History and heritage

For many years, Mysore was the center of the Wodeyar kingdom. After the fall of the Vijayanagar empire in 1565, the Wodeyars declared an independent kingdom which they ruled till Tipu Sultan took over in the 18th century. When the British defeated Tipu Sultan, they handed power back to the Wodeyars. Mysore continued to be the center of power, culture and history until 1956 when the Wodeyar dynasty handed over sovereignty to the new republic of India.

The main Mysore Palace was built in the 20th century after the old palace was destroyed by fire and the forces of Tipu Sultan. Its most remarkable features are the golden domes, the golden throne used by the Wodeyar kings and the golden elephant howdah. The other palaces of note are the Jaganmohan Palace, the JayalakshmiVilas, the Lalith Mahal, the Vasant Mahal, and the Chelumba Vilas.

Other places to visit: Brindavan Gardens, the Jayachamarajendra Zoological Gardens, St. Philomena's church (one of India's largest gothic-styled churches), the Chamundeshwari temple and the monolithic Nandi statue. Also nearby is the town of Srirangapatnam, where Tipu Sultan is buried, the Krishnarajasagar dam (KRS) and the Ranganathittu bird sanctuary.