The city of Mysore is the cultural capital of the state of Karnataka. The city is known for its majestic, mystical and mesmerizing beauty. The city is geographically located between 12° 18' 26'' North Latitude and 76° 38' 59'' East Longitude. The weather of Mysore is very pleasant throughout the year. but the ideal time to visit the city is between the months of October and March.

Tourism occupies a very prominent place in the industrial sector of the city. Some of the places of interest in the city are Mysore Palace, Krishna Raja Sagara, Kukkarahali Lake, Jaganmohan Art Gallery, Brindavan Gardens, Lalitha Mahal, Datta Peetham, Chamundi Hills, Mysore Zoo, Folk Lore Museum and many more. The city is adorned with a number of temples namely Lakshmiramana Swamy Temple, Trinesvaraswamy Temple, Prasanna Krishnaswamy Temple, Shweta Varahaswamy Temple, Chamundi Temple, Mahabaleshwara Temple and Prasanna Krishnaswamy Temple.

One of the major languages spoken in the city is Kannad along with other Dravidian languages like Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. A large population of the region is fluent in English and there are few hindi speaking people. In the it sector the city has occupied an significant place and the established companies like Infosys and Larsen and Toubro Info Tech are running successfully from Mysore

The innumerable temples in Mysore hold a special place in Mysore culture. Most of the renowned temples of Mysore were built by the royal family of the reigning Wadeyars. The Wadeyars were very much into religious practices and they built several temples in Mysore. Mostly, these temples were built in and around the Mysore palace and fort to provide easy accessibility for the members of the royal family. The famous temples of Mysore are usually ornate and adorned with elaborate sculptures of various Hindu mythological figures.

Goddess Chamundeshwari is believed to have killed Mahishashura after which the city got its name of Mysore. She is the presiding deity of Mysore and resides in the Chamundeshwari Temple on top of the Chamundi hills. The royal family of the Wadeyars has always been a patron of Goddess Chamundeshwari and the temple has been subsequently developed by them. The Mahabaleshwar Temple situated nearby is much older than this temple, but its prominence lessened with the increasing importance of Chamundeshwari Temple.

There are many other important temples in Mysore. The Prasanna Krishnaswamy Temple, the Shewtavarahaswamy Temple and the Trineswaraswamy Temple were built under the supervision of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. All these temples play an important role in the socio - cultural association of the Mysore people. The Mysore Dussehra, famous worldwide is also associated with the legend of Goddess Chamundeshwari and attracts huge number of tourists from across the world.

Mysore was the capital of the erstwhile Mysore State. During the reign of the Wodeyars, a person visiting the Durbar of the King had to wear the traditional Durbar dress, which consisted of white trousers, black long-coat and a turban. The only thing that has survived and continues to be identified with Mysore is the turban. During the reign of the Wodeyars wearing the turban with or without the golden lace around was more or less necessary. The turban was a status symbol. A person's social status and position in the hierarchy of status was judged depending on the type of turban he wore

Today though the traditional clothing like saree and dhothi is still used western clothing has become common. Especially among the younger generation western clothes have become more popular as they are more convenient and easy to maintain. Traditional attire is used only of special occasions like festivals, weddings etc. Young men prefer wearing western trousers to the traditional dhoti though they may use it within the confines of their homes. Young girls too prefer to wear the salwar-khameez instead of the traditional langa (long skirt) and dhavani (half saree). However the older generation continues to wear traditional clothing namely the saree and dhoti. Mysore is famous for its silks. Silk sarees continue to be a favourite among women of all generations. The cost of a Mysore silk saree can vary from a few hundreds to a few thousands.

The erstwhile state of Mysore established a unique and distinctive form of painting in the 17th and 18th centuries. Over the years this form of painting has become popular by the name Mysore School. This form of painting was at its zenith during the reign of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. Traditional Mysore Painting was normally done on paper pasted on cloth or wood. After the sketch was made, a distinctive relief world called gesso was done in the areas where jewellery and other ornamentations were to be painted. Gesso was done to enhance these areas. These areas were later covered with 24K gold leaf and then the painting was given the final touches.

After the painting was completed it was allowed to dry thoroughly. Then a thin paper was placed on top of if and rubbed with a soft smooth stone to enhance the richness in the relief work done with gold foil. In those days artists used vegetable dyes and mineral colors and prepared all the materials they required by themselves. There are numerous examples of mural paintings in temples and palaces in different parts of Karnataka. These paintings are a testament to the rich painting culture of Mysore. The themes of these paintings are largely religious and are taken from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

There are a few secular themes based on the day-to-day life of the period. The murals found in Srirangapatna have historical and political themes making them more distinctive and unique. The famous Mysore Gold Leaf Paintings can be found at Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery at Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore; the Maharaja's Palace, Mysore; Daria Daulat Bagh in Srirangapatna; and the Venkatappa Art Gallery at Bangalore

Mysore has played an important role in the history of South India from ancient times. Hence there are number monuments in the city that represent this rich cultural heritage. Mysore is known for its splendid palaces and magnificent temples. These monuments are spread in and around modern Mysore. While visiting Mysore you will have to travel to these places. Given below is information about the local transport available in Mysore to commute to the various tourist attractions.

Auto Rickshaws
This is the most reliable and accessible mode of transport in the city. In the day pay by the meter. After 10pm the drives will charge you 50% more than the meter reading and after midnight you will have to pay twice the meter reading.

Private Taxis
There are private taxis available that you can hire for a day. There are a number of Car rental companies. Most hotels provide this service; therefore you can check with your hotel. This mode of transport is reliable and affordable.

Buses
Buses run by the State Government ply in and around Mysore. They ply along fixed routes and the cost is nominal. If you want to be part of the everyday life of the common Mysorean then hop onto one of these buses and you could have quite an adventure.

Tongas
Tongas are horse driven carts that are also means of transport in Mysore. They will take you around the city but at slow and steady pace. If you want a close look at the city and catch some rare sights that you would not otherwise see then you could try this mode of transport.

Silk Factory The renowned Mysore silks are woven here and can be bought from the showroom at factory prices. Prior permissions needed to visit the factory that is closed on public holidays

Sandalwood Oil Factory Aromatic Oil from the Sandal tree is produced here. Prior permission is required to visit the factory.

Silk Factory
Timings : 10.00 am to 12 Noon and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Phone : 0821.2481803

Sandalwood
Oil Factory Timings : 10.00 am to 12 Noon and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm (Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays)
Phone : 0821.2483651