Best Things To Do in Mysore, India

Are you looking for what to do in Mysore?

PLACES TO SEE

  • Mysore Palace: The Mysore Palace with its intricate carvings, ivory work, numerous paintings and plush interiors are worth seeing. The Palace is lit up for an hour in the late evenings on National Holidays and every Saturday and Sunday and is a beautiful sight.
  • Chamundi Hills: The splendid architecture of the temple which is the abode of the Goddess Chamundeshwari and also the huge statue of Nandi on the Chamundi Hills are the main attractions in addition to it being a good trekking area with good views of the surrounding areas.
  • Vrindavan Gardens: The Vrindavan Gardens at the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam is well known for its wonderful landscaped gardens and fountains. The ‘musical fountains’ light and music show is held every evening at 7 p.m. and attracts lots of people here.
  • Mysore Zoo: The Mysore Zoo which is among some of the oldest zoos in the world has a large variety of exotic animals from around the globe as well as many rare Indian animals and birds which are not usually seen.
  • Besides these sights, Mysore has the Jagamohan Palace and Art gallery, St. Philomena’s Church, religious temples, museums, Karanji Kere, Jayalakshmi Vilas, well maintained gardens and parks that also see many tourists visiting.

THINGS TO DO

  • Nightclubs and bars: The Hookah Club at Planet X is a popular hangout with the locals and visitors. The ambience of the hookah club and the recreation centre in the same complex make this a good place to visit. Purple Haze is a pub where one can hang out with friends at the bar while listening to good music.
  • Shopping: Mysore is famous for its special silk saris which are available at the Government Silk Weaving Factory showroom at Manandavadi Road and KR Circle. The state run Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium and the Government Handicrafts Emporium are the best places to buy wooden carved sculptures or the famous Mysore Ganjifa paintings. Incense sticks made here are available in the local market. The other good places to shop at are Sayyaji Rao Road and Devaraj Urs Road.

Below we have a list of things to do in Mysore and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Mysore getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Mysore with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Mysore

Here is the list of things to do in Mysore and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Mysore Palace

    4.6 (5658 Votes)
    Mysore Palace

    Historical Site, Palace, Architecture

    Imposing and grand, the home of the Wodeyar Royal Family is nearly as impressive as the Taj Mahal. It also has much more to offer. The palace is a eclectic mix of Muslim, Rajput, Hindu and Gothic architecture styles. There are four main rooms; the Ambavilasa (for private audience with the King), the Doll Pavilion, the Kalyana Mantapa (the marriage hall) and the Diwaan-e-Aam (the Public Audience...Read more
  2. Brindavan Gardens

    4.3 (4868 Votes)
    Brindavan Gardens

    Garden, Leisure, Fountain

    This 70 year old garden receives over two million visitors every year. It’s design and layout took inspiration from the Mughal Style Shalimar Gardens in Kashmir. Although it does not offer anything unique when compared to other gardens around the orld, it’s still well maintained and serene. The music fountain show in the evening is fun. They light up the garden at 7:00 pm and it loo...Read more
  3. Jaganmohana Palace

    4.1 (4459 Votes)
    Jaganmohana Palace

    Art Gallery, Palace, Architecture

    This white palace is one of the most beautiful creations left to Mysore by the Wodeyar kings. The three story building was built in the traditional Hindu style and was built to serve as an alternative retreat for th Roal Family. The Art Gallery here holds an immense collection, most of which are paintings depicting epic scenes. There’s a curious French clock with a mechanical soldies para...Read more
  4. Chamundi Hills

    4.6 (3126 Votes)
    Chamundi Hills

    Religious Site, Temple, Hill

    These eight hills are among the most sacred in the country. Legend has it the the eponymous goddess once defeated the demon Mahishasura here, and was consequently enshrined. There’s a lovely temple dedicated to her on one of the hills. The hills offer a panoramic view of the area surrounding Mysore and one can see the Mysore Palace, the race course and a couple of lakes. 1008 steep steps ...Read more
  5. St Philomenas Church

    4.5 (3471 Votes)
    St Philomenas Church

    Church, Religious Site, Architecture

    Philomena is a nice name, isn’t it? She was a young girl martyred at the age of 14. She was a consecrated virgin and as such had spurned the advances of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The emperor had her scourged, drowned, shot with arrows… efforts foiled by the work of angles protecting the girl. He finally decapitated her.Her remains were disovered in 1802. The Maharaja of Mysore ...Read more
  6. Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion

