MYSORE – The City

Mysore the name evokes images of palaces, of tranquility, of rich culture and heritage !

Mysore is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka, and the administrative seat of Mysore District, one of the largest districts in Karnataka. Mysore was the former capital of the Kingdom of Mysore. Mysore is the name by which Karnataka State was known prior to 1973.

Mysore is located at 770 m above sea level at 12.18° N 76.42° E and is 140 km from Bangalore, the state capital. It covers an area of 128.42 Sq. Km. having City Municipal Corporation since 1977. The population of the city is 8,11,277 consisting of 4,12,617 males and 3,98,680 of females according to the census of 2001.

Mysore, the cultural capital of the State, has many educational, commercial, administrative centers and heritage monuments. It was the home for many great musicians, music composers, dancers, Sanskrit scholars, writers, and, in general, intellectuals.

The city with the majestic Mysore Palace, the royal mansions, public buildings, gardens, water bodies and planned markets exhibit an indelible impression of the vision of the Maharajas, their Dewans and other talented luminaries on the City Municipality as early as 1862. The total harmony of buildings, sites, lakes, parks and open spaces of Mysore and the back drop of Chamundi hill adds to city’s attraction.

Mysore is called the City of Palaces as a number of palaces are situated in the city. Ambavilas Palace, the main palace of Mysore is one of the most visited monuments in India, even beating Taj Mahal. Mysore is a tourism hot spot and also acts as a base for other tourist places in the vicinity of the city. The city receives the maximum number of tourists during the Dasara festival which signifies the triumph of good over the evil and the worship of Devi Chamundeswari, is being celebrated with much pomp and glory as a State festival.