Nestled in the very heart of the city it is one of India’s true jewels – a true feast for the eyes and soul. Also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, it is full of delights. Right from the doll pavilion to the huge open-air courtyard to the Kalyana Mantapa with a five-storied tower creating a majestic dome overhead.

The property also has beautiful temples, each spanning different eras. There are battery-operated vehicles that can take you around this sprawling destination.

• Location: Sayyaji Rao Rd, Agrahara, Chamrajpura

An alternate home to the Mysore royal family and host to the very first session of Legislative Council of Mysore State, Jaganmohan Palace converted to an art gallery and museum and is now home to over two thousand paintings characteristic of Mysore, Mughal and Shantiniketan styles.

The works of Raja Ravi Varma, arguably India’s finest painter are also on display as are an array of artefacts and antiques from weapons to currency. The auditorium has many traditional dance and musical concerts during Dasara.

• Location: Jagan Mohan Palace Road, Chamrajpura

One of the more popular attractions of Mysore, the museum was established to create awareness about the environment and to encourage conservation of our natural treasures.

With diverse themes like rain forests, wetlands, marine life and with lots of models, audiovisuals, dioramas and the like, the place is bursting with entertainment. Do not miss the panel display on Karnataka’s own Kaveri River and the walkthrough tunnel on the evolution of life on Earth.

• Location: T.N.Pura Road, Siddhartha Nagar, Mysuru, Karnataka 570011

In a city full of exciting places to visit, the Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum still manages to stand out for its sheer uniqueness. Who would have thought just sand, water, and a little glue could turn into such an enchanting place to visit.

The eco-friendly museum is based in lush greenery and spread over 13500 sq feet. With over a hundred sculptures ranging from legendary myths, wildlife to Mysore’s own heritage, religious epics and even Tom & Jerry, you will gasp in wonder and laugh in delight.

• Location: Chamundi Hill Road, KC Layout

From the Chamundi Gallery’s railway paintings and photographs to the Sri Ranga Pavilion with its two real royal coaches, this museum is very interesting. Besides this, there are also many other carriages and coaches to explore.

The Maharani’s saloon carriage dating back to 1899, the Austin Railway Car, India’s first home-built steam engine and other rare exhibits are a treat! There is even an actual section of the Old Srirangapatna railway station, wired fence and all. There is also a mini toy-train that takes visitors all around the museum grounds.

• Location: KRS Road, Opp. CFTRI, Medar Block, Yadavagiri

If you ever wondered about the daily business of eating there is old-fashioned kitchen implements, which must at one time being state-of-the-art, and there’s even physical fitness equipment that is both funny and interesting. Do not miss the leather puppets and the costumes used in traditional theatre. The museum has an abundance of artifacts, sculpture, paintings in traditional and tribal styles. There is a marvelous and massive collection of traditional farming, hunting and trapping equipment, and tools.

• Location: Manasa Gangotri

Melody World Wax Museum started in 2010 in a heritage building. The museum has a large collection of Karnataka’s musical instruments in addition to pieces from all over India.

Expect to find instruments from various eras and genres, from classical to indigenous, Punjabi bhangra to jazz, Hindustani to hip-hop; all music has a home here, and all with life-size wax statues playing them.

• Location: 1, Vihara Marga, Siddhartha Layout

Built by Tipu Sultan to hold his British prisoners, the dungeon is named after Colonel Bailey who died in miserable captivity there in 1780. The 30 by 12-meter wide structure still has the prison hooks in the wall to which prisoners were tied.

The dungeons as you would imagine are dark, damp and frightening. The atmosphere still holds the sense of suffering and you rarely hear laughing even from the jolliest tourist. That said, it is an interesting place to visit especially for war history aficionados.

• Location: Srirangapatna

Close to the confluence of the Kaveri, Hemavathi and Lakshmana Tirtha Rivers stands the mighty KRS Dam, built in 1932 the sheer magnitude of the structure is mind-blowing.

It stands at 130 feet and has over a hundred sluice gates. Historically India’s first irrigation dam and one of the main water sources for Mandya and Mysore. Magical illuminated gardens, musical fountains and more make the dam a popular location not just for tourists but also Bollywood movies.

• Location: KRS Dam Road

Spread over a generous hundred and fifty-seven acres of land and well maintained, it is one of India’s most popular and oldest zoos, being opened to the public over a hundred years ago.

The zoo is home to a wide variety of species and has an artificial island created especially as a bird sanctuary. While there are a toy train and electric buggies to take you around, the zoo is easy to navigate and a lovely place to walk through with sandalwood trees scenting the air as you look at the elephants, giraffes, tigers, and company.

• Location: Zoo Main Road, Indira Nagar

On the banks of the Kaveri River, just outside Mysore is the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. Made up of six small islands, the place has declared a sanctuary in the year 1940.

Walking through, there are plenty of signs with information on the birds that can be spotted: Ibis, Spoon Bills, Painted Stork, Plovers, etc. There is always a chance to run into animals too. The area is home to mongoose, flying fox, palm civets, otters, bonnet macaque, and even crocodile.

• Location: Ranganathittu Road, District Mandya, Srirangapatna

Built in 1840, historically designed by French artist Daly and drawing heavily on Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, St. Philomena’s Church is one of India’s largest built to hold close to eight hundred people.

The buildings are built to form a cross. Points of interest are the twin spires that soar to a height of a hundred and seventy-five feet, the carved altar and the beautiful statue of St. Philomena brought all the way from France.

• Location: Lourdes Nagar, Ashoka Road, Lashkar Mohalla

The temple is built in the intricate and beautiful style of Dravidian architecture. The seven-tier ‘Gopura’ or pyramid tower rises up to the sky, while below are silver-plated doorways, sanctums, seven golden ‘kalashas’ and so much more to see.

For devotees and tourists alike the Nandi is a huge pulling point, huge because at sixteen feet tall and carved out of black granite, this beloved Nandi of Mysore is the third largest in the whole of India.

• Location: Chamundi Hill Steps, Chamundi Hill