Welcome to Mysuru (otherwise known as Mysore), a beautiful city steeped in history and renowned for its rich cultural heritage. Nestled in the Southern state of Karnataka in India, Mysuru captivates visitors with its authentic charm, architectural marvels and bustling markets – and truly has something for everyone.
Here are some of the top things to do in Mysuru during your visit.
Mysuru Zoo
Start your stay in Mysuru with a trip to the iconic Mysuru Zoo, one of the oldest and best maintained zoos in the whole of India. Spread over 157 acres, the zoo houses an extensive collection of exotic animals, ranging from elephants to tigers, giraffes and bears. The zoo is absolutely massive, so make sure you give yourself an entire morning or afternoon to explore!
Entry is £1.50 (though bear in mind that there is also an extra camera charge of £1.50 for still cameras and £2 for a video camera.
Mysuru Palace
Mysuru Palace is one of the most iconic spots in the city and is definitely a must do! The Palace was built in the 14th century before later being reconstructed in the early 20th century and is a beautiful blend of Indo- Saracenic, Rajput and Gothic architectural styles. Make sure you don’t miss the Durbar Hall, with its breath-taking chandeliers and stained-glass ceiling.
Entry is very affordable at around £1, though I would recommend booking onto a guided tour to hear more about the history of the palace.
Top tip: We were stopped by many Richshaw drivers who told us that the palace wasn’t open on the day that we wanted to visit and offered to take us elsewhere. We were quite confused by this, as the palace clearly was open! I think this was a scam to lure people away from the more popular tourist spots so keep an eye out for this.
Chamundeshwari Temple:
Perched atop the Chamundi Hill about 13km from the city of Mysuru lies the sacred Chamundeshwari Temple. The temple is a very important place for Indians and is dedicated to the fierce form of Goddess Durga. Once you climb the 1,000 steps to reach the temple you will be rewarded with insane views of the city below – there is also an option to drive up if that appeals to you more!
Mysuru Markets:
Visiting the markets is one of the top things to do when visiting Mysuru, or India in general! The markets are always a busy explosion of colours and senses so brace yourself for an experience before heading in!
Some of the most popular markets in Mysuru are the Devaraja Market which is a bustling bazaar selling aromatic spices, fragrant flowers, traditional silk sarees and the Guru Sweet Mart. Everyone says you can’t visit Mysuru without tasting its wonderful sweets, and the Guru Sweet Mart is one of the best places to sample them! All kinds of traditional sweets are available here, like the Laddoos, papdis and jalebis but their signature dish is the Mysuru Pak, which is made with dollops of pure ghee! Remember to bargain to make sure you get the best deal!
St. Philomena’s Church
This magnificent cathedral is one of the largest churches in India and boats an impressive neo-gothic architecture. Look out for the stained glass windows and enjoy the serene ambiance – this makes for the perfect spot for a peaceful afternoon visit.
Mysuru definitely ended up being one of my favourite spots in India! There was so much to see and so much culture to unpack- whatever kind of traveller you are, Mysuru should be on your bucketlist.
If you'd like any other information, please message me via my website or Instagram at @shedot.travels.
Happy adventuring,
Love
Saz
xxx