The city of Mysore in the state of Karnataka known for its palaces, silk sarees and sandalwood is one of the top weekend getaways from Bangalore. The city lies just 150 km away from Bangalore. You need not actually book Mysore tour packages from Bangalore as you can easily go on your own by taking the bus or hiring a taxi, but if you wish to spend a some good quality time in the city, you can always avail one. There is so much to see in this city! A tour around the city will certainly impress you as the palaces and monuments in Mysore look even better up close.
The prime focus of the city is the Mysore palace. This will be the first place you will be attracted to visit on your trip there. The structure of the palace is nothing short of majestic and grand. From intricate detailings of the interiors and the collections of paintings hung on the palace walls to the museum section which holds the personal items of the royal families, the city gets even more fascinating with each step you take. The sight of the place on sunday evenings and national holidays are not to be missed as the palace is lit up with around 1 lakh bulbs between 7:00 pm to 7:45 pm. Cameras are not allowed inside the palaces and you should keep your voice down as you go about your tour.
Who doesn't like open parks and garden? Long stretches of greeneries are always a welcoming sight especially when you are visiting from a metropolitan city. Although Bangalore has its fair share of greeneries, it is nowhere close to what Mysore offers. If you are visiting from a city like Chennai, the sight will be pure magic to your eyes. Most residential areas have small parks and gardens where people of the society can come and hang out. Children play around the park while the adults sit on the park bench and talk about politics and life while some take walks around the park. Mysore has a total of nearly 200 parks and playgrounds, big and small included. Apart from the parks, you can also take a walk along the lakes for some quiet alone time.
Mysore can be visited anytime of the year as the city enjoys a temperate climate. The best time to visit the city is during the festival of Dusshera. During this time, the whole city goes through a drastic makeover and is decorated and lit up to the fullest. The city celebrates the festival in full style and grandeur which lasts for a period of 10 days. The vibe of the whole town changes instantly and the streets sparkle with shimmering lights on every street corner.
Mysore tourism is a booming industry. Over the course of years, the more people have heard about it, the more have visited. The city today welcomes tonnes of tourists and domestic travellers all throughout the year. Next time you pay a visit to Bangalore, make sure you take some time out and explore this magnificent city!
Martin Wynn
