Fold 2

The former kingdom of the Wodeyars

is a grand, historic city that surprises
you with its interesting regal heritage

WHY GO?
It’s probably the most vibrant city in South India,
with magnificent monuments, popular markets
and a history of yoga and ayurveda. Mysore’s
economy is booming, too, with sandalwood, silk
and incense production putting it on the map.

WHAT IS THERE TO DO?

With so many things to do in Mysore,
it won’t be surprising if you lose
count. There are more than
MINI GUIDE October 2012 enough sights, including the
Rail Museum, St Philomena’s
Cathedral, the Chamundi Hill
and, best of all, the majestic

Mysore, Mysore Palace. The sweet

and savoury dishes here
are terrific, such as Mysore

Karnataka
pak, a sweet delicacy that’ll
have you coming back for more.

Left: The Mysore Palace is dazzling

when lit up
Right: The Mysore Zoo is a must-see
on a visit to the city

See & do Sleep Fold 1

BEST FOR PALACES 1
The royal Mysore Palace
or Maharaja’s Palace has
luxurious interiors, with frescoes
and some of Raja Ravi Varma’s
paintings. Photography is
prohibited (00-91-821-2421051;
mysorepalace.gov.in; 10am –
5.30pm daily; ` 40 adult, child
below 10 free).
BEST FOR MUSEUMS 2 located, close to the city’s major
The Rail Museum exhibits the
‘Rail Story’, which tells of how
Tear out page here then fold along the dotted lines
The Shri Chamundeswari Temple
is an architectural delight
BEST FOR CHURCHES 4
While the Parklane Hotel’s 6
exterior is a little utilitarian,
its rooms are extremely
comfortable, especially given
the low price. It’s also very
conveniently located next to
the Mysore Palace (00-91-821-
4003500; parklanemysore.com,
parklanemysore@yahoo.com;
2720, Harsha Rd; from ` 1,800). The rooms at the Green Hotel
The Royal Inn 7 is ideally are cosy and quaint
sights. It is an efficient business Bali-style hotel, known for
hotel with conference facilities its stylish rooms and quality

the royals rode the railways
in the past. The main attraction
is the Maharani’s saloon, built
in 1899 (KRS Rd; 9.30am – 6.30pm
Tues – Sun; ` 5 adult, ` 2 child).
BEST FOR TEMPLES 3
Located at the top of Chamundi
Hill at an altitude of 1,062m,
Shri Chamundeswari Temple
was named after the Goddess
Chamundeswari. It provides
a great view of the city below.
This temple has a gigantic 40m-
high gateway or gopuram (00-91-
821-2590027; mysorechamundi
temple.com; 7.30am – 2pm,
3.30pm – 6pm, 7.30pm – 9pm).
St Philomena’s Cathedral,
an example of Neo-Gothic
architecture, can be easily
recognised by its exquisite
stained-glass windows (00-91-
821-2563148; St Philomena St;
5am – 6pm, English mass
7am; free).
BEST FOR ART GALLERIES 5
Located in the Jaganmohan
Palace, Jayachamarajendra
Art Gallery houses some
rare musical instruments and
traditional Mysore gold-leaf
paintings (00-91-821-2423693;
Jaganmohan Palace Rd; 8.30am
– 5pm; ` 20 adult, ` 10 child).
(00-91-821-2415127; royalinn-
mysore.com, info@royalinn-
mysore.com; 435, KRS Rd,
Metagalli; from ` 2,200).
The Green Hotel 8 is possibly
Mysore’s quirkiest. Rooms are
named and designed along
themes like Bollywood, Small
Bollywood, Marigold and Writing
(00-91-821-4255000; green
hotelindia.com, thegreenhotel@
airtelmail.in; Chittaranjan
Palace, 2270, Vinobha Rd,
Jayalakshmipuram; from ` 3,250).
The world-class Windflower
Spa and Resort 9 is a rare,
TURN OVER FOR MAP AND NUMBER LOCATIONS
fine-dining restaurant
(reservations: 00-91-80-41142408;
thewindflower.com, reservations
@thewindflower.com;
Maharanapratap Rd, Nazarbad;
from ` 5,100 with breakfast).
Originally built as a residence
for British visitors of the Maharaja
in 1920, the Royal Orchid
Metropole 10 is a four-star
hotel showcasing the heritage
of this city (00-91-821-4255566;
royalorchidhotels.com, rooms@
royalorchidhotels.com;
No 5 Jhansi Lakshmibai Rd;
from ` 5,700).
 MINI GUIDE

