Mysore, which is known as Mysuru by the locals, is a famous Karnataka city that is located about 140 kilometers away from Bangalore. This mysterious mythical city is named after the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasur, who is known to have been killed by the goddess Chamundeswari, the incarnation of Parvati, on the top of Chamundi. Every year, a 10-day October festival is organized to celebrate the victory of justice over evil. The city can boast of its rich history that was generously given to it by the Wodeyar dynasty. It created such an alluring charm for the city and still attracts tourists to this day.
Mysore is one of the center spots for tourists across the world, which has a rich heritage and culture. It is a point at which you can travel to various tourist spots from Mysuru, such as sanctuaries, forest reserves, hills embedded with greeneries across Kerala and Karnataka states. They are the places to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy. You can read here the places to visit from Mysuru in one of our latest blogs here.
I came right from Thrissur to visit Mysuru during the time of Dasara Season. We priorly booked a Mysore Sightseeing Taxi for a comfortable journey. Our driver was Suresh, who was also a tourist guide to us. It was our three nights stay and two-day journey in Mysuru.
We reached Mysore in the evening by Train around 4:30 pm on Friday, and the cab driver took us to the hotel for freshening up for some time, and then soon our first visit was
Day 1
1. Brindavan Gardens
The bright Brindavan gardens, botanical park with diverse plant species, and boat excursions are the place for everyone. The magnificent garden features numerous fountains, terraces, waterways, lounges, lawns, and flower beds. One of the notable attributes of this garden is the music will be played along with the fountains that attract all the visitors.
After the visit to Brindavan Garden, it was dinner time in which our driver took us to the best of Mysuru’s Restaurants that had authentic South India Food and
recipes It could not be much greater than this if we didn’t have a guide to take this restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious. Mysore Sightseeing Taxi drivers are on another level as they ask what you love to have and drop you at the right restaurants.
Day 2
2. Mysore Zoo/ Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens
This trip is not complete without a visit to Mysore Zoo. Explore the Mysore Zoological Park, the oldest zoo constructed in 1892 by the ruler Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar. This Park is opposite Mysore Palace and within walking distance. It also occupies a large area of 157 hectares. The zoological garden is one of the oldest and most well-known zoos in South India and Asia. It is home to more than 168 species of wildlife from around 25 countries.
When you book a Mysuru Tour Packages with Taxi agents, they know the exact places to take you at the appropriate time and make your day special.
This zoo is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, and there are many natural habitats. Fortunately, animals can roam freely over large areas. There is also a nice aquarium. Mysore Zoo has more elephants than any other zoological park in India. Currently, more than a dozen elephants live there. Besides elephants, other exotic animals include striped hyenas, stray cats, black bears, and African elephants, can be seen at the zoo.
Apart from these creatures, Mysore Zoo is home to 35 exotic ornamental plants, 85 trees, and winged creatures such as silver, gold, blue peacocks, and flamingos with a beautiful Karanji lake. You must also see the thrilling encounter by wild animals at Mysore Zoo.
Moreover, when you book cabs in Mysore, the driver knows the precise time you must spend at the places, which makes you aware that there are many more places to visit in due time. So, this enables you to visit more places as possible.
3. Sri Chamundeshwari Temple at Chamundi Hill
Chamundi Hills is a holy grail of Mysuru in Karnataka. Our cab car driver Suresh, who was also our guide in the Mysore tourism package, told us that it is sacrilegious to visit Mysore and not climb the hill and see the adorable Chamundeshwari temple, a Nandi in the front, and a giant Mahishasura Statue.
My wife had little health issues climbing and I was a little lazy butt so we thought of moving in a cab only to the temple. The mountaintop is known not only as a pilgrimage site but also as a tourist attraction. You can reach the temple by road or via the 1008 stairs leading to the temple.
After 700 steps, you’ll find Nandi (Bull in English) colossal idol, then the Mahishasura statue with a weapon in one hand and a serpent in the other, and the goddess Chamundeshwari at the top of the hill. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view of Mysore from the hilltop. Chamundeshwari Temple is open from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM. There are no temple fees for entry.
