Top 15 Places to Visit in and Around Mysore

Mysore or Mysuru does not need an introduction since the name is synonymous with Tipu Sultan, but there are numerous things that make this city special. The city is famed for paintings, Mysore Pak (sweet dish), Mysore silk (sarees), Mysore masala dosa, ink, and Dasara. From the viewpoint of tourism, there are many places to visit in Mysore; from palaces to museums, from zoological gardens to temples and churches. Let us take a look at the must visits in Mysore:

Places to visit in and around Mysore

Name of Places	Location
Mysore Palace	Chamrajpura
Lalitha Mahal	Lalithmahal Nagar, Siddhartha Layout
Jagmohan Palace	Devaraja Mohalla, Chamrajpura
Melody World Wax Museum	Kurubara Halli, Siddhartha Layout
Railway Museum	Medar Block, Yadavagiri
Karanji Lake	Jockey Quarters
Brindavan Gardens	KRS Dam Rd, Srirangapatna
Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens	Indira Nagar, Ittige Gudu
Planet X	Chamundipuram
GRS Fantasy Park	KRS Rd, Metagalli
Chamarajanagar	Karnataka
Shravanabelagola	District -Hassan, Karnataka
Ooty	Niligiris District, Tamil Nadu
Madikeri	District Kodagu, Karnataka
Kabini	Karnataka

1. Mysore Palace

Mysore palace was the residence of rulers of the Wodeyar dynasty. This is one of the largest palaces in the country, where you can see exquisite architecture and intricate designs. The large halls, pavilions, and several shrines in the palace are some of the things to witness.

Location: Sayyaji Rao Rd, Agrahara, Chamrajpura

2. Lalitha Mahal

Lalitha Mahal is another palace in Mysore, which was the guest house of the royal family. Located at the foot of Chamundi Hills, view from this palace is captivating. The palace has now been converted into heritage hotel and India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) manages it.

Location: Lalitha Mahal Palace Road, Lalithmahal Nagar, Siddhartha Layout

3. Jagmohan Palace

The palace was built to be the residence of the royal family but later was converted into an art gallery. You will be able to witness various precious artifacts and artworks from South India here. Some of the works of Indian artists like “Lady with the lamp” by  S.G.Heldnkr and oil paintings by Raja Ravi Verma can be seen here.

Location: Deshika Rd, opp. City Bus Stand, Devaraja Mohalla, Chamrajpura

4. Melody World Wax Museum

This is the third largest museum in the country where you can see a huge collection of more than hundred wax statues and three hundred music instruments. Some of the instruments are even from Stone Age.

Location: 1, Vihara Marga, Kurubara Halli, Siddhartha Layout

5. Railway Museum

It is the second largest museum in the country and one of the best places to visit in Mysore. You can find some initial locomotives and steam engine displayed in the museum. There is a section in the museum where dining rooms and kitchen used by the royal family during their travel are displayed.

Location: KRS Rd, Opp. CFTRI, Medar Block, Yadavagiri

6. Karanji Lake

Located at the base of Chamundi hills, this is the largest lake in the state of Karnataka. You can spot more than 70 species of birds here.

Location: Jockey Quarters

7. Brindavan Gardens

Brindavan gardens is one of the places to visit in Mysore at night. The main attraction here is the magical fountain show, which looks better with the beautiful lights and soothing music. You can also opt for boat rides or a stroll at the fruit orchards.

Location: KRS Dam Rd, Srirangapatna

8. Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens

Established in 1892, this is also called Mysore Zoo and a favourite place for the kids. The zoo not only houses animals found in our country, but a few of them have also been brought from foreign zoos.

Location: Zoo Main Road, Indira Nagar, Ittige Gudu

9. Planet X

Situated at the foothills of Chamundi, this is one place where you can expect to have a lot of fun. You can enjoy various games here like billiards, go karting, snooker, etc.

Location: Chamundipuram

10. GRS Fantasy Park

It is one of the places in Mysore where you can go with your entire family. With so many rides, you can spend a wonderful fun-filled day with your loved ones here. Your kids are surely going to love this place.

Location: Off, KRS Rd, Metagalli

11. Chamarajanagar

If you are looking for a weekend getaway from the city, then Chamarajanagar is one of the places to visit near Mysore. From taking a jeep safari tour in the Bandipur National Park to bird-watching in B R Hills, from witnessing the beautiful waterfalls at Shivanasamudra to taking a tour of the Alpine Wineries, there are so many things to do in Chamarajanagar.

Distance from Mysore: 114 kilometers

12. Shravanabelagola

Witness the world’s largest monolithic stone statue of Gommateshvara here. The statue can be seen from anywhere in Shravanabelagola. You can also visit many other temples here such as Shantinatha Basadi, Akkana Basadi, Parshwanatha Basadi, etc. This is one of the nearest places to visit in Mysore where you can reach in just a few hours.

Distance from Mysore: 97.8 kilometers

13. Ooty

Ooty is one of the places to visit in Mysore within 200 Km where you will certainly find solace. With rich tea plantations, sapphire mountains, and thick forest, there are so many sightseeing options available here. Some of the main attractions are Doddabetta Peak, Pykara Lake, Glenmorgan Tea Estate, Stone House, and Tribal Museum, etc. You can also take a tour of the market to get some chocolates, medicinal oils, Nilgiri tea, and shawls.

Distance from Mysore: 179 kilometers

14. Madikeri

This is the perfect place to laze around on a weekend. You take a tour of attractions like Madikeri Fort, Raja Seat, Omkareshwara Temple, and St. Mark’s Church. You will often feel being enveloped by the aroma of fresh cardamom, Black pepper, and Coorg honey in the town.

Distance from Mysore: 17.9 kilometers

15. Kabini

You can stay absolutely close to nature in Kabini. This is an ideal destination if you can stay here for a couple of days. A boat ride in Kabini River and safari at Nagarhole National Park are some of the common activities that tourists opt for in Kabini. There are also several trekking trails for the trekkers.

Distance from Mysore: 58.9 kilometers

Regardless of your interest and age, Mysore has it all, a destination rich in heritage, culture and natural beauty. Mysore is best explored by car and if you are visiting from outstation, you can easily avail car rental in Mysore by Revv. You can rent a car and rid yourself of the worries about various transport arrangements based on your tourist spot of choice.