Located in the heart of Mysore city, Mysore Palace is known for its architectural brilliance and historical importance. It served as the royal residence of Wodeyar kings for many centuries.
The palace is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Mysore and you can’t miss it when visiting this historic city. In this guidebook, we aim to cover everything you should know to plan your visit to Mysore Palace.
Background
The Wodeyar dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1947 except for the period 1782-1799 when it was under the reins of Tipu Sultan.
During the regime of Tipu Sultan, the erstwhile Mysore Palace was not maintained properly and was demolished eventually in 1793.
After the death of Tipu Sultan, the coronation of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III took place and a new palace was constructed.
In 1897, the palace was burnt by a devastating fire during the wedding ceremony of a Wodeyar princess.
The present-day palace was built between 1897 and 1912 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and his mother Maharani Kempananjammanni Devi. The royal family moved to the nearby Jaganmohan Palace during this period.
Henry Irwin, a famous British Architect, designed Mysore Palace in Indo-Saracenic style. The palace is complemented by beautifully laid-out gardens and lawns.
Things To Do At Mysore Palace
Take A Tour of The Palace
Although the palace is more than 100 years old, it is maintained well and is in great condition.
We were awestruck by the sheer opulence of the interiors as we went on exploring various sections of Mysore Palace.
The palace features an aesthetically designed durbar hall, an octagonal-shaped marriage pavilion, courtyards, and in-house temples.
The durbar hall is elegantly built with sculpted pillars and beautiful ceiling. There is a casket room too where the royal collections are displayed.
The marriage pavilion, also called Kalyanamantapa, is an octagonal hall with stained glass, domed ceiling.
There are paintings of Wodeyar kings, royal families, and British dignitaries who used to visit the palace on several occasions.
In one of the courtyards, we also saw old canons that were once used by the royal army.
Set aside roughly 2 hours to take a tour of the entire palace.
See The Grand Illumination
The palace building is lit up with thousands of lights every Sunday and on public holidays from 7 pm to 8 pm. If you want to witness the grand illumination, plan your visit accordingly.
Enjoy The Light And Sound Show
The palace hosts a Light and Sound show to depict the historic journey of the Mysore Kingdom and present-day Mysuru.
This incredible show of light and music is conducted on all days except Sundays and public holidays.
Timing (Kannada Show):
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday – 8:15 pm to 9:15 pm
Timing (English Show):
Thursday, Friday, Saturday – 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The ticket for the Light and Sound show costs ₹120 per adult and ₹50 per child. You can buy tickets at the Varaha Gate ticket counter.
Take A Stroll Through The Palace Grounds
Explore the palace grounds and soak up the scenic beauty of the gardens.
You will get plenty of opportunities to capture the intricate architecture of the palace and its surroundings.
Entry Gates
There are four entrances to the palace – “Jaya Maarthaanda” to the east, “Jayarama” to the north, ”Balarama” to the south, and “Varaha” to the west.
Tourist entry is allowed from Varaha Gate where you can also buy entry tickets.
How To Get To Mysore
The nearest major airport to Mysore is located in Bangalore (Bengaluru). It is approximately a 3.5-hour drive to Mysore from Bangalore Airport.
Mysore has an airport too but with very limited flight connectivity. At the time of writing this post, there are flight options from Hyderabad and Chennai only.
However, the city has excellent train and road connectivity. It has direct trains from cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. The railway station is just about 2 km away from the city center.
Tips For Visiting Mysore Palace
- You will need to take off your footwear before entering the palace. There are footwear counters to keep your shoes/sandals. Collect from the same counter when you come back.
- The palace entrance timings are from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm. Ticket cost: ₹100 per adult and ₹50 per child
- The entrance cost doesn’t include the Light and Sound show ticket cost. You have to buy the show tickets separately.
- If you happen to visit Mysore during Dussehra, don’t miss the Vijayadashami procession that starts from the Mysore Palace. The procession is a magnificent spectacle of music and dance with decorated elephants and horses forming a part of it.
Further Reading
For more travel inspiration for your South India vacations, check out some of these posts.
Top 10 Tourist Places in Mysore in 2 Days.
Travel Guide To Brindavan Gardens.
Best Heritage Hotels in Mysore.
12 Amazing 2-Day Trips From Bangalore.
5 Best National Parks in Karnataka.
Over To You Now…
We hope you found our guide to Mysore Palace informative and helpful.
Have you visited this historic palace in Mysore? Tell us in the comments below.
