Bangalore-Mysore

For all the travelers to Bangalore, a visit to the majestic Mysore is a must. Mysore too, is located in the South Indian state of Karnataka and is around 140 km from Bangalore.

In fact the origin of the present-day city of Bangalore can be traced to the early 16th century, when Kempegowda, a local chief, built a small mud fort here. Bangalore gained prominence in the 18th century, when it became an important fort city, under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore.

The historic city of Mysore makes an ideal excursion from Bangalore and offers to the traveler a number of monuments belonging to Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the erstwhile rulers of the place. It also has a number of ancient Hindu temples and a few monuments built by the British.

While in Mysore, one must travel to the Mysore Palace that was built over one thousand years ago, in AD 897. Saracenic in style, the palace has both Hindu as well as Muslim influences. St. Philomena's Church, Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore Zoo and the Chamundeshwari Temple are amongst the other must visit places in Mysore.

Most of the tourists travel to Mysore from Bangalore to enjoy the Dussehra celebrations. Dussehra in Mysore is a sight one would remember for a long time even after leaving the place. It is believed that the presiding deity of the city has the power to conquer evil forces and this has led the citizens to celebrate the festival with much gaiety and fervor. For souvenirs, the travelers in Mysore can pick up its famous sandalwood products, oil and fine silk fabrics.

The two cities of Mysore and Bangalore are well connected through road and rail. Mysore is just 3 hours away from Bangalore by road. Several good trains like Shatabdi and Tipu Express link Bangalore and Mysore.