Places to Visit in Mysore: 16 Spots with Timings

These are the places to visit in Mysore that we take our guests to every week from our Mysore office. Each place below has its timings, entry fee, the time you need and our drivers' tip. If you want a driver for the day, see our car rental in Mysore page.

Most Mysore tourist places sit inside a 5 km circle around the palace. Chamundi Hills, Srirangapatna and Brindavan Gardens are a short drive out. Two full days cover it all without rushing.

Mysore at a glance

1. Mysore Palace

The palace is why most people come to Mysore, so give it the first slot of your day. Inside, see the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mantapa with its stained glass ceiling and the long pillared corridors.

A pillared hall inside the palace. Photo: Guldem Ustun, CC BY 2.0

• Timings: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, every day

• Entry fee: about Rs 100 for adults, less for children

• Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours

• Good to know: shoes are left at the counter before you go in

Mysore Palace light show

On Sundays and public holidays the whole palace is lit with close to one lakh bulbs. During Mysore Dasara (September or October) it is lit every evening.

The palace on a Sunday evening. Photo: Alin Dev, public domain

• Light show timings: about 7:00 to 7:45 pm

• Our tip: our drivers drop guests near the gate by 6:45 pm, the crowd builds fast

2. Chamundi Hills and the temple

Chamundi Hills rises right behind the city, about 13 km by road from the palace. At the top is the Chamundeshwari Temple, and from the car park you see the whole of Mysore below.

The temple tower on Chamundi Hills. Photo: Emilien Lebourgeois, public domain

• Chamundi temple timings: 7:30 am - 2:00 pm, 3:30 - 6:00 pm, 7:30 - 9:00 pm

• Entry: general darshan free; special darshan tickets at the temple

• Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours with the drive

• Our tip: go before 9 am; on Fridays and festival days the queue is long all day

The Nandi and the 1,000 steps

On the way down, stop at the big Nandi. It is carved from one black rock, about 5 m tall, and stands beside the steps that pilgrims climb from the foot of the hill.

The Nandi on Chamundi Hills. Photo: Kv Gopalakrishnan, CC0

• Our tip: if you plan to walk the steps, start at sunrise and ask the driver to meet you at the top

3. Jaganmohan Palace art gallery

A short walk west of the main palace, Jaganmohan Palace is now the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery. It has Raja Ravi Varma paintings, old musical instruments and the famous "Lady with the Lamp".

Jaganmohan Palace. Photo: Ryan from Toronto, CC BY 2.0

• Timings: about 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

• Entry fee: small fee, cash is safer

• Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour

4. St Philomena's Church

St Philomena's Church was built in a Gothic style in the 1930s, and its twin spires stand about 53 m tall. Walk down to the crypt under the altar, and keep your voice low; it is a working church.

• Timings: roughly 5:00 am to 6:00 pm

• Entry: free

• Distance: about 3 km north of the palace

5. Devaraja Market

Devaraja Market on Sayyaji Rao Road is the old city market. Flowers, bananas, betel leaves, incense and kumkum powders piled in cones fill the lanes.

Kumkum powders at Devaraja Market. Photo: Ryan from Toronto, CC BY 2.0

• Timings: early morning to late evening, every day

• Time needed: 45 minutes

• Our tip: we drop you on the Sayyaji Rao Road side and wait near the palace, parking at the market is hard

• Shopping: buy Mysore silk and sandalwood at the government outlets (KSIC and Cauvery emporium)

6. Mysore Zoo

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens opened in 1892 under the Maharaja and is still well kept. Giraffes, gorillas, elephants and big cats are the main draw for children.

• Mysore Zoo timings: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, closed on Tuesday

• Entry fee: about Rs 100 for adults on weekdays, a little more on weekends

• Time needed: 2 to 3 hours

• Our tip: wear walking shoes; there is a battery car for elders

7. Karanji Lake

Karanji Lake is next to the zoo and run by the same team. It has a walking path, a butterfly park, a big walk-in aviary and boating.

• Timings: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, closed on Tuesday

• Entry fee: about Rs 50 for adults; boating extra

• Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours

• Our tip: with children, do the zoo and Karanji Lake together as one half day

8. Lalitha Mahal Palace

The white Lalitha Mahal Palace stands at the foot of Chamundi Hills and was built for the Viceroy's visits. It is now a heritage hotel, so see it from the front garden or over lunch.

One of our groups with our bus at Lalitha Mahal. Photo: Tejas Tours & Travels

• Our tip: group trips stop here for a photo on the way back from Chamundi Hills

9. Mysore Rail Museum

The Rail Museum near the railway station has old steam engines, the Maharani's saloon coach and a small toy train that children love.

• Timings: about 10:00 am to 5:30 pm (check the weekly closing day)

• Entry fee: about Rs 50 for adults

• Time needed: 45 minutes

10. Kukkarahalli Lake

Kukkarahalli Lake, next to Mysore University, is where the locals walk. There is no ticket and no crowd, just a 4 km path around the water and a lot of birds.

• Best time: 6:30 am or evening

• Entry: free

Places near Mysore

These places near Mysore fit in a half day or a full day by car. Srirangapatna and Brindavan Gardens are on the same road and go well together in the afternoon.

11. Srirangapatna

Srirangapatna is an island town on the Kaveri, 16 km from the palace. See the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, the Gumbaz and Daria Daulat Bagh, Tipu Sultan's summer palace with painted walls.

