Mysore

Travel Guide
Mysore showing street scenes
From opulent palaces to attractive gardens and fascinating museums, this city in southwest India enthrals with its diverse attractions. 

Mysore is known as the City of Palaces for its grand palatial buildings, but magnificent architecture is just one part of this ancient city’s charms. There are museums, expansive gardens, mythology and history. 

Embark on a tour of Mysore's seven palaces. Start with Mysore Palace, one of the most visited tourist attractions in India. The former home of the Royal Family of Mysore is a vast, multi-domed edifice in the center of the city. There is a sound and light show here on most evenings. On Sunday nights and during festive occasions, the royal structure is illuminated by thousands of light bulbs. 

Visit Jaganmohan Palace for its large collection of paintings, including examples of the Mysore genre that depict scenes from Hindu mythology. Admire the architecture of the white-painted Lalithal Mahal Palace that was inspired in part by St. Paul's Cathedral in London. For more impressive structures, see Chamundeshwari Temple and Lakshmiramana Swamy Temple. Some of the city’s temples are within the grounds of Mysore Palace.

If you want to visit a museum, Mysore has several good ones. Learn about the flora, fauna and geology of India at the National Museum of Natural History. View vintage locomotives at the Rail Museum and examine hundreds of paintings, sculptures and archaeological artifacts at the Folk Art Museum.

Enjoy some of Mysore's outdoor attractions. At Brindavan Gardens, stroll through terraces that are filled with flowers, trees and water features. Don’t miss the musical fountain’s night-time light and music show. 

Spend a few hours at Karanji Kere Lake and in the park that surrounds the large body of water. Rent a peddle boat, go to the butterfly park and photograph peacocks and other birds inside the walk-through aviary. For more wildlife, head to Mysore Zoo.

Mysore is approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of Bangalore, where there is an international airport. The two cities are connected by a rail network and four-lane highway.

Where to stay in Mysore

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Gokulam

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Gokulam and surrounding area, you can visit GRS Fantasy Park and St. Philomenas Church.

Gokulam
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Vijayanagar 1st Stage

When in Vijayanagar 1st Stage, you can plan a visit to GRS Fantasy Park and Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Vijayanagar 1st Stage
Mysore featuring boating and a lake or waterhole

Siddhartha Nagar

Siddhartha Nagar might not have many top sights, but Karanji Lake Nature Park and Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Siddhartha Nagar
Mysore featuring boating and a lake or waterhole

Lakshmipuram

Lakshmipuram might not have many top sights, but Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery and Mysore Palace are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Lakshmipuram
Mysore featuring boating and a lake or waterhole

Chamarajapuram Mohalla

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Chamarajapuram Mohalla and surrounding area, you can visit Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery and Karanji Lake Nature Park.

Chamarajapuram Mohalla
Mysore featuring boating and a lake or waterhole

Chamarajapura

While Chamarajapura might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery and Karanji Lake Nature Park.

Chamarajapura
Grand Mercure Mysore
Grand Mercure Mysore
5 out of 5
2203 60 New Sayyaji Rao Road, Nelson Mandela Circle, Mysore, Karnataka
The price is ¥8,892 per night from Apr 2 to Apr 3
¥8,892
per night
Apr 2 - Apr 3
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Mysore. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (291 reviews)
"Excellent service, very helpful staff"

Reviewed on Mar 26, 2024

Grand Mercure Mysore
Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Mysore
Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Mysore
5 out of 5
1 MG Road, Nazarabad Mohalla, Mysore, Karnataka
The price is ¥14,615 per night from Apr 3 to Apr 4
¥14,615
per night
Apr 3 - Apr 4
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Mysore. Enjoy free WiFi, free valet parking, and 2 restaurants. Popular attractions Mysore Palace and Mysore Zoo are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (261 reviews)
"Good all around Food can get better according to once taste Was too spicy even though no spice was requested"

Reviewed on Mar 19, 2024

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Mysore
Fortune JP Palace - Member ITC Hotel Group
Fortune JP Palace - Member ITC Hotel Group
5 out of 5
No.3, Abba Road, Nazarbad, Mysore, Karnataka
The price is ¥9,473 per night from Apr 10 to Apr 11
¥9,473
per night
Apr 10 - Apr 11
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Mysore. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 3 restaurants. Popular attractions Mysore Palace and Government House are located ...
8/10 Very Good! (289 reviews)
"Everything about the hotel was exceptional. It was clean,roomy with excellent service in where we had dinner. Food was good and great value for money and service was attentive and efficient. Room itself was well equipped and comfortable."

Reviewed on Mar 13, 2024

Fortune JP Palace - Member ITC Hotel Group
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Spacious Apartment with Washing Machine
Spacious Apartment with Washing Machine
Visveshwara Nagar
Stay at this vacation home in Mysore. Enjoy WiFi and 2 bedrooms. Popular attractions Mysore Palace and Thonnur Lake are located nearby. Discover genuine guest ...
Spacious Apartment with Washing Machine
Royal Tusker Luxury Service Apartments
Royal Tusker Luxury Service Apartments
2 out of 5
10th Cross, Akkamahadevi Road, JP Nagar, Srinivasa Arcade No 196, B Block,, Mysore, KA
Stay at this spa aparthotel in Mysore. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Chamundi Temple and Thonnur Lake are located ...
8/10 Very Good! (1 review)
Good place
"Hotel was good the staff were responsive, overall a good stay."

Reviewed on Dec 27, 2022

Royal Tusker Luxury Service Apartments
Affordable stay
Affordable stay
Mysuru
Stay at this vacation home in Mysore. Enjoy WiFi, 2 bedrooms, and a hair dryer. Popular attractions Mysore Palace and St. Philomenas Church are located nearby. ...
Affordable stay
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Mysore

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
11
" "5 - Excellent 57.89473684210526%
4 - Good
5
" "4 - Good 26.31578947368421%
3 - Okay
3
" "3 - Okay 15.789473684210526%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 1, 2020

Loved it. Very welcoming town.

5/5 - Excellent

Vatza
May 8, 2019

Mysore is a great place

3/5 - Okay

Madhavan
Dec 30, 2018

Not much to see in Mysore for tourists other than the two palaces. One of the palace, Jagan Mohan Palace was closed for repairs/renovations and we weren't aware of that. There. were no notification about this in the palace web site either.

Cities near Mysore