In the tenth century Mysore was known as "Mahishur", the town where the buffalo-demon Mahishashur was slain by the goddess Durga. The word Mysore expands to "Mahishasurana Ooru", which means the town of Mahishasura. It is believed that during one of the wars between devils and demons on the one hand and gods and goddesses on the other, the demon Mahishasur (Mahishur) overpowered the gods. The goddess on seeing this, incarnated as the fireceful Chamundi or Chamundeshwari and consequently, Mahishasura was killed by Her atop the Chamundi Hill near Mysore. Ever since, the Mysore royal family has worshipped Chamundeshwari as the palace deity. Hills dedicated to Her stand at the eastern end of Mysore town to this day.

Located 770m above sea level and 140 Kms from Bangalore, Mysore, the imperial city, was the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyars. Also known as the city of Palaces, Mysore has never failed to mesmerise the tourists with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples.

Mysore is the erstwhile capital of Wodeyars, the rulers of Mysore State. The Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century except for a short period of 40 years when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers. Today Mysore is one of the major cities of Karnataka. Mysore has emerged as a thriving market for exotic sandalwood & incense, the Mysore silk sarees and stone-carved sculptures.

A two story building of 1924 vintage.  This is 'V' shaped structure radiating firm a grand columned entrance approached by graduated steps.

Originally built as “Gun-shed, Guard and Office Rooms” around 1910, the building is now a restaurant run by the Palace Trust. A quaint mixture of Tudor battlemented turrets and classical baroque features of European style. The slopping tiled roof of the central hall is lined with dormer windows. Segmented arched openings in front are framed with battlemented stonework in contrasting white. Rooms at either end are gabled with multiple-moulded pediments.

Among the handsomest period building of the city in a commanding setting, it is led up to form the park side through grand steps trusting the statue of Sir. James Gordon.  The Resident catter the 1881 Rendition of the state to whom the building is dedicated.  The foundation stone was laid on the 20th June 1887 & the building formally opened in 1895.  Arches of varying shapes round headed & flat segmented each with a floral key stone together with Corinthian pilasters, open into the verandahs which run all around on both the floors & lead in to high ceiling inner room and halls.

Foundation laid on 20th June 1887.  The jubilee year of Queen Victoria reign by Maharaja Chamarajendra Wodeyar.  The building opened in 1891, housed the department of archeology besides the library both of which were attached to the University.  Designed by Mr. Brassingto.

Corinthian grand-columns, a heavy multiple-moulded entablature and a wide-spanned plaster-relief picture of Goddess Sarswati distinguish the central block of this 1947-vintage building. (The aureole-like crest, made unsightly by the clumsily propped up university-logo behind it, with its accompanying merlones and piered finials, has been reproduced in someof the gable-compositions of the Vidhana Soudha at Bangalore). Flanking wings at two levels, have contrasting details of balustrade and piered parapets, Roman arches and Tuscan double-columns. The edifice commands an appropriately vast foreground.

The Cross-shaped double storeyed building (completed in 1885) is linked with slanting wings in either side through single - storey links.  Arcaded verandahs with Tuscan & Corinthian pilasters and molded motits, run all around.  The central block is stopped with a cut off pyramid, repeated in two wings, on which sits a wrought Iron tiara-kike crown.  Pediments with Corinthian pilasters end the wings.  Standing on an elevated spot.  The building has on approximate frontage of some 300 feet.

Dasara Exhibition is arranged in the Doddakere Maidana, by the Karnataka Exhibition Authority, where the public and private sector industries, leading business establishments, State Government departments put up their stalls to promote industrial and corporate business. Exhibitors from all over the country are invited to display their wares this year. Dasara Exhibition Celebrations wish to utilise the royal background of the Dasara festivities to boost it on a grand scale

Efforts are made to have greater variety and additional attractions in the exhibition to lure local visitors apart from domestic and foreign tourists. The authority had approached the Government to list the exhibition in the tourist itinerary. The Dasara exhibition showcases the state's artistes and artisans, holds a food festival featuring the entire country and a range of entertaining amusements and games

Karnataka Exhibition Authority is considering long-term plans to expand the Dasara exhibition and hold it throughout the year as an added attraction for tourists. A blueprint has been made by the authority for erecting permanent stalls to make the exhibition a year-long event.

Originally built as student hostess by the west eyar mission around the turn of the century.  The building is planned around quadrangle.  The central section, commanding a vast fore ground, is a three storey rectangle tower of Madras Terrace rooting & finials.  The bigger arches are framed with molded archrims typical of many contemporary Structures.

