About Mysore

Mysore is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the headquarters of the Mysore district and the Mysore division and lies about 146 km (91 mi) southwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The name Mysore is an anglicised version of Mahishuru, which means the abode of Mahisha. Mahisha stands for Mahishasura, a demon from the Hindu mythology.The city has recorded history dating back a thousand years and a mythical history which explains the origin of the name - apparently, this was the place where the demon Mahishasura was slain by the Goddess Chamundi. You will find a statue of the demon on Chamundi hill which commemorates this event.

In recorded times, the city rose to prominence when it became the capital of a breakaway feudatory of the Vijayanagara empire named Chamaraja Wodeyar in 1584. In 1610, he shifted the capital to nearby Srirangapatna. Hyder Ali who was a commander in the army usurped power in the late 18th century. Hyder Ali was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan, who fought and lost a war with the British, dying in battle in 1799.

Located 140 Kms from the state capital Bangalore-- Mysore is the erstwhile capital of Wodeyars, the rulers of Mysore state. The Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century except for a short period of 40 years when Hyder n were the rulers. Mysore has never failed to mesmerise the tourists with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. The charm leaves no one untouched.

SHOPPING

Mysore is a shopper’s paradise. It is surrounded by sandalwood and rosewood forests. Thus, most of the tourists coming to Mysore look for items made from sandalwood or rosewood. Though a bit expensive these, pieces make excellent gift as well as decorative items. The sandalwood oil might be a bit expensive but is an essential commodity to be bought in Mysore. Mysore silk sarees are very popular and coveted by the ladies. Here you can purchase some of the finest silk. The government silk factory offers silks straight off the loom. Apart from the sandalwood items and silk, Mysore is also famous for the stone carved statues. The government run "Kaveri Emporium" located on Sayyaji rao road provides genuine sandalwood, rosewood and wooden carvings for the tourists.
 
While you are in Mysore, do not forget to visit the colorful Mysore City Market. Here, you can see the city market standing with it’s original grandour. The market is several decades old, however the structure, layout and other features still remain the same. Here you can get to see the vegitable market, flower market, fruit market, perfume market in a organized manner. During festival times, the market is very crowded and colorful with many types of vegitables, flowers which are up for sale.
 

Transportation

• By plane  : The nearest domestic and international airport is Bangalore airport near Devanahalli which is  170km from Mysore.Mysore Airport is currently non-operational. However, it was recently announced that it would be reopened and expanded to accommodate small 50-seater aircraft. The airport is likely to become operational in March 2009.
• By train  :  Mysore Junction is the city’s main station, and there are daily trains plying the route between Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Thanjavur as well as smaller and lesser known Indian cities.The fastest and possibly the most comfortable way to travel between Mysore and Bangalore and Mysore and Chennai is on the Mysore-Chennai (via Bangalore) Shatabdi Express, which covers the Mysore-Bangalore leg of the journey in 2 hours and the Mysore-Chennai section in 7 hours. Although slightly more expensive than other trains, all the Shatabdi’s coaches are air-conditioned and meals, snacks and a bottle of mineral water are included in the cost of the fare.
• By bus : Buses run every 5 minutes on the Bangalore route, and there is a choice of both A/C and non-A/C vehicles. During the weekends, these buses are often full, so it is advisable to reserve a seat in advance. The KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) buses are very comfortable, especially the Volvo (Luxury) buses. A one-way ticket from Bangalore to Mysore costs 225 Indian Rupees. Mysore has two major bus stands. All KSRTC buses arrive and depart from the Central bus stand (aka sub-urb bus stand), while local buses use the City bus stand.

Distance from mojor cities

• Allahabad 1793
• Bangalore 139
• Bhubaneshwar 1579
• Calcutta 2020
• Hyderabad 701
• Kochi 397
• Pune 901
• Chennai 470
• Mumbai 1064

Property in Mysore