Experience Majestic Mysore in exclusive Mysore package tour

Get enamored by the smell of sandalwood and jasmine with exclusive Mysore package tour and encounter vibrant bazaars of thriving Mysore. Mysore Sightseeing preserves old houses and a stroll through Tourist Attractions in Mysore ranging from the majestic Mysore Palace to the lush Botanical Gardens remains mellow and nostalgic. Mysore package tours offer some exemplary Mysore city tour. So enjoy your holiday in Mysore leaving all your worries behind.

Maisuru (Mysore) is one of the most important tourist centers of Karnataka and attracts many native and foreign visitors to the city every year.

Hindu mythology says the area around the current Maisuru (Mysore) belonged to the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The Goddess Durga, named in Maisuru Chamundeshwari, killed the demon. The city’s first inhabitants date back to 950 BC during the Ganga Dynasty. During the 11th century the Chola dynasty took rule, and then during the 12th century the Hoysala dynasty erected many of the temples still dotting the city.

From 1399, Mysore and its surrounding zones were ruled by the Wodeyar dynasty, which is considered to be descended originally from Dwarka on the peninsula Kathiawar. Their territory was the tributary to the Vijayanagar Empire which after its ruin during 1565, Maisuru (Mysore) became an independent kingdom. Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617) transferred the capital in 1610 to Srirangapatnam. In the 18th century, the dominance of the Wodeyar was disrupted by the Muslim usurper Hyder Ali, de facto ruler from 1761 until 1782. Later the Mysore throne was ascended by his son Tipu Sultan (1782-1799). Under them, the Mysore kingdom reached its largest expansion and parts of south India were conquered and subjugated. The empire ran into conflicts with the British, who had colonial interests in mind.

Tipu sultan of Maisuru (Mysore) declared war with the British, supported by the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas. However they were defeated in 1761 and were isolated to the region Srirangapatnam. After the cession of land in 1792, the Tipu sultan declared war again against the Britishers, whose army was led under Arthur Wellesley, first duke of Wellington. After the four Mysore, wars between Tipu Sultan and the British army led by Wellesley, the British emerged the victor and had colonial power. The Tipu sultan died during the May 1799 storming of the fort in Srirangapatnam. The larger part of Maisuru (Mysore) was placed under direct control of English dominance.

With the reconstitution of the Hindu Wodeyar dynasty in 1799, which were British vassals, Maisuru (Mysore) became the renewed capital of the kingdom and remained the capital until 1947 at which time it became an independent Indian state.

Maisuru (Mysore) is one of the most important tourist centers of Karnataka. The heritage of the earlier Maharajas of Mysore attracts many native and foreign visitors to the city. While there you must visit the Amba Vilas (Maharaja Palace), Chamundi Hill, Jaganmohan-palace and St. Philomena’s Church. There are other sites to see and side trips that you can take while in Mysore.

Amba Vilas (Maharaja Palace)

Amba Vilas is one of the most famous places in India. It is located in the center of the city Mysore in the south Indian state Karnataka. It was the residence of the Maharaja of the former country Mysore, whose descendants still inhabit part of the palace. Many visits say it reminds them of Buckingham Palace in London. It unites elements of the traditional Hindu, indo-Islamic, Rajput and European architectures.

The three-story palace, made of gray granite, is crowned by several marble domes, features a five-story tower with gilded tip, and also has many smaller turrets. Seven large arches form the main façade while the middle one is flanked by two further smaller arches.

The Palace features marble and mosaic arches, heavy silver and artistically carved wooden doors, innumerable columns, costly furnishing from various countries, colorful glass decor and mirrored walls as well as paintings and wall pictures. The most famous feature of the palace is the throne covered with gold leaf in the huge Durbar hall.

Every Sunday evening, the palace facade is illuminated from 7 pm to 8 pm with more than 80,000 light bulbs.

On the palace terrain, visitors will also find twelve Hindu temples, built between the 14th to 20th centuries

Chamundi Hill

More than a mile outside of the city center is the 530-foot-high Chamundi Hill where the Sri-Chamundeshwari-temple lies. This important pilgrim destination of the 12th century is dominated by a seven-story, 120-foot-high Gopuram built about 300 years ago. The temple is dedicated to goddess Durga (Chamundeshwari). About 1000 steps lead up to it. There is a 15-foot-tall monolithic statue of the bull Nandi, the mount of God Shiva. It was carved out of the rock during 1659 and is one of the largest of its type in whole India. Close to it also stands a statue of the demon Mahishasura.

Jaganmohan-palace

West of the Amba-Vilas-palace, the palace built during 1861 houses an art gallery (Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery), in which the portraits of former rulers, miniature paintings, furniture and music instruments are exhibited.

St. Philomena’s Church

The cathedral, built during 1931, is one of the largest churches of India. Its soaring towers and the colorful glass windows exhibit the European Gothic style. In an underground chapel, a relic of the martyr Philomena is kept.

Jog Falls

The Jog Falls which cascades off the Sharavati River attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Other sights

There are many smaller temples in Mysore including the Lalita Mahal Palace erected originally on the Chamundi hill for the guests of the Maharaja as well as the Rajendra-Vilas-palace. There are also several representative buildings of the colonial period including city hall, the Rangacharlu Memorial hall and the clock tower of 1927, built in honor of the silver reign anniversary of the Maharaja. The market--one of the most beautiful and largest of south India–is well known for spices and Indian perfumes.

Excursions

Srirangapatanam

Srirangapatnam was the capital of the Mysore kingdom between 1610 and 1799. It lies 8 miles northeast of Mysore, on an island in the Cauvery river. It offers many historic sights. After Britishers seized the city, much of it was not preserved. However it is worth visiting the fort ruins, a mosque and a Hindu temple which still are representative of the beauty of the time and the power of the empire.

Brindavan Gardens

Approximately 8 miles northwest of Mysore lies the Brindavan Gardens at the bank of river Cauvery, beneath the Krishna-Raja-Sagar-reservoir dam. The gardens designed in 1930 for the Maharaja spread out on an area of approximately 60 hectare.

Bird Sanctuary Ranganathittu

This large bird sanctuary is made up of six tiny islands in the Cauvery river, and home to a wide variety of bird species.

Bandipur National Park

This 290-square-mile national park lies about 45 miles from Mysore on the road to Ootacamund. It is home to elephangs, bison, deer, apes, leopards as well as tiger. The best time to visit is from May to September.

Somnathpur

The temples from the Hoysala period are the largest attraction of the village Somnathpur, about 13 miles east of Mysore. The Hoysala temple with its three Vishnu shrines was built during 1260. The Chennakeshara temple is decorated with relief out of the large Indian epics and from the life of the Hoysala kings.

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