Our cab driver told us stories about the particular temple during our travel to the hilltop, which could not have been better if traveled without a Taxi. On Day 1 itself, I thought booking Mysore Tour Packages are worth it for the family.
4. Sand museum
Mysore is the perfect vacation destination for tourists and you need to book taxi services in Mysore to completely explore places in a limited time. The Sand Art Museum is a new addition to Mysore’s must-see attractions list, which is located on the route towards Chamundi Hills. This unique sand Museum is India’s first of its kind.
The Sand Sculpture Museum offers a creative space with works of art. The Sand Sculpture Museum exhibits approximately 150 sand sculptures in 16 different themed areas over an area of 13,500 square meters. More than 115 sand trucks were loaded into this sand
sculpture. The museum uses many fascinating themes, including Mysore’s heritage, wildlife, customs, artifacts from various religious epics, stories, and legends.
At the museum entrance, visitors can see the 15-meter-tall statue of Lord Ganesha. Moreover, the museum encompasses the sand sculptures of the goddess Chamundeshwari, also the former Mysuru ruler Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja who is seated on the throne at the Dashara festival, Lord Krishna and Arjuna in a chariot, a smiling Buddha, a Christmas tree, and many more.
After Sand Museum, the time was 2 pm. It was set for lunch. My wife preferred non-vegetarian, so our driver took us to a restaurant, which was famous for Donne Biriyani. It was delicious with juicy chicken, raita, and curry. This could have happened if we had not booked tour packages in Mysore.
5. Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery and Auditorium
Post lunch we visited Jaganmohan Palace. It is one of the magnificent palaces that made the state of Mysuru prominent. This palace has a remarkable piece of architecture that showcases the genius of erstwhile rulers of ancient Mysore. This majestic palace was the residence of the royal family during the years between 1897 to 1912. The palace has observed many notable events in Mysore’s history. Jaganmohan Palace now functions as an art corridor that has a large hall.
This was our 4th spot visit on a single day. It would not have been happening if traveled by public transport.
Booking taxi services in Mysore is quite crucial for saving precious time.
The Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Museum is one of the finest art museums in South India. It has priceless assets and comprises a great collection of arts and paintings, which were once part of the Mysore royal family. The museum displays more than 2,000 valuable paintings in various styles, including the days of the Mughal era and Western time paintings.
6. Mysore Palace/ Amba Vilas Palace
“The night view of Mysore Palace,” by Ashwin Kumar, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Our 5th place for the day was Mysore Palace. It was the perfect time to have a look at the illumination of lamps across the palace. The only way you can visit as many places in limited time is when you book Tour packages in Mysore.
Of all the attractions of our Mysuru trip, we momentously relished the Glorious Greatness of Mysore Palace. An architectural masterwork, which is designed by Architect Erwin from 1897 to 1912, and
is the perfect combination of Hindu, Islamic, Gothic, and Rajput architecture.The palace has a three-story Gray granite building with a marble dome and beautiful arches and columns. This royal palace is one of the tallest buildings in India and was built in 1897 with a wooden frame. The palace is constructed in an Indo Saracenic design, and you can see the fine craftsmanship that looks appealing day and night when everything is almost lit by lamps. A notable feature of this palace is its evening lighting. The building is open to the public from 10:00 to 17:30. On Sundays and public holidays, the lamps are illuminated from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m.
After visiting the palace, don’t forget to see the image of Gajalakshmi, which is on the central arch. It is a must-see architecture of Goddess Lakshmi.
Our driver came along with us to guide and explain more about the palace in detail. While going back to the hotel, I thought booking Mysore Tour Packages was worthwhile, and my kids, wife enjoyed it.
Day 3
7. Shuka Vana
“The Shuka Vana,” retrieved from The Hindu
Our checklists were Mysuru Palace, Zoo, Chamundi Hills, and it was done on day one itself. Then, we suggested our driver to drive to a parrot park based on online analysis, which we felt that this trip would have been incomplete without a visit to this magical park. It was not in our Mysore Tour Packages, but our driver was flexible with the changes in places to visit.
