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Mysore Tourism

The City of Palaces
State : Karnataka
District : Mysore
Type of Tourism : Heritage tourism and Pilgrimage
Area : 128.42 km2
Population : 7, 99,228 (As per Indian census- 2001)
Altitude : 763 meters
Best Tourist Season : Whole year, but mainly September to April
Telephone Code : India (0821), International (+91)
Pin Codes : 570001 To 571602
Clothing recommended : Mysore Silk
Languages spoken : Kannada, English, Hindi
What To Buy : Mysore Silk, Sandal wood, Sandal wood powder, Sandal wood oil, Soaps, perfumes, incense sticks, sandalwood, rosewood and teakwood items, ivory Handicrafts, jewel boxes, furniture, Cauvery items, Stone carvings and paintings.
Food Specialties : Idli-Sambar, Annam-Saru, Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Uttapam, Appam, Medu Vada, Mysore Pak, Bisibele Baath, Raagi Rotis, Mudde, Masala Poori.
Tourist Information Centers : Regional Tourist Office Old Exhibition Road, Mysore, Karnataka, India. Tel: (91) - 0821-22096 Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation Yatrinivas Buildings, J.L.B Road Mysore, Karnataka, India. Tel: (91) - 0821 - 26352.


About Mysore

Settled at the footings of the Chamundi Hills, ‘Mysore’ is acclaimed as ‘The City of Palaces’. Being the second largest city of the state of Karnataka, Mysore is the headquarters of Mysore district. Till mid 20th century, the area that falls into Karnataka State was known by the name Mysore.
Situated about 140 km southwest of Bangalore, the capital of the state, Mysore is one of the most favorite tourist destinations and is recognized worldwide for its sandalwood and Mysore silk.
Mysore is named after the Goddess ‘Mahishasur Mardini’, the Goddess who killed the demon called ‘Mahish’ according to Hindu Mythology. The temple of this Goddess Kali, also worshipped as the Goddess Chamundeshwari, is situated at Chamundi Hills and is famous for its magnificent dome and the beautiful sculptures carved upon it.
The legendary Mysore city is well known for its grand ‘Mysore Palace’, Dasara festival, Brindavan Garden, Mysore Pak and Mysore Style– a style of painting originated in Mysore.

History Of Mysore

Ancient Mysore was ruled by the kings of different dynasties like ‘Ganga’, ‘Chola’, ‘Chalukya’, ‘Hoysala’ and ‘Yadu’. All of them contributed to the development of Mysore in some or other way.
From 1400 AD, Mysore came under the governance of the Wodeyars. The Wodeyar kings ruled Mysore as the ‘Mandaliks’(feudatory) of the empire named Vijayanagar until the year 1565 when the empire collapsed and Wodeyars declared Mysore as a free state. They ruled the state till the independence of India from British colonization only with a gap of 40 years in 18th century when Mysore was reined by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sulatan.
Presently the king of Mysore, the heir of Wodeyars stays at Bangalore. People can go and visit his palace and even meet him. This king rides through the Mysore city sitting on the back of elephant during the famous Dasara procession even today.
The state of Mysore even played a great role in the freedom struggle. The movement for independence was controlled from The Maharaja's College hostel situated in Mysore.