The two double storey buildings have a strong resemblance, both were built in 1920 - 21.  The foundation stone of the public offices was laid by Maharaja Krishnaraja wodeyar in 24th January 1921.  The latter structure was built as was laid by "Modern Hindu Hotels".  The porch of the modern Hundu Hotel (now maintained by KSTDC as Hotel Mayura Hoysala) was added in 1982 - 83 in thoughtful architectural integration it has not only served a need but added a very becoming to the elevation.

One can do better than reproduce the comments contain in the July 1890 issue of Indian Engineering signed by one BCE of Bangalore.  "This is a large serai called after on urdy (Sic) gentleman who contributed Rs. 50,000 designed by young native assistant engineer of the local PWD & constructed by anotehr EE of the district.

Foundation stone of Majaraja's college was laid on 27th November 1889 by the visiting Prince Albert the building is almost identical in the major stylistic features of arcaded verandahs on two floors ventilator riches with circular opening set with remarkable beautiful cast iron work a central foor of the mansard kind and projecting end blocks with smaller conical turrets.

Built in 1876 and named after Majarani Vani Vilas Sannidhana, this is a structure of conspicuously European - classical features of arcaded verandaha & imposingly located pediments.  An unusally ornamental parapet, with a baroque niche over looking the pedimented portico, runs all around.

Built to commemorate the services of a great Dewan, the foundation stone of this Graeco-Roman edifice was laid by Maharaja Chamarajendra Wodeyar in April, 1884.The elevation is dominated by a projecting frontage of Corinthian grand-columns, in four pairs, topped off with a heavy entablature of multiple mouldings and a pediment containing an intricately carved motif. Roman arched windows with pilasters, louvered window shutters and sun-rise glazing, adorn the façade of a double-height hall with balconies on either side. Cast-iron parapets vary the lines on the sides

This 75-feet, square tower is topped in Indo-Saracenic style, the curvilinear chhajja lending a Rajasthani touch to the domed canopy which rests on a consoled base just above the 5-feet diameter clock. The graduated ascent of the two lower storeys is well-proportioned and there are handsome design-features like double- arches framing slit-windows of Early-English church architecture. The structure is appropriately set on a base amidst a well-tended circular garden. The tower is among the monuments which came up during the Silver Jubilee of the reign of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (1927).

These from a homogenous group Kanteerava Narsimhraja sports club the buildings comprising the Administrative training Institute (built in 1910 - 12 as Guesthouses attached to the club)  The Mysore race clubs offices, the grand stand and the state reserve police head quarter complex (built around 1918 - 20 to house the offices and stables of Majaraja's bodyguard).

Facing government houses which its distinguished tenants must have seen a building across the road this is a rather plain double story structures whose architecture is apparently derived  from the builders of east india company rather than any contemporary of traditional school or styles of special architecture though build to house important personages (Col. wellesly after wards duke of Wellington lived in it for 2 years from 1799 to 1801 when in political charge of Mysore.  It was the furst headquarters of the first commissioners in Mysore after restoration of the gaddi to stop gap abode till government house was ready for occupation terraced structure with rectangular openings the building is almost totally devoid of any embellishment the only touches proclaming its archeological status being its size and the two wings of its east sides approach.

The foundation stone of this building dedicated to Majaraja Chamarajendra Wodeyar, was laid by Prince Albert in 1906.  The building was completed in 1913 at a cost of Rs. 2.5 laks. 

Well set back from the road unlike the east building on dewan road this 1920 two story building has continuous veranda has stretching on either side parallel to the road sturdy looking square columns support the ground floor.

The earliest British structure of its class in the City, the Government House was completed in 1805 IN THE POST-Tippu phase of political development as a focus for the new British influence in the Mysore Principality part of t. The design of the original he building – “Tuscan Doric,” as described by Philip Davies – was done by Colonel Wilks. The vast garden setting of 50 acres with a dramatic approach from the northern entrance, is half the extent originally attached to the building

Located on Princess Road (opposite the main gate of CFTRI) was started in 1979 due to the efforts of PM Joseph. This museum exhibits graphics presenting the growth of Indian railways, photos and paintings. In the Sriranga Mantapa sectionof the museum are displayed the royal train compartment which was being used by the Kings and Queens of Mysore, a pillar from the Old Srirangapatna railway station and a wired fence which was being used in the bygone era. Few old steam locomotives are also on display here