.

The palace which is illuminated with thousands of bulbs in the night (not daily) is an unfogettable event in a person's life.

A nominal entry fee has to be paid for entering the palace.
Time to visit:on week day 10 am to 5.30pm
on sunday 8 am to 8pm
Best time to visit: During Dasara