    Historical Site, Architecture , Heritage Building, Mansion

    The Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion is a building in of Mysore city, Karnataka. It is placed in the green surroundings of the Manasagangothri, which are the grounds of the University of Mysore. It climbs on a hillock on the west side of Kukkarahalli Kere lake. The Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion houses a display center of extremely valuable accumulations of antiquities. The Karnataka government characteriz...Read more
  7. Lalita Mahal Palace

    4.2 (3483 Votes)
    Lalita Mahal Palace

    Historical Site, Palace, Architecture

    The Lalitha Mahal is the second biggest royal residence in Mysore. It is found close to the Chamundi Hills, east of the city of Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka. The castle was completed in 1921 at the requests of His Highness Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore for the selective stay of the presiding Viceroy of India. Built on a raised ground, the royal residence was molded o...Read more
  8. The Railway Museum

    4.1 (1356 Votes)
    The Railway Museum

    Specialty Museum

    The collection of vintage trains here is small but charming. Apart from the cars, carriages, engines and locomotives, the Chamunidi gallery here depicts the growth of Inidan Railways through photgraphs and paintings. The museum showcases two royal coaches that the Maharaja of Mysore used. Children will love the battery operated mini train that takes visitors around the exhibits.
  9. Karanji Lake

    Lake, Boating, Nature

    Bird watchers listen up. This is the favorite destination for a whole host of migratory birds, whether comorants, egrets, ibises, black swans, storks as well as a wide range of butterfly species. They call it he bggest walk-through aviary in India. Once, this treasure was in danger, when rising pollution levels threatened to deplete the food sources for these birds. The government stepped in wi...Read more
  10. Mysore Zoo

    4.5 (4468 Votes)
    Mysore Zoo

    Zoo

    Zebras, lions, hippos and giraffes… this sounds like a good spot for the next production in the Madagascars series. You’ll also catch sight of anacondas, cheetahs.  baboons and white tigers and even a gorilla. The zoo was set up over a century ago by the Wodeyar King Chamaraja, a fervent nature lover. It’s reported one of the best zoos in India. It’s in a good loca...Read more
  11. Kukkarahalli Lake

    4.5 (2117 Votes)
    Kukkarahalli Lake

    Waterfront, Walking Area, Leisure, Lake

    The Wodeyar King had this lake constructed in the 19th century in order to provide water for irrigation for the land outside the city. Over the years, human activity led to eutrophication of the water, prompting the University of Mysore and other civil development bodies to step in to preserve the lake. Their efforts were successful, but the damage to wildlife is still evident. Once, over 10000...Read more
  12. Krishna Raja Sagara Lake And Dam

    Water Body, Landmark, Lake

    The Krishna Raja Sagara, a.k.a KRS, is the name of both a lake and the dam that spans and safeguards it. It is spotted near the settlement of the province of Krishnarajasagara. The dam is built crosswise over Kaveri River, in Mandya District close to provincial Mysore in Karnataka state, India. There is a fancy enclosure joined to the dam, called Brindavan Gardens. The dam was constructed cross...Read more
  13. Nagarhole National Park

    4.4 (1206 Votes)
    Nagarhole National Park

    National Park, Park, Wildlife Park, Wildlife Safari

    A small hamlet located within a huge forest range, the Nagarhole National Park is situated south of Coorg. There are many designated wildlife parks within the Nilgiri Biosphere and Nagarhole National Park is one of them. Highlights of the National Park include: Hiking trails Jeep and bus safaris Accommodation and lodging A must visit for nature and wildlife animal lovers.
  14. Mysore Airport (Mandakalli Airport) Image
    ©
    Mysore Airport (IATA: MYQ, ICAO: VOMY) is an airport located in Mandakalli, Mysore, India. It is located about 10 km from the city centre and serves the city of Mysore and its surrounding areas. The airport is owned and operated by the Airport Authority of India.The airport has one runway, which is 2,400 metres long and 45 metres wide. It is capable of handling aircraft up to the size of an Air...Read more
  15. Vinayaka Mylari Image
    ©

    Restaurant

    Vinayaka Mylari is very popular with locals, people come here for the famous dosas and soft Mysore idlis served with some coconut flavored chutney.