Palaces in Mysore, India

The whole world is a travel destination. No matter what city, town, or country you may by there is something worth exploring and seeing. For each and every place there is something unique and truly theirs; there is something that only they can offer.

For this article, we would let our minds travel to MYSORE in INDIA.

MYSORE, INDIA

Dasara Festival at Mysore Palace (1)

For more than 600 years Mysuru or Mysore continued to blossom and build a name of its own. It left a legacy of elegance and ostentatiousness.

Mysore, India is famous for its magnificent and royal palaces (there is a total of seven palaces); it was even was dubbed as the City of Palaces. Aside from these palaces the city has a busy marketplace which is a perfect place to buy souvenirs, splendid monuments that honor its citizens, colorful culture, and hospitable people.

All these makes one fall in love with the place. It is a charming and enchanting place that captivated the hearts of tourists all over the world.

OVERVIEW of MYSORE, INDIA

GEOGRAPHY

Mysore is located at southern India at about 140 kilometers from Bangalore. It is an elevated city, at approximately 770meters above sea level. It occupies a total land area of just 128.42 square kilometers. There are several lakes and rivers in the area.

CLIMATE

Generally, the town has a tropical savanna climate. From March to June it is summer, July to November is rainy season, and from December to February it is winter.

TRANSPORTATION

Getting In

The fastest way to reach Mysore is via the plane at the Mysore Airport. The airport was newly built in 2010. As of today, there is only one airline operating at the airport and that is Spice Jet. It caters flight to and from Bangalore.

Another way to reach the city fast, especially those coming in from other cities is by train. The main train station is at Mysore Junction. There are several different trains to choose from Bangalore to Mysore. The cost of fare differs depending on speed and accommodation. Aside from Bangalore, Mysore could be reached via Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Tanjore, Tirupati, Ajmer, Jaipur, and Mangalore.

Other ways to reach the city include buses and cars. For those who dare, one can travel by bike.

Getting Around

Just like any other cities, travelling in Mysore is easy. There are buses, cars and taxis. In India, it is very common to see and ride an auto-rickshaw.

Auto-rickshaw (2)

WHAT to SEE

The beauty of Mysore dates back to the Wodeyar dynasty. This was the year wherein lavish and astonishing palaces were built. For this article we shall discuss some of the famous palaces in the area.

MYSORE PALACE

Mysore Palace (3)

Amba Vilas Palace or simple Mysore Palace was built in 1897. It was used as the official home of the Maharajas of Mysore. The said palace is the second most visited attraction in the country with an average of 4 million tourists per year.

LALITHA MAHAL

Lalitha Mahal Palace (4)

As mentioned, there are seven palaces inside Mysore. One was already mentioned, another is Lalitha Mahal. This is the second largest palace in the area. It was built in 1921 as the official home to the Viceroy of India while in Mysore. In 1974 the whole palace was converted to a heritage hotel.

JAGANMOHAN PALACE

Jaganmohan Palace

One of the seven palaces in Mysore is Jaganmohan Palace. This palace was completed in 1861 and served as the home to the kings of Mysore while Mysore Palace was under renovation. After serving its purpose until today, the palace is used as an art gallery and function hall.

RAJENDRA VILAS

This palace served as the summer home by the kings of Mysore. It is located on the scenic top of Chamundi Hills. Years later, the palace was converted to a hotel.

JAYALAKSHMI VILAS

Jayalakshmi Vilas (5)

Another tourist site and palace in Mysore is Jayalakshmi Vilas. Currently it is considered as a heritage building. It was built in 1905 for the princess. Years later, the University of Mysore acquired the building and used it as a postgraduate center.

WHAT to DO

Aside from seeing all the grand architectures, one should not forget about attending festivals. One festival that should not be missed is DASARA FESTIVAL.

Dasara procession (6)

Dasara Festival is the state festival of the whole Karnataka (the state in which Mysore belongs). The festival is also known as Navaratri. The festival usually occurs in the months of September or October and lasts ten days in dedication to Vijayadashami. It is a festival commemorating truth wins over evil. The center of all activities is at Mysore Palace.

Mysore Palace during Dasara Festival

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References:
“Mysore, India – Lonely Planet.” Lonely Planet. Web. 4 Feb. 2015. <http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/karnataka/mysore>.
“Mysore.” Travel Guide. Web. 4 Feb. 2015. <http://wikitravel.org/en/Mysore>.
“Mysore.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 4 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysore>.
“Mysore Tourism and Vacations: Best of Mysore.” , India. Web. 4 Feb. 2015. <http://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Tourism-g304553-Mysore_Karnataka-Vacations.html>.
“Mysuru District Information.” Mysuru District Information. Web. 4 Feb. 2015. <http://www.mysore.nic.in/>.
“Tourist Attractions in Mysore.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 4 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourist_attractions_in_Mysore>.

Images:
1. Deka, Jim Ankan. Dasara festival at Mysore Palace. October 2013. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. February 4, 2015.
2. Karim, Muhammad Mahdi. Auto-rickshaw. 2010. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. February 4, 2015.
3. Karim, Muhammad Mahdi. Front façade of the Mysore Palace. October 2014. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. February 4, 2015.
4. Ezhuttukari. Lalitha Mahal Palace. September 2009. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. February 4, 2015.
5. Sarvagnya. Jayalakshmi Vilas. N.d. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. February 4, 2015.
6. Kumar, Kalyan. Dasara procession. October 2007. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. February 4, 2015.