Stand at the top of Chamundi Hill in the late afternoon and the whole city spreads below you in a wash of white and green, with the Chamundeshwari Temple behind you and the road curling back down through the trees. That view is the quickest way to understand Mysuru: a city of palaces, temples and old royal ambition, sitting at the foot of the hills.
Mysuru suits travellers who like their sightseeing unhurried — palace interiors, art galleries, a zoo with a lake attached, and a hilltop temple you can reach by bus or by climbing. It also works well for families and for anyone breaking a longer trip through Karnataka.
This guide covers the sights and experiences in and around the city, ordered with the strongest first, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions travellers ask most.
Top things to do in Mysuru
1. Mysore Palace
The number one attraction in the city, and the reason most people come. Inside you will find intricately carved rosewood doors and ceilings, some with inlaid ivory work, marble figurines, collections of caskets, paintings of members of the royal family and other objects of personal use — all preserved remarkably well.
Guards clear the public from the palace premises and gardens around 18:00 to prepare for the light and sound show, which starts at 19:00, lasts 40 minutes and is in Kannada only. The impressive part for most visitors is the illumination of the whole palace at the end, between roughly 19:40 and 19:45. The ticket counter for the show opens at 16:45 and entry is on the south side. You must leave your shoes outside before entering, at a cost of ₹2 per pair.
2. Mysore Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens)
Established under royal patronage in 1892, the zoo has a successful breeding programme and houses animals from more than 40 countries alongside native Indian fauna, including Royal Bengal tigers, white tigers, elephants, fallow deer, Himalayan black bears, Gaur, white peafowl and African rhinos. You will also see Barbary sheep, giraffes, hippos and gorillas.
The zoo encompasses Karanji Lake, which attracts migratory birds during the breeding season, including painted storks, pelicans and darters. There is a botanical garden with 35 species of exotic ornamental plants and 85 species of trees from India and abroad. Snacks and tender coconut are available inside, and there is a souvenir shop. Parking is in an open area opposite the zoo. It is closed on Tuesdays, so plan around that.
3. Chamundeshwari Temple
A temple of Goddess Chamundeshwari with marvellous architecture, sitting at the top of Chamundi Hills. Wheelchair access is available. AC Volvo buses run up to Chamundi Hill and back from the city bus stand every twenty minutes.
If you would rather take the steps, get off at JSS College and walk 800 m to the bottom of the stairs — you can snap a picture at the Chamundi Hill viewpoint on the way. Regular entry is ₹30, with a ₹100 VIP option that skips the queue.
4. Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery
A former palace, opposite the City Bus Stand, converted into an art gallery and function hall. It was for some time home to the Wodeyar dynasty. The gallery features paintings in many styles, including Mughlai, Mysorean and European, with the most prominent works being those of Raja Ravi Varma, over 100 years old.
A large part of the exhibition consists of very similar portraits of members of the royal family, so go for the Ravi Varma works rather than the full hang. It is open daily from 8:30AM to 5:30PM and entry is ₹60.
5. Jayalakshmi Vilas
Built by Maharani Regent Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, wife of Chamaraja Wodeyar, for her daughter Jayalakshmi. It has around 200 rooms, an exotic dancing hall and a Kalyanmantap with intricately carved wood pillars. It now serves as a museum storing artefacts about local folk and performing arts, tools and objects of various artisans, and other archaeological findings.
It is at Manasagangotri and is open Friday to Monday, 10AM to 5PM. Pair it with the Folklore Museum, which is housed in the same mansion on the University of Mysore campus.
6. Folklore Museum
Founded in 1968 and located in the University of Mysore campus, this museum has over 6,500 folk art and folklore articles on display and exhibits arts and crafts from all over Karnataka. The detailed exhibits of Yakshagana and puppet art are the highlight.
It is closed on Sundays and is housed in Jayalakshmi Mansion at Manasa Gangotri, so it makes sense to see it in the same visit as Jayalakshmi Vilas.
7. Lalitha Mahal Palace
Another palace that has been turned into a five-star hotel. It served as a royal summer residence for the Viceroy of India in the late 19th and early 20th century, and you feel the antique-style grandeur and regality when you stay here.
You do not have to be a guest to look around. Visitors should come during the afternoon, when the hotel serves a good British high tea. It sits close to the Chamundi Hills, so it combines naturally with a trip up the hill.
