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Mysuru (Mysore Palace)

Mysuru (Mysore Palace)

city · Karnataka

Mysuru is a small, orderly, easy city, and it has the one palace in India that is worth seeing lit up.

State
Karnataka
Type
City
Best season
Winter
Things to do
3+

Mysuru is a small, orderly, easy city, and it has the one palace in India that is worth seeing lit up. Mysore Palace switches its exterior lights on for a short window on Sunday evenings and through Dasara — around a hundred thousand bulbs on the outline of the building. Check the current timings locally, because they change, and be there before it happens rather than after. Inside, the Durbar Hall and the marriage pavilion are the rooms to slow down in. Photography is not allowed in the interior and shoes come off at the entrance. Chamundi Hill above the city is the standard sunset trip. The steps up — around a thousand of them — are a better way to arrive than the road, and the Nandi bull two-thirds of the way up is the reason to walk rather than drive. Devaraja Market is the working market: flowers by the kilo, sandalwood, bananas in a dozen varieties. Go in the morning while it is being restocked. Dasara in September or October is the city at full volume, with a caparisoned elephant procession. It is also when every room is booked. October to February otherwise.

A short history

Mysuru was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore, ruled for centuries by the Wadiyar dynasty (interrupted by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century), who rebuilt the current palace after a fire destroyed the old wooden one in 1897 — completed in 1912 in an Indo-Saracenic style that still defines the city's skyline.

Why Mysuru (Mysore Palace) matters

Former capital of the Wadiyar dynasty, famed for its illuminated palace and the ten-day Mysuru Dasara festival.

How many people come

40 lakh

city in 2024 · Karnataka Tourism (estimate)

When to go

The peak season to explore Mysuru is October during the world-famous Dasara festival, and November to February for pleasant climates.

Why visit

Come on a Sunday evening, when the palace is lit up with close to a hundred thousand bulbs for about forty-five minutes. Devaraja Market and the silk and sandalwood workshops fill the rest of a day.

Cultural notes

Functioning for centuries as the proud seat of the wealthy Wodeyar Dynasty and Tipu Sultan's Kingdom of Mysore, the city is full of artistic patronages. It holds geographical indication tags for Mysore Silk sarees, authentic Sandalwood oil soaps, and the rich sweet delicacy known as Mysore Pak.

How to reach

Served directly by Mysore Airport with domestic flights, and connected flawlessly via the high-speed multi-platform Mysuru Junction Railway Station. It is smoothly accessible via the modern 6-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway corridor within 2.5 hours.

2 days in Mysuru (Mysore Palace)

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace

Devaraja Market

Day 1

Devaraja Market

A historic multi-century old wholesale market corridor, famous for towering mounds of colorful kumkum powders, fresh jasmines, and essential oils.

Day 1

St. Philomena's Church

St. Philomena's Church

Day 1

Palace illumination (Sun/holidays)

Palace illumination (Sun/holidays)

Day 2

Day 2

Chamundi Hills temple

Chamundi Hills temple

Day 2

Brindavan Gardens

Brindavan Gardens

Day 2

Srirangapatna day trip (Tipu's palace)

Srirangapatna day trip (Tipu's palace)

Food & cuisine

Signature dishes and local flavours to look for in Mysuru (Mysore Palace).

6 dishes

Mysore Masala Dosa

Crisp dosa with red chutney and potato

Mysore Pak

Mysore Pak

Ghee-rich gram-flour sweet, born here

Mylari Dosa

Soft, buttery Mysore-style dosa

Filter Coffee

Filter Coffee

Classic South Indian breakfast

Idli-Vada

Idli-Vada

Classic South Indian breakfast

Devaraja Market street eats

Evening chaat and snacks

Mysuru (Mysore Palace) guide & itineraries

Mysuru (Mysore Palace) is perfect for

heritagefamilyfoodcouples

Nearby getaways

Srirangapatna

~30 min

Coorg

~2.5 hrs

Bandipur

~2.5 hrs

Frequently asked questions

When is the Mysore Palace illuminated?
On Sunday evenings and public holidays, and grandly during Dasara; Mysuru Dasara is world-famous.
How many days for Mysuru?
2 days for the palace, Chamundi Hills, gardens and a Srirangapatna day trip.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Mysuru (Mysore Palace).

St. Philomena's Church & Rail Museum

Neo-Gothic church and vintage trains

Popular attractions

The places in Mysuru (Mysore Palace) most people come for.

Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas)

Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas)

Attraction

Chamundi Hills Viewpoint

Chamundi Hills Viewpoint

Viewpoint

See all attractions

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Mysuru (Mysore Palace)

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