Mysuru, India: travel guide
The 'City of Palaces' — Karnataka's cultural capital, famous for the illuminated Mysore Palace, Dussehra celebrations, sandalwood, and silk.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- MYQ
Top places to visit in Mysuru
Mysore Palace
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry INR 1,000
The resplendent Indo-Saracenic Amba Vilas Palace of the Wadiyars, a riot of domes, arches and stained glass — dazzlingly illuminated by 97,000 bulbs on Sunday and festival nights.
Mysore Zoo
Wildlife · 4.5 rating · about 2.5 h · entry INR 100
One of India's oldest and best-managed zoos (1892), set in lush gardens with spacious enclosures for big cats, elephants, gorillas, giraffes and more.
Chamundi Hill & Temple
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 2 h
A 1,000-step sacred hill crowned by the Chamundeshwari Temple, with a giant Mahishasura statue, the monolithic Nandi bull and panoramic views over Mysuru.
Brindavan Gardens
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · entry INR 100
A famous symmetrical terraced garden below the KRS Dam, celebrated for its illuminated musical fountain show each evening, about 20 km from the city.
St Philomena's Church
Church · 4.6 rating · about 0.7 h
One of India's largest churches, a soaring twin-spired neo-Gothic cathedral (1936) modelled on Cologne Cathedral, with a crypt holding St Philomena's relic.
Devaraja Market
Market · 4.4 rating · about 1 h
A vibrant century-old covered market piled with flowers, fruit, spices, kumkum and the famous Mysore sandalwood and incense — a feast for the senses.
Karanji Lake
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · entry INR 60
A restored lake and nature park below Chamundi Hill with a walk-through aviary (India's largest), a butterfly park and boating, rich in resident and migratory birds.
Lalitha Mahal Palace
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · entry INR 100
A gleaming white twin-domed Renaissance-style palace (1921) built for the Viceroy's visits, now a heritage hotel, with grand Italianate staircases.
Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery
Museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · entry INR 50
A 19th-century palace housing the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, with a fine collection of Raja Ravi Varma paintings, traditional art and antique instruments.
Mysore Rail Museum
Museum · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry INR 30
An open-air railway museum displaying vintage steam locomotives, the Maharani's royal saloon carriage and a miniature working train for children.
Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum
Museum · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · entry INR 80
A quirky museum at the foot of Chamundi Hill displaying intricate themed sculptures carved entirely from sand by a single artist — fun for families.
Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion
Museum · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry INR 20
A grand 1905 mansion on the university campus, now a folklore and art museum displaying rural Karnataka crafts, puppets, masks and artefacts.
Things to do
- Mysore Palace Guided Tour Sightseeing Tour · 2 h · from INR 800 per person
- Brindavan Gardens Musical Fountain Evening Show · 4 h · from INR 1,000 per person
- Chamundi Hill Tour Sightseeing Tour · 3 h · from INR 800 per person
- Mysore Zoo & Karanji Lake Tour Sightseeing Tour · 4 h · from INR 800 per person
- Srirangapatna Day Trip Day Trip · 5 h · from INR 2,000 per person
- Mysuru Heritage Walk Walking Tour · 2.5 h · from INR 700 per person
- Silk & Sandalwood Shopping Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 600 per person
- Mysuru Cooking Class Cooking Class · 3 h · from INR 1,800 per person
Day trips and tours
- Mysuru City Full-Day Tour 9 h · from INR 2,000
- Srirangapatna & Brindavan Day Trip 8 h · from INR 2,200
- Mysuru Heritage & Markets Day 6 h · from INR 1,700
Where to stay in Mysuru
- City Center about INR 3,000 per night
Main commercial area near palace with mid-range hotels
- Jayanagar about INR 2,500 per night
Residential area with boutique hotels and cafes
Hotels
- Radisson Blu Plaza Mysore 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
- Sapthasiri Holiday Homes 2-star · INR 1,620 to INR 2,100 per night
- Royal Orchid Metropole 4-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
- Grand Mercure Mysuru 5-star · INR 6,000 to INR 10,000 per night
- Deepa stay inn 2-star · INR 1,485 to INR 1,900 per night
- Fortune JP Palace 4-star · INR 5,000 to INR 9,000 per night
Where to eat
- Vinayaka Mylari South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 150 per person
- RRR Restaurant Andhra, South Indian, Biryani · about INR 300 per person
- Guru Sweet Mart Desserts, South Indian · about INR 150 per person
- Mylari (Nazarbad) South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 150 per person
- Hotel Hanumanthu South Indian, Tamil, Biryani · about INR 300 per person
- Oyster Bay Seafood, Continental, Asian · about INR 900 per person
- Vinayaka Bhavan (Dynasty) North Indian, Chinese, South Indian · about INR 500 per person
- Tiger Trail North Indian, Mughlai, Fine Dining · about INR 1,800 per person
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"
Airports, train stations, popular squares
Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.
How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.