City of Palace - A Road Trip to Mysore, Karnataka

The city of dosa, mesmerizing palace and rich heritage is how I see Mysore. Though there are direct trains and flights to reach the palace city, I have been planning on a road trip and Dasara was one time I wanted to visit the city to experience the city’s euphoria. When we checked the maps there were two routes that would take us to Mysore and we decided to take the route via Bangalore that is approximately 425 KM from Pondicherry. This route takes you through NH77, NH48 and NH275 i.e., via Tiruvannamalai - Krishnagiri - Hosur - Bengaluru to Mysore. The route through the national highway that connects Gingee - Tiruvannamalai to Mumbai highway (NH48) and the Mysore Road (NH275) are such beauties. Leave your gadgets behind for some time and capture the alluring roads and picturesque nature with your eyes.

And on our travel back from Mysore we opted the second route via Erode that is approximately 470 KM. This route took us through NH150A, NH948, SH15, NH544 and NH79 ie., via Sathyamangalam - Gobichettipalayam - Bhavani - Salem - Kallakurichi to Pondicherry. The route through the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is magical; out of nowhere we saw a board that read, ‘you are 1100+ feet above sea level’ and we had to drive through 27 hairpin bends to reach Bhavani. The dense forest cover, the mountains, and the rain just made this trip the most memorable one. Both routes have toll and there isn’t much difference in the money spent (Bengaluru route Rs.245 INR and Erode route Rs.240 INR for the toll in total). You can also reach Mysore via flight, train or bus.

We had inquired a few hotels and we didn’t have much trouble getting the rooms after reaching Mysore. So don’t go with the hype given through online that reads ‘all rooms are booked’, but tourists visit the most during Dasara so the prices were almost 50% higher than the regular fare.

Hotel Stay Review: We took standard AC room, no complaints with the room and they are located in city center but they were pathetic in their service. Unapologetic for their miscommunications on the room tariff and treatment towards customers. Keep this place as your last option but I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.

It is a four day trip with two-days spent on travel from Pondicherry to Mysore, and rest of the two-days were spent on local sightseeing. Besides the places at Mysore city, the heritage city i.e., Srirangapatna is a must visit. One complete day was devoted to Srirangapatna and places nearby.

Day 1 of Sightseeing - Srirangapatna & Brindavan Garden: Here’s a detailed post about Srirangapatna and everything you should know while planning your visit there. The must visit or tourist spots here include Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Tipu’s Summer Palace, Gumbaz, Sangam, Lal Mahal Palace, Tipu’s death place, Coloney Bailey’s Dungeon, remains of Tipu’s fort and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Also, the Brindavan Garden near the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam is close by so we visited the place on day one. It was a hectic day! Read more.

Day 1 Sightseeing

Day 2 of Sightseeing - Mysuru: To see the royal city glitter throughout the night was surreal. The smiles of the people, the crowded roads, the happiness that becomes infectious, the royal palace, and the lights made me experience a whole new Dasara this year. The city celebrated the festival in style and even with all the noise and crowd, it was a beautiful experience. Thanks to two hectic days that we were completely out of energy so minimalized our visit to just three places, which is Mysore Palace, Mysore Zoo, and Chamundi Temple. The other prominent places to visit are Jagan Mohan Palace / Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Lalitha Mahal Palace, Jayalakshmi Vilas, and St. Philomena’s Cathedral.

The Mysore palace is closed on Vijaya Dasami. So the palace was insanely crowded the day after, thankfully we purchased the tickets online. The royalness can’t be briefed with words; the intricacies in the building are remarkable. The next stop was Mysore Zoo and we bought the ticket online to avoid all the waiting. Although the area is small, the efforts they have taken to maintain it must be appreciated. You could see Toucans, Lorikeets, Great Malabar Hornbill, Capuchins, African Elephant, Giraffe, etc., all in one place. A big highlight was the birdcage concept that allows us to walk through and experience birds at close proximity. And finally the Chamundeshwari Temple at Chamundi Hills, more than the temple I loved the drive to this place.

And the next day was all about signing off to Mysore city. On the way back at an hour’s drive from Mysore is Somanathapura so decided to visit the Chennakesava Temple. Built during the reign of Hoysala rulers, this sculpture showcases rich heritage and culture of Hoysala rulers. This place is a must visit for the love of history and sculptures.

Talking about the food at Mysore, I call them the city of dosa. Yes, the soft, fluffy dosa that melts with ease is irresistible. Also, the most recommended aka legendary food joint here is Hotel Vinayaka Mylari. And now I know why people love this place, the dosa and coffee here are amazing. Other food options you can try are bisi bele bath, khara bath, bonda, mysore pak, etc.

Yet another great place to satisfy your non-veg hunger is Hotel RRR, the biriyani here is one of the finest among what I have eaten.

Mysore, the city of palaces is majestic and charming. The rich heritage, delicious food, and the infectious happiness must be experienced. And the roadways that lead to this palace city is pretty as a painting.