Mysuru

Overview

Mysuru was the Wodeyar capital, and its main sights sit close together. The Amba Vilas Palace, Devaraja Market, the zoo and Chamundi Hill can all be covered in a weekend without much travel. It is about 140 km from Bengaluru and well served by trains. Winter is the easiest time to visit. Dasara in October brings processions and crowds, with higher hotel prices. Sundays and public holidays have a free palace-lighting hour in the evening. Budget travellers can manage on buses, autos and simple local meals. Families will find the zoo and the palace easy with kids.

Best time to visit

1. ●Jan
2. ●Feb
3. ●Mar
4. ✕Apr
5. ✕May
6. ◐Jun
7. ◐Jul
8. ◐Aug
9. ◐Sep
10. ●Oct
11. ●Nov
12. ●Dec

● best time · ◐ okay · ✕ best avoided (Apr, May)

How to reach

• By train from Bengaluru

  ₹100–1,500 one way depending on train and class

  Mysuru Junction is about 138 km from KSR Bengaluru. Vande Bharat services take roughly 1h40–2h15. Older express trains such as Rajya Rani, Shatabdi, Chamundi and Kaveri take about 2.5–3 hours. Days of operation and timings differ by train (some Vande Bharat runs skip one weekday), so check IRCTC or NTES for your date. Book ahead on weekends and festival weeks.

• By road

  ₹150–900 by bus; ₹3,000–5,000 by cab (estimate)

  Buses from Bengaluru (Majestic/Kempegowda bus station and Satellite stand) run through the day, and KSRTC has both ordinary and AC services. The drive usually takes about 3–4 hours depending on traffic, and weekend evenings in the Bengaluru direction are slow. Self-drive and cabs work well, and the expressway section means you should check toll and speed-camera rules.

• By air

  Check before you go

  Mysuru has a small airport, but flights are limited and change often. Most travellers fly into Bengaluru and continue by train or road. If you want to fly into Mysuru directly, check current routes with the airlines before booking anything non-refundable.

• Getting around the city

  ₹40–250 per auto/cab hop; ₹20–50 bus

  The palace, market, zoo and railway station are close enough for short auto or cab rides. KSRTC city buses run from the city bus stand to Chamundi Hill about every 20 minutes, according to the temple authority's site. Agree on the fare before boarding an auto, or use a ride-hailing app.

Where to stay

• Around Sayyaji Rao Road and the palace

  ₹1,500–4,500 / night

  The old city around the palace and Sayyaji Rao Road puts you in walking distance of the palace, market and many restaurants. It has the widest spread of lodges and mid-range hotels. Rooms here fill up first during Dasara and on long weekends, so book early for those dates.

• Near Mysuru Junction and bus stands

  ₹600–2,000 / night

  If you arrive on an early or late train, a budget lodge or dorm near the station or city bus stand saves you a cab ride. Check reviews for cleanliness and noise, and read the cancellation terms before paying.

• Heritage and resort-style stays

  ₹6,000–15,000+ / night

  For a quieter stay, look at heritage properties or resorts on the edges of the city, such as the Chamundi Hill side and the outskirts. Expect to use a cab to get into the centre. Prices rise sharply in the Dasara fortnight.

Things to do

• Mysore Palace

  ₹100–150 entry (sources differ)

  Open daily, 10:00–5:30, per the official palace site. Tickets are sold at the Varaha (south) gate. Shoes come off at the entrance, and photography inside is generally not allowed. Fees quoted on travel sites differ, and the official site lists ₹100 for adults. Confirm at the counter.

• Palace illumination and sound-and-light show

  Illumination free; show ₹100–120

  On Sundays and public holidays, the palace is lit from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, and you can watch from outside. Outside those days there is a ticketed sound-and-light show, with Kannada and English slots on different days. Check the day's schedule on the palace site.

• Chamundi Hill

  Free general darshan; special tickets extra

  The Chamundeshwari temple sits on the hill about 13 km from the centre. You can go by city bus, taxi or your own vehicle, or climb the roughly 1,000 stone steps from the base. Darshan is generally 7:30–2:00, 3:30–6:00 and 7:30–9:00, with changes on festival days. Fridays and festival days get long queues.

• Mysuru Zoo

  ₹100–150 entry (sources differ)

  Spread over about 250 acres near the palace, the zoo is open 8:30–5:30 and closed on Tuesdays. Entry stops earlier than closing time, so arrive by mid-afternoon. Mornings tend to be best for seeing animals.

• Devaraja Market and the old streets

  Free to enter

  Devaraja Market is a good place to wander for flowers, spices, incense and sandalwood products. Go in the morning when it is busiest and most colourful. Compare prices before buying sandalwood goods, and ask for bills for anything expensive.

Food

• Mysore Pak

  ₹80–400 per box

  Mysuru's best-known sweet is made with gram flour, ghee and sugar. Buy small boxes from long-running sweet shops near the palace and market, and look at how soft or crumbly each version is before choosing. It travels well if you want to take some home.

• Dosa and filter coffee breakfasts

  ₹60–200 per person

  Mysuru's old-style tiffin places serve benne (butter) dosa, idli-vada, set dosa and filter coffee at low prices. Go early, as popular places run out of batter and get crowded by mid-morning.

• Simple Karnataka meals

  ₹120–350 per person

  Look for a plate of rice, sambar, rasam, palya and curd at local restaurants for lunch, and bisi bele bath or ragi mudde if you want to try something regional. Vegetarian places are plentiful. Non-vegetarian options exist but are less common in the old centre.

• Dasara food stalls

  ₹150–500 per person

  The Aahara Mela food festival at Maharaja's College Ground normally runs during Dasara, with dates announced each year. Check the official Dasara site for the current schedule.

Safety & permits

Permits & entry

• No permit for the main city sights

  Check before you go

  Indian citizens generally don't need a permit to visit Mysuru's palace, zoo, market or temple. Carry a government photo ID, as ticket counters and hotels may ask for it. Entry rules, fees, timings and photography policies change, so confirm on the official Karnataka Tourism or Mysore Palace websites before you go.

• Palace rules and fees

  Confirm on the official site

  The official palace site lists daily opening from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Fees on travel blogs differ from each other and from the official ₹100 adult price, so we can't give one firm number. Footwear is left at the entrance, and photography inside is typically not allowed. Rules can change, especially around festivals.

• Dasara 2026 tickets

  Dates vary yearly

  Mysuru Dasara 2026 runs from 11 to 21 October, with the Jamboo Savari on 21 October. The official Dasara site says tickets are sold only via its official partner, so avoid unofficial agents. Some sources mention a Vijayadashami date of 20 October because of calendar differences, but the official programme uses 21 October. Dates change each year, so confirm on the official site.

• Temple darshan on busy days

  Confirm on temple site

  On Chamundi Hill, timings and free-darshan arrangements can change on festival days, and special-darshan tickets may be suspended during Dasara. Check the temple authority's website or the notices at the temple.

Places in Mysuru

Tips & questions

Quick tips, questions and photos from people who've been — or are going.

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