City of Mysore

Mysore, officially Mysuru, is one of South India's most elegant and welcoming cities, long associated with royalty, sandalwood, silk and the gentle pace of old Karnataka. Once the seat of the Wodeyar dynasty, it retains a refined, garden-city character, with tree-lined avenues, heritage buildings and a cultural confidence that sets it apart.

The magnificent Mysore Palace is the city's defining landmark, an Indo-Saracenic masterpiece of domes, arches and stained glass. On certain evenings and festival nights it is illuminated by tens of thousands of bulbs, a genuinely spellbinding sight. Equally rewarding is Chamundi Hill, crowned by the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple and home to the famous giant Nandi bull carved from a single rock.

Mysore is closely tied to the grand Dasara festivities, when the city celebrates its royal traditions with processions, music and decorated elephants. Year-round, visitors can explore the bustling Devaraja Market, heady with jasmine, kumkum and fresh produce, or watch artisans at work on Mysore silk and sandalwood.

The city is also a respected centre of yoga and classical music, and its cuisine is justly loved, from the original Mysore masala dosa to the soft, ghee-rich Mysore pak that locals will insist you try. Day trips to the temple island of Srirangapatna and the cascades of nearby waterfalls add further variety.

For the traveller, Mysore offers culture, craft and royal romance in a relaxed, easily navigable package. It makes an ideal counterpoint on a South India tour, pairing naturally with the wildlife reserves and hill country to its south and rewarding visitors with warmth and unhurried charm.