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FACTS & FIGURES
Area : 6,269 sq km (district)
Population : 22,81,653 (district)
Languages : Kannada, English, Tamil, Hindi
Best time to visit : October to March
STD code : 0821
LOCATION
Mysore is located in the South Indian
state of Karnataka around 140 km from Bangalore. The
city extends from latitude 12°18' in the North to
longitude 76°42' in the East. Mysore is well connected
through road and rail networks with other parts of Karnataka
and India.
CLIMATE
The weather in Mysore is pleasant throughout
the year. The summers are warm and winters cool. April
is the hottest month with the daily temperatures varying
between 21°C and 34°C while in December, the
coldest month here, the temperatures ranges from 16°C
to 27°C. The average annual rainfall in the district
is 761.9 mm. One can visit the city any time of the
year but it is advisable to avoid the rainy seasons.
PAST
Mysore city was the capital of the old
royal Mysore province. The word Mysore expands to "Mahishasurana
Ooru" which means the town of Mahishasura. The
story goes that the demon Mahishasura was killed by
goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi hill near Mysore,
hence the name. Ever since, the Mysore royal family
has worshipped Chamundeshwari as the palace deity. Hills
dedicated to her stand at the eastern end of Mysore
town today.
The Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century
except for a short period of 40 years when Hyder Ali
and Tipu Sultan were the rulers. Mysore has never failed
to mesmerize the tourists with its quaint charm, rich
heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out
gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and
sacred temples. The charm of this city leaves no one
untouched.
SITES TO VISIT
The Mysore Palace was built over one
thousand years ago, in AD 897. Saracenic in style, the
palace has both Hindu as well as Muslim influences.
After a fire in 1897, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV rebuilt
the palace as we see it today, under the supervision
of architect Henry Irwin. The main building is of massive
gray granite with a tower covered by a gilded dome.
A temple is situated within the royal courtyard.
St. Philomena's Church is one of the oldest churches
in Mysore. Built in Gothic style, the church is among
the largest in India. Stained glass windows and lofty
towers give this cathedral an imposing look.
Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery was established
in 1875 and has a rare collection of some beautiful
paintings from the same era. The gallery is located
in Jagmohan Palace and exhibits paintings by Raja Ravi
Varma, Svetsolav Roerich and traditional paintings from
Mysore. The traditional gold leaf paintings and some
exquisitely carved statues in sandalwood, ivory and
stone are also exhibited in the gallery. The old paintings
in the gallery have been done in mineral and vegetable
dyes and paints.
The Mysore Zoo was set up by the royal family and houses
some rare and exotic birds & animals. Situated amidst
lush green surroundings, the zoo has acquired fame for
breeding some rare animals in captivity.
The Chamundeshwari Temple is one of the noted Hindu
places of worship and is situated atop the Chamundi
Hill. On way to the Chamundi Hills is the Lalitha Mahal,
a guest palace now converted into a heritage hotel.
SITES NEARBY
Situated around 19 km north west of
Mysore are the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and the Vrindavan
Garden. The garden attracts thousands of visitors every
year who come to see its dancing musical fountains.
Fourteen km northeast of Mysore is Srirangpattnam,
an island fortress and the capital of Hyder Ali and
Tipu Sultan. Tipu’s summer palace, Daria Daulat,
has now been turned into a museum.
Sangam, the confluence of two branches of the Cauvery
River, is situated around 3 km off Srirangpattnam.
Ranganathittu is a bird sanctuary situated around 18
km off Mysore and allows a close view of exotic and
common birds.
Somnathpur is situated around 35 km east of Mysore
and is famous for the Hoysala Temples that are still
in excellent condition.
Eighty-two kilometers away is the Cauvery Fishing Camp,
a paradise for anglers where the mahaseer is found in
abundance.
The Bandipur National Park is 80 km off Mysore on the
way to Ooty and a famous tiger reserve. Spread over
an area of 875 km, the park has a variety of animals
such as the tiger, barking deer, tusker, and bison.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Dussehra in Mysore is a sight one would
remember for a long time even after leaving the place.
It is believed that the presiding deity of the city
has the power to conquer evil forces and this has led
the citizens to celebrate the festival with much gaiety
and fervor.
The tradition of celebrating Dussehra with such grandeur
started with the 16th-century rulers of Vijayanagar.
After the disintegration of Vijayanagar Empire, the
tradition was kept alive by rulers of Mysore and continues
till now.
During the month of October and November, for ten days
the Dussehra festival is celebrated and the city is
at its colorful best with music and dance, Sports, Literary
competitions, fairs and exhibitions all over. All this
culminates in the Dussehra procession and a torchlight
parade on the tenth day.
SHOPPING
Mysore is famous for its sandalwood products, oil, and
fine silk fabrics. The main shopping area is on Sayaji
Rao Road in the main city. During the festival season,
one can purchase wares from all over the country from
exhibitions.
WHERE TO STAY
Mysore provides several options to tourists of different
income groups coming to the city. The options range
from the guesthouses and budget hotels to medium range
hotels and heritage hotels.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
The nearest airport from Mysore is 140 km away
in Bangalore, from where one can take flights for most
of the important cities in India. Indian Airlines has
an office in the city at the Hotel Mayura Hoysala Complex,
Laxmi Bai Road, Mysore (Phone 421846).
By Rail
Mysore is connected with most of the metros
like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai through regular trains.
Between Mysore and Bangalore, there are several good
trains like Shatabdi and Tipu Express. The railway station
is located around 2 km from the downtown.
By Road
There is a good network of roads that connects
Mysore to other important cities of the region. The
Central Bus Stand is located in the downtown area and
provides services like computerized reservation, telecom
center, cloakroom, dining hall, and toilets.
The distances from Mysore to other important cities
in the country are: Delhi–2154 km, Mumbai–1168
km, Calcutta–2147 km, Chennai–469 km, Bangalore–140
km, Tirupati–393 km, and Hyderabad–701 km.
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