Mysore Travel Guide
Places to See in Mysore
Brindavan Gardens :
What
dreams are made of 19.2 kms north-west of Mysore City are the famous Brindavan
Gardens with the musical fountain. They stretch below the Krishnarajasagara
Dam on the river Cauvery, and present a breathtaking harmony of water, colour,
light and music! Illumination
Melkote :
And the Yairamudi Festival 48 kms from Mysore, on rocky hills is the Cheluva
Narayana Temple at Melkote. Ramanujacharya, the Shrivaishnava saint - philosopher,
took shelter here from his persecutors. In March - April the Vairamudi festival
draws thousands of pilgrims.
Somanathapur :
A 13th century wonder in stone 35 kms from Mysore, in the small village of Somanathapur,
is another temple of great architectural beauty built in the 13th century A.D.
The star-shaped temple with three shrines named after Prasanna Chennakeshava
is the latest and best preserved example of Hoysala architecture.
Talkad :
"Deep asleep, deep asleep, deep asleep it lies…" 45 kms from
Mysore is a strange phenomenon - an ancient town buried under centuries of sand.
Only the Dravidian style Vaidyeshwara temple is visible above the ground. Once
in twelve years, during the Panchalinga Darshana, the sleeping town awakes to
festivities and fairs.
Shivasamudram :
The Cauvery takes a leap ! 85 kms to the south-east of Mysore are the picturesque
waterfalls, Ganganchukki and Bharachukki, at Shivasamudram. Asia's first Hydro-Electric
Power Station ws set up here in 1902. The falls are at their best in July/August.
Kabini River Lodge :
Holiday resort for the adventurous Situated 80 kms from Mysore in The Karapur
forests is the old hunting lodge of the Maharajas and Viceroys. The lodge on
the banks of the river Kabini arranges jeep rides into the jungle and coracle
rides on the Kabini for bird watching. A naturalist guide helps you identify
the many varieties of birds and wild beasts.
Nagarhole :
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep" 93 kms from Mysore in the Forest
Department has a guest house here and arranges jeep rides into the forest ot
enable visitors to observe the animals at close quarters. The season is between
October and May.
Bandipura
:
"Tiger, Tiger burning bright" 80 kms from Mysore, on the way to Ooty
is the well-known Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Lose yourself in 'Kipling's Jungle'
where elephants, sambars, spotted deer, langurs, peacocks, bison and yes, the
majestic tiger, live in harmony in the game sanctuary. The season here is between
May and November. Closed on Mondays.
Biligirirangana Betta :
Among tribal settlements This picturesque range of hills between two rivers,
108 kms from Mysore, takes its name from the temple of Biligiri Ranganatha Swami
situated on the highest point of the range. The Ratha festival is held twice
annually in January and April.
Mahadesvara Batta :
A pilgrim centre Atop a hill 160 kms from Mysore is the temple of Mahadeshvara.
The Ratha festival here draws thousands of devotees. So does the "antaragange",
a stream flowing from a perennial source where thousands come for a holy dip.
Belur - Halebid - Shravanabelagola :
Where stones speak a language of beauty The famous Hoysal a temple of Belur
and Halebid are situated 160 kms and 150 kms respectively from Mysore.
The
exquisite and elegant bracket figures of the Chenna Keshava temple at Belur,
one of the earliest of the star-shaped temples of the Hoysalas, and the hoysaleshwara
temple at Halebid present, in the words of the famous historian Percy Brown,
"the supreme climax of Indian architecture".
80 kms from Mysore is Shravanabelagola, the famous 'Dasshina Kashi' of the Jainas.
Situated on a hill here is the towering monolith of Gomateshwara, 17 metres
high! The Mahamastakabhisheka held once in twelve years, attracts devotees from
all over the country. With Mysore as your base, visit many more places of tourist
interest.
27 kms away is the important polgrim centre of Najangud. 68 kms from Mysore
and 8 kms from Maddur is the small bird sanctuary of Kokrebellur. 30 kms to
the north-west of Mysore is the 4.88 metres tall monolith of Gomateshwara standing
on a hillock at Gomatagiri. 10 kms to the south-west of Mysore is the scenic
hill of Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.
