10 Best Places to Visit in Mysore

The very first destination on your Mysore sightseeing tour has to be right in the heart of the city, to the Mysore Palace. This former royal residence is one of the largest palaces in the country and is surely a treat to the eyes. Enter the palace through any of its four arched gates and you will see the palace sitting beautifully in a garden. We have the fascinating architecture of the palace to thank for its mind-blowing beauty. After all, the palace’s architecture has influences from Muslim, Hindu, Gothic, Rajput and Indo-Saracenic architecture.

This church is undoubtedly beautiful. Its Gothic style architecture will impress all the architecture lovers out there. But what makes the church even more important is the religious harmony it showcases. Its story goes something like this. King Mysuru Mummudi Krishnaraja Wadiyar built this church for the Europeans residing in Mysore in 1933. With decades of religious and historical value, this church often finds its way on travellers’ wishlists!

Mysore is called the city of palaces, so it is obvious that we have another palace on our list. This palace was built for the eldest daughter of King Chamaraja Wodeyar and now it is a famous heritage site of the city. When you come here, you must check out the General Museum, the Folklore Museum and the Archaeology Museum the palace houses. The Folklore Museum is the most famous one and displays more than 6500 artefacts illustrating folk arts, traditional krafts and village life. But if you want to explore royalty, the General Museum is your call. Because it has many artefacts used by the royals of the city. And finally the Archaeology Museum! It has many paintings, stone sculptures and life-size replicas of a tiger.

Since you are visiting the Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace, pay a visit to the nearby Kukkarahalli Lake as well because it is definitely on our list of must-explore tourist places near Mysore. The serene beauty of the lake has inspired many poets and painters, and you can be inspired too! Adding more beauty to the lake are the more than 150 types of birds flying around. Exciting news for the bird lovers! What else? The long shoreline of the lake, where you can take romantic walks with your special one!

For our next destination, you have to travel 80 km from the city and come to this large temple, the second biggest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. If you want to plan a one day trip near Mysore, this is your spot! And when you are here, you will have a lot to explore! When you reach the place, The first thing to look for is the brilliant architecture. And as you enter the temple, you will be surrounded by a spiritual ambience and your soul will be filled with peace at once! There’s more! The many colourful paintings, enhancing the beauty of the temple’s interiors!

The religious aura of the Chamundeshwari Temple on one hand and the incredible scenic beauty on the other are what best describes the Chamundi Hills! So, whether you are on a spiritual journey or you are someone going around places with a camera in hand and a love for nature in your heart, Chamundi Hills is a must-visit! You can take the stairs or the roads to reach the hilltop. And on the top, a stunning panoramic view of the city awaits you! Sit in the temple for a few minutes, click pictures and have a great time!

Once you have explored the Chamundi Hills, let the Lalitha Mahal Palace situated right at the foothills be your next destination. A white structure standing tall amid green surroundings is quite a beautiful sight. And the architectural brilliance makes the palace even more beautiful. The palace was originally built for housing the then Indian Viceroy. Later it was used as a guest house and now it is a popular tourist spot in the city.

Around 15 km away from Mysore, in Srirangapatna is Gumbaz where lie the tombs of Hyder Ali, his wife and his son Tipu Sultan. Actually, Tipu Sultan built the Gumbaz in the memory of his father and mother after their demise. Later, when Tipu Sultan passed away, his tomb was built in the Gumbaz as well. The tombs stand in the middle of Lalbagh and are quite a captivating sight. The architecture of all three tombs is commendable as well!

One of the most unique places that you can explore in Mysore is this sand sculpture museum. As you can see in the name, this showcases sand sculptures! In fact, this is the country’s first sand sculpture museum. And the sculptures here made with sand and water are truly examples of fine craftsmanship. This place is rather new since it was inaugurated just a few years ago in 2014, but it has already become famous among both locals and tourists!

The bird lovers seem to be smiling! And why not! The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary houses many species of birds, including some migratory birds flying in from North America, Siberia and Australia. And to name a few, shag, little egret, white ibis, little cormorant, spoonbill, open-billed stork, painted stork, river tern, white ibis, darter, pond heron peafowl and wild duck! The flora here at this bird sanctuary is equally alluring. That is why we say, bird lovers, as well as nature lovers, must visit this one of the best places in Mysore.

Hopefully, your sightseeing is sorted with this list of must-visit places in Mysore. Now, you go ahead, board a flight to Mysore and get ready to be mesmerised by the Mysore charm!