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Mysore |
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Hotels In Mysore:
Hotel Regaalis Mysore
Mysore is the second biggest City in the State of Karnataka. It lies 130
kms from the State Headquarters, Bangalore. It is the erstwhile capital of
the Mysore Maharajas, who ruled Mysore State from this royal city. Mysore
has still an old world charm which have not given way to modern amenities.
In addition to its beautiful silk sarees and sandalwood oil, Mysore is
famous for sandalwood and rose wood carved articles... |
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General Information: Mysore
Population: Approximately 22,81,653
Languages: Kannada, English, Tamil, Hindi
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Temperature : Summer Max 34° C Min 21°C
Temperature: Winter Max 30°C Min 12°C
Rainfall :80 cms. Average yearly
Clothing: Summer Cottons
Clothing: Winter Woollens
STD Code: 0821
Sightseeing: Mysore
The city of Mysore offers a visitor an insight into the lifestyles,
cultures and traditions of its erstwhile rulers. The palaces and temples
around the city speak volumes about heritage and architecture of the
medieval times and the kind of patronage the city received from its
rulers. The Chamundi Hills that towers over the city like a colossus
houses a temple dedicated to the Goddess Chamundeshwari, the royal
family's patron deity. About 15 km from the royal city of Mysore lies the
town of Srirangapatnam where the the summer palace of Tipu Sultan is
located. The Brindavan Gardens are world-famous terrace gardens bordered
by watercourses. The Lalitha Mahal Palace, built in the 1930s, has now
been converted into a prestigious hotel of the India Tourism Development
Corporation. The Mysore Palace, built in Saracenic style, shows both Hindu
as well as Muslim influences.
Chamundi Hills
Forming the backdrop of the city is the 1,100-feet-high Chamundi Hill. On
the top of the hill stands the temple dedicated to the Goddess
Chamundeshwari, the royal family's patron deity. To reach the temple one
can either drive through the 13-km stretch up to the summit or climb the
1,000 stone steps. Nearby the temple stands the huge statue of Mahishasura,
the demon slain by the Goddess. Halfway up along the stone steps stands
the majestic 4.8-metre monolith of Nandi the Bull, Lord Shiva's chosen
mount. The statue is believed to be 300 years old and its chief
attraction, apart from its size, is the meticulous craftsmanship of its
ornaments-from its delicate anklets to the magnificent pendant bell around
its neck.
Srirangapatnam
About 15 km from the royal city of Mysore lies the town of Srirangapatnam.
There are many interesting places here of which the summer palace of Tipu
Sultan is a must visit. Built in 1784 in the Indo-Saracenic style, the
palace also has a small museum where Tipu's trivia, including a
gold-embroidered tunic, old paintings and a coin collection, are
displayed. A little away from the palace is the 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
kilometres.
Brindavan Gardens
A half-hour's drive from the city takes you to the Brindavan Gardens. The
well-manicured steps of these world famous terrace gardens are bordered by
watercourses. Musical fountains with soft coloured lights add to the
visitor's delight. The view of the gardens during the nights is a thing to
be seen.
Lalitha Mahal Palace
The snow-white Lalitha Mahal was built in the 1930s for the guests of the
Wodeyars. The main attraction of the palace is a staircase of Italian
marble branching off from a landing to reach the first floor hall.
Surrounded by velvety green lawns and stately trees, the Lalitha Mahal is
now a prestigious hotel of the India Tourism Development Corporation.
Mysore Palace
Built in around AD 897 in Saracenic style, the Mysore palace has both
Hindu as well as Muslim influences. The palace, designed by an English
architect and completed in 1912, was built in place of an earlier palace
which was burnt down in 1897.
The main palace building is made of massive grey granite with a tower
covered by a gilded dome. Colours abound the palace architecture. The huge
rooms and the floor tiles are covered with colours like turquoise blue,
magenta, golden yellow and leaf green. The central hall, incredible in its
beauty, was used for marriages and other major gatherings. A temple is
also situated within the royal courtyard. The Dussehra procession, an
annual affair in the city in the month of October, starts from here.
The palace also houses a museum which has a collection of musical
instruments, children's toys, many paintings, costumes, weapons, etc.,
belonging to the Maharaja's family.
Weekend Trips/Excursions
A visit to the places +around Mysore casts light on the region's rich
heritage. The temples of Somnathpur (35 km), Belur and Halebid give an
insight into Hoysala dynasty while the Bandipur National Park and the
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary showcase the region's bio-diversity.
Somnathpur
Thirty-five kilometres east of Mysore lies Somnathpur, a town famous for
the temple built by the Hoysala kings. The beautiful building of the
Keshava temple built in 1268 is the major attraction here. The walls of
this star-shaped temple are covered with sculptures in stone depicting
various scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita and
the life and times of the Hoysala Kings.
Belur
One of the three major Hoysala temples still in daily use today is the
Channekeshava Temple of Belur. The construction of the temple, which took
almost a century, was started in 1116 to commemorate the Hoysalas' victory
over the Cholas. Enclosed in a paved compound, the temple complex includes
a well and a bathing tank. It is believed that every major deity of the
Hindu pantheon is represented in the temple.
Halebid
The Hoysaleswara temple at Halebid has a history dating back to around AD
1121. Though its construction spanned 80 years, it was never completed.
The temple is set in a well-tendered garden. A small museum adjacent to it
houses a collection of sculptures. The Kedareswara temple and three small
Jain temples are also located at Halebid.
Bandipur
On the way to Ooty, about 80 km off Mysore, is situated the Bandipur
National Park. The park, spread over an area of 875 km, is a famous tiger
reserve. Besides tiger, the other animals you can see here are the barking
deer, tuskers, and bison.
Ranganathittu
For bird lovers, Ranganathittu is worth a visit. This bird sanctuary is
situated around 18 km from Mysore and offers a close view of the exotic
and common birds.
Sravanabelagola
Sravanabelagola, meaning the Monk of the White Pond, is the oldest and the
most important pilgrimage centre for the Jains in the country. The town is
also the home to the world's tallest monolithic statue, the 17-metre-high
naked statue of Bahubali. Besides the statue, the town also has several
interesting Jain temples and monasteries.
How to Get : Mysore
By Rail Train Timing
There are many train services operating between Bangalore and Mysore. The
Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Chennai. The ideal route to reach
Mysore is via Bangalore.
By Road Road Distance from Mysore City
State Highways connect Mysore to the national Highways and to all parts of
the country. Bus services by Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and
transport corporations of the neighboring states as well as private tour
operators make it
easy to reach the city without any difficulty. It is only a 3 hour journey
from Bangalore.
By Air
The nearest airport is Bangalore. All domestic airlines are operating
flights to and from Bangalore to all major cities of the country. A few
international flights to the Middle East are also operated from Bangalore.
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