Mysore India, Mysore Travel, Mysore Tours, Tourism in Mysore, Mysore Tour Packages, Mysore Tourism.
The
erstwhile capital of Karnataka, Mysore is a city of palaces, people and
smells. It has a clean, light and easygoing environment and retains its
serenity and old worldly charm. Full of ancient and rich aromas, the
word Mysore expands to 'Mahishasurana Ooru', which means the town of
Mahishasura. According to the legend, goddess Chamundeshwari atop the
Chamundi hill near Mysore killed the demon Mahishasura. Ever since, the
Mysore royal family has worshipped Chamundeshwari as the palace deity.
Hills dedicated to her stand at the eastern end of Mysore town today.
Mysore has always
fascinated with its quaint charm, imposing buildings, rich heritage,
magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, broad shady avenues
and sacred temples. The Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century
except for a short period of 40 years in later 18th century when Hyder
Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers. Mysore still retains much of its
carefully built character of a Maharaja's capital. The city's meticulous
planning, testify to the benevolent rule of the Wodeyar kings. The
Wodeyar dynasty molded the city's identity as a 'native' princely state.
Beyond Mysore's architectural heritage, the city's long-held tradition
of music and dance, art and literature, scholarship and time-honored
crafts were nurtured under their patronage.
Shopping Attractions:
Mysore is famous for its sandalwood products, oil, and fine silk
fabrics, especially the hand-woven silk sarees and garments, at
competitive prices. The main shopping area is on Sayaji Rao Road in the
main city. During the festival season, one can purchase wares from all
over the country from exhibitions. Other traditional handicrafts of
Mysore available in Mysore are rosewood, sandalwood, copperware, stone
and brass, wooden furniture, sandalwood powder and perfumes and lacquer
ware.
Prime Attractions:
Chamundi Hills:
Atop the 1,100-feet-high Chamundi Hills, is the temple dedicated to the
Goddess Chamundeshwari, the royal family's patron deity. One may reach
the temple either through a 13-km drive or climb the 1,000 stone steps.
Near the temple is the huge statue of Mahishasura, the demon that had
been killed by the Goddess. Halfway up along the stone steps, is the
300-year old 4.8-metre monolithic statue of Nandi Bull, chosen mount of
Lord Shiva. Its chief attraction is its size and the meticulous
craftsmanship of its ornaments - from its delicate anklets to the
magnificent pendant bell around its neck.
Srirangapatnam:
15 km from Mysore, Srirangapatnam has many interesting places including
the summer palace of Tipu Sultan, which was built in 1784 in the
Indo-Saracenic style. It also houses a small museum exhibiting Tipu's
trivia such as a gold-embroidered tunic, old paintings and a coin
collection. Then, there is Gumbaz, the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his
father, Hyder Ali. Another famous place to visit is Jami Masjid. The
slender minarets of this mosque are visible from several kilometers.
Brindavan Gardens:
30-minutes drive away from the city, Brindavan Gardens has watercourses
bordering the well-manicured steps of these world famous terrace
gardens. Musical fountains with soft colored lights are a tourist
attraction here and the view of the gardens during the nights is not
worth missing.
Lalitha Mahal Palace:
The guesthouse of Wodeyar rulers, the snow-white Lalitha Mahal was
built in the 1930s. The highlight of the palace is a staircase of
Italian marble branching off from a landing to reach the first floor
hall. Now, converted into a prestigious hotel of the India Tourism
Development Corporation, Lalitha Mahal is surrounded by velvety green
lawns and stately trees.
Mysore Palace:
Built in around 897 AD in Saracenic style, the Mysore palace is a
fusion of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. Designed by an English
architect, it was built in place of an earlier palace burnt down in 1897
and was completed in 1912. The main palace building is made of massive
gray granite with a tower covered by a gilded dome. The huge rooms and
the floor tiles are covered with colors like turquoise blue, magenta,
golden yellow and leaf green. The tastefully beautified central hall was
once used for marriages and other major gatherings. There is a temple
within the royal courtyard, from where the Dussehra procession starts in
the month of October. The museum of the palace houses a collection of
musical instruments, children's toys, many paintings, costumes and
weapons belonging to the Maharaja's family.
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