The city of Mysore is the cultural capital of the state of Karnataka. The city is known for its majestic, mystical and mesmerizing beauty. The city is geographically located between 12° 18' 26'' North Latitude and 76° 38' 59'' East Longitude.

The weather of Mysore is very pleasant throughout the year. but the ideal time to visit the city is between the months of October and March. Tourism occupies a very prominent place in the industrial sector of the city. Some of the places of interest in the city are Mysore Palace, Krishna Raja Sagara, Kukkarahali Lake, Jaganmohan Art Gallery, Brindavan Gardens, Lalitha Mahal, Datta Peetham, Chamundi Hills, Mysore Zoo, Folk Lore Museum and many more.

The city is adorned with a number of temples namely Lakshmiramana Swamy Temple, Trinesvaraswamy Temple, Prasanna Krishnaswamy Temple, Shweta Varahaswamy Temple, Chamundi Temple, Mahabaleshwara Temple and Prasanna Krishnaswamy Temple. One of the major languages spoken in the city is Kannad along with other Dravidian languages like Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. A large population of the region is fluent in English and there are few hindi speaking people. In the it sector the city has occupied an significant place and the established companies like Infosys and Larsen and Toubro Info Tech are running successfully from Mysore.

Fairs and Festivals in Mysore
Representing the religious fervor of the state, the colorful fairs and festivals in Mysore are celebrated with much enthusiasm and vigor. The fairs and festivals reflect the rich cultural ancestry and traditional legacy of the bygone era that has percolated to the modern times. Unaltered and unchanged by modern day civilization, the age-old fairs and festivals of Mysore are observed with complete devotion and religious rituals.

Comprising of a mixed population, all the festivals of different religious communities are celebrated with equal passion and religious zeal. However, upholding the traditional culture of the imperial royal kingdom of the ancient times, Dusshera and Yugadi occupy a special position among all the numerous fairs and festivals of Mysore. The ten days festival of Dusshera represents the old glory and grandeur of the region. During the ancient times, the mighty ruler of the vast empire of Vijayanagra used to take out a huge procession of elephants to mark the festive occasion of Dusshera.

In the modern times, a procession of well dressed elephants carrying an idol of Goddess Chamundi moves through the city of Mysore. The city wears a decorative look on the special festive occasion of religious importance. Dressed in colorful attires, the men and women enjoy every moment of the festival of Dusshera that fills the air with joy and mirth.

Sight Seeing
Mysore Palace:
The Maharaja's Palace is one of the important sights in Mysore. Built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades,the Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. Intricately carved doors open on to luxuriously furnished rooms. The majestic Durbar Hall has an ornate ceiling and many sculpted pillars. The magnificent jewel studded golden throne of the Wodeyars is displayed here during the Dasera festival. Illuminated on Sundays and public holidays ,the palace presents a spectacle of breathtaking beauty.

Brindavan Gardens:
Located at the KR Sagar Dam [Kannambadi], Brindavan Gardens is one of the best gardens in South India. Spread over 150 acres, Brindavan Gardens has since the 1960s provided the backdrop for many Indian films. Special attractions include the 'Dancing Fountains'. In Dec 2004 the entire garden was revamped with new fountains and lights. .

Chamundi Hills:
well known 335 metres high landmark,Chamundi Hill can be reached by a 13 km road or by climbing up the 1,000 steps laid out by the Mysore Maharaja in the 17th century. Half-way up along the stone steps is Nandi, Lord Shiva's Bull, a majestic 4.8 metre monolith.At the top is the 12th century temple of Chamundeshwari, the patron goddess of the Wodeyars.Close to the temple is the gigantic statue of the demon Mahishasura. The summit offers a panoramic view of Mysore's lakes, parks and palaces.

Mysore Zoo:
The Mysore Zoo was set up under royal patronage in the nineteenth century. Its fauna includes rare and exotic species which are housed in lush, green surroundings. The Zoo is famous for breeding some very rare animals in captivity. Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, which has emerged as one of finest zoos in the country to breed a wide range of animals in captivity, has embarked on a new venture to set up a state-of-the-art Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. As of Jan 2006 the zoo has prepared a Rs 5.5-crore plan to establish the centre and forwarded the same to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for approval. The plan envisages procuring a, emergency mobile ambulance for the animals.