Mysore – the very word conjures up an image of grandeur. Magnificent palaces, landscaped gardens and impressive architecture and the rustle of rich silk fabric sums up Mysore. The city sports a perfect blend of old world charm and contemporary ideas. Mysore is rightly known as the “Cultural capital of Karnataka”. This scenic town is located in the state of Karnataka and is also the second largest city in the state following the capital city of Bangalore. A travel to Mysore is always an enriching experience since you will come across its rich culture, heritage, glorious history, and breathtaking tourist sites apart from the genial and hospitable people. You should be well-informed about Mysore before setting out for a tour to this charming city as this would greatly help you understand the city before the actual trip starts. Mysore is located at the foothills of the famous Chamundi hills atop which the famous Chamundi temple is located and it is frequented by scores of tourists as well as pilgrims all the year round.

The word Mysore has been derived from “mahishur” or “Mahishasurana Ooru”, which means the town of Mahishasura in the local language. Mysore also has certain mythological associations and has its mention in the Puranic story found in the Devi Bhagavatha. Legends about Mysore state that the Gangas used to rule this place in the 10th century and occupied a large part of the town. After the reign of the Gangas, the Cholas ruled over this place for over a century. The Chalukyas followed the Cholas and later they were driven away by the Hoysalas in the 12th century. Most of the architectural works were undertaken during the times of the Hoysalas since they were great patrons of art. The Vijayanagar Kings came into prominence after the Hoysalas, followed by the Wodeyar dynasty that started ruling over Mysore in 1399 A.D. The Wodeyar dynasty contributed a lot to make this town into a beautiful one. The most noteworthy development took place under the rule Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. It was during his rule that many beautiful wide roads, superb buildings and magnificent parks were built.

The weather in Mysore remains more or less pleasant throughout the year. You can visit this town at any time of the year but it would be wise to avoid the rainy season. However, the best time to visit Mysore would be from October to March.

Air: The nearest airport to Mysore is Bangalore (139 km). All the domestic airlines in the country operate their flights to Bangalore from all the major cities in the country. Some international airlines too have flights to Bangalore. Bangalore is to have an international airport shortly.

Rail: Mysore is connected with a number of trains to Bangalore. The super fast luxury train the Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Madras. The quickest and most comfortable way to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.

Road: Mysore is 139kms to the south west of Bangalore. The state highway that connects these two cities is very well maintained. Travelling from Bangalore to Mysore by road is a pleasant experience and will take about 3hrs. The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has excellent bus service to Mysore. There are ordinary buses, semi-luxury buses and luxury buses operated by the Government of Karnataka. Every half an hour there is a non-stop bus to Mysore from Bangalore Bus Station. Corporations of other states and private tour operators have buses plying to Mysore as well. All these facilities have made Mysore extremely accessible by road.

• Temperature: Summer: 21°C - 34°C, Winter: 16°C - 27°C
  
• Area: 6268 sq km
• Altitude: 770 metres above sea level
• Rainfall: 86 cm. average yearly
• Language: Kannada, English, Tamil, Hindi
• Mysore STD Code (Area Code): 0821