The Shuka Vana has parrots and parakeets with interesting species from South America, Australia, and Asia.
A person in the Vana has close bonding with a Gray parrot, which entertains everyone with various greetings like ‘Good morning,’ ‘How are you,’ and so on.
Shuka Vana is a home for many birds that covers an acre and a half area and is found in the part of vast Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama. Here, among 468 species of birds, Quaker parrots, Amazon parrots, and eclectic parrots fly around in the 60-foot-high free-flying aviary, occasionally swooping down and pecking at the food visitors bring. With an incredible variety of species with over 2,200 birds, Shuka Vana aviary has become an educational center for children. Shuka Vana was initially the rehabilitation spot that takes care of sick and injured birds, he said.
This was our 7th place visit within 40 hours in Mysuru is simply incredible. When you book cabs in Mysore, this is the advantage you get.
8. Kishkindha Moolika Bonsai Garden
The Kishkindha Moolika Bonsai Garden of Mysuru,” retrieved from Karnataka.com
The Kishkinda Moolika Bonsai is one of the renowned gardens in the city of Mysuru. It is founded by Sr. Ganapathi Sachchidananda, who is a saint. This garden is famous for assortments of various Bonsai Plants. It is a popular destination for many nature lovers and is a great educational excursion for kids.
Of course, the main attraction is the variety of bonsai in the garden, with over 100 species of these miniature trees in a beautiful location.
Moreover, taxi services also offer one-day trips to Mysore, which involves visiting important places based on your demand within a limited time.
9. St. Philomena’s Cathedral Church
“The view of Saint Philomena’s Cathedral Church,” by Arshad Ka, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
The twin towers of the church, which is above the trees and houses, caught my eye, and the driver said it was the Church of Saint Philomena. He was surprised that I was in Mysore for a week and didn’t see it. So, he took me to church to correct my mistake of not visiting this monument. He was obviously gratified by this church, and I found out why it was when the cab driver explained more about this church’s history.
These are opportunities you get when you have a driver along with you who can be a tourist guide as well. It is the advantage of booking Mysore Tourism packages.
Philomena Church of Mysuru is one of the largest churches in South India, which was established in Mysuru in the year 1843 to serve the British authorities. Originally it was a wooden building for over a century until a new building was designed in 1933 by French architect Daly. The present church is neo-Gothic, which was inspired by the Cathedral of Cologne, Germany.
Inside the church is an altar with the sculpture of a saint and a statue of Christ. At the top of the altar is a beautiful French stained-glass window depicting biblical stories. A staircase near the altar leads to the basement, where the relics are kept.
When I came out of the basement into the sun, I took a deep breath and tried to look up at the tall church spire. The sun was shining on the stones and glass, and I am glad I took a detour. It is undoubtedly an attractive-looking church, which is devoted to a Greek saint. The church is constructed by a French architect for British authorities in a German design.
10. Wax Museum
“The Melody World Wax Museum,” retrieved from Karnataka.com
Melody Wax Museum, with the theme of music, is one of the city’s most popular attractions. The place is only 3 km away from Mysore Palace and is easily reachable. This Heritage Museum is thought to be over 90 years old. The variety of musical instruments from different regions and times are on display here, and life-size wax figures dressed in local costumes are the main attraction of the museum. “Make a one-day trip to Mysore by booking a taxi that enables you to cover most of the attractive places.”
Moreover, the display of the variety of life-size instruments and sculptures of musicians playing various instruments is the main attraction, which is worth a visit. The Wax Museum has 19 galleries, each exhibiting a unique world experience, music, and art. About 300 musical instruments from India and of the West are on display. The instruments on display at the museum are of different ages, from traditional instruments to modern musical devices to indigenous instruments representing tribal music.
Day 4
11. St. Philomena’s Cathedral Church
“The view of Gumbaz, Srirangapatna,” by Cchandranath84, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
It was the final day trip with Mysore Sightseeing Taxi, and post our morning breakfast at the hotel, our first stop was Tipu Gumbaz, which is located in Srirangapatna, built by Tipu Sultan in the year 1784.
