6 Best Things to do in Mysuru, India

Author Deepu Paul, an Avid Traveller and Food Lover, shares his experience on the top 6 best things to do in Mysuru, the cultural capital of the state of Karnataka in India.

The first time I visited the city of Mysore (now Mysuru) as a school boy, I had never thought I would get a job and be working in that green and beautiful city.

As someone who loved and loves greenery, before signing up for the job I traveled around the city to make sure the place was good enough to keep me grounded. Lo and behold, I was instantly in love with the city.

Not just one, I had multiple reasons to love the cultural capital of Karnataka. Mysuru is considered the cleanest city in India; it is famous for Mysore Silk, Mysore Masala Dosa, Mysore Pak Sweet and Mysore Beetle Leaves; it is the first Wi-Fi enabled city in India and has the third best zoo in Asia; it is the first city to undertake planned development in Asia and also has First Intelligent Transport System in India. ​The city boasts of the second tallest Church and the biggest ‘Walk Through’ Aviary in India. Mysuru is one of the four cities in India where currency notes are printed and the only place where Indian election ink (marked on finger) is manufactured.

Anyone touring Mysuru normally plans to visit a handful of popular spots like Mysore Palace, Zoo, Chamundi Hills, Brindavan Gardens, St. Philomena Church and Jaganmohan Palace. Let’s leave aside these famous places. Do you know you can visit many other less popular yet exciting places in Mysuru? I would like to open a window to give you a glimpse of a few of these places in this write up.

Karanji Lake

If you are a nature lover, you can spend nearly 2-3 hours in this must-visit spot in Mysore. Spread over 90 hectares, it is home to hundreds of species of birds. Children’s play area, boating facility, walk-through aviary and Butterfly Park at the lake are quite enjoyable.

GRS Fantasy Park

I wonder how many people touring Mysuru know about GRS Fantasy Park which is just a few kilometers drive from the city. Situated on the Mysore-Bangalore highway, the park offers several thrilling water and land rides which will keep you amused and enthralled for at least seven hours. And I must add, they have a good food court therein.

Shuka Vana

Do you love birds, especially parrots? Then, Shuka Vana in Mysuru will feast your eyes and hearts. You can spend at least one hour at this rehabilitation center that houses numerous rare and colorful species of parrots from the world over

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Comprising of six small islands, this place is a protected area where greenery will grab your attention right away. It is nearly 20 kilometers from the city and you can leisurely walk around marveling at the flora and fauna for about 1-2 hours. You can witness several beautiful birds if you are visiting at the right season.

Bonsai Garden

How would you like to see a collection of over one hundred bonsai plants? Spending around one hour you can enjoy the miniature trees spread across an area of four acres at Bonsai Garden on Mysuru-Ootty road.

Devraja Market

One of my favorite places where one can enjoy multiple fragrances of fruits and flowers. It always has a vibrant ambiance about it. The best part is, it is located right in the city.

If you are not bored by museums, Mysuru can offer you many choices. Take note of these places: Melody World Wax Museum, Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum, Railway Museum, Folklore Museum and Regional Museum of Natural History and Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery. You can cover all these well within a day while visiting other places in the city.

There still are many places of interest. But guess what? You don’t even need to visit a location to witness something or feel excited. Merely walking on the streets in the evenings is so fulfilling. That’s been my experience. The pleasant clime, traffic jam free roads, fresh air aid your cause so pleasantly well.

I don’t remember to have booked a cab to see around any of these places. The bus service really impressed me, and I was comfortable travelling by bus as they have buses connecting all the places you want to go to in Mysuru.

The climate is cool and pleasant through November-February. Mysore Railway Station is connected to all major cities in India and the nearest airport is Bengaluru International Airport. Inter state buses are available from as far as Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai, and from the major towns of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Well, if you have never been to this beautiful city, please don’t hesitate to book your ticket.

Visit our Travel and Living section to read more interesting articles on Travel.