Things to Do in Mysore: A One-Day Route Through the City’s Main Sights

Allow about two hours for Mysore Palace, the first stop in this one-day Mysore itinerary. Mysore Palace is about an 18-minute walk or a 9-minute drive from Hotel Sepoy Grande Mysuru.

Mysuru Palace, also called Amba Vilas Palace, is a three-storey Indo-Saracenic building designed by English architect Henry Irwin and built between 1897 and 1912. Inside the complex are the Residential Museum, temples and shrines, including the Shwetha Varahaswamy temple. The Durbar Hall, Kalyanamantapa, carved doors and royal collections are among its notable features.

The palace is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Adult admission is ₹50–₹70, and child admission is ₹30, though published age thresholds differ: one schedule gives free entry below 7 and ₹30 for children above 7 and up to 12; another lists ₹30 for children above 10 and below 18. Because the published prices differ, check the official site before you go.

Photography is not allowed inside the palace, according to the district government tourism page. Keep the visit focused on the complex’s architecture, halls and collections, then leave time for the drive to the market.

A dedicated Mysore Palace visitor guide covers timings, tickets and what to see in more detail.

Devaraja Market makes a natural midday stop after the palace, with flowers, produce, spices and sandalwood among its sights.

The market has traded in the same streets for two hundred years. The drive from the palace takes ten minutes. Once there, take time to look around the market and its surrounding streets before continuing with the afternoon part of the route.

For more detail on what to look for, the Devaraja Market guide focuses on the market and how to visit.

Chamundi Hill is the afternoon stop in the one-day Mysuru itinerary, with its temple about 13 km from Mysuru.

KSRTC buses run from Mysuru city bus stand every 20 minutes. Darshana and pooja hours are 7:30 AM–2:00 PM and 3:30 PM–6:00 PM. Abhisheka hours are 6:00–7:30 AM and 6:00–7:30 PM; on Fridays, morning abhisheka is 5:00–6:30 AM.

The temple authority declares the Chamundi Hill area a no-plastic zone. Don’t bring plastic carry bags or leave plastic waste there.

If you’d rather spend the afternoon at the lake, Karanji Lake is another Mysuru subject to look into; this route’s timed afternoon recommendation is Chamundi Hill.

This route works in sequence: palace first, market around midday, then an afternoon visit to Chamundi Hill. Start at the palace at 10:00 AM and allow two hours there. The market is a ten-minute drive from the palace, while KSRTC buses to the hill leave from the Mysuru city bus stand every 20 minutes.

Palace and temple hours, admission prices and bus services can affect your schedule. Check the relevant official sites before you go, especially if you’re planning around a particular visit time.

How much time should you allow for Mysore Palace?

Allow two hours at the palace. Its daily opening hours are 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

What can you see at Devaraja Market?

The market is known for flowers, produce, spices and sandalwood, and has traded in the same streets for two hundred years.

How do you get to Chamundi Hill from Mysuru?

KSRTC buses run from Mysuru city bus stand every 20 minutes. The temple is about 13 km from Mysuru.