Famous as “the City of Palaces”, Mysore retains an old-world charm that never fails to fascinate the World. It is the second-largest city in the state of Karnataka, India, which served as the capital city of Mysore Princely Kingdom for almost six centuries, from 1399 until 1947. Situated in the southern part of the Deccan Plateau, Mysore city is the administrative headquarters of Mysore District. The city is also Known as Cultural capital of Karnataka. Besides historical monuments, art and culture, the city of Mysore is popular for sandalwood products. Geography and Climate Mysore is located at 12.30°N 76.65°E and has an average altitude of 770 metres (2,526 ft). Sprawling over an area of 128.42 km[SUP]2[/SUP] (50 sq mi) at the base of the Chamundi Hills in the southern region of Karnataka, the city has several lakes, namely the Kukkarahalli, the Karanji and the Lingambudhi lakes. The city is located between two rivers, namely the Kaveri River flows through the north of the city and the Kabini River, a tributary of the Kaveri, lies to the south. Even though Mysore is situated in the relatively safe seismic zone 2 of the earthquake hazard zoning of India, earthquakes of magnitude greater than 4.5 on the Richter scale have been recorded in the vicinity of the city. Mysore features a semi-arid climate, wherein the summers are warm, with temperatures varying between 21°C and 34°C, while the winters cool, with the temperatures ranging from 16°C to 27°C. The average annual rainfall of the city is 804.2 mm (31.7 in). Demographics According to provisional reports of Census India, population of Mysore in 2011 is 887,446; of which male and female are 443,813 and 443,633, respectively. The total number of literates in the city is 702,896 of which 363,157 are males while 339,739 are females. Average literacy rate of Mysore city is 86.84 % of which male and female literacy was 89.96 % and 83.73 %, respectively. The sex ratio of Mysore city is 1000 per 1000 males. Child sex ratio of girls is 945 per 1000 boys. The residents of the city are known as Mysoreans in English and Mysoorinavaru in Kannada. According to the census of 2001, 76.8% of the populatiion are Hindus, 19% are Muslims, 2.8% are Christians, and the remaining belongs to other religions. Kannada is the most widely spoken language in the city. History of Mysore Mysore city derives its name from Mahishasura, the monster killed by the reigning deity of the city, Goddess Chamundeshwari. The rich history of the city is reflected by the architectural monuments present in the city. The city has been associated with the Puranic story found in the Devi Bhagavatha, according to which, Mysroe was ruled by the demon Kind Mahishasura, who was a buffalo-headed monster. In response to the prayer by the Gods and Goddesses to save them from the atrocities of this demon, Goddess Parvathi, took birth as Chamundeshwari and killed the monster on top of the Chamundi hill near Mysore. After killing the demon, the Goddess resided atop the Chamundi Hills where she is worshipped with reverence and devotion even today. However, the original name of the hill is 'Mahabaladri Hills' and it derived the name Chamundi Hills at a later period, after 17th century. The earliest mention of Mysore or Mahishur historically is referred to the time of King Ashoka in 245 B.C. On the conclusion of the third Buddhist convocation, Ashoka is said to have despatched a monk to Mahishamandala for the purpose of spreading Buddhism. However, some historians have viewed that this Mahishamandala does not relate to Mysore or Mahishur. Some edicts of Ashoka have been found in the northern parts of the present Karnataka State. Similar reference is also found in the epic work, Mahabharata. According to this legend, King Yudhishtira is said to have sent an expedition and Sahadeva made an attack on Mahishmati. Till the rise of Gangas in 10th century we find very little or no evidence at all relating to Mysore. The Ganga dynasty established its reign in the 2nd century and the Ganga kings ruled over the greater part of Mysore till about 1004. They established their capital in the 3rd century at Talakad, on the bank of the Cauvery river in T.Narasipur Taluk. One of their inscriptions has been traced in the Chamundi Hills. The inspection of 950 A.D. is the earliest inscription found in Mysore. After Gangas, Cholas rose to power and ruled for over a century. The Chalukyas followed them. Mysore was a part of Chalukya Prince Narasinga's kingdom in the 10th century. The Cholas built a few temples in Mysore. Hoysalas drove out the Cholas from Mysore region in the 12th century. Hoysalas, who are known for their famous temples, built or expanded the existing temples in Mysore and on the Chamundi Hills. Their 11th and 12th century inscriptions are found in Mysore. In the year 1399 A.D. the Mysore Yadu dynasty came to power, who was feudatories to the Vijayanagar kings, who followed the Hoysalas. The Mysore Kingdom, governed by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire. With the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire after the Battle of Talikota in 1565, the Mysore Kingdom gradually achieved independence, and by the time of King Narasaraja Wodeyar (1637) it had become a sovereign state. The Kingdom of Mysore was ruled by the Wodeyar dynasty, except for a brief and illustrious period in the late 18th century when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were the distinguished rulers. The transformation of Mysore from a small town confined to the limits of the Fort to a modern township began at the period of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. They ruled over the city for almost six centuries, from 1399 until 1947. Culture of Mysore Often referred to as the Cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysore has a rich cultural heritage. The Wodeyars contributed significantly to the cultural growth of the city as they were great patrons of art and culture, owing to which it earned the sobriquet Cultural capital of Karnataka. Mysore is well known for the festivities that take place during the period of Dasara, the state festival of Karnataka. The Dasara festivities, which are celebrated over a ten-day period, were first introduced by King Raja Wodeyar I in 1610. On the ninth day of Dasara called Mahanavami, the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession comprising decorated elephants, camels and horses. Mysore is known for rosewood inlay work; around 4,000 craftsmen were estimated to be involved in this art in 2002. The city lends its name to the Mysore silk saree, a women's garment made with pure silk and gold zari (thread). Mysore Painting, which is an offshoot of the Vijayanagar School of painting is popular all over the globe. Tourist Destinations in Mysore Mysore has evolved from being a quiet and sleepy city, to a city that is flaunted as one of the most prominent tourist destinations of India. Known as the City of Palaces, Mysore houses several historical monuments that glorifies the past years. The city of Mysore offers a visitor an insight into the lifestyles, cultures and traditions of its erstwhile rulers. The palaces and temples around the city speak volumes about heritage and architecture of the medieval times and the kind of patronage the city received from its rulers. Some of the Famous travel destinations are: Mysore Palace Brindavan Gardens Chamundi Hills Mysore Zoo St. Philomena's Church Jaganmohan Palace Karanji Lake Kukkarahalli Lake Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary GRS Fantasy Park Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery Chamundeshwari Temple Transportation Air Mysore Airport, which is nearly 12 kilometers from the city, was inaugurated on May 15, 2010. There is only one flight to and from Bangalore, which is operated by SpiceJet. Rail Mysore railway station has three lines, connecting it to Bangalore, Hassan and Chamarajanagar. The first railway line established in the city was the Bangalore–Mysore Junction metre gauge line, which was commissioned in 1882. All trains that connect to Mysore are operated by Indian Railways. The fastest train to serve the city is the Shatabdi Express. Road Mysore is connected by National Highway NH-212 to the state border town of Gundlupet, where the road forks into the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and other private agencies operate buses both within the city and between cities. Buses are cheap and popular means of transport, auto-rickshaws are available, and tongas (horse-drawn carriages) are popular.
