Situated in the southern part of the Deccan Plateau, Mysore District is an undulating tableland, covered in parts by granite outcrops and fringed by verdant forests. From ancient times, this district has played a significant role in the history of South India. Mysore District is a popular tourist destination, offering several attractions ranging from the royal splendour of Mysore City and its fabulous Dasara Festival to exquisite temples, pilgrimage centres and scenic spots. Mysore city is at 770m above sea level and 140 kms from Bangalore. Also known as the City of Palaces, Mysore retains a quaint charm, that never fails to enchant. Mysore was the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty, feudatories of the Vijayanagar Empire, who declared their independence in the 16th century and ruled in Mysore until independence, barring three decades when Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan wrested power from them. Mysore today, is a pleasant city with an old world charm, contributed by its broad shady avenues, well laid out gardens, fine buildings and a salubrious climate.

Tourist Information

Mysore receives a good share of tourists because of its cultural heritage. The maximum influx of tourists is during the Dasara festival. Some of the well-known palaces in Mysore are the Ambavilas Palace (also known as Mysore Palace), Jaganmohana Palace, Rajendra Vilas, Jayalakshmi Vilas and Lalitha Mahal which have been constructed by the Wodeyars. Another popular tourist destination is the Chamundi Hill which has a Hindu temple of Goddess Chamundeshwari at its top. Other religious locations in Mysore include the Ganapathi Sachidananda Ashram and the St. Philomena's Church. The Krishna Raja Sagara dam across the river Cauvery and the adjoining Brindavan Gardens are places which receive a lot of tourists.Mysore is also home to the following museums:

• The Regional Museum of Natural History has exhibits on plants, animals and the geology of the southern region of India.
• The Folk Lore Museum (1968). Located on the University of Mysore campus, the museum exhibits over 6500 items of folk art and craft from all over the state of Karnataka.
• The Railway Museum exhibits vintage locomotives and is the second such museum to be set up after the National Railway Museum in Delhi.
• The Oriental Research Institute, formerly known as the Oriental Library established in 1891, contains over 33,000 palm leaf manuscript

Mysore is also a place for health tourism, mainly related to Yoga and receives lot of visitors from outside India who come here to perform Yoga under masters like Pattabhi Jois. GRS Fantasy Park and Planet-X are theme parks that also receive a good number of people. Mysore Zoo is one of the largest of its kind in India and is a popular place for kids. Mysore has a number of lakes and among them, the Karanji lake and Kukkarahalli lake are visited by many people.