Daria Daulat Bagh, Srirangapatna. Photo: Roshan381, CC BY 3.0

• Time needed: 2 to 3 hours

• Entry: temple free; Daria Daulat Bagh has a small ASI ticket

12. Brindavan Gardens and KRS Dam

Brindavan Gardens lies below the KRS dam, about 20 km from Mysore. Most people come for the musical fountain in the evening.

Fountains at Brindavan Gardens. Photo: Roshan381, CC BY 3.0

• Brindavan Gardens timings: about 6:30 am to 8:00 pm

• Fountain show: around 6:30 - 7:30 pm on weekdays, until about 8:30 pm on weekends

• Entry fee: about Rs 50 for adults; boat rides extra

• Our tip: reach by 6 pm, and expect 30 to 45 minutes of slow traffic when the show ends

13. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Ranganathittu is a group of small islands in the Kaveri, close to Srirangapatna. Painted storks, pelicans and cormorants nest here, and you see them best from the boat.

Painted storks at Ranganathittu. Photo: Vijay S, CC BY 2.0

• Timings: about 8:30 am to 6:00 pm; boat ride extra

• Best season: December to June (nesting)

• Our tip: go early in the morning or after 4 pm

14. Somanathapura Keshava Temple

The Keshava temple at Somanathapura, about 37 km east of Mysore, is a star-shaped Hoysala temple from 1268. It is quieter than Belur and Halebidu, and much closer.

Keshava temple, Somanathapura. Photo: Kandukuru Nagarjun, CC BY 2.0

• Time needed: 1 hour inside, about 1.5 hours drive each way

• Entry: small ASI ticket

15. Talakadu

Talakadu, about 50 km away, is a temple town half buried in sand on the Kaveri bank. Combine it with Somanathapura; the two are about 30 km apart.

16. KRS Dam

The Krishna Raja Sagara dam was built in the 1930s and holds the water for Mysore and Bangalore. You see its long stone wall from the Brindavan side.

Mysore tourist places: timings

Timings change on festival days and during Dasara. Check at the gate on the day.

Places to visit in Mysore in one day

• 7:30 am: Chamundi Hills, temple darshan, city view, Nandi on the way down

• 10:00 am: Mysore Palace, then Jaganmohan Palace

• 1:00 pm: lunch, then Devaraja Market

• 3:00 pm: St Philomena's Church (or the Zoo, not on Tuesday)

• 4:30 pm: drive to Brindavan Gardens via Srirangapatna

• 6:30 pm: musical fountain; back in Mysore by 8:30 pm

On a Sunday, skip Brindavan and stay at the palace for the lights at 7 pm.

Two days in Mysore

• Day 1: the one-day plan above, without Brindavan. End at the palace if it is a Sunday.

• Day 2: Zoo and Karanji Lake in the morning (not Tuesday), then Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu at 4 pm and the Brindavan fountain.

• Temples instead: do Somanathapura and Talakadu on the Day 2 morning.

Getting around Mysore

For Mysore sightseeing, a vehicle with a driver for the day is the easiest way. The places are spread out, autos do not wait, and parking near the palace and the market is hard.

A family with our Innova Crysta on their Mysore trip. Photo: Tejas Tours & Travels

Our rates for 8 hours / 80 km in Mysore:

• Swift Dzire (2 - 4 people): from Rs 2,000

• Innova Crysta (5 - 7 people): from Rs 3,100

• 12 seater tempo traveller (8 - 12 people): from Rs 5,500

• Force Urbania (8 - 12, more comfort): from Rs 7,000

• Bus (20 people and more): see the page

Extra km, extra hours, driver allowance, tolls and parking are added as on each page. A one-day plan with Brindavan Gardens usually runs about 10 hours and 100 km.

Going on from Mysore? See Mysore to Ooty cab and Mysore to Coorg cab. Coming from Bangalore? Read our Bangalore to Mysore guide.

Tips from our Mysore drivers

• Tuesday: the zoo and Karanji Lake are closed. Do the palace, Chamundi Hills and Srirangapatna instead.

• Chamundi Hills: reach before 8 am. On Fridays, festival days and in Ashada month the queue is long all day.

• Palace: photo rules inside change from time to time; ask at the shoe counter. Keep socks, the floor gets hot in summer.

• Brindavan: carry a light jacket on winter evenings and small change for the boat.

• Dasara: the city is full and roads near the palace close for the procession. Book vehicles and rooms early.

See all sizes and rates: tempo traveller on rent in Mysore, mini bus on rent in Mysore, bus on rent in Mysore, car rental in Mysore.

What are the Mysore Palace timings?

The palace is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm every day. On Sundays and public holidays it is lit from about 7:00 to 7:45 pm, and during Dasara it is lit every evening.

What are the Chamundi temple timings?

Darshan is from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Fridays and festival days have longer hours and longer queues, so go early.

How many days are enough for Mysore?

One full day covers the palace, Chamundi Hills, the market and the Brindavan fountain. Two days let you add the zoo, Karanji Lake, Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu and Somanathapura without rushing.

What is the best time to visit Mysore?

October to February is the best time to visit Mysore, with cool mornings and pleasant days. Dasara in September or October is the grandest time, but also the most crowded.

Which vehicle is best for a family trip to Mysore?

For up to 7 people, an Innova Crysta is the usual choice. For 8 to 12 people, take a 12 seater tempo traveller, so the whole family travels together with one driver.