The Gumbaz was constructed based on Persian architectural style, and the dome fascinates everyone. It is encircled by a beautiful garden called the Lalbagh Garden. The majestic Gumbaz building can be seen from a high platform in the center.The grandstand has an open porch marked with black granite pillars.
These massive columns support the structure, and the stylish pilasters add to the complete attractiveness of this gigantic dome.
Our cab driver wanted to show us as many places as possible on the final day. It couldn’t have happened if we had not booked cabs in Mysore.
12. Ranganathaswamy Temple
“The Gopura or Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple,” by Paweł ‘pbm’ Szubert, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Post the Tipu Gumbaz visit, we visited the majestic prehistoric Sri Ranganathaswamy temple that is placed on an Island, which is 16 kilometers from Mysore. Garbhagriha of this temple was constructed in 817 by a dancer called Hambi. During the Gang Dynasty in AD 894, King Thirumalaira helped build it.
Our driver came along with us to visit this temple and explained in-depth about this ancient temple. This is one of the extensive benefits that you earn when you book Mysore Tourism packages.
The temple has the beautiful and majestic architecture of Vijayanagara and unique sculptures that are truly spectacular.
It is an important pilgrimage site for Vishnu devotees. The entry to the temple is tremendous and exciting. The temple has a beautiful gopuram that had required superior craftsmanship to build it. To get into this sacred temple, you have to stroll through a narrow pathway. In the temple, Lord Ranganatha is depicted on the six-headed throne of Sheshnag.
13. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
“A picture clicked from Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary,” retrieved from StarofMysore
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, commonly known as Pakshi Kashi, is a nature reserve and bird watching area on the banks of the Kaveri River in the Mandya region near Srirangapatna in Karnataka. This is the state’s largest bird sanctuary. It consists of six small islands on the banks of the Kaveri River. It was established in the year between 1645 and 1648 when Kantirava Narasaraja Wodeyar was the Mysore ruler.
The area is a popular destination for the varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world.
The third-place visit on a single day before lunch was truly amazing. So, booking cabs in Mysore can have added advantages.
13. Summer Palace and Museum
Before getting into the Summer Palace, we had food that was new cuisine to us that is well-known in Mysore and Bangalore called ‘Raggi Muda.’ It had a great flavor by dipping ‘mudde’ into a spicy leafy curry. In our experience, it was tough to swallow the sticky ball. But the curry was tasting delicious. We might have not known this cuisine if we didn’t have the tour along with the cab driver who was guiding us along the journey with the Mysore sightseeing taxi.
“A front view of Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace,” retrieved from beerandcroissants
Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace is located in Srirangapatna, which is also known as Dariya Daulat Bagh. It was utilized as the summer capital by Tipu Sultan, the former ruler of Mysore. The Summer Palace of Tipu was established between 1778 and 1784. The construction of the palace was started by Heider Ali, who was the father of Tipu Sultan, and completed by his son. The mansion consists of two floors that were constructed with materials of wood, stone, and plaster.
The expansive gardens surrounding the palace are often adorned with floral motifs and paintings depicting historical events and wars. Tipu Sultan’s tomb is nearby, and it involves an ancient museum used by him and his family. The palaces display clothing, coins, weapons, silverware, and crowns of Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali. The museum has several paintings depicting important figures and historical events, such as a 200-year-old painting presenting the influence of Srirangapatna.
14. Triveni Sangama
“A Scenic view of Triveni Sangama in Mysuru,” retrieved from StarofMysore
Triveni Sangam is the sacred place where the three rivers confluence, in which there is a belief that when you take a holy river dip at this place, you can flush away all the sins and be free from the cycle of rebirth.
The Three sacred rivers that meet here are river Kaveri, Lokapavani, and Hemavati. Moreover, this place is also famous for South Indian Kumbh Mela,
in which a large gathering of pilgrims come and take a holy dip. It is a Hindu festival and is celebrated once every three years.