6
Mysore, Karnataka
Getting around See Eat & drink Sleep
Essentials
GETTING THERE

666
Mysore
Train Karnataka 4 12 The nearest airport is in Bangalore.
Station Tourism Most airlines fly to Bangalore from
2 Playing Fields Irwin Rd all major metros. Minimum return
Vishvesrivarajah Circle Irwin Rd fares start at ` 4,000. Travelling
Nehru Circle
by road on the Bangalore-Mysore

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Hardinge Mysore is at its best around the

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Sayaji

PAKISTAN
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performances and cultural

Bay of Bengal

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Eat & drink

I n d i a n O c e a n

The sweet shop Bombay

Tiffanys 11 is great for snacks
and sweets, especially the local
delicacy, melt-in-your-mouth
Mysore pak, made of ghee, sugar
and besan, golden-yellow

WORDS: RAGHAV BIKHCHANDANI PHOTOGRAPHS: HIMANSHU PANDYA, AKSHATA VIVEKA JOSHI, CORBIS, GETTY
in colour and displayed as
compressed bricks (Sayyaji Rao
Rd; 7.30am – 10pm; Mysore
pak ` 200/ kg).
Located on the Bangalore-
Mysore highway, Kamat Try the excellent South Indian fare A boat ride in the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a great way to get around
at Kamat Lokaruchi and see as much wildlife as possible
Lokaruchi 12 serves authentic
Karnataka vegetarian snacks,
such as the chilli bajji, the neer
dosa and the maddur vada, all
You’ll find classic Andhra-style
food at Hotel RRR 14 , where one
Side trip of the park. Be sure to pack your
binoculars if you plan on visiting,
delightfully deep-fried (00-91- of the best dishes is the hot veg Situated on one of the three and wear earth-coloured clothes
9008555933; Janupada Loka, thali, served on a banana leaf. islands of the Cauvery River, the that will help you blend in with
Archakrahalli, Ramanagara, Some good non-vegetarian Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary your surroundings (00-91-821-
Bangalore – Mysore highway; options are also available is a great place for bird watching 2481159; 8.30am – 6pm; entry
maddur vada ` 20). (00-91-821-2441979; Gandhi (19km north of Mysore). The best ` 25, boat ride `100).
The unassuming restaurant Square; 11am – 11pm; mains time to see the storks, spoonbills,
at the Parklane Hotel 13 from ` 40) cormorants, egrets and ibises FIND OUT MORE
offers a surprising variety The intriguing cane-themed is either early in the morning Lonely Planet India is great
of dishes spanning Indian, multi-cuisine restaurant at Pai or late afternoon on a boat ride. for information on Mysore.
continental, Italian, Mexican Vista, Gufha 15 , offers brilliant Crocodiles, pelicans, hornbills Full of useful tips and
and Chinese cuisine. Weekends food and fast service but the and other birds and animals can suggestions, it also carries
are a real treat with barbeque main attraction here is the also be found here. Keep your a map. For more, log
nights (00-91-821-2430400; ambience, which is reminiscent ears open for the chirping of the on to inmysore.com.
parklanemysore.com; of an Indiana Jones film (00-91- many birds flying around. There
2270, Sri Harsha Rd, 9945615420; paihotels.com; is also a restaurant located within For more details, log on to
mains from ` 40). 35/A Bangalore-Nilgiri Rd). the premises lonelyplanet.com