Mysore is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India.Mysore is one of the most important tourist centers in the state of Karnataka in India. It is also known as the city of Palaces in India. Mysore Palace in the city is one of the most visited monuments in India, even beating the Taj Mahal in India.

Attractions:

Palace Jaganmohan: It was built in 1861 by Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in predominantly Hindu style to serve as an alternative to the palace of the royal family . This includes the royal family palace when burned Mysore Palace top down as a result of the shooting. A three - storey mansion , and stained glass shutters and fans. Lanka may include Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery since 1915 . Groups presented here include the famous paintings of Travancore ruler, Raja Ravi Varma , the painter the Svetoslav Rereg Russian and many paintings of Mysore painting style .

Chamundi Hills: This is near the city of Mysore Palace . The average elevation is 1,000 meters . Seen panoramic view of the city from the top of the hills . Among other features , you can see the race track, and replace Lalita Palace , Mysore Palace , Karanji and Kukkarahalli Lakes . At dusk , the view of the city especially beautiful , and on Sundays and evenings during the Dasara festival , Mysore Palace luminous shine like gold.

Mysore Palace : Palace is located in the city . It was the official residence of the former royal family of Mysore , and also includes property offices Durbar . The term " Mysore Palace " specifically refers to one of these palaces, Bishop Vilas .

Brindavan Gardens: It is a garden exhibition, which contains a beautiful garden plants , filled with fountains exciting , as well as boating under the dam. Divans of Mysore had planned and built the gardens in connection with the construction of the dam . Display items include a musical fountain . And includes various biological research departments here. A house is hospitality of tourists.It in Krishna Raja Ssagara ( livestock ) dam.

St. Philomena 's Church : This is the church which was built in honor of St. Philomena in the city of Mysore . Was established in 1956 with a neo - Gothic style and was inspired architecture of the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. In 1926, Shetty who was Thamboo the secretary of the Maharaja of Mysore , which was obtained Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar from the remnants of St. Peter Pisani , Apostolic Nuncio of the East Indies. This effect was handed more than Father Cochet who approached the king to help him build a church in honor of St. Philomena . Maharaja of Mysore to lay the foundation stone of the church on October 28, 1933. In his speech on the opening day , was quoted as Maharaja had said : that a new church be firmly and securely based on double divine mercy and gratitude of men eager .. The completion of the building of the church under the supervision of Bishop Rene regiment for. Is to preserve the remains of St. Philomena in the catacomb below the main altar .

Lalitha Mahal Palace: is the second largest palace in Mysore. It is located near the hills of Chamundi , East city.The commodity architect of this palace was Mr. EW Fritchley. The palace was built by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV in 1921 for the exclusive accommodation of the Viceroy of India. The palace is pure white in color and is built in the style of Italian palace with twin Ionic columns and domes . It also has a sprawling terrace and gardens.

Devaraja Market: For a visitor to this city, Devaraja market is an apt place to get a flavor of the local people’s ( Mysoreans, as they are called ) daily life. With more than 100 years of history, this market is well knitted into the heritage of Mysore. If you are new to the bazaars of India in general, do not miss Devaraja Market. This is a good sample of a traditional Indian market place that are colorful, noisy, vibrant and a tad chaotic.

Somnathpur

Somnathpur temple" is one of the famous temples in Karnataka state. It is located on the bank of river Kaveri in a small village of Somnathpur, which is 38 km from Mysore. This Somnath temple Mysore is said to be the last major temple of Hoysala dynasty. Somnathpur temple was constructed in 1268 A.D. during the reign of Narsimha III by his army general "Somnath", hence the name of temple is named after him. The temple is the best preserved monument of Hoysala architecture.

Somnathpur Temple History
The interesting Somnath Temple history takes back to the golden era of Hoysala dynasty of Narsimha king. However the Kesava temple was built during the reign of Narsimha III (1254 AD - 1291 AD) before 740 years in 1268 AD by his army commander Somnath. In the earlier years he had founded a small village on the bank of river Kaveri, which he named Somnathpur after his name.

