Mysore is known for its many palaces, sandalwood and yoga. All three of these things can be seen everywhere in Mysore, but there is much more to explore. Go on a day trip with a local who will show you all the beautiful, and not touristy, spots of the city. In this article we wrote down all things to to in Mysore.
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Out and about with Sri in Mysore
Sri is a local tuktuk driver. We initially only had the idea of going to the palace but Sri told us he had a much more enjoyable tour in mind. In retrospect, we are glad we went with him because we saw so many nice things we would have otherwise passed by. If you also want to go out with Sri you can send him a WhatsApp at +91 9591 902 725. He charges 300 rupees (€3.30) for this day of fun activities (you will be on the road for 5 – 6 hours). We gave him double because he is such a nice man, and of course it is almost no money.
The Maharaja palace in Mysore
The Maharajah Palace is the largest and most famous palace in Mysore and the highlight of the city. So this is listed as number one in the things to do in Mysore. It is also, after the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous palaces in India. The Maharajah Palace was built in the 19th century to replace the old palace that was demolished by fire. The outside is already very beautiful with the great wall and temples on all four sides, but the inside is quite a picture.
To enter the palace grounds, you pay 100 rupee entrance fee (€1.10). The same ticket also allows you to enter the palace. Here you only pay 2 rupee to put your shoes down. At all sacred or religious sites in India, you must remove your shoes. A guide may be offered as you walk to the entrance of the palace.
The guide costs 300 rupees (€3.30) if you are less than 3 people and 400 rupees (€4.40) if you are more than 3 people. We did take a guide but it went through the palace in a rush so we didn’t get to see much AND he told us almost nothing. If you do have a good guide, it can be a good addition to learn more about the history of the palace and all the beauty you see.
Oil and incense
So Mysore is also known for sandalwood, incense and natural oils. Everywhere you go you find these products. We went with Sri to a small house in the middle of town. Here the incense sticks are all handmade, after which they spend 20 days in a bath of natural oils. The owner of this store, Samir, explains the whole process in perfect English and introduces you to the different oils and how they work. At the end you can buy small packs of the oils, this is your thank you for the tour and detailed information. Samir really takes the time for you; you sit there for over 40 minutes.
St.Philomena’s Cathedral
In the middle of the city you suddenly find a really large church, St.Philomena’s Cathedral. This beautiful church was built in a Neo-Gothic style. Based on the cathedral of Cologne in Germany. Today, it is visited by Christians in Mysore, as well as mostly by Indian tourists. Inside, St. Philomena’s Cathedral is a lot smaller than it looks from the outside. Nevertheless, it is a fun and especially beautiful stop on your tour while visiting things to do in Mysore.
Local market in Mysore
The local market in Mysore is an interesting activity. The market vendors are almost never foreigners so they find this very interesting. We were asked several times if we wanted to take a picture with them, of course we do.
In India, almost half of the population is vegetarian and you can see that in the market, you won’t find dead animals here. As a result, the market is a lot cleaner, there are no nasty smells and there are no flies everywhere. We found it a really nice market to walk through to get better acquainted with local India. Definitely add this market to your list of things to do in Mysore.
Yoga in Mysore
Mysore is known as a great yoga place. There are entire districts dedicated to yoga retreats. You’ll find a lot of healthy food and spirituality here. If this is your thing we recommend staying at least 3 days in Mysore so you can really immerse yourself in this.
Sri Chamundeshwari temple
On the Chamundi hill is the Sri Chamundeshwari temple. It is a Hindu temple with a great view of Mysore and its surroundings. Halfway up the hill you suddenly see a large statue of the bull Shiva, which is characteristic of this temple. Be sure to check current opening hours. In fact, the temple is closed twice a day for 1.5 hours.
The best hotels in Mysore
The Soho Boutique Hotel is a fantastic hotel in Mysore. The rooms are spacious and beautiful, the breakfast is also delicious. Another nice option is Hotel Pai Vista. This hotel is located right next to Mysore Palace.
How to get to Mysore?
Mysore is located in the state of Karnataka, like the capital of this state Bangalore. From Bangalore, you can easily get to Mysore by train. This one takes 2.5 hours. Tickets are on sale starting at €2. Just keep in mind that you will be sitting in third class, on benches that are not very comfortable. Tickets can be purchased simply on 12GO.Asia. On this, you can also immediately see train times and different classes. Be present at Bangalore station at least half an hour before departure time, as it is very busy there.
From Ooty, you can also travel to Mysore. The bus drives right through Bandipur Tiger Reserve giving you an instant mini safari. Along the way you can spot tigers (this happens very rarely), wild elephants, bison and deer, among others. We were lucky and saw a group of wild elephants along the side of the road during this drive.
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