8. Lookout View Point, Chamundi Hill
On the road that goes up the hill, this lookout gives you an aerial view of Mysuru, letting you see the entire white city and the surrounding forest. There are a few binoculars at the point, though you need to pay to use them.
It works best as a stop on the way up or down from Chamundeshwari Temple rather than as a destination on its own.
9. Regional Museum of Natural History
Near Nandhini Milk Dairy, behind the Postal Training Centre, this museum has exhibits on the plants, animals and geology of southern India. It runs a show at intervals and has a watch tower for bird watching.
The museum sits in a beautiful garden, and you can visit just to sit in the lush green surroundings. It is run by the central government, entry is free, and it is open 10AM to 5PM, closed on Mondays.
10. Melody World Wax Museum
Established in October 2010, this wax museum is based on musicians and musical instruments from around the world. It exhibits a collection of over 100 life-size wax statues and over 1,500 types of musical instruments.
It is at 1, Vihara Marga, Siddhartha Layout, near GST Bhavan, and is open daily from 9:30AM to 7PM. Entry is ₹50.
11. Railway Museum
Near the back gate of the railway station, this museum exhibits vintage locomotives as they were in use. It was the second such museum set up, after the Rail Museum in Delhi. The major attraction is the wagon used by the Queen of Mysore, and there is a small toy train.
The museum is small, so it is best visited while arriving in or leaving Mysuru during working hours rather than as a separate trip.
12. Oriental Research Institute
Formerly known as the oriental library, it was started in 1891 and contains over 33,000 palm leaf manuscripts. Worth the time if manuscripts and old collections interest you.
13. Datta Peetham
An ashram in Mysuru with beautiful gardens, including bonsais among other plants. You can buy herbal tea for an infusion, grown in the gardens.
14. Jwalamukhi Tiruparasundari Temple
One of the old temples of Mysuru, also an incarnation of Goddess Parasakthi, the creator. According to legend, the demon Mahisasura had a boon that if anyone killed him and blood spilled on the ground, each drop would create another Mahisasura, so Goddess Chamundi enlisted the help of Devi Tripura Sundari, who drank every drop of blood falling out. The Goddess stayed on the foothills of the hills, ensuring protection to devotees around the town.
It is at Uttanahalli, off Nanjangud Road, and reachable by bus from the City bus stand.
15. Kalashree Seashell Museum
A museum with sculptures made of seashell and conch by Radha Mallappa, including sculptures of Ganesha, Shiva, the Taj Mahal and St. Philomena's Church.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Mysore Palace, the city's number one attraction, and give the carved rosewood doors, ivory inlay and royal collections proper time. Remember to leave your shoes outside before entering. Then walk to Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery, opposite the City Bus Stand, for the Raja Ravi Varma paintings.
Afternoon: Head to Mysore Zoo, which encompasses Karanji Lake and its migratory birds, and take the botanical garden in as well. If you still have energy, stop at the Lookout View Point on the road up Chamundi Hill for the aerial view of the white city, then continue to Chamundeshwari Temple at the top. Finish the afternoon with high tea at Lalitha Mahal Palace, which sits close to the Chamundi Hills.
Evening: Return to Mysore Palace for the light and sound show. The ticket counter opens at 16:45, entry is on the south side, and the show starts at 19:00 and runs 40 minutes in Kannada. Stay for the illumination of the whole palace at the end, around 19:40 to 19:45.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see Mysore Palace illuminated?
The palace is illuminated at the end of the evening light and sound show, roughly between 19:40 and 19:45. The show itself starts at 19:00 and lasts 40 minutes, and the ticket counter opens at 16:45. Note that guards clear the public from the palace premises and gardens around 18:00 beforehand.
How do I get up to Chamundi Hill without a car?
AC Volvo buses run up to Chamundi Hill and back from the city bus stand every twenty minutes. If you want to climb the steps instead, take a bus to JSS College, from where you walk 800 m to the bottom of the stairs.
Which museums in Mysuru are closed on particular days?
The Folklore Museum is closed on Sundays, and the Regional Museum of Natural History is closed on Mondays. Jayalakshmi Vilas is open Friday to Monday, 10AM to 5PM. The Mysore Zoo is closed on Tuesdays.
Is the light and sound show at Mysore Palace in English?
No. The show is in Kannada only, which makes it less interesting for foreign visitors were it not for the impressive illumination of the whole palace at the end.
Decide your dates, check which museums fall on your days, and start building your Mysuru itinerary around the palace, the zoo and the hill.