Mysuru travel guide
Heritage city with palaces, silk, and vibrant Dasara festival.
Mysore, the 'City of Palaces,' is famous for its grand Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill, and rich heritage. It is known for its vibrant Dasara festival, silk sarees, and sandalwood products, offering a perfect blend of history and culture.
Best time to visit Mysuru
Go Nov–Feb for dry, cool weather, or Sep–Oct for Dasara, when the city is festive but crowded. Mar–May is hot, and Jun–Aug is showery but mild.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | best | 16–29 °C | 0 mm | medium | Dry with cool mornings; comfortable for palace and market walks |
| February | best | 17–31 °C | 0 mm | low | Dry and sunny; afternoons start to warm up |
| March | good | 19–34 °C | 15 mm | low | Dry, with hot afternoons; start sightseeing early |
| April | good | 21–34 °C | 80 mm | medium | Hot afternoons; first pre-monsoon showers |
| May | mixed | 21–33 °C | 130 mm | medium | Hot, humid and stormy; school-holiday visitors |
| June | good | 20–30 °C | 80 mm | low | Light monsoon showers cool the city; fewer visitors |
| July | good | 20–29 °C | 80 mm | low | Showery but mild; gardens and Chamundi Hills turn green |
| August | good | 20–29 °C | 100 mm | low | Showery but mild; good for palaces and museums |
| September | best | 20–30 °C | 100 mm | high | Pleasant and mostly dry; Dasara can begin this month |
| October | good | 20–29 °C | 160 mm | high | Wettest month, but Dasara fills the city; book ahead |
| November | best | 19–29 °C | 70 mm | medium | Dry and mild; clear days after the rains |
| December | best | 17–28 °C | 15 mm | high | Dry and cool; busy over Christmas and New Year |
How many days to spend in Mysuru
Two days cover Mysuru Palace, Chamundi Hill, St Philomena's Cathedral, the zoo and Devaraja Market; a third adds Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and Somanathapura.
How to reach Mysuru
- By air: Mysuru (MYQ) — 9 km by road. Few flights; Bengaluru (BLR) has many more, then train or road
- By train: Mysuru Junction (MYS) — 4 km by road. Frequent trains from Bengaluru
- By road: From Bengaluru — 140 km. By the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway
Getting around
The palace, market, zoo and lakes lie within a few km of each other; autos and city buses cover them. Take a cab for Srirangapatna, Somanathapura and Ranganathittu.
Things to do in Mysuru
- Mudumalai — Wildlife park
- Mysuru Palace — A stunning Indo-Saracenic palace with intricately designed interiors, showcasing royal heritage and history of the Wadiyar dynasty. (2 h · Rs 120)
- Bandipur National Park — Wildlife safari (3 h · Paid entry)
- Nagarahole Tiger Reserve — Wildlife park (3.5 h · Paid entry)
- Pykara Waterfall — Beautiful falls (1 h · Paid entry)
- Lamb's Rock Tea Garden View Point — Rock view (1 h)
- Needle Rock View Point — Panoramic view (1 h · Paid entry)
- Kodanad View Point — Valley view (1 h)
- Sangama — River gorge (2 h · Free entry)
- Bheemeshwari Adventure and Nature Camp — Nature Camp (6 h · Paid entry)
- Shilhaandara Resort — Adventure Stay
- Srirangapatna — Heritage town
- Kabini Backwaters — Scenic backwaters (3 h · Paid entry)
- Shivanasamudra Falls — Scenic falls (2 h)
- B.R.Hills — Hill & wildlife
- Rangaswamy Peak Access — Rock formation (4 h)
- Savandurga Hill — Largest monolith (4 h · Paid entry)
- Kuntibetta trek starting point — Rocky Trek (2.5 h)
- Coorg Barapole River Rafting — River rafting (2 h · Paid entry)
- Ooty Golf Course — Golf greens (3 h · Paid entry)
- Chunchi Falls — Scenic falls (2 h)
- Kabbaladurga Trek Path — Night trek
- Sholay Layout — Trek hills (3 h)
- Manchanabele Dam — Scenic dam (3 h)
- Shravanbela Gola (Rural) — Jain pilgrimage (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Namdroling Golden Temple Entrance Arch — Tibetan temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Shri Chennakeshava Swamy Temple (Somanathapura) - UNESCO Heritage site — Hoysala temple (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary — Bird haven (2 h · Paid entry)
- Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel — Heritage palace (1.5 h)
- TIPU SULTAN SUMMER PALACE — Summer palace (1 h · Paid entry)
- Shri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple — Sacred temple (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills Road — Hill temple
- Honnamana Kere — Sacred lake (1 h · Free entry)
- Harangi Dam — Scenic dam (1.5 h · ₹10)
- Brindavana Gardens — Beautiful gardens with fountains and light shows. (2.5 h · ₹100)
- Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysuru Zoo) — Wildlife park with diverse exotic animals. (3 h · ₹120)
- Shri Ranganathaswami Temple (Pancharanga Kshetra) — Ancient Vishnu temple with Dravidian architecture. (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Talakadu Kaveri River — Temple town (3 h · Free entry)
- Folklore Museum — Museum (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Kukkarahalli Lake — Scenic lake (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Balamuri Falls ಬಲಮುರಿ ಜಲಪಾತ — River falls (1.5 h)
- Chiklihole Reservoir — Quiet dam (1 h · Free entry)
- Lingambudhi Lake — Nature park (1 h)
- St. Philomena's Cathedral — Gothic-style church with towering spires and stained glass. (45 min · Free entry)
- Devaraja market — Bustling market for spices, flowers, and silk. (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Karanji Lake — Scenic lake with birds and butterfly park. (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Jaganmohan Palace (Sri JayachamarajendraArt Gallery) And Auditorium — Royal palace turned art gallery with historic paintings. (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Sand Museum Mysuru — Unique museum with intricate sand sculptures. (1 h · Paid entry)
- RAJA SEAT GARDEN , MADIKERI — Raja's Seat: Scenic Coorg viewpoint with royal history and stunning sunsets. (1.5 h · ₹20)
Food to try in Mysuru
- Mysore pak — Ghee-rich gram-flour sweet cut into blocks; sold all over the city
- Bisi bele bath — Rice, lentils and spices, one of the most sought-after dishes in Mysuru
- Mysore masala dosa — Crisp dosa with a spiced potato filling and a spicy chutney spread; widely served
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Mysuru?
Go Nov–Feb for dry, cool weather, or Sep–Oct for Dasara, when the city is festive but crowded. Mar–May is hot, and Jun–Aug is showery but mild.
How many days are enough for Mysuru?
2–3 days. Two days cover Mysuru Palace, Chamundi Hill, St Philomena's Cathedral, the zoo and Devaraja Market; a third adds Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and Somanathapura.
How do I reach Mysuru?
By air: Mysuru (MYQ) — 9 km by road. Few flights; Bengaluru (BLR) has many more, then train or road. By train: Mysuru Junction (MYS) — 4 km by road. Frequent trains from Bengaluru. By road: From Bengaluru — 140 km. By the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway.
What are the top things to do in Mysuru?
Mudumalai, Mysuru Palace, Bandipur National Park, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Pykara Waterfall, Lamb's Rock Tea Garden View Point.
Plan your Mysuru trip
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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.