South India Temple Tours

Overflowing with amazing attractions, Mysore is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka. This city is dotted with stunning palaces, which gives it a title 'City of Palaces'. Attracting tourists from across the globe, Mysore is the second largest city of the state. The word Mysore is an anglicized version of Mahishuru, which means the abode of Mahisha. Mahisha means Mahishasura, a demon. This city is located at the base of the beautiful Chamundi Hills. The languages spoken in the city are Tamil, Kannad, Hindi and English. The city is also known for its coffee plantation.

History
The legend goes that the Goddess Chamunda killed the demon Mahishasura who used to cause sufferings to the innocent people of Mysore. Great rulers like Tipu Sultan had ruled over this city in the bygone era. The rich cultural heritage of this land beautifully reflects in its palaces, temples, monuments, festivals, arts, literature, dance, music and cuisine.

Famous Attractions

Chamundi Hills
These are the arresting hills housing a temple dedicated to goddess Chamunda who killed the demon Mahishasura. The top of the hills offer mesmerizing views of the city.

Maharaja's Palace
Reflecting the perfect blend of Indo-Saracenic and traditional Dravidian styles of architecture, the palace has stunning and beautiful apartments, which are done to perfection. The wooden elephant howdah studded with green gems is one of the striking attractions of the palace.

Festival
The most famous festival celebrated in Mysore is Dasara (Dussehra). Stretching for ten days, the festival is held in September/ October. Commemorating the slaying of demon king Mahishasura by the goddess Chamunda, the festival is marked by several cultural events.

Shopping
Scan the markets of Mysore for wonderful handicrafts such as sandalwood objects, coffee, sandalwood powder, lacquer ware, wooden furniture, brass ware, silk saris, rosewood objects, perfumes and incense sticks. Sayaji Road is the best area for shopping in the city.

Accommodation
Whether you want to stay in a luxurious hotel or a budget hotel, Mysore has a lot of options to offer. Some of the famous hotels in the city are Hotel Regaalis, Rajendra Vilas Palace, Kaynes Hotel and Lalitha Mahal Palace.

How To Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is at Bangalore, which is 139 km away from Mysore.

By Rail: The railway stations at Mysore connect it with the main cities of the country.

By Road: Mysore is well connected to all the major places in South India.