STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA
KARNATAKA
Places of interest around Mysore
Srirangapatnam
In this island
town of the Cauvery, 16 kms from Mysore on the Bangalore road are the Fort,
Ranganathaswamy temple, dungeons, museum, Daria Daulat and the Gumbaz.
This was once
the capital of Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan (The Tiger of Mysore).
Tippu sultan, in alliance with the French fought against the British here.
There is an obelisk in the fort which marks the place where he fell, betrayed
by his own men. There is a mosque within the fort with twin minarets.
The Ranganathaswamy
temple built by the Chieftain Thirumalaiah in 894 AD is also situated within
the fort.
The dungeons
where the British officers were imprisoned in also situated in this fortress.
Nearby is the Chapel of Abbe Dubois (19th century French traveler).
Daria Daulat
Bagh was Tippu Sultan's favourite summer retreat built in 1784 in the Indo-Saracenic
style.
Gumbaz, the
mausoleum of Tippu Sultan, his mother and his father Hyder Ali.
Bylakuppe
is about 85km from Mysore, on the way to Madikeri in Coorg.
Details
Ranganthitoo
Bird Sanctuary
The bird sanctuary
is located 16 kms from Mysore, 4 kms from Srirangapatna, on one of the
three islets of the river Cauvery. It spreads over an area of 675
hectares. Migrant
birds like the darters, egrets, spoonbills, white ibis, open bill storks,
night herons, pond herons as well as the Siberian cranes and birds from
the Middle East roost here. The best time for bird watching is between
June and September.
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Somnathapura
is situated
about 40 kms to the east of Mysore. The Kesava Temple built in the
Hoysala style of architecture, was constructed in the 13th century by the
Hoysala king Narasimha III. Though a small structure, this temple
is a typical example of the fully evolved Hoysala style.
The temple,
like a typical Hoysala temple is raised on a low platform. The base
of the temple is in the shape of a star. There are 3 cells (thrikutachala)
attached to a central hall. All three shrines have their own tower.
Scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabaratha and the life of the Hoysala kings
are depicted on the walls.
The ceiling
of the pillared hall are wonderfully created in the form of a banana flower
hanging from the center. The pattern is formed by concentric circles
diminishing as they rise, connected by radiating ribs.
Bandipur
Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary
is situated on the Mysore-Ooty road, about 80 kms from Mysore. It
adjoins the Mudumalai Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu and the Periyar sanctuary
of Kerala. This is one of the tiger reserves set up in the country
under the Project Tiger Scheme. Bisons, spotted deers, elephants,
sambars, leopards are other animals in this sanctuary. Jeep, truck
and elephant rides are organised by the Forest Department. Boating
facility is also available. The best season to visit is from October
to May.
Biligirirangan
Hills
This range
of hills, 80 kms from Mysore (5,091 ft above sea level) is situated between
the Cauvery and the Kapila rivers, stretching from north to south for about
16 kms. The Biligirirangana Betta Wildlife camp is located here.
The region is full of deciduous trees. Several birds and wild animals
such as tigers, panthers, gaur, chital, sambar, elephants, and bears are
found in these hills.
The hill derives
it's name from the Biligirirangaswamy Temple, situated on the highest peak.
The Lord in this temple is Ranganathar. The Ratha Festival is held
during 'Vaishakha' (April) by the local tribes.
Cauvery
Fishing Camp
This fishing
spot is located at Bhimeswari, about 82 kms from Mysore.
Nagarhole
National Park
This park
is located at about 94 kms from Mysore with its comfortable Kabini River
Lodge and is a marvelous place to see a variety of wild life - leopards,
tigers, gaur, chital, sambhar and about 250 species of birds.
Places of interest in Mysore
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