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Mysore
 Mysore, the temple city of India unfolds an enchantment that never ends....Mysore in the south Indian state of Karnataka is a city of palaces, gardens, shady avenues and sacred temples. Also the sandalwood city of India, Mysore retains some of the charm of the old world with its many institutions that propagate Carnatic Classical music and dance.
Mysore was the political capital of the Wodeyar dynasty which ruled the state of Karnataka for some 150 years till the independence of the country from the British. During their rule, Mysore was the cultural capital of south India, for its rich art & culture which reached the acme of development at that time.
Mysore is synonymous with Sandalwood, silk and fine inlay-work using ivory. It is the home of incense sticks (agarbathi) dipped in sandalwood oil perfume base and has many well known incense factories.
Legend
In the tenth century Mysore was known as "Mahishur", the town where the buffalo-demon Mahishashur was slain by the goddess Durga. The word Mysore expands to "Mahishasurana Ooru", which means the town of Mahishasura. It is believed that during one of the wars between devils and demons on the one hand and gods and goddesses on the other, the demon Mahishasur (Mahishur) overpowered the gods.
The goddess on seeing this, incarnated as the fireceful Chamundi or Chamundeshwari and consequently, Mahishasura was killed by Her atop the Chamundi Hill near Mysore. Ever since, the Mysore royal family has worshipped Chamundeshwari as the palace deity. Hills dedicated to Her stand at the eastern end of Mysore town to this day.
Tourist Attractions
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Mysore Palace
 The major attraction of the city is the Mysore Palace which was built in its present form in the year 1897. The famous architect Henry Irwin was employed by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV for its construction. This three storeyed masterpiece has its walls, floor and ceilings richly decorated with gold, bronze, stained glass and other precious metals. There is a beautifully laid garden on the front and small attractive temples surrounding the palace. The palace is illuminated on sundays, national holidays and other special festivals.
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Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery
In this gallery are displayed some of the most precious paintings and statues of yesteryears. Inaugurated in the year 1875, the paintings of Raja Ravi Verma and Svetsolav Roerich adorn the walls of the gallery. Other than the conventional paintings, a few traditional gold leaf paintings and statues made of sandalwood, ivory and stone are also displayed in the gallery. It is worth mentionable that some of the paintings have also been done using minerals and vegetable dyes.
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Aloysius Church
An architectural marvel associated with Christianity in Mangalore is Aloysius Church. Paintings of famous Italian artist Antony Moshaini adorn the walls of the temple. St. Aloysius College Chapel is compared with the Sistine chapel of Rome. Every inch of the roof and walls of the chapel are covered with exquisite paintings.
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Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple
 Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple of Mangalore is actually a collection of temples of Sharavu, Kadri, Mangaladevi, and Kudroli. There is an 800 year old history associated with the temple. Another temple that has been renovated recently to attract more tourists is the Kudroli Gokarnath Temple situated 3 kms away from the main city centre.
Excursion Delights
Dharmastala :
Located 75 km east of Mangalore, the place has a number of Jain temples including the famous Manjunatha Temple. There is also a museum that gives ample information about the temples and history of the place.
Venur
: Venur is another place famous for Jain temples and the ruins of the Mahadeva temple.
Karkal
: Karkal is a place famous for several important temples. There is also a 13 km high Bahubali statue. The statue was constructed in the year 1432. The statue s on a small serene hillock. A good view of the western ghats is available from the place.
The atmosphere of Mangalore always remains festive and joyful. The main festivals celebrated here are Dusshera and Janmashtami. Tiger Dance is a unique dance form of the place performed during Dusshera. Aati festival is another event exclusive to Mangalore. Along with many other Hindu festivals, Ganesh Puja and Navaratri are also celebrated with pomp and gaiety.
Getting There
By Air : The nearest Airport is Bangalore (139 Kms).
By Rail : Mysore is again connected with many trains to Bangalore. Also the prestigious luxury train, Shatabdi Express connects it to Madras
By Road : Mysore is located 139 Kms. to the south west of Bangalore. The state highway that connects the two cities could provide a pleasant ride through rustic country side.
Accommodation
 Mysore being a very popular city with the tourists in India, offers wide spectrum of accommodations offering world class facilities and services. We offer the best accommodation in the city, that will satisfy your travel needs. The range of hotels in Mysore include both luxury and budget categories, you can pick the one which best suites you requirements
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