Mysore

Understand

thumb|upright=0.8|Mahishasura statue at Chamundi Hills, Mysore

Get around

Getting around in Mysore is cheaper than in most Indian cities.

Do

thumb|Ballal Park, Ashoka Circle

Buy

thumb|Sweet-meat shop at the Mall of Mysore thumb|Mall of Mysore thumbnail|Devaraja Market near Urs road Mysore is famous for silk sarees (Mysore Silk), sandalwood carvings and the many varieties of perfumed incense sticks. Mysore's marketplaces can be a good place to start, like Ashoka Road, and Sayyaji Rao Road and from a mix of Western and Indian traditional shopping head to Devaraj Urs Road. To experience one of India's best markets head to Devaraja Market where tourists and locals alike shop for daily fruit and vegetables as well as the rows and rows of flowers and various spices. Devaraja market is on Dhanwanthri Road.

On the east row of the Devaraja Market, there is an oil shop with two brothers, Azam and Adil, who always pull in tourists for a nice conversation and maybe some chai. They have some good recommendations for food and things around the city so give them a visit. Their shop has a row of the watercolour powder, about 1/3rd from the north end.

Be warned, however. There are quite a lot of perfume sellers that sell inferior goods, don't be tempted by nice boxes and free gifts. As a rule, if it looks like a bargain, the perfume is poor quality. The real stuff is normally found further from the centre, but is mostly for export.

Agarbattis (Incense) Cauvery Arts and Crafts Emporium, Sayaji Road - Sandalwood figurines and caskets Chenapatna dolls and wooden toys Traditional deck of playing cards

Eat

thumb|Dosa Point Restaurant, Ramaswamy Circle thumb|Breakfast in Mysore style Mysore is known for the traditional sweet, the Mysore Pak. Mysore Pak is a sweet dish generally cut into rectangular pieces and is made out of gram (chickpea) flour, sugar (or jaggery) and lots of ghee. Sold all over the city although arguably the best Mysore Pak from Guru Sweets near the small clock tower.

South Indian breakfast favourites like idlis, sambars, masala dosas are widely available and quite good. It is not clear if the Mysore Masala Dosa (a fermented crepe made from rice batter, black lentils, potato, and onions) originated in Mysore, but you can try asking. You can find some of Karnataka's specialty dishes like:

Bisibele Baath - Made of rice and lentils with a lot of local spices. This is one of the most sought after dishes of Mysore. It is served hot and usually costs ₹25 in an average restaurant. Idli Sambar - Different from Idli and Sambar. Since the idlis are put in a bowl with steaming sambar poured over them, the aroma and spicy effect is marvellous and costs less than ₹20. Masala Poori - This is the most favourite food item of the Mysorean people. You can see young boys selling these 'chat' items on the sides of the pavement with all the ingredients beautifully arranged on wicker stools. For ₹15, you get crispy poories along with ten to twelve spices mixed in a hot 'pani' background. The whole thing is an experience to undergo. Some restaurants have separate 'chat' sections s…

Drink

Mysore is in Karnataka state where the liquor laws are among the most liberal in the subcontinent. Most international brands are readily available. The city is lined with bars and other restaurants serving liquor; there are around ten pubs in the city. Some of the recommended places include:

Dynasty Restaurant --Sri Harsha Road Keg Pub, opposite the Suburb Bus Stand. Lobo's, Kuvempunagar Double Road, opposite Bake Point, Saraswathipuram. Opium Pub, Pai Vista, opposite to the Suburb Bus Stand. Road Pub, Hotel Sandesh The Prince, Nazarbad

Sleep

Budget conscious visitors are advised to stay near Jagamohan palace because the hotels are cheaper here and the city bus station is only 300 metres away. Taking a daily bus pass of ₹50 can save you hundreds of rupee worth waste on autorickshaws. Around 25 hotels are available in this locality all in the range of ₹400 to ₹600.

Connect

The area code for Mysore is 0821. If calling from outside India, dial +91 821 XXX XXXX The General Post Office is near the railway station in a heritage building. There is an old man on the right side of the post office who can wrap parcels beautifully in cloth. B.S.N.L. (Cellone) cellular or mobile network signals are widely available.

Stay safe

Mysore is regarded as a safe and peaceful city. However, if you plan to wander around during the night, it is suggested that you be watchful, as a few incidents of purse and chain snatching are reported every once in awhile. It is good idea to be alert if you are using an autorickshaw during when it is late, especially if you are alone. Also be careful when paying money to the autorickshaw drivers since they may tout non-locals, and can overcharge and decline using the meter at certain places and times. Note that hire taxi services are another option in Mysore.

The police in Mysore are helpful and friendly. Do not hesitate to request for assistance. You can reach the police control room by dialling 108 from a mobile phone or alternatively, 100 from a landline.

The people of Mysore are by and large peace-loving and hospitable. Mysore is one of the places in India where travellers can get around comfortably without worrying and not get bombarded by touts, which can happen in other parts of the country.

Go next

Bandipur National Park — A tiger reserve around 90 km south. Bangalore — Karnataka's state capital, a shopper's paradise and cosmopolitan metropolis. Bylakupee — One of the biggest Tibetan settlements outside of Tibet. Madikeri — A pleasant hill station with many resorts on hills, Talacauvery. Somanathapura — Marvellous architecture and stone sculptures. Ooty — Major hill station, a little bit expensive. Shivanasamudram — Twin waterfalls formed by the Kaveri River Srirangapatna — Tipu Sultan's summer palace, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. Mangalore — A coastal city with many fine beaches on the shores of Arabian sea.