Karnataka > Mysore
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| Chamundi Temple |
Mysore, the district and divisional headquarters, is the ancient royal capital and the garden city. It is 139 km west of Bangalore. Though described as 'Mahishapura', the old records speak 'Mayisooru' which has nothing to do with Mahisha or Mahishasura. In the inscriptions found here and elsewhere the place name has been mentioned as 'Mayisooru' which means 'mayi' (antelope) and 'Ooru' meaning place. The Mysore royal palace is a major attraction with Indo-Saracenic exterior and Hoysala interior, completed in 1907. It is illuminated during holiday evenings. The palace's Kalyana Mantapa has fine wall paintings of the Dasara procession and Durbar scenes done in 1930s and 1940s by the Palace artists. Besides the several temples situated in the palace complex, the Kote Anjaneya, Kote Maramma, Parshwanatha (near corporation), Kanyaka Parameshwari (Doddapet and Shivaram Pet), Renuka Yellamma (Mysore Karaga fame) near zoo garden, Satyanarayana (Vantikoppal), Raghavendra Math, etc., are also important.
The Chamundi Hill has a Mahishasura Statue outside, done in cement and a large entrance tower at the Chamundi Temple. Beside this temple, there is a tenth century Mahabala temple and records call the hill as "Marbala Betta". The hill has steps and on way is a monolithic Nandi. Lalita Mahal Palace is a hotel now. Another Palace Cheluvamba mansion which is a heritage building houses C.F.T.R.I. The Jagan Mohan Art Gallery also was a palace. The Parakala Matha is an imposing building near this. Mysore has the famous zoo garden too. The Oriental Manuscript Library is also housed in an impressive building. The University was founded in 1916. The Sutturu Matha, the Railway Museum, the Premier Studio, the Ramakrishna Ashrama and the Sachidananda Ganapathi (Dattatreya Peetha) Ashrama are other attractions of Mysore. Mandakalli Airport is the only one Airport in Mysore
 The St. Philomina Church is an impressive Gothic style of architecture with imposing towers in N.R. Mohalla of Mysore. Mysore is the most important tourist centre of Karnataka. Its Dasara festival is the most attractive pageant. Brindavan Gardens raised on the other bank of KRS dam with attractive musical fountain is very close to Mysore city and also easily approachable. Mysore has grown to be an industrial centre too with the Railway worshop, Ideal Jawa Factory, B.E.M.L. Unit, Vikrant Tyres, etc., The Natural Museum near D.F.R.L. in Siddartha Layout and the Fantacy Park on Bangalore Road are the recent additions of tourist interest. It has a City Municipal Corporation. Of late Mysore is being developed as a second IT city of Karnataka with the founding of Software Industries of International repute. Mysore has been declared as a State Heritage city recently.
Mysore is famous for the festivities that take place during the Dasara festival when the city receives a large number of tourists. Mysore also lends its name to the Mysore style of painting, the sweet dish Mysore Pak and the garment, Mysore silk saree and for Mysore Mallige.
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