Day 1:
Palace Sightseeing
10:00 AM – 01:00 PM
Begin your Mysore tour in traditional way with Jagmohan Palace Art Gallery.
2 km from Hardinge Circle, the palace is more than 150 years old and keeps the royal legacy of Mysuru alive. Taking a tour inside the palace gives a fair impression of its prominence during its prime time. The elegance of the architecture and design leaves you awestruck. The art gallery showcases paintings, artefacts and valuable possessions of the royal family.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto ride from Hardinge Circle
Next you take a tour of the majestic Mysore Palace.
Facing the Jagmohan Palace is the Mysore Palace, the landmark of Mysore. The palace has a very fascinating chronology of events since it was first constructed. The immense and gigantic palace is certainly a delightful sight and walking inside the palace premise is a royal experience in itself.
For more info, visit https://www.mysorepalace.gov.in/
Time duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Mode of Transport: 5-min walk from Jagmohan Palace
For lunch you get a plenty of options to choose from near Hardinge Circle. Some of the popular places to dine-in are:
Om Shanthi – vegetarian restaurant at a price of Rs. 500 – 600 for two.
Hotel RRR – serves exquisite Andhra cuisines at a cost of Rs 400 – 500 for two.
Gufha Restaurant – unique concept of interiors offering mouth-watering North Indian items. Cost Rs 1000 – 1200 for two.
Embrace the Nature
02:00 PM – 05:30 PM
Post lunch you head towards the Mysore Zoo, 1.5 km from Hardinge Circle.
Mysore Zoo is the largest and oldest in India with a history of 125 years. The zoo serves multiple purposes of conservation, education and research. The wide range of species of animal in the zoo makes it an enjoyable even for the adults.
For more info, visit http://mysorezoo.info/
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto ride from Hardinge Circle
Adjacent to the zoo is the Karanji Lake Nature Park.
The area is owned and managed by the zoo authorities. The lake is home to hornbills, peacocks, turkeys, swans, and many more species of birds. The area around the lake has been developed into landscaped gardens for visitors to spend quality time. The park also boasts of having the largest aviary in the country. You can enjoy the serenity of the lake with boating on it.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto ride from Mysore Zoo.
Evening Activities
06:00 PM – 08:00 PM
Later, head towards Devaraja Market
At a distance of 3 km from Karanji Lake, Deveraja Market is the heart and soul of the city. It gives you the taste of local culture. The market has been in existence for a long time and is famous amongst the localities.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: Auto ride from Karanji Lake.
The last thing to see is the Light and Sound show in the Mysore Palace.
The visual extravaganza begins at 07:00 PM and lasts for 45 min and happens every day. On Sundays and public holidays, the Mysore Palace is illuminated with one lakh bulbs and is a treat for your eyes.
Walk back to your hotel and call it a day!
Also read: Best Area to Book Your Hotel
Day 2:
Church and Museums Visit
10:00 AM – 01:00 PM
Your second day’s excursion begins at St. Philomena’s Cathedral.
The cathedral is one of the tallest in Asia. The architectural excellence is what visitors admire the most. The church is just over 60 years old and that’s why you find it strikingly different from other older churches of India.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: Auto ride from Hardinge Circle
Next attraction is the Melody World Wax Museum.
As the name indicates, the museum is a place for music lovers and people involved in music. The museum displays its large collection of musical instruments along with wax statues of native people. The vision of the museum is to preserve and promote the tradition of Carnatic Music. You are bound to gain some knowledge about the history and culture of the place.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: Auto / OLA / Uber ride from cathedral
Second museum to explore is the Sand and Sculptor Museum
Just 1 km away from the Melody Wax Museum, the Sand Sculptor Museum is the first sand sculptor museum in the country. The museum is an entrepreneurial venture of an artist whose sole purpose was to showcase her artistic work through various themes. It is difficult to maintain these sculptors made of sand for longer duration but the management of the museum takes every measures to keep it untarnished.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: Auto ride from Melody Wax Museum
Chamundi Hill Road doesn’t have many option for you to quench your hunger but Olive Garden and Sepoy’s Phirangi are two restaurants that are popular in the area. They both offer fine dining experience for their customers at price range of Rs. 1000 – 1200 for two.
Ancient Temple and Sunset Point
02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Post lunch, head towards the Shri Chamundeshwari Temple.
Chamundeshwari Temple is dedicated to Maa Durga. It is a temple complex with many temples on the top of Chamundi Hills. Devotees tend to take a complete tour of the complex. The spiritual significance of each temple can be felt once you take a complete tour of the complex.
Time duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Mode of Transport: Taxi or Auto
After the spiritual tour, unwind yourself at the sunset point in Chamundi Hills.
The viewpoint gives you some spectacular views of the Mysuru city. Tourists come to watch either the sunrise or the sunset on Chamundi Hills. Spend as long as you want and bring an end to your sightseeing.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Also read: Mysuru City Itinerary
Day 3:
Sightseeing along river Kaveri
09:00 AM – 07:00 PM
Mode of Transport: Today’s attractions are 20 km away from the city, it is best to reserve a cab for the day.
First attraction on the banks of Kaveri is Daria Daulat Bagh.
This used to be the Summer Palace for Tipu Sultan. The structure is made of teakwood and the walls are adorned with paintings. The vibrant garden is what steals your attention the moment you enter the premise. This is also a museum that preserves the weapons and other artefacts.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
After the palace, your next spot will be Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, 5 km from the palace.
The sanctuary is made of 6 islets on the bank of Kaveri River. This is the largest bird sanctuary in Karanataka. Species like, pelican, stork, kingfisher, and many more can be seen here, along with crocodiles. Boat tours is a must. That makes you appreciate the beauty of the place.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
For lunch, you will find a lot of restaurants, eating joints and dhabas nearby. Almost every outlet is perfect to have a relishing lunch with family and friends.
After lunch, head towards Balmuri Falls.
A unique falls with water falling from a height of 6 ft. Tourists enjoy themselves a lot by taking a dip in the river near the falls. Children will enjoy a lot and it’s absolutely safe for them. Walking along the waterfall is something even adults like to do here. This spot is often used to shoot regional films.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
The final place to explore in your Mysuru trip is the Brindavan Garden.
The garden is visited by 2 million tourists every year. The garden is full of fountains and post sunset the light and sound show of these dancing fountains is something one should not miss. There are many attractions inside the garden to engage the visitors – aquarium, temple, children’s park, and restaurants. Spending long hours here is a norm.
Time duration: 2 – 3 hours
With this your Mysore trip comes to an end!