Mysuru Is a Fascinating City
Mysuru is an enchanting city; it is the quaint charm of the city that enchants you. This clean city is the cultural capital of Karnataka, a state in South India. It is 770 meters above sea level.
Mysuru Has An Old World Charm
Even though Mysuru is an emerging IT hub, it retains the old world charm. It is one among the top tourist destinations in the world. There are places of interest not only in Mysuru but also around the city.
How to Reach Mysuru?
Even though Mysuru has an airport, it is not a major airport. It has one runway and one passenger terminal. Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is the nearest major airport to Mysuru.
Mysuru Is Well-Connected By Rail and Road
Mysuru is well-connected by rail and road. It has a railway station, the Mysore Junction Railway Station; and a bus station, the Mysore KSRTC Bus Stand ( Mofussil).
Hotels in Mysuru
After reaching Mysuru, the next obvious step is to find a good hotel. It is advisable to book in advance; if you have not done so, here are some reputed hotels in Mysuru.
Hotels in Mysuru
5-Star Hotels
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4-Star Hotels
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3-Star Hotels
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2-Star Hotels
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The Quorum Hotel
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Radisson Blu Plaza
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Ginger Hotel
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Hotel Maurya Residency
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Grand Mercure Mysuru
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Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Mysore
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United-21 Hotel
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Aishwarya Suites
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Fortune JP Palace
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Hotel MB International
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SK Elegance
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Places Of Interest Around Mysuru
There are many places to visit not only in Mysuru but also around the city. Here are some tourist attractions around Mysuru.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is 10 kilometers from Mysuru. This bird sanctuary is a paradise for bird lovers. It is located in Mandya District and covers an area of 67 square kilometers. It is on the banks of River Kaveri.
Around 300,000 tourists from all parts of the world visit Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary annually. My interest in birds grew after my visit to this beautiful bird sanctuary.
I have very fond memories of this place. I have visited it many times with my family. I clearly remember enjoying boat rides, watching wonderful birds (perched on trees and rocks) and crocodiles (lazing on the river bank).
During one of our trips, me and my son had lot of fun getting stuck in a large maze made of plants that purify the environment. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is open on all days of the week between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.
Birds That Breed in Ranganathittu Regularly
Bird
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Painted stork
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Asian openbill stork
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Common spoonbill
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Woolly-necked stork
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Black-headed ibis
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Lesser whistling duck
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Indian shag
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Stork-billed kingfisher
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Egret
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Cormorant
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Oriental darter
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Heron
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Eastern Cattle Egret in Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Season
Various migratory birds begin arriving at the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in December. The breeding season starts during the winter months. These amazing birds migrate back with their nestlings in August.
Brindavan Gardens
Located in Mandya district, this major tourist attraction covers around 150 acres. This celebrated beauty spot, which is around 20 kilometers from Mysuru, is well-known for its symmetric design. This superb terrace garden is a landmark destination. I have visited it many times. Me and my family have fond memories of Brindavan Gardens.
From Mysuru, the garden is easily accessible by bus (route numbers 303, 303A, etc) and cab. It is open between 6.30 am and 9.00 pm. Parking space is available for around 500 cars and 1,000 two wheelers.
Brindavan Gardens Timings
Opening
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Closing
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|---|---|
8.00 am
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8.00 pm
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Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura
Located 35 kilometers from Mysuru, this architectural beauty was built in the 13th century. This breathtakingly beautiful temple stands as an example of Hoysala architecture. This Trikuta Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna in three forms – Janardhana, Keshava and Venugopala. I was awestruck by the artwork displayed here.
Chennakesava Temple
Chennakesava Temple Somanathapura
Bandipur National Park
What was once the hunting reserve for the Maharajas of the Kingdom of Mysuru is today the beautiful Bandipur National Park. This well-managed national park is spread over an area of 874 square kilometers. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
It is replete with a wide range of fauna, including tigers, deer, elephants, hornbills, sloth bears, pythons and leopards. During one of our trips to Bandipur National Park, our safari van was surrounded by around 30 deer. It was a wonderful experience.
Bandipur National Park Safari Timings
Bus Safari
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Between 6:30 am and 9:00 am and between 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
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Elephant Safari
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Between 10 am and 11 am.
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Jeep Safari
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Between 6:00 am and 9:00am and between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
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Superb place. Driving through forest area itself is very pleasant. We can see many animals while driving like elephants, wild buffalo, peacocks, etc. I love this place.
— Shiva KumarB R Hills
This hill station is located at a distance of around 80 kilometers. This beautiful hill range enables you to stay absorbed in nature. It houses diverse species of plant and animal life, including dry deciduous, scrub, moist deciduous, montane grasslands, shola forests, tigers, elephants, leopards, sambars, gaurs, barking deer, four-horned antelopes and bears. My colleage shared his experience of how, while driving in B R Hills, a tiger crossed his path.
BR Hills from Bangalore
Dubare Elephant Camp
This elephant camp is located in Nanjarayapatna, on the banks of River Kaveri. Here you get to interact with these wonderful mammals. Many elephants are trained by experts in this well-maintained camp. I have always enjoyed the serene and pollution free atmosphere of this place.
Dubare Elephant Camp Timings
The camp is open from 9.00 am to 11.00 am, and from 4.30 pm to 5.00 pm.
Nagarhole National Park
Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, this well-maintained national park is one among many "Project Tiger" tiger reserves in India. It is spread across two districts: Mysuru and Kodagu, covering an area of around 571 square kilometers.
It houses Asiatic elephant, spotted deer, tiger, panther, leopard, wild dog, sambar, barking deer, sloth bear, wild boar, bison, mouse deer, slender loris, jackal, langur, porcupine, Malabar squirrel, striped hyena and four-horned antelope. During our family trip I remember seeing many deer, snake eagles, bisons, wild boars and elephants.
Nagarhole National Park Entry Fee
₹250 per person for Indians.
₹1,500 per person for Foreigners.
₹200 per person for Camera.
Shivanasamudra Falls
Located at around 81 kilometers from Mysuru, this beautiful waterfall is a wonder of nature. The best time to visit is between the months of September and January.
This segmented waterfall is formed by River Kaveri. The river winds its way through the Deccan Plateau and drops downstream to form twin waterfalls. The western stream is known as Gaganachukki and the eastern stream is known as Bharachukki.
The breathtaking sight of water gushing down the gorge and plunging into the depths below with a roaring sound will be a feast for your eyes. Mist engulfs the entire place during the monsoon months, when the water will be in full flow. This lends an ethereal beauty to the falls.
Shivanasamudra Falls from Bangalore
Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola is world famous for its 58 feet tall statue of Bahubali. This Jain pilgrim destination is around 80 kilometers from Mysuru.
Shravanabelagola Timings
Opens
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Closes
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|---|---|
6.30 am
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11.30 am
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3.30 pm
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6.30 pm
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Ranganathaswamy Temple
Located in Srirangapatna, this temple is one of the five important pilgrimage sites of Sri Vaishnavism. Here the idol of Lord Vishnu is in resting posture on a bed of serpent Aadi Sesha.
Ranganathaswamy Temple Timings
The temple is open on all days of the week.
Timings:
7.30 am – 1.30 pm
4.00 pm – 8.00 pm
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