Must see attractions in Mysuru (Mysore)

  • M

    Top Choice

    Mysuru Palace

    The second-most-visited sight in India (after the Taj Mahal), this palace is among the very grandest of India’s royal buildings and was the seat of the…

  • K

    Top Choice

    Keshava Temple

    Small in scale but masterly in detail, the astonishingly beautiful Keshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture, on par with the…

  • V

    Venugopala Swamy Temple

    Back from the dead, this stunning 12th-century Hoysala temple was submerged when the Kaveri River was dammed in 1930. However, villagers had tantalising…

  • D

    Devaraja Market

    Dating from Tipu Sultan’s reign, this huge and very lively bazaar has local traders selling traditional items such as flower garlands, incense, spices and…

  • C

    Chamundi Hill

    This 1062m hill is crowned with the Sri Chamundeswari Temple. It’s a fine half-day excursion, offering spectacular views of the city below. Queues are…

  • R

    Rail Museum

    This open-air museum’s main exhibit is the Mysuru maharani’s saloon, an 1899 wood-panelled beauty with gilded ceilings and chandeliers that provides an…

  • J

    Jaganmohan Palace

    Built in 1861 as the royal auditorium, this stunning palace just west of Mysuru Palace houses the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery. Set over three floors, it…

  • C

    Cheluvanarayana Temple

    Life in the devout Hindu town of Melukote (Melkote), about 50km north of Mysuru, revolves around the 12th-century Cheluvanarayana Temple, with its rose…

  • S

    St Philomena’s Cathedral

    The beauty of towering St Philomena’s Cathedral, built between 1933 and 1941 in neo-Gothic style, is emphasised by its wonderful stained-glass windows. It…

  • S

    Sri Chamundeswari Temple

    At the summit of Chamundi Hill, the striking Sri Chamundeswari Temple is dominated by a towering 40m-high gopuram (entrance gateway).

  • G

    Government House

    Dating from 1805, Government House, formerly the British Residency, is a Tuscan Doric building set in 20 hectares of gardens.

  • B

    Brindavan Gardens

    If you’re familiar with Bollywood, these ornamental gardens might just give you a sense of déjá vu – they’ve been the backdrop to many a shimmying musical…

  • K

    Karanji Lake Nature Park

    This well-maintained nature park is the place to spy on various bird species, including herons, rose-ringed parakeets and painted storks, and many…

  • M

    Mysuru Zoo

    A well-managed zoo set in pretty gardens. Highlights include white tigers, lowland gorillas, giraffes, African elephants, chimpanzees and rhinos. It’s…

  • S

    Silver Jubilee Clock Tower

    Facing the north gate of Mysuru Palace, this striking clock tower dates from 1927. Constructed in Indo-Saracenic style, it's 24m tall and its clock face…