Leisure Activities_Rajendra_Villas_Palace

The Mysore City Palace can be seen in all its splendour during the festival of Dussehra when this marbled palace with its towering columns, ornate arches, stained glass panels and ivory inlaid doors are lit up with 50,000 bulbs. Though no longer officially a 'kingdom', the descendant of the Wodeyar kings still leads a grand royal procession of elephants and horses with trumpets and fanfare with much aplomb and the entire city of Mysore takes to the streets for the celebrations. While part of the Palace is still a private residence, a Museum with displays of old costumes and weaponry is open to the public.

enlarge

View: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Interesting museums and art galleries in Mysore with some amazing and unique exhibits include the Railway Museum, the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, the Folklore Museum and the Art and Archaeology Museum.

The Mysore Zoo is said to be among the best maintained in India.

The tremendous neo-Gothic St. Philomena's Cathedral is one of the largest in India.

The Devaraja Fruit and Vegetable Market is a riot of colour.

On Chamundi Hill is a temple dedicated to Goddess Chamundi, victor over the demon bull Mahishasur after whom Mysore is named. On the same hill is the largest Nandi Bull (the vehicle of Shiva) in the country. This incredible, 5-metre high, massive sculpture was carved from a single rock in 1659.