To reveal the proud history of Somnathpur plan Somnath temple tour. Besides the Somnathpur temple history and all its related facts are also inscribed on the slab in old Kannada script at the entrance.

Architecture of Somnathpur Temple
The whole Somnathpur Temple is constructed on a broad raised platform so that the devotees may perform a pradakshina of the temple. The temple is built stellar in shape , adorned with three abounding carved pinnacles with a common Navranga.

The The outer walls of the temples are decorated with beautiful carvings. The platform on which the temple stands, is adorned with two seated lions. The temple is structured in a series of bands, winding around a star from the building. The main entrance of the temple complex is in the east side of the courtyard. The main shrine at the center is abound by a rectangular premises of subsidiary shrines and cloisters.

In the entire temple sculptures of elephants can be seen in different stance and poise, that are decorated with chains and bells. The main three idols housed in the temples of Lord Kesava, Janardhana and Venugopala. But the idol of Lord Kesava is missing at present, while the other two still can be seen in their original form.

Places to Visit Around Somnathpur Temple

• Mudukuthore (famous for Mallikarjuna temple)
• Talakad (famous for Vaidhyanatheshwara temple)
• Shivanasamundaram aka Bluff and Shimsa (famous for Gaganachukku and Bharachukku waterfalls)

SRIRANGAPATNAM:

The Place Srirangpatna had the name of the Srirangapuri in the early ages later it got the name of the Srirangapatna. The town is an island being surrounded by the river Cauvery. In this town there are temple of sriranganatha. Sri Lakshinarasimha, Sri Gangadereshwara, Sri Jyothirmaheshwara and other small temples. Among them the main temple is that of Sri Ranganatha. The inner apartment of SriRanganatha temple was built in 817 A.D by a lady by name Hambi, of the class of dancers in the yea ar 894 A.D. When a king of the Ganga dynasty was the ruler, a person by name Thirumalaraya got constructed the Navaranga mantap and the temple of Lord Thirumala(Srinivasa) at the left side portion of the great Mahadwara. In the year 1117 A.D when Sri Ramanuja came to this part after escaping from the chole country here a join by name Hoysala Bittideva was the ruler, Sri Ramanuja got him converted to a Vaishnava and named him Vishnuvardhana.

Sri Ramanuja got from this ruler much wealth and the lands of eight villages. He nominated certain office bearers named as prabhus or Hebbars to administer over the service of the lord in the year 1454 A.D. Then the hebbar Thimmanna by name went to Vijayanagara and became an official called as Dayanayaka in the court of the king of Vijayanagara.He returned from Vijayanagara and got constructed the fort for the town and the big wall for the temple and the big gate in front. Later the town of Srirangapatna came under the direct control of the Vijayanagara King. One of the representatives of these kings, Sri Ranganatha by name enlarged the town and got constructed the inner prakara in the temple five steps at the big gate and 2 stone elephants on both sides.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary: also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka is a Bird Sanctuary in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka in India. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state, only 0.67 km². in area, which is about 40 acres[3] and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri river.[4] Ranganthittu is located three kilometers away from the historic town of Srirangapatna and 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of Mysore.The sanctuary attracted about 2.90 lakh visitors during 2011-12, which shows its notability as important bird sanctuary of India.

Sravanabalagola: It is a city located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Western Ganga Dynasty of Talakad. Chandragupta is said to have died here in 298 BC after he became a Jain monk and assumed an ascetic life style.Shravanabelagola "White Pond of the Shravana" is named with reference to the colossal image of Gommaṭa - the prefix Śravaṇa serves to distinguish it from other Belagolas with the prefixes Hale- and Kodi-, while Beḷagoḷa "white pond" is an allusion to the pond in the middle of the town. The Sanskrit equivalents Svetasarovara, Dhavalasarovara and Dhavalasaras used in the inscriptions that support this meaning.