Mysore (district) - district in Karnataka, India

Mysore is a district in Karnataka State.

Cities

• Bylakupee — the largest Tibetan settlement outside of Tibet

• Chinnadagudihundi

• H.D.Kote — tribal villages like Saragur are very scenic. Has many rivers and canals.

• Hunsur — Hunsur is a peaceful town ideal for picnics. Cheap hotels available.

• Kavalande

• Konanur

• Krishnarajanagara Paddy Field Paradise

• Kushal Nagar

• Mysore — big dam and impressive garden with illumination and light-show in the night.

• Nanjangud — little tribal town with beautiful riverside temple. Picture postcard villages ideal for picnics.

• T. Narsipur — REMOTE villages with kilometres long paddy fields without any buildings in sight. Driving is a pleasure to the eyes with greenery on both sides without any eyesores, not even little farm houses. Not a single cattleshed to spot. Green, green all the way.

• Piriyapatna —Small town with basic facilities.

Other destinations

• Somnathapura — noted for its stone sculptures
• Mahadevapura, Mandya — riverside temple, bird sanctuary and ideal picnic spot. No restaurants or accommodation available.

Understand

Mysore city is very cosmopolitan but the villages in Mysore district have a unique Kannada ethnic charm. Mysore city looks urban and polished. In the villages people follow their traditional way of life in architecture, clothing and eating style. Instead of visiting many villages, spending one full day in a single village can be more productive to allow its beauty to 'sink in'.

Talk

Most people understand a little English in Mysore city. In other parts of the district, language can be an issue as only Kannada is understood. Educated people speak a little English and Hindi is not widely understood. In villages, finding a person to communicate can be difficult.

Get in

Trains and buses are available from many places, and the railway station is one of the best in India with good accommodation facilities.

Mysore Airport (IATA: MYQ)

Get around

Local buses are reliable and frequent, but are often crowded. Auto-rickshaws are expensive by Indian standards. Government rates may be not be acceptable to the driver and around ₹5 per kilometre the usual charge for tourists.

See

• Mysore palace : Amba palace (Mysuru palace) located in Mysuru city is a magnificent piece of architecture.There are also other palaces to see like Jagamohan and Lalit mahal.

• Namdroling Monastery, in Bylakupee, a large Nyingma monastery which contains the Golden Temple. In the Golden Temple there are three impressive statues of the Buddha.

• Sera Jhe (also: Sera Jey) and Sera Mey monasteries. These monasteries are located in the same complex in Bylakupee, and with a combined population of almost 5,000 monks, it is one of the largest monastic communities of Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet.

Itineraries

Chamundi Hills: About 15 km from Mysore, it is a hill station temple which has Goddess Chamundeswhari as deity. The Nandi - Shiva's mount in mythology - at Chamundi Hills is quite famous in its own right. It is the third largest in the country at 16 by 24 feet and was carved out of a single boulder about three-and-a-half centuries ago.

Do

Eat

Restaurants usually offer only the south Indian food. North Indian food is available only in tourist areas, and European food only in upmarket hotels and resorts.

Drink

Coffee is preferred drink. Alcohol is widely available, and there is no stigma attached to drinking as some other parts of India.

Stay safe

Villages in Mysore district are safe to travel and people are very polite to strangers. Language can be an issue as only Kannada is understood. Educated people speak a little English and Hindi is not widely understood. In villages, finding a person to communicate can be difficult to find out.

Go next

• Krishnarajanagara Paddy field paradise
• Nagarahole National Park
• Kodagu
• Melukote
• Bandipur National Park