Mysore has many names. The truth is that this magical city is a blend of them all. A city of many splendors, it has gorgeous palaces, beautiful parks, wonderful museums, art galleries, dams, reservoirs and temples. The city is famous for its silk and also sandalwood and incense center.
Until Independence, Mysore was the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore, a princely state covering about a third of the present day Karnataka.

CHAMUNDI HILLS
Chamundi Hill, 3km southeast of the city, is topped with a temple to the chosen deity of the Mysore Rajas; the goddess Chamundi, or Durga, who slew the demon buffalo Mahishasura.

The Chamundi figure inside is solid gold; outside, in the courtyard, stands a fearsome, if gaily colored, statue of the demon Mahishasura. The magnificent five-meter Nandi, carved from a single piece of black-granite in 1659, is an object of worship himself, adorned with bells and garlands and tended by his own priest. Minor shrines, dedicated to Chamundi and the monkey god Hanuman among others, line the side of the path.

MYSORE PALACE
The beautiful palace is the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore. It's a kaleidoscope of stained glass, mirrors, gilt and colors. There are beautiful carved wooden doors and mosaic floors, paintings. There are Hindu temples within the grounds, including the Shweta Varahaswamy Temple whose gopuram influenced the style of the later Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill. The Museum displays an array of the personal effects belonging to the Maharaja family.

The Dussehra festival - 10days festival is a wonderful time to visit Mysore. The palace is illuminated every night and on the last night the former Maharaja leads one of the most colorful processions- richly caparisoned elephants, liveried retainers, cavalry, and the bedecked deities make their way through the streets.

MYSORE ZOO
Mysore has one of India's better kept zoos. Among the attractions are a couple of white tigers and several Bengal tigers, as well as the usual range of primates, elephants, bears, birds and rhinos.

RAIL MUSEUM
Mysore rail museum has the Maharani saloon carriage, complete with royal toilet, dating from around 1899.

BRINDAVAN GARDEN
The musical fountains are on display on Sunday evenings and it is one of the splendid moments to stroll through the garden fully illuminated. This tranquil ornamental garden is laid out below the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam.

Getting There
Three or four daily trains to the state capital serve Mysore, with connections to and from Madras. Mysore's nearest airport